Florist News

Well it was definitely a first for me and Treen today! Never have we had to do this.

The funeral directors phoned tuesday to ask if we could put a swag around a wicker coffin for today..............."yes, no problem" we reply..............."Just to let you know, the body will be inside when you attach the flowers!".....GULP Oh well, that`s something different.

Took 4 hours to make the swag, wiring soft ruscus and asparagus fern to the length of 15 feet, then wired orchids, eryngium and roses individually to decorate.

Treen and I set off, me feeling a bit daunted, even though have seen bodies before, but not working so close to them!!!!!!! We get there and are shown to the little chapel where the wicker coffin is and sigh of relief, the lid is on. So we start to work at the head end, tieing the swag around the coffin making sure the handles are free. Treen gets to the feet end first.............."Oh my god, DON`T LOOK THROUGH THE GAP" Of course once someone tells you not to look at something, you do, and through the gap as clear as day were the deceased legs!!!!!!!!!!!

Am pleased to say the coffin looked lovely but please don`t ask for any pics as we both thought it a bit disrespectful to take photo`s with the deceased in the coffin. No doubt we`ll get asked to do another one and when we do then we`ll post some.

All I can say, It is never dull at Jennifleurs

ha ha haaaa..yes..been there ..done that Cala!! The dead can't hurt you ducky!!

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live long and prosper

Just think it might have been one of your least liked customersand u should of used longer wires

lol we all must have see some one laid to rest at some time, my p/t wont go in to the f/d rooms she thinks its a personal thing for the family and not her place, but its our job sometimes and we just get on with it....

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Hey that is a bit daunting to me but at least you had each other for support.. my local FD gave me the keys of the funeral home and told me to come and go as i pleased... I get the willies looking at the keys on attached to my car keys not to mind coming and going as i please...but im getting better as the time goes on..

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Thorny Wire

i am quite lucky in the fact that one of my close friends is a funeral director so have been told in great detail about what happens to the bodies and how they are looked after. As well as some complete horror stories about how they have had to rescue someone elses bad work!!!!!!

Unfortunately for him, it is a family owned business, he is also on call, which means that most evenings and weekends, he has to go out to do collections ( you know what i mean!!!). I do feel sorry for him as it always happens when loads of us meet up, either to go out or for dinner, and then just his wife turns up on her own, and all of us tend to just look at each other and say....." He`s gone to pick up a new friend!!!!"

The one thing I will remember about yesterday is that you have to overcome a situation like that and the best way is with humour!!! And that is exactly what our friend does.

Ive always wondered why people decide to be a funeral director? people decide on other careers but im just curious?and they are always a happy bunch of guys were we are, and one f/d is owned by a woman, and shes really lovely......any ideas?

I wonder if there are any funeral director forums .

wonder what they think of the florists?

Can you imagine the stories they exchange: 'Can anyone help, I have lady with too much alcohol in her blood stream, afraid she's gonna set the chimney on fire when we cremate her, and ideas how to get rid of alcohol, she was a florist'

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plastic fantastic not suitable for recycling
['I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it'. Voltaire