COMPASSION

Chapter 9

The Casket Room

The Havard sons, Tommy and Joe, are driving to the Manion Funeral Home to make the funeral arrangements and select a casket for their Mother. It is a bitter cold sub-zero February day as Joe drives his 1985 Burgundy Oldsmobile Cutlass into the Manion Funeral Home parking lot. Tommy gets out of the passenger side as Joe locks the car doors.
 
“Dad was a Mortuary Intern here at Manions,” Joe proudly tells his older brother. Tommy looks at Joe, “Yeah Ma told me a thousand times.” 
 
The two brothers enter the gray stone building and walk into the lobby where they are met by the Funeral Director.
 
“Hello, my name is Mr. Manion. I am the Funeral Director here at Manions Funeral home. Let me offer my deepest sympathy over your Mother’s passing. I want to assure you we will do everything we can to make your Mother’s final journey home as smooth and effortless as possible. Why don’t we go into the waiting room and take a seat? Will there be anyone else joining us?”
 
 
“Our brother Mike and his wife Donna will be here soon. They are bringing Mom’s dress. These are Mom’ s shoes.” 
 
Mike and Donna enter the waiting room and bring the brown and white dress for Catherine. 
 
“Hello, I am Mr. Manion the Funeral Director.”
 
“I am Michael Havard and this is my wife Donna. She has Mom’s dress.”
 
Mr. Manion takes the dress and asks everyone to take a seat so the funeral arrangements can be discussed.
 
“Do you have a cemetery plot?”
 
Tommy answers, “ Yes at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Plains.”
 
“Are you planning to have a Funeral Mass for Mom?”
 
“Yes at St. Johns in Pittston.”
 
“I know Father Burns. I will call him later to discuss what time mass will be. He will probably say 10 O” Clock in the morning. Here is the standard contract we have for a burial. It includes the transportation costs, preparation of the grave costs, embalmment
costs and finally casket costs. We will advise you the total costs once you make the selection of the casket. Does anyone have any questions before we continue? If not let's head up to the Casket Room to make your selection for the casket.”
 
The Havard family follows Mr. Manion to the top of the stairs and the entire group is visibly shaking because the heat has been turned off in certain parts of the home to conserve energy.
 
The group finally reaches the top of the stairs and passes through a Black Fire Door guarding the front entrance of the room. Inside the room, there is a sea of caskets. Many different types, colors, sizes of metal and wooden caskets with prices on cards attached to the coffins.  
 
“I will leave you now to make your selection. I will be waiting in the front reception room for you. Just make note of the number on the card of the casket you choose.”  Mr. Manion exists the room.
 
 
Joe remarks, “Wow the price on this one is $17,000 dollars!”
“My Aunt Mary’ s Funeral was $14,000 dollars,” Donna tells Joe.
Joe wonders out loud, “Would Ma want metal or a wood casket? Metal would last longer.”
 
Tommy pulls Mike to his selection, “Mike this brown wooden one is nice. The price is $5950 for everything. What do you think?”
 
Mike turns to his wife, “ Donna what do you think?”
 
Donna replies, “It’s not for me to say...it’s your decision.” 
 
Tom and Mike ask Joe for his opinion, “What do you think of this casket?” 
 
“It looks nice.”  Joe says quietly, “I wish Ma were here to pick the one she wants.”
 
“Well, its settled we will get the brown casket. Remember it’s is number 4. Let’s go see Mr. Manion.” The Havards all follow Tommy as they walk back to the reception room to a waiting Mr. Manion.
 
Mr. Manion asks, “Have you decided?” 
 
“Yes we are going with number 4 the brown wooden casket,” Tommy announces.
 
“I will check our inventory but it should be no problem. It is a very popular model. We just have to ask a few more questions then we are done. Your Mom’ s Jewelry, should we remove it or do you
want Mother buried with it?”
 
Joe asks, “What is customary?”
 
Tommy replies, “Remove it and give to me.” 
 
“Do you want us to dispose of your Mothers original clothes? We removed when we did the embalming?”
Tommy replies, “Throw them away.” 
 
“No, give them me.” Joe takes the paper bag of Mom’s clothes.
  
“If there are no other questions I will see you here tomorrow at Twelve for the first viewing. The second viewing will be at Six. I will write up an Obituary for Mom and put it in our two local papers. Again I want to express our deepest sympathy and I want to assure you we will take care of Mom.”   
 
The Havards all still in shock and disbelief walk silently out of Manions and head for home.