Mentor

[Grizzly Adam]

I had the distinct honor of burying him a year or so ago.

I'm glad to hear that, 'Shucks. I believe in facing hard tasks squarely, and I believe in burying your own. I dug my own daughter's grave, with the help of my dad and brother. A friend of mine built her casket from cherry wood another friend donated to that task. She was dressed by her mama, kept at the house, and buried here at home. My home-congregation preacher flew in from 750 miles away to comfort us.

When people asked me, "How could you do those things?", I replied, "How could I not?"

I think the last and best thing we can do for our loved ones is to lay them to rest personally, like it used to be done. Death is all to real, and nothing is gained by avoiding it's reality.

I sure hope that when I die family and friends will roll the clods in over me, and that the task isn't left to some guy sitting on a backhoe in the distance, waiting like a buzzard for the preacher to end and the people to leave!

[bassboater]

Dad got me started with a pellet gun , until i graduated to firearms in Va mountains and Md. Granddad got me into fishing on Lake Erie.
Both past away. Now i mentor son in law and nephew. The things they taught me i pass along, mainly its not the killing and the catchin but the friends we meet along the way, squirrels, (bothersome at times i kno), eagles, foxes, and occasionally bass and deer.
I now fish the Chesapeake bay, Potomac river, and hunt Md mainly.
We hung a plak at dad's favorite tree in the Va mtns. He passed in 2000, grandad in 98....

[awshucks]

I had the distinct honor of burying him a year or so ago.

I'm glad to hear that, 'Shucks. I believe in facing hard tasks squarely, and I believe in burying your own. I dug my own daughter's grave, with the help of my dad and brother. A friend of mine built her casket from cherry wood another friend donated to that task. She was dressed by her mama, kept at the house, and buried here at home. My home-congregation preacher flew in from 750 miles away to comfort us.

When people asked me, "How could you do those things?", I replied, "How could I not?"

I think the last and best thing we can do for our loved ones is to lay them to rest personally, like it used to be done. Death is all to real, and nothing is gained by avoiding it's reality.

I sure hope that when I die family and friends will roll the clods in over me, and that the task isn't left to some guy sitting on a backhoe in the distance, waiting like a buzzard for the preacher to end and the people to leave!

Thanks, Adam. It's what we do. Each generation buries it's elders. I never shed a tear at my mom and pops funeral. Their time had come after long illnesses. It was to be expected and I miss them a lot. My wife at 52 was a bit tougher.

Somehow, I was closer to my Uncle. My parents prepared me for life. My Uncle taught me how to enjoy it. Guess you had to be there, maybe some of you were. Thanks for this thread, and the memories it invokes.

I won't bore you w/ mine. He was one hell of a man.

[saxman]

I had the distinct honor of burying him a year or so ago.

I'm glad to hear that, 'Shucks. I believe in facing hard tasks squarely, and I believe in burying your own. I dug my own daughter's grave, with the help of my dad and brother. A friend of mine built her casket from cherry wood another friend donated to that task. She was dressed by her mama, kept at the house, and buried here at home. My home-congregation preacher flew in from 750 miles away to comfort us.

When people asked me, "How could you do those things?", I replied, "How could I not?"

I think the last and best thing we can do for our loved ones is to lay them to rest personally, like it used to be done. Death is all to real, and nothing is gained by avoiding it's reality.

I sure hope that when I die family and friends will roll the clods in over me, and that the task isn't left to some guy sitting on a backhoe in the distance, waiting like a buzzard for the preacher to end and the people to leave!

Thanks, Adam. It's what we do. Each generation buries it's elders. I never shed a tear at my mom and pops funeral. Their time had come after long illnesses. It was to be expected and I miss them a lot. My wife at 52 was a bit tougher.

Somehow, I was closer to my Uncle. My parents prepared me for life. My Uncle taught me how to enjoy it. Guess you had to be there, maybe some of you were. Thanks for this thread, and the memories it invokes.

I won't bore you w/ mine. He was one hell of a man.

I agree gentelmen.
I remember sitting up with my Grandmother at our home all night.
Someone was always with her.We called it sitting up with the dead and it was a sign of respect.

[GaryL]

Same here scott, lost a Daughter many years ago, our 2nd child died at birth

We picked her up and drove her to home in W.Va., dug the grave, made the casket, set up two nights and days we all did at the time until it was time to bury. Same as Awshucks buried our own, the way it should be done.

With that being stated some states/citys/ places do not allow that type/style of burial any more and so it can not be done in the OLD TRANDITOINAL way

GaryL

I'm glad to hear that, 'Shucks. I believe in facing hard tasks squarely, and I believe in burying your own. I dug my own daughter's grave, with the help of my dad and brother. A friend of mine built her casket from cherry wood another friend donated to that task. She was dressed by her mama, kept at the house, and buried here at home. My home-congregation preacher flew in from 750 miles away to comfort us.

When people asked me, "How could you do those things?", I replied, "How could I not?"

I think the last and best thing we can do for our loved ones is to lay them to rest personally, like it used to be done. Death is all to real, and nothing is gained by avoiding it's reality.

I sure hope that when I die family and friends will roll the clods in over me, and that the task isn't left to some guy sitting on a backhoe in the distance, waiting like a buzzard for the preacher to end and the people to leave!

Thanks, Adam. It's what we do. Each generation buries it's elders. I never shed a tear at my mom and pops funeral. Their time had come after long illnesses. It was to be expected and I miss them a lot. My wife at 52 was a bit tougher.

Somehow, I was closer to my Uncle. My parents prepared me for life. My Uncle taught me how to enjoy it. Guess you had to be there, maybe some of you were. Thanks for this thread, and the memories it invokes.

I won't bore you w/ mine. He was one hell of a man.

I agree gentelmen.
I remember sitting up with my Grandmother at our home all night.
Someone was always with her.We called it sitting up with the dead and it was a sign of respect.

[Grizzly Adam]

With that being stated some places do not allow that type/ style of burial any more and so it can not be done in the OLD TRADITIONAL way!

Fortunately, that's not the case here in rural NC. I'm sure some cities have their own rules, but in the country, there is only one ... any grave must be located away from an existing well in use. There is no requirement concerning caskets or vaults. A funeral director must be involved, but only in oversight. He need not do any particular thing.

This freed me to bury my daughter Hannah in the manner that fit my beliefs, and it was a great comfort to me ... it allowed me to do all I could.

Here in NC, there are still a lot of rural burials in little family plots. I have saved many families considerable dollars by letting them know that there is no requirement for a vault, or for a "sealed" casket. Don't get me started on that foolishness.

[Doe Master]

Grizz how does that work for cremation for you`s ? Can you spread all the ashes without the appropriate permission ?

[Grizzly Adam]

Grizz how does that work for cremation for you`s ? Can you spread all the ashes without the appropriate permission ?

As far as I know, here in NC, once cremains are released from the crematorium, recipients are free to do with them as they like.

Cremation is relatively rare right in this area.

[Doe Master]

Isn`t that weird , in different parts of the country cremation is more prevelant . Where my grandparents are looks like a large park there is not a single headstone above the ground .All the stones are sunk in the ground flush .