The Business of Death

It’s been almost a week since some parts of the world observed Halloween, All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day and el Día de los Muertos (The Day of The Dead). The general, underlying theme throughout these observances and occasions resonates with the dead, deceased or the dying.

These remembrances are held for a day or a season, and, for the most part, many of us are ‘okay’ with that. However, I think it still begs the question, would you [ever] wish to take such sentiments a bit further and…work with the dead?

I’m not talking about psychics, fortune-tellers, ‘seer-men’, ‘seer-women’, or even forensic pathologists. Instead, my question is geared specifically to those persons who might just dare to use their knowledge, competencies and personality to decide to establish a funeral home.

As cryptic, eerie and downright creepy as it might sound, death is a real, everyday occurrence. As a matter of fact, we’re all fated to not depart this planet alive. Death is therefore inevitable for all living beings including humans--as uncomfortable and mood-killing as broaching this topic might be, far less deciding to make it ‘known’ that you intend to earn a living [pardon the pun] from pursuing the business of death as a full-time profession.

Within the Caribbean, this industry is booming--and not solely because the supply of its essential, raw material is inexhaustible. From a pure observer’s perspective, it also seems to be a case of the general public desiring more diversity of services, as well as having the availability of more options from funeral homes; and funeral homes responding in kind in relation to this demand.

For example, several established and newly-minted funeral homes now offer package options to their prospective clients. These include the option of having the burial or cremation for the deceased at the location of that funeral home. Likewise, is the live-streaming of services for those who are unable to attend in-person; as well as offering to manoeuvre the arguably daunting ‘sea of bureaucracy’ that often meets with family members of the deceased, on behalf of the family.

In Trinidad and Tobago, Dennie’s Funeral Home has gone even further. It has gained a national reputation and a particularly strong following on its social media platforms, for its whimsical funeral service offerings. These include having the deceased ‘stand’ to ‘greet’ mourners outside the location of the funeral service, having the deceased ‘seated’ on the tray of a pick-up truck; as well as having a white Cinderella-esque carriage to transport the deceased.

Indeed, Dennie’s appears primed and determined to go even further into uncharted waters to provide a unique, memorable service for its respective clients. Additionally, is the fact that it is an enterprise owned and operated by a young person, which perhaps adds to the intrigue of why such an individual would desire to work so closely with the dead.

Dare to dabble in the dead to earn your daily bread? There’s probably nothing to dread.

Keywords:

LinkedIn Local Caribbean, enterprise, funeral, death, service