I cleaned my husband before hospice got there then changed him again before funeral director came . My husband only urinated right after death . I even turned his head to the side and with towels let he yellow stuff empty out . Again washed him . He died very peacefully in my arms . Had cancer but was not in pain , asked me to hold him . I knew he was dying and did as he wanted . My soulmate .
husband died in my arms in hospital while 11 paramedics, drs and nurses were taking turns doing cpr. he had had a heart attack at home but no one knew it. walked to the ambulance himself joking and saying he didn't need an ambulance and died just inside hospital doors. after 20 mins of cpr they got him back. was on a ventilator and doing well while dr was on phone with helicopter when he took another huge heart attack and though they fought another 45 mins there was no saving him. he had needed a heart transplant but wasn't approved but had been approved the night before for an artificial heart. he had just turned 47 9 days earlier much too young to be gone. dr's said a 2nd heart attack would kill him and he was to die by age 35. well he lasted til 47 and it took 4 attacks to end his life. my beloved husband of nearly 26 yrs died in my arms the same as we began our life together at the alter. RIP Rodger 1964-2011 u are loved and missed still.
Shelley G aaawweee💔🙏🏼💕so very sorry for your horrible loss!!😔😔I can guarantee he is now your guardian angel😇😘..I just will never understand Why??God takes all of them sooo early..I can relate to your story cause I just lost😞💔a close friend in March,due to a massive heart attack...she was 51 yrs old n in the prime of her life!!!..🤔Just will never understand ☹️??Please stay strong n faithful,You will be in my loving💜💜thoughts☺️☺️and prayers 🛐✝️...May God Watch Over You💖✝️💖✝️💖✝️💖
@@michaelesillsbury3488 thank u so much. i truly believe god is watching over me and i have felt hubby's presense many times when things were hard so i know he is doing what he can from the other side. yes too many good ones lost way too young yet so many evil in jail live to ripe old ages. hard to understand i agree. thank u for your prayers and loving comments. they are much appreciated. sorry for the loss of your dear friend also. hugs.
I’m so sorry 😞 my mother JUST HAD a successful heart transplant in 2018 - she too had a very bad heart / dealt with CHF - the heart she received was very weak when first put in but she pushed through and spent a year in the hospital after an she is now running laps around us and her grandkids. im so sorry to hear about your husband - from the sound of it he was a fighter and was VERY STRONG. Bless you.
@Jb 318 he was always underweight until about a year after we got married when between my good cooking, having enough food and dr's putting him on medication for unknown conditions that he started gaining weight. he was diagnosed diabetic at 27 and we suspect he had heart problems since small boy which just went unnoticed. so yeah by 27 he was a bit overweight but not obese or anything. they found out during his quad bypass at 32 that his arteries in his heart remained size of newborn babies. never grew. he was insulin resistant and backwards to all things typical for a diabetic so specialists couldn't figure out how to treat him. we would have to feed him sugar to get his levels to go down and stay down. proper diet they went up to like 32 and stayed there. dieticians diet he would gain like 14 lbs in 2 wks. eating whatever he wanted he would lose weight. nothing made sense with him. insulin made him worse and pills only worked short term then he became immune. he was very overweight by time he died and was only 5 ft 6.5 in. tall. he was on 42 pills a day and 6 shots of insulin and 3 puffers and 100% blind from eye hemorrhages. had had 6 or 7 eye surgeries by that time as well trying to keep his vision. at one point he was on 32 needles a day of insulin. dr said it wasn't working just making him fat so took him off all but a few shots. new specialist but by the time we found her and she was good it was too late.
I've been an RN for 22 years but I've considered going back to become a mortician. At least they don't talk back (and if they do, then my services are not needed).
Greg Crabb I work in customer service and this is my exact response when I’m asked why I would ever want to become a mortician. The dead don’t cop an attitude! 😂
I wonder how many of us nurses have contemplated becoming morticians. My dad was one before I was born and left to become a CHP officer. There seems to be a lot in common among these vocations.
I love how kind and careful she is with her words. In a weird sort of way she is helping me cope with my mother's death and what happened to her body. I don't know why I have trouble letting go at the physical side but these videos have helped me a great deal
Awww, I'm sorry for your loss. That's normal, how you feel. This is why we have funerals and memorials, they're for US, not the dead. WE need to be able to say goodbye and have that time to cope and grieve and process. Very normal, especially when it comes to a parent or child. Don't worry so much about why, just know that it's normal and it takes time, but it will get some easier in time. Losing my dad, my fiance and my daughter were the hardest things I've gone through in life and it was SO hard to let go of the physical and accept that I wouldn't be able to touch or feel or hear or smell them anymore, I felt like I was dying too. Idk how or exactly when that frantic feeling went away, but it eventually did... I still struggle 2yrs after losing my fiance, but it does keep getting a Lil easier. Same thing happened with my daughter 2010 and with my dad who passed in 2016. Some days are still HARD and always will be, I'm sure, but it dies become easier.
@@MariaAbrams Aww sorry for your losses, my heart goes out to you. My God you are a strong woman. I agree with everything you said wholeheartedly. I do have lots of videos of my grandmother to reflect back to see and hear her voice, with doing so that sort of keeps me grounded. However there are days when I wake up in a good mood feeling great and BOOM it hits me like a ton of bricks, tears just start flowing out of nowhere. But the good out ways the bad and I’m pushing myself and staying motivated as I know my grandmother would want me to be. I and think of all the good times we shared. Thanks for sharing your story. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Kari, thank you. I lost my mom a month and a half ago and I was SO relieved to see the care, respect and dedication you give to decedants under your care. I know it's silly but I took care of mom for 5 years and in back of my mind I always hope she was treated with the same respect I would have given her and your video gave me great comfort. Thank you for being an exemplary mortician and showing how good, qualified professionals handle our loved ones. ❤
I lost my dad in 2013 to a heart attack and had to sign the removal of life support papers as my parents weren't married. He was only 49. I am so lucky as I found an absolutely lovely funeral home in Atlanta. I think it was family owned or something small, they only charged me the bare minimum for the cremation and the urn. I got a chapel for an hour at no cost, and as I was barely able to pay it off over months after she let me take my dad home. I will never forget that woman and what she did for me. She lost her father young so I believe she understood more than most folks did at the time. The doctors and nurses at the hospital didn't really explain things to me as to what would happen as I watched him die. So as he was turning pale and grey it freaked me out for a minute. My mother had to tell me. I think the freakiest thing afterwards was the fact that his mouth fell open, and stayed open. Oh man that was tough. I held his hand and spoke to him but watching my mom hold him in her arms and cry as he died was SO hard. Thank god there are some honest good folk like yourself out there Kari. Makes the grieving process a lot easier. New subscriber and wanted to share my story.
It was hard, I don't know how you guys do it. I've always been fascinated with death but more from the medical aspect of things. You do an excellent job of explanation without going sensationalism on us. I could deal with a lot of things honestly but the smell would get me. Just the smell.
My dad died in 2013 as well. He was 52 and a mortician!! He started at 16!! I’ve heard about the calls he went on with my uncle (who passed a month ago)when they were younger!! It takes special people to be in this industry and boy did he have it!! Watching videos for familiarity!! Keep up the great work!!!
You do such a good job of depicting both the difficulty and the special grace of being present when a loved one dies. Thank you for sharing your story!
Wow I couldn’t do that when my dad passed away in the hospital to see him that day in a coma so yellow on tubes cannot even respond to anyone was enough of a shock for me My mom and my older sister was there after they took the tubes out of him. Took like eight hours for him to finally pass away no fuckin way I could do that I totally give you a shit load of credit to stay with your dad after he died right there and when he was turning grey color skin wise
I worked for a good friend who owns a funeral home on and off for 20 years and I am still amazed at how much I learn from watching your videos. Thank you for your great work.
I am a loving💜💜 person as you are...You have a very gentle n soft demeanor about yourself that just shines!!!...Your Amazing 😇😉 n that’s why I follow😍😍 you n watch you constantly!!🙏🏼🙏🏼💖💖💖
Lately I find myself watching these kind of videos & I stress myself out with the thought of losing someone close to me. I think to myself that I’m watching these videos to “prepare” myself for the worst, but in reality, I’m just getting more paranoid about it. I’m scared to lose anyone, the feeling is unbearable. I lost my grandfather last year & he is basically the reason why I’m so scared of death. I miss him so much. I wouldn’t want to lose someone else.
I honestly don't know how you do it. I know death happens to everyone, it is inevitable, i just wish there was an easier way to handle it. My respects to you. (I'm real happy you replied. I'm a new subscriber & your channel is helping me cope, & I learn something new with every video I watch. Thank you!)
I started watching these videos a few months back. I had no idea why something told me to click the videos because the kept popping up in recommends A month ago my grandma was dying and passed a few days later. Nothing really prepares you because now I’m just still sort of lost and have so many questions.
Kari, your videos are done professionally yet so compassionately. I discovered you toward the end of my husband’s life. Many nights when I couldn’t sleep I would watch them to start preparing myself for the inevitable. Thankfully he died peacefully at home, blew me a kiss and was gone. Nothing happened after. That was a blessing as funeral home didn’t get to leave with him for six hours. Immediate cremation. Easy as could be under the circumstances. I felt your videos helped me feel good about our/my decisions.
I have worked my entire life as a CNA and such things have happened to me. I have even had a body sit straight up during the bathing process. A reaction to a nerve that haven’t died yet. Scared the bejueezus out of me!!!!
I'm a CNA as well and have watched a lot of people actively die. I've done post mortem care on countless of people. I actually get an adrenaline rush having to clean up dead ppl.(kinda weird I know) but it excites me for some reason
abbylane62 Same here; I was an RN for thirty years, “retired “ from that, became a CNA. Ohhhh, the stories I/we could tell! It’s how we’ve made our living!
Hi Kari, I am a RN and mother has always wanted me to be a mortician. I chosed nursing instead. You are so informative. Had you been around 25 years ago I would have taken this path for sure.💕
I have a friend who's worked in a funeral home for years and she said her 1st day was awful. She spent her breaks crying in the bathroom then went home and got raging drunk and never cried again she said. She somehow figured out how to get past that. She said she's come close a couple other times, once was after a school shooting (I can't imagine), but like she said, it's not her loss, she can't get that involved or she can't do her job. I'm so happy there are people like you guys who can do this, I couldn't. I cry too easily and I cry for everyone and the harder I try not to, the worse it gets lol. But I'm relieved to know there's some good people out there to take care of us when we pass. ♥
Great video explaining what happens to the deceased body. No one really tells you these things and when your bereaved not knowing these things can be especially upsetting when you lose a loved one.
I am sorry that your grandmother died, even alone. When a corpse smells terrible, that is a sign of decomposition. The corpse has remained in the place for some time. I pray that Great God will take care of you through this mean time.
I appreciate your expression of caring. I think that's probably the most value a funeral director gives to the community. Thanks for making this video!
Thank you for your service. I have worked as a commercial/hazmat scene cleaner and I have responded to numerous suicide, crime, and unattended death scenes. People ask me why I smoke filter cigarillos and never inhale the smoke. It is a habit developed from using tobacco to relieve some of the odors of some scenes.
Mother died with dignity at home, in her sleep at 95, here in NYC. One police officer stayed and had coffee with us. He was part of the precinct group dispatched to come to the house after our 911 call. This officer shared a few stories with me, after the funeral directors had removed mom's body. Our mother was fortunate and.... 'died neat'. Throughout her home care by my sis and I (3 yrs or so) she was often bathed, dressed daily in clean clothing, manicured and had her hair done. She was also diapered, due to longtime incontinence, and by the time she passed, had not eaten for several days. We were also lucky that we had 'the conversation' most families dread. And we knew what to do, were able to carry out mother's wishes with no guilt or hesitation, since she had articulated them, early on. Still there is no avoiding the distasteful things that must be dealt with - when a dead human body begins to decay, especially if no one discovers remains of the person who has died, or some trauma happens. Experience helps, and the thought kept clearly in mind: this "smelly thing".. WAS actually once, not long ago - a beloved. Somebody's dad, someone's grandma, child, spouse...and they did not always look that way.
@@scharf74 That may be procedure. A doctor must certify that a person has died and I believe there are also police papers depending on your jurisdiction. If you feel stressed out dial 9!1 (9-9-9 in the UK). Tell them you believe someone has died in your home.
Stumbled on to your channel. Your incredible to be able to just handle the grossest things ever imagined. You do a great job just explaining the basic and natural way that it all happens. Unlocking the mystery of death.
You have the best attitude, so down to earth and caring. I love the no nonsense way you present information, straightforward and honest. Keep up the great work.
Afterthought: Being a funeral director requires enormous sensitivity and understanding. Putting yourself in the family's place, addressing their concerns. Which, for all the facts and support you receive, can still provoke anxiety..For example, when the police signed off and released mother's body to be taken for cremation, I warmly remember the two men who arrived. They brought the van, parked it outside. They wheeled in a conveyance (the gurney). They were dressed in 'civvies', not medical white suits. And, instead of a 'body bag' they had what looked like a large, fuzzy, green soft blanket. They carefully wrapped mother in it, and the impression I was left with? Just like she was going away for a sleepover. Well, I suppose she WAS..an Eternal one!! :-)) Body bags are enough to terrify anyone - and I realize there are cases of course when they MUST be used. But I remember thinking how kind, and what a gentle gesture that simple thing was. Since mother had died only hours before, and was still diapered her corpse would not 'spill'. All the same, I thanked them later for their amazing degree of caring.
@@gypsytreasures3856 me too. Completely ignored me as if I WAS DECEASED didn't acknowledge me. No eye contact. No verbal response. Blatantly LIED to my face. This was whoever the BUM was that was sent to pick up my DAUGHTER last year. Bad enough I was dealing with the skock and heartbreak of losing a child by myself,I was treated like total trash by the "pick up guy". I have nightmares of how I was treated!!!
As usual, you handle this difficult subject with openness and sensitivity, reminding us of the humanity of the person who has died and that they have history we will never completely know. You have a true gift for your vocation, and are, in your less obvious way, a healer.
I literally think I would die if I heard a corpse gurgle, sigh or see them suddenly jerk if I were alone in a room working on the deceased. I would be that person gagging and vomiting! I tip my hat to you and all who work in the mortuary field. You are special and amazing people!
I’m a nurse also. I think the thing that’s most difficult for me is suctioning, and it’s the sound more than anything. I just try to quietly and calmly talk to my pt while I do it so I’m focusing on that and the task rather than the noise sticking out. But yes, death is messy. It absolutely must be kept as dignified as possible for the pt. I treat them as I would want my loved one treated.
Not everybody is taught about that fact of life which is what happens after a person dies. Death leaves a stench of a mess in homicide cases and decomposing in a single place.
@@courtney6126 May Gracious Great God bless you and your endeavors, for He knows that your mission would be at times difficult to manage, even by yourself.
@@captainkeyboard1007 as you hide behind your “keyboard” and profile w no actual photo or name, I’m well aware of both aspects and have seen both. Please don’t comment on something you have no experience coming from. Thanks and have a great day.
When my father passed, I found him 15 hours after. Rigor had set in & he had expelled bodily fluids. He was a large man, & had diabetes . he had gone hypo & not reached his insulin fast enough, hence falling into a coma and passing from ketoacidosis. I wanted to look after him myself because I knew that would be the last time I would be with him. He was not a pretty sight after the autopsy, let alone when I found him. But I stayed with him & took care of his body. More families should know they are able to care for their loved ones themselves. It really helped my grieving.
What is hypo? Is there more to that word?. I was wondering if it matches a word my doctor used and I cant remember the rest of the word and I forgot to ask him what the word meant?
LOL 😂 baby goo! But seriously thank you for addressing in such detail this difficult yet pertinent question! Just one point of view: If you think working with a dead body is really gross, you might want to choose another profession. As an RN I have had to care for many dying and dead people. If you’re considering a job in the healthcare or death care industry, it pretty much goes with the job that shit will fly, literally. I hope it would help you to know, I’m in a professional state of mind (this is actively acquired over time with experience), and, when faced with specific real-life situations where some body fluid or gas leaks, I don’t actually get too grossed-out, I just deal with it (and react later, in private, if I have to). Honestly, it just isn’t a big deal.
Thank you so much for explaining the... less fun parts of this process in such a respectful manner while still going into detail! Tonight is my first night on call at the local funeral home, and I definitely feel a little more prepared!
Some of us do, and it’s our calling. Wouldn’t you want someone to take care of your family to be able to handle it? To treat your family member with respect and love? She is SPOT ON in her description of what it is like. It’s a person. And we love them.
I'd it that much different fro m being a medical doctor who learned human anatomy by working with cadavers and doing autopsies . I thought delivering babies involved dealing with gross things
I have to agree with you. I will never understand. You are all pretty amazing. I often wonder about Medical Examiners to. Now that has to be a very just unbelievably gross, sickening job. Can’t believe there are people that do that.
I was a CNA and in my first year of nursing school when I helped hospice staff get a decedent ready for family viewing at the center. I had seen death before, but this body moaned and spewed out bile when we turned him. I nearly dropped from fright. The nurse I was helping talked me thru it- reminding me of his disease process and how the lungs still contain air at death. Now I'm the one calming families and CNAs.
In the movie Backdraft in the morgue scene of an investigation of a death by fire when the deceased is rolled back into a flat position there is a gurgling sound made. NOTE for those who are squeamish the body shown is badly burned. When I first had seen the movie I thought it was someone off camera goofing around I had no idea that sound(s) actually can happen
I’m a care assistant & seen many elderly people pass away over the 20 years of doing care work & yep I’ve seen all bodily fluids coming out of them, it’s gross at first but you get used to it
I find it amazing, if not disgusting, when somebody says they don't mind the gurgling, snot flow, release of fecal and urine matter, mucus, or ANY other unpleasantry a baby can and DOES supply, BUT they can't tolerate or stomach when a deceased body does the same things when or after it passes away. When are people going to come to grips with the fact that life goes full circle in one's lifetime. You are a baby in the beginning, and you are in a big kind of way a baby when you die. The only difference in the two are that one represents the beginning, and the other represents the end.
You are so respectful, and show that death and what a body can go through is normal --- what kind of protective measures do you take so fluids do not come in contact with your skin ? Can you add protection--besides gloves--in front of family...? And what do you do for the smell ? thanks ahead of time !
You did a terrific job of explaining everything possibly repulsive in a way that helped me out mentally. I would like to start school next yr. I do have a thing w mucus but I can grit my teeth and bear it but your talk really helps any mind frame and deal a lot better.
For as long as I can remember, my biggest fear is dying. I only think about it at night time but I can literally cry if I let myself think about it. I feel like I was born just to fear my death sometimes. Yeah it’s a serious issue for me. I am so jealous of those that are welcoming of death. Just being honest.
Sarah Maitland I fear it also. I know that I will be with Jesus when I leave this life. But I am terrified of how and when I will die. Sometimes it keeps me awake at night.
Just found u.... Ur a doll I love how u explain an get across the truth of the job of death. Thank You for what u do. It's an honorable profession. Thank you
After my aunt passed last spring the funeral home was wonderful they let us know that if we wished we could be as much a part of preparring her for her viewing as we wished, I was only able to go help dress her bc I couldn't handle seeing her before her embalming process just bc I didn't want to remember her that way. It does help the family so much when a funeral home is wonderful.
You truly seem so sweet and just down to earth real! I really like your channel and I’m glad I fell into it somehow! These are good things to know and the best thing about it is your channel is not frightening or scary in anyway!!! Death is not scary to me, but sometimes can be presented that way with the ghoulish things! And, I just don’t care for that! Which is what draws me to always watch your videos. They are high class and in such good taste! You are really appreciated! And, yes!!! Let the hubbs know!! We all tend to take spouses for granted every now and then, but it’s good to get that reminder, not to!!❤️😘
Kari is awesome. I'm a new subscriber but have been watching her for a while now. She definitely has the ideal nature and personality to do what she does. She's great and yes very beautiful. I love her hair hehe 😊
Hi another question and thank you. When my mother was buried we kept her rings on the body. I wondered if there is concern grave diggers remove valuables from bodies before they finish the burial?
I'VE HEARD ALOT ABT THIS BEFORE ESPECIALLY IF A PERSON WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT THEN ONCE EVERYTHING IS REMOVED IT PUTS YOU IN MIND OF HEARD DRAIN PIPES THING SETTLING. I MOST DEFINITELY COULDN'T HAVE A JOB LIKE THIS BUT BLESS YOUR HEART
I wanted to be a mortician. For some reason, I wanted to change the industry to make all funeral directors be exactly as you are: compassionate, understanding, kind and sensitive to the family. I apprenticed with a wonderful man who I grew up admiring. Doing all the dirty work was not a problem for me, it was when a baby came in. I just couldn’t handle it. Thank you for being the way you are.
Kari friend used to and may still remove deceased and theyre not always recently deceased but can be weeks or months old. I asked him about it and he's replied "as soon as you get home strip and wash it, and you won't get the smell out if your clothes" Hot weather doesn't help things either as 1 might imagine. Called out to a job 1 afternoon . (Car accident) was someone her knew so they sent someone else.
Ernest Hemingway wrote about the Spanish Flu of 1918 and I vividly recall his comment that he made in his famous bullfighting book “Death in the Afternoon” “You know how a you know a person with the flu has died? He sh*ts the bed full.” That struck me so hard as a 9 year old, when I read Hemingway, that it tormented me for ever....
When my husband was in the dying process he had white foam coming out of his nostril profusely..I had called hospice as I was awaken by the death rattle early that morning. The nurse told me to just keep wiping the foam away..which of course I did...I wanted to keep my husband at home...he died of pancreatic cancer that morning. But I was never told what was the cause of all of that white foam...I almost used a whole box of tissue.
Thank you. Part of my job in the ED was to see all deceased when brought in DOA or was an ED Death and to gather information for the Medical Examiner. Interesting seeing all different causes of death and giving as much support to loved ones.
I have watched several of your videos. I am quite appreciative of the highly descriptive nature with which you have answered questions. Moreover, the extreme sensitivity with which all questions are handled highlights your professionalism and passion for the industry.
You bring up so many points ive never even given a 2nd thought to. Ive never had to deal with anything like you & your commenters speak of. Thanks for your expertise & patience. 🙏❤😊
My mother left me suddenly on a Sunday night. She had a massive heart attack. Ironically, she had just seen her doctor. Friday night, she seemed fine. Saturday evening was when she became sick. She said her stomach was hurting her, and she was going to bed. When Sunday morning came , she was still abed. I knew she didn't feel well, but I never thought heart attack. Long story short, tho it was 30 yrs ago it still hurts. I was 31, when she died. I'm 62 now. By 6pm Feb. 20. 1991, she transitioned. And she died 9yrs & 2days after my dad, who transitioned 2/8/82. He had long cancer. It wasn't the cancer that killed him. It was a blood clot. He was 66.
My father's sister had married a funeral director so she took my father under her wing and they tried to groom him into the business. When my mother met my father he told her he couldn't handle it because the bodies would sit up sometimes. Mind you this was back in the 1950's but as you explained that can't happen. Thank you
This career sounds interesting and rewarding, but I opted out of this path because I just don’t have the stomach for this kind of stuff. I know that it’s normal, but sights and smells would get to me right away. God bless the people who can do this and do it well.
I'd love to be a mortician or embalmer, I have worked as a first call removal service and for the Coroner office for removal of many types of deaths from natural to car accidents and homicides and suicides, not pretty at times, you are right decomposing are the worst especially when I worked in the DESERT alot...a week in 100 plus degrees before found... I don't need to tell you,
I am a retired Registered Nurse and I can certainly empathize with funeral directors. I worked for a long time in ICU so I have had to deal with all the above. We had a lot of deaths so I also did my share of post-mortem (sp?)care, so I got it both ways. ;-)
I recently learned from a friend who witnessed a suicide in her home (shotgun blast to head) that apparently coroner's offices will not remove or clean up the residuary remains (e.g. body organs or parts of the body, spilled bodily fluids, etc.) that remain on private property when removing the body itself. This revelation just stunned me. So what's the family to do with "Johnny's" brain tissue pieces, skull fragments, blood stains, etc. scattered all over their living room carpeting and walls after the body itself and all the forensic detectives have left the scene? It's not like they can call in Merry Maids or even ServPro to handle such a task. The answer is: they had to clean it up THEMSELVES, b.i.o.n.. How insane and emotionally difficult to do! I think every county coroner's office should have a Special Services Team that goes in after the body has been removed in such cases to, with dignity and following HazMat protocols, finish the job. Please let your local county commissioners know of this idea and urge them to press the issue to your county coroner's office.
atty garland I can assure that is fact. My cousin committed suicide with a rifle and pretty much decapitated himself. My aunt and uncle got home from church to find him. After his body was removed, they were responsible to either clean it up or have a company do it. My aunt did it. She actually picked up hundreds of pieces of brain matter, etc. She then let a cleaning company come in and tear up carpeting, etc. I seriously still cannot imagine. This was after my oldest cousin died on her prom night in a car accident.
@@scrapper900 THere are numerous companies that handle ALL the cleanup even to the point of removing and replacing damaged floorboards carpeting etc. They completely disinfect all surfaces that had biological debris or fluids etc so the family does not have to see orsmell anything.
As has already been stated, there are professional companies that handle this for a fee. Expecting your County to have a special squad is ignorant. Do you want to pay higher taxes to support it? What about rural counties where the need for this is infrequent? Should we just pay taxes to pay the squad members to sit around between infrequent jobs?
Seriously? Why in the world would you think it is the coroner office's job to do this clean up? Sorry, it's your problem. Why should a county have such a "team" that would rarely be needed and taxpayers on the hook for. Maybe people helllbent on killing themselves should think beforehand and do it outside.
Its also a dangerous bio hazard . Companys with special equipment do this for you . Huge mental health risk to do it your self . Heard of a man blew his brains out in the woods because his grandaughter had exposed him as a peodophile . Glad he choose the woods not the house . Ive listed a cleaning company incase I die at home and am not found until decayed . Big problem now a days .
I used to do removals. We picked up a gentleman from the hospital and drove back to funeral home which was about 30 mins away and when got back to put him in refrigeration I uncovered his face and he was bleeding pretty badly from his left nostril. Was a bit of a mess to clean. But yea there are some not so fun things to deal with when you're one of the first people to come into contact when the human body starts to enter that stage of death.
Two days before my first patient died of natural causes (95 years old a) his organs were shutting down , he would cough due to his heart failing and tons of black clotted liquidy fluid with what seemed to be chunks of his bowels flowed from his rectum ..it was just coming out non stop , it smelled like rotting blood...I had never seen that before , I remember trying to clean it up but more would just keep coming out .the smell almost made me gag , I had to turn my face a few times because it was so bad, and I did not want him to feel bad ,as I had cared for him for so long before his death... I knew it was time to call hospice when he was leaking non stop for over a day , finally he had nothing left in him and it stopped. Any idea what it could have been ? It reminded me of decaying organ tissue ,black, sticky liquidy clots...with a smell like no other .
Paul, I'm a nurse too and I think it may have something to do with dealing with gross stuff the whole work shift while having to suppress your natural response (so as not to hurt your patients' and their families' feelings). So then when you finally get home, the last thing you want to deal with is hearing a gross sound or seeing something gross.
I've heard stories from my great aunt that was 83 yrs old when she passes away that back in her time people had a (sleep sickness) where doctors said the patient was dead & they were buried alive also back then they didnt seal vaults when the buried people & cemeteries would flood & caskets would rise to the surface & some of the people were found ripping out their hair & signs of a struggle from being buried alive. Have you ever heard of this? Or any stories about it?
Quick question for you, how long does the embalming last in the body before it dissipates and the body can start to decompose? Or does it ever dissipate? If not how does the body decompose when preserved?
When we arrived at the family residence, we would ask if any member wished to pay respects BEFORE we took any action. We would then request family to pop into other room so we could do the necessary. This allowed us to temporary pack mouth/ nose etc & place deceased on plastic to avoid leakage on floor. Then wrap deceased in a sheet to contain any leakage etc. This ensured families were not embarrassed or upset through liquids or worse. Must add that they were very appreciative of our actions. 🇬🇧…..
I had a downstairs neighbour killed (she was raped and stabbed, nearly decapitated). The first Responders were literally running out the door, vomiting in the bushes. It was horrid.
As a funeral director, curious how do you clean up the fluids mentioned? How do you protect yourself from the fluids? The possible diseases you could get, from the fluids? I understand that they’re natural and it’s a normal thing. Why don’t funeral directors where suits/and gloves while caring for the bodies for the purposes of protection?
Hi, Kari. I’m a new fan. I have a question. I have a friend who is a death worker, and they said that decomposing bodies smell similar to decomposing potatoes. It’s a curiosity for me because if I ever do decide to go into death work, it would make part of it easier to mentally process.
I hate to be "the one" who thought to ask this next type of question, I figured while you just came out with this video answering some of these type of questions it would best best to ask now 😏... If you feel comfortable and it's not too graphic/respectful then I apologize in advance, I just know others are always wondering. What have been some of the "worse, tradgic,gruesome, sad,and or horrible" (all above however one would prevue it) things that you have seen/encountered/dealt with a deceased body etc.? I hope I asked this in the utmost respectful way esp. Towards someone's loved one. Thank you for everything you do. I truly mean that, I sure wish I was close to your area because I would make the arrangements in advance to be sure that you handled not only myself but my own loved ones when that time comes. Such a compassionate caring and professional loving person you are! 🤗
i worked with a guy, his best friend was a funeral director. his friend said it was rare but sometimes he could feel someone was watching him. does that sound true to you?
I have a question about drowning. My son died in a car accident where the car ended upside down in a creek. This was during blizzard like conditions. The coroner report stated cause of death drowning. It said period of time was minutes. What does that mean? How many minutes? Did he suffer? Was he in shock from freezing water? My worst fear is he was stuck upside down and couldn't get his seat belt off. The driver and my son were still buckled in. They were found by a search party around 33 hrs of being discovered missing. Went into the creek at 1:30 am Saturday morning. Found on Sunday Feb 14th at 9:30am. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I wish I had all the answers for you as I am sure you replay what might have happened often. He may have been unconscious and not able to get out of the car and drown as a result of that.
I worked as a CNA in a nursing home so death occurs pretty regular there.It was our Rules that when someone died,unless the family was going to ask for a autopsy( almost never), we were expected to wash the body & put them in a clean Johnny. I definitely had bodies expel urine or poop. I sometimes heard what sounds like groaning when air expels. I had 1 man whose eye’s kept popping open even after I closed them.It didn’t freak me out but I had a trainee with me the day the man both groaned & his eyes kept opening. Poor girl ran out & quit that same day. I hope because we moved the bodies so much that hopefully the funeral directors had less to deal with.
question... what do u do if a body is already in the decomposition stage or was in a bad accident and there face is messed up but family still wants an oen casket funeral can/do u say no?
I hope no matter how long you have been in your business you still treat bodies with dignity when no one is watching. I have seen a funeral person pick up a body and stuff Clorox wipes up someone’s nose and stuff their mouth with them as well. To me that is disgusting and everyone should know about their post mortem practice and be shut down. That person still was loved by a family!
Hi Kari ☺ Since I was a small child I've always had a fear of dead people, funeral homes, and cemeteries. I've never had a bad experience with any. I'm not sure if the fear comes from being a big fan of horror movies. The Night of the Living Dead being one of my favorites. Lol. These types of movies don't scare me. I just love the adrenaline rush. I love roller coasters also. The fear of cemeteries has really lessened as an adult. But funeral homes and dead people still terrify me. Ugh! My grandmother used to tell me, "the dead people you don't need to worry about, it's the live ones that will hurt you." So, I just wanted to tell you that all of your videos about the funeral home procedures from beginning to end as well as cremation are educating me. And I'm praying they will lessen my fears. 🤔 Also, I don't have a fear of dying. As a Christian I know I don't need to fear this. So, thank you Kari for your time, patience, and education. I truly appreciate what you do. You have been a blessing to me.👌🏻😊
If you have a gag reflex stay the hell out of the industry.I do bio hazard clean up and grama clean up and I found out fast the smell of decomp.I had to shave my beard off cuz the decomp was so strong it saturated my beard.
Kari Northey I used to think being a CSI would be cool until I realized how sensitive I am to smells 😬 I'll stick to living people or embalmed cadavers lol Also, I've heard of a corpse flower which supposedly smella like something rotting but I'm not sure how accurate that smell is 🤔
And with that, I'm out. I desperately wanted to get into this industry so I could truly care for those who have passed on and to care for their living family and friends during such a difficult time. However, I could absolutely not handle this kind of stuff. It pisses me off and makes me furious with myself for being "weak", but I now know I could not do it. Heartbreaking. 💔
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I cleaned my husband before hospice got there then changed him again before funeral director came . My husband only urinated right after death . I even turned his head to the side and with towels let he yellow stuff empty out . Again washed him . He died very peacefully in my arms . Had cancer but was not in pain , asked me to hold him . I knew he was dying and did as he wanted . My soulmate .
He sounds truly loved. 💘 may you find peace in this difficult time xx
My condolences.
Jeanne Connolly so very sorry for your huge loss. Praying you too, are at peace
So sorry for your loss. God bless you.
Jeanne Connolly 💔😢
husband died in my arms in hospital while 11 paramedics, drs and nurses were taking turns doing cpr. he had had a heart attack at home but no one knew it. walked to the ambulance himself joking and saying he didn't need an ambulance and died just inside hospital doors. after 20 mins of cpr they got him back. was on a ventilator and doing well while dr was on phone with helicopter when he took another huge heart attack and though they fought another 45 mins there was no saving him. he had needed a heart transplant but wasn't approved but had been approved the night before for an artificial heart. he had just turned 47 9 days earlier much too young to be gone. dr's said a 2nd heart attack would kill him and he was to die by age 35. well he lasted til 47 and it took 4 attacks to end his life. my beloved husband of nearly 26 yrs died in my arms the same as we began our life together at the alter. RIP Rodger 1964-2011 u are loved and missed still.
Shelley G I’m so sorry for your loss..
Shelley G aaawweee💔🙏🏼💕so very sorry for your horrible loss!!😔😔I can guarantee he is now your guardian angel😇😘..I just will never understand Why??God takes all of them sooo early..I can relate to your story cause I just lost😞💔a close friend in March,due to a massive heart attack...she was 51 yrs old n in the prime of her life!!!..🤔Just will never understand ☹️??Please stay strong n faithful,You will be in my loving💜💜thoughts☺️☺️and prayers 🛐✝️...May God Watch Over You💖✝️💖✝️💖✝️💖
@@michaelesillsbury3488 thank u so much. i truly believe god is watching over me and i have felt hubby's presense many times when things were hard so i know he is doing what he can from the other side. yes too many good ones lost way too young yet so many evil in jail live to ripe old ages. hard to understand i agree. thank u for your prayers and loving comments. they are much appreciated. sorry for the loss of your dear friend also. hugs.
I’m so sorry 😞 my mother JUST HAD a successful heart transplant in 2018 - she too had a very bad heart / dealt with CHF - the heart she received was very weak when first put in but she pushed through and spent a year in the hospital after an she is now running laps around us and her grandkids. im so sorry to hear about your husband - from the sound of it he was a fighter and was VERY STRONG. Bless you.
@Jb 318 he was always underweight until about a year after we got married when between my good cooking, having enough food and dr's putting him on medication for unknown conditions that he started gaining weight. he was diagnosed diabetic at 27 and we suspect he had heart problems since small boy which just went unnoticed. so yeah by 27 he was a bit overweight but not obese or anything. they found out during his quad bypass at 32 that his arteries in his heart remained size of newborn babies. never grew. he was insulin resistant and backwards to all things typical for a diabetic so specialists couldn't figure out how to treat him. we would have to feed him sugar to get his levels to go down and stay down. proper diet they went up to like 32 and stayed there. dieticians diet he would gain like 14 lbs in 2 wks. eating whatever he wanted he would lose weight. nothing made sense with him. insulin made him worse and pills only worked short term then he became immune. he was very overweight by time he died and was only 5 ft 6.5 in. tall. he was on 42 pills a day and 6 shots of insulin and 3 puffers and 100% blind from eye hemorrhages. had had 6 or 7 eye surgeries by that time as well trying to keep his vision. at one point he was on 32 needles a day of insulin. dr said it wasn't working just making him fat so took him off all but a few shots. new specialist but by the time we found her and she was good it was too late.
What a gift you are to families in their time of need.
Definitely
I've been an RN for 22 years but I've considered going back to become a mortician. At least they don't talk back (and if they do, then my services are not needed).
Greg Crabb I work in customer service and this is my exact response when I’m asked why I would ever want to become a mortician. The dead don’t cop an attitude! 😂
I wonder how many of us nurses have contemplated becoming morticians. My dad was one before I was born and left to become a CHP officer. There seems to be a lot in common among these vocations.
But you may have family members that are not to respectful Just Pray.
Hey Greg, you're gonna meet alot of rich,single women!! Go for it! Plus, dental gold is up to $19.00 an ounce!!
I love how kind and careful she is with her words. In a weird sort of way she is helping me cope with my mother's death and what happened to her body. I don't know why I have trouble letting go at the physical side but these videos have helped me a great deal
Thank you so much!!
Wow I feel the exact same way about my grandma‘s passing. I thought I was the only one and I too also thought it was weird. I’m glad I’m not alone.
Awww, I'm sorry for your loss. That's normal, how you feel. This is why we have funerals and memorials, they're for US, not the dead. WE need to be able to say goodbye and have that time to cope and grieve and process. Very normal, especially when it comes to a parent or child. Don't worry so much about why, just know that it's normal and it takes time, but it will get some easier in time. Losing my dad, my fiance and my daughter were the hardest things I've gone through in life and it was SO hard to let go of the physical and accept that I wouldn't be able to touch or feel or hear or smell them anymore, I felt like I was dying too. Idk how or exactly when that frantic feeling went away, but it eventually did... I still struggle 2yrs after losing my fiance, but it does keep getting a Lil easier. Same thing happened with my daughter 2010 and with my dad who passed in 2016. Some days are still HARD and always will be, I'm sure, but it dies become easier.
@@Lady_Curry ♥
@@MariaAbrams Aww sorry for your losses, my heart goes out to you. My God you are a strong woman. I agree with everything you said wholeheartedly. I do have lots of videos of my grandmother to reflect back to see and hear her voice, with doing so that sort of keeps me grounded. However there are days when I wake up in a good mood feeling great and BOOM it hits me like a ton of bricks, tears just start flowing out of nowhere. But the good out ways the bad and I’m pushing myself and staying motivated as I know my grandmother would want me to be. I and think of all the good times we shared. Thanks for sharing your story. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Kari, thank you. I lost my mom a month and a half ago and I was SO relieved to see the care, respect and dedication you give to decedants under your care. I know it's silly but I took care of mom for 5 years and in back of my mind I always hope she was treated with the same respect I would have given her and your video gave me great comfort. Thank you for being an exemplary mortician and showing how good, qualified professionals handle our loved ones. ❤
I lost my dad in 2013 to a heart attack and had to sign the removal of life support papers as my parents weren't married. He was only 49. I am so lucky as I found an absolutely lovely funeral home in Atlanta. I think it was family owned or something small, they only charged me the bare minimum for the cremation and the urn. I got a chapel for an hour at no cost, and as I was barely able to pay it off over months after she let me take my dad home. I will never forget that woman and what she did for me. She lost her father young so I believe she understood more than most folks did at the time. The doctors and nurses at the hospital didn't really explain things to me as to what would happen as I watched him die. So as he was turning pale and grey it freaked me out for a minute. My mother had to tell me. I think the freakiest thing afterwards was the fact that his mouth fell open, and stayed open. Oh man that was tough. I held his hand and spoke to him but watching my mom hold him in her arms and cry as he died was SO hard. Thank god there are some honest good folk like yourself out there Kari. Makes the grieving process a lot easier. New subscriber and wanted to share my story.
It was hard, I don't know how you guys do it. I've always been fascinated with death but more from the medical aspect of things. You do an excellent job of explanation without going sensationalism on us. I could deal with a lot of things honestly but the smell would get me. Just the smell.
My dad died in 2013 as well. He was 52 and a mortician!! He started at 16!! I’ve heard about the calls he went on with my uncle (who passed a month ago)when they were younger!! It takes special people to be in this industry and boy did he have it!! Watching videos for familiarity!! Keep up the great work!!!
You do such a good job of depicting both the difficulty and the special grace of being present when a loved one dies. Thank you for sharing your story!
Wow I couldn’t do that when my dad passed away in the hospital to see him that day in a coma so yellow on tubes cannot even respond to anyone was enough of a shock for me My mom and my older sister was there after they took the tubes out of him. Took like eight hours for him to finally pass away no fuckin way I could do that I totally give you a shit load of credit to stay with your dad after he died right there and when he was turning grey color skin wise
May his soul rest in peace
When i was a medic we kept wintergreen oil in the rig and hit our noses with it before going in
You are so caring and compassionate.
Yes she is
I worked for a good friend who owns a funeral home on and off for 20 years and I am still amazed at how much I learn from watching your videos. Thank you for your great work.
I L💜VE how you explain these delicate issues. In a calm, soft way.
I am a loving💜💜 person as you are...You have a very gentle n soft demeanor about yourself that just shines!!!...Your Amazing 😇😉 n that’s why I follow😍😍 you n watch you constantly!!🙏🏼🙏🏼💖💖💖
Lol ok
Yes absolutely agree with you definitely one of the best
Might be a good idea to wear ppe just in case....
Just cremate me with out embalming and put my ashes in a tin coffee can. Let’s Wrap it up. Call it a day.😂
You desire to have your ashes placed into a tin coffee can? What is your last name, Maxwell House?
You desire to have your ashes placed into a tin coffee can? What is your last name, Maxwell House?
@@dewittbrewer5306 Folgers
That’s the way to go! My will states to bury my ashes beneath my lemon tree. My life will in turn give life.
😂😂
Lately I find myself watching these kind of videos & I stress myself out with the thought of losing someone close to me. I think to myself that I’m watching these videos to “prepare” myself for the worst, but in reality, I’m just getting more paranoid about it. I’m scared to lose anyone, the feeling is unbearable. I lost my grandfather last year & he is basically the reason why I’m so scared of death. I miss him so much. I wouldn’t want to lose someone else.
I honestly don't know how you do it. I know death happens to everyone, it is inevitable, i just wish there was an easier way to handle it. My respects to you. (I'm real happy you replied. I'm a new subscriber & your channel is helping me cope, & I learn something new with every video I watch. Thank you!)
I started watching these videos a few months back. I had no idea why something told me to click the videos because the kept popping up in recommends
A month ago my grandma was dying and passed a few days later. Nothing really prepares you because now I’m just still sort of lost and have so many questions.
Kari, your videos are done professionally yet so compassionately. I discovered you toward the end of my husband’s life. Many nights when I couldn’t sleep I would watch them to start preparing myself for the inevitable. Thankfully he died peacefully at home, blew me a kiss and was gone. Nothing happened after. That was a blessing as funeral home didn’t get to leave with him for six hours. Immediate cremation. Easy as could be under the circumstances. I felt your videos helped me feel good about our/my decisions.
I have worked my entire life as a CNA and such things have happened to me. I have even had a body sit straight up during the bathing process. A reaction to a nerve that haven’t died yet. Scared the bejueezus out of me!!!!
Oh my God I dont think I'd survive myself if that happened while I was bathing somebody 😱😱😭
I'm a CNA as well and have watched a lot of people actively die. I've done post mortem care on countless of people. I actually get an adrenaline rush having to clean up dead ppl.(kinda weird I know) but it excites me for some reason
abbylane62 Same here; I was an RN for thirty years, “retired “ from that, became a CNA. Ohhhh, the stories I/we could tell! It’s how we’ve made our living!
Tammie Williams You’re performing a great corporal work of mercy; I get the same buzz as well...it’s why we do what we do!
Subwaygirl NYC yes some of the stories I have would really freek most people out. Bet you have some good one too!
I'm starting school in a month to be a funeral director and mortician and am so excited to be in this field of work. I watch your videos all the time!
Hi Kari, I am a RN and mother has always wanted me to be a mortician. I chosed nursing instead. You are so informative. Had you been around 25 years ago I would have taken this path for sure.💕
Thank you!
I have a friend who's worked in a funeral home for years and she said her 1st day was awful. She spent her breaks crying in the bathroom then went home and got raging drunk and never cried again she said. She somehow figured out how to get past that. She said she's come close a couple other times, once was after a school shooting (I can't imagine), but like she said, it's not her loss, she can't get that involved or she can't do her job. I'm so happy there are people like you guys who can do this, I couldn't. I cry too easily and I cry for everyone and the harder I try not to, the worse it gets lol. But I'm relieved to know there's some good people out there to take care of us when we pass. ♥
Oh no!
I think it’s sad to think they’d say not her loss..
Great video explaining what happens to the deceased body. No one really tells you these things and when your bereaved not knowing these things can be especially upsetting when you lose a loved one.
My grandmother died early this year,in her apartment and well......I learned that the smell of a dead body is one of the worst smells there is.
Sorry for your loss. Remember her for the good memories.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Just absolutely horrid, right???!!! Ugh..vomit inducing. Um, lady, you can be gagging!!!
This is why daily contact with the elderly is a good idea.
I am sorry that your grandmother died, even alone. When a corpse smells terrible, that is a sign of decomposition. The corpse has remained in the place for some time. I pray that Great God will take care of you through this mean time.
I appreciate your expression of caring. I think that's probably the most value a funeral director gives to the community. Thanks for making this video!
Thank you for your service. I have worked as a commercial/hazmat scene cleaner and I have responded to numerous suicide, crime, and unattended death scenes. People ask me why I smoke filter cigarillos and never inhale the smoke. It is a habit developed from using tobacco to relieve some of the odors of some scenes.
Interesting thank you!
thanks for sharing, seriuosly. I was a paramedic 23 yrs of my life so I can relate. thanks for being there.
Mother died with dignity at home, in her sleep at 95, here in NYC. One police officer stayed and had coffee with us. He was part of the precinct group dispatched to come to the house after our 911 call. This officer shared a few stories with me, after the funeral directors had removed mom's body. Our mother was fortunate and.... 'died neat'. Throughout her home care by my sis and I (3 yrs or so) she was often bathed, dressed daily in clean clothing, manicured and had her hair done. She was also diapered, due to longtime incontinence, and by the time she passed, had not eaten for several days. We were also lucky that we had 'the conversation' most families dread. And we knew what to do, were able to carry out mother's wishes with no guilt or hesitation, since she had articulated them, early on. Still there is no avoiding the distasteful things that must be dealt with - when a dead human body begins to decay, especially if no one discovers remains of the person who has died, or some trauma happens. Experience helps, and the thought kept clearly in mind: this "smelly thing".. WAS actually once, not long ago - a beloved. Somebody's dad, someone's grandma, child, spouse...and they did not always look that way.
Cynthia Hawkins my son is NYPD AND has gone on those calls. What precinct did your mom live in. He works in Queens
Cynthia Hawkins huu
Cynthia Hawkin
Why did you call 911? Instead of a funeral home?
@@scharf74
That may be procedure. A doctor must certify that a person has died and I believe there are also police papers depending on your jurisdiction. If you feel stressed out dial 9!1 (9-9-9 in the UK). Tell them you believe someone has died in your home.
Stumbled on to your channel. Your incredible to be able to just handle the grossest things ever imagined. You do a great job just explaining the basic and natural way that it all happens. Unlocking the mystery of death.
You have the best attitude, so down to earth and caring. I love the no nonsense way you present information, straightforward and honest. Keep up the great work.
Thank you!!
Afterthought: Being a funeral director requires enormous sensitivity and understanding. Putting yourself in the family's place, addressing their concerns. Which, for all the facts and support you receive, can still provoke anxiety..For example, when the police signed off and released mother's body to be taken for cremation, I warmly remember the two men who arrived. They brought the van, parked it outside. They wheeled in a conveyance (the gurney). They were dressed in 'civvies', not medical white suits. And, instead of a 'body bag' they had what looked like a large, fuzzy, green soft blanket. They carefully wrapped mother in it, and the impression I was left with? Just like she was going away for a sleepover. Well, I suppose she WAS..an Eternal one!! :-)) Body bags are enough to terrify anyone - and I realize there are cases of course when they MUST be used. But I remember thinking how kind, and what a gentle gesture that simple thing was. Since mother had died only hours before, and was still diapered her corpse would not 'spill'. All the same, I thanked them later for their amazing degree of caring.
Ive also had first hand experience with rude, greedy, insensitive ones too
The body bag for my husband one year ago disturbed me very much. You’re lucky to have a good experience.
Gypsy Treasures u
Why would you want to burn up twice? Lol
@@gypsytreasures3856 me too. Completely ignored me as if I WAS DECEASED didn't acknowledge me. No eye contact. No verbal response. Blatantly LIED to my face. This was whoever the BUM was that was sent to pick up my DAUGHTER last year. Bad enough I was dealing with the skock and heartbreak of losing a child by myself,I was treated like total trash by the "pick up guy". I have nightmares of how I was treated!!!
As usual, you handle this difficult subject with openness and sensitivity, reminding us of the humanity of the person who has died and that they have history we will never completely know. You have a true gift for your vocation, and are, in your less obvious way, a healer.
Thanks! It is natural and it going to happen to all of us as death is a part of life. It's nature.
I literally think I would die if I heard a corpse gurgle, sigh or see them suddenly jerk if I were alone in a room working on the deceased. I would be that person gagging and vomiting! I tip my hat to you and all who work in the mortuary field. You are special and amazing people!
God bless you. Definitely your loving calling
Funeral directors are my kind of people.
Uujbbjjj
Your going to die so get used to the
I thought everybody knew this . Maybe my being a nurse is why I know. Death is messy . I think it's the most undignified thing we do in our lives.
As nurses we might overlook that most people don’t know these things. Death can be messy but it doesn’t have to be undignified.
I’m a nurse also. I think the thing that’s most difficult for me is suctioning, and it’s the sound more than anything. I just try to quietly and calmly talk to my pt while I do it so I’m focusing on that and the task rather than the noise sticking out. But yes, death is messy. It absolutely must be kept as dignified as possible for the pt. I treat them as I would want my loved one treated.
Not everybody is taught about that fact of life which is what happens after a person dies. Death leaves a stench of a mess in homicide cases and decomposing in a single place.
@@courtney6126 May Gracious Great God bless you and your endeavors, for He knows that your mission would be at times difficult to manage, even by yourself.
@@captainkeyboard1007 as you hide behind your “keyboard” and profile w no actual photo or name, I’m well aware of both aspects and have seen both. Please don’t comment on something you have no experience coming from. Thanks and have a great day.
When my father passed, I found him 15 hours after. Rigor had set in & he had expelled bodily fluids. He was a large man, & had diabetes . he had gone hypo & not reached his insulin fast enough, hence falling into a coma and passing from ketoacidosis. I wanted to look after him myself because I knew that would be the last time I would be with him. He was not a pretty sight after the autopsy, let alone when I found him. But I stayed with him & took care of his body. More families should know they are able to care for their loved ones themselves. It really helped my grieving.
Autopsy?
What is hypo? Is there more to that word?. I was wondering if it matches a word my doctor used and I cant remember the rest of the word and I forgot to ask him what the word meant?
Lisa Lane hypoglycemic possibly!
LOL 😂 baby goo!
But seriously thank you for addressing in such detail this difficult yet pertinent question!
Just one point of view:
If you think working with a dead body is really gross, you might want to choose another profession. As an RN I have had to care for many dying and dead people. If you’re considering a job in the healthcare or death care industry, it pretty much goes with the job that shit will fly, literally. I hope it would help you to know, I’m in a professional state of mind (this is actively acquired over time with experience), and, when faced with specific real-life situations where some body fluid or gas leaks, I don’t actually get too grossed-out, I just deal with it (and react later, in private, if I have to). Honestly, it just isn’t a big deal.
Thank you so much for explaining the... less fun parts of this process in such a respectful manner while still going into detail! Tonight is my first night on call at the local funeral home, and I definitely feel a little more prepared!
How on earth can anyone do this job? it's beyond belief that someone can actually have the stomach for it
It's a good job we have people that do !!!
Some of us do, and it’s our calling. Wouldn’t you want someone to take care of your family to be able to handle it? To treat your family member with respect and love?
She is SPOT ON in her description of what it is like.
It’s a person. And we love them.
Wouldn't be able to do it. I'm just very thankful that some people have the stomach for it.
I'd it that much different fro m being a medical doctor who learned human anatomy by working with cadavers and doing autopsies .
I thought delivering babies involved dealing with gross things
I have to agree with you. I will never understand. You are all pretty amazing. I often wonder about Medical Examiners to. Now that has to be a very just unbelievably gross, sickening job. Can’t believe there are people that do that.
You Are Awesome! And you are a very wise woman. Your voice is so soothing ! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and stories with us !!!
Thank you so much 🤗
I was a CNA and in my first year of nursing school when I helped hospice staff get a decedent ready for family viewing at the center. I had seen death before, but this body moaned and spewed out bile when we turned him. I nearly dropped from fright. The nurse I was helping talked me thru it- reminding me of his disease process and how the lungs still contain air at death. Now I'm the one calming families and CNAs.
Very nice!
Your phrasing is always so thoughtful. It’s very professional and caring!
I never knew you made a video about this! ❤️ thank you for answering my questions.
In the movie Backdraft in the morgue scene of an investigation of a death by fire when the deceased is rolled back into a flat position there is a gurgling sound made. NOTE for those who are squeamish the body shown is badly burned. When I first had seen the movie I thought it was someone off camera goofing around I had no idea that sound(s) actually can happen
I’m a care assistant & seen many elderly people pass away over the 20 years of doing care work & yep I’ve seen all bodily fluids coming out of them, it’s gross at first but you get used to it
Thank you for being so careing to families ❤💙💜💛
That means so much
I find it amazing, if not disgusting, when somebody says they don't mind the gurgling, snot flow, release of fecal and urine matter, mucus, or ANY other unpleasantry a baby can and DOES supply, BUT they can't tolerate or stomach when a deceased body does the same things when or after it passes away. When are people going to come to grips with the fact that life goes full circle in one's lifetime. You are a baby in the beginning, and you are in a big kind of way a baby when you die. The only difference in the two are that one represents the beginning, and the other represents the end.
Thank you
You are so respectful, and show that death and what a body can go through is normal --- what kind of protective measures do you take so fluids do not come in contact with your skin ? Can you add protection--besides gloves--in front of family...? And what do you do for the smell ? thanks ahead of time !
You did a terrific job of explaining everything possibly repulsive in a way that helped me out mentally. I would like to start school next yr. I do have a thing w mucus but I can grit my teeth and bear it but your talk really helps any mind frame and deal a lot better.
Thank you!
@@KaritheMortician welcome 😊
For as long as I can remember, my biggest fear is dying. I only think about it at night time but I can literally cry if I let myself think about it. I feel like I was born just to fear my death sometimes. Yeah it’s a serious issue for me. I am so jealous of those that are welcoming of death. Just being honest.
Sarah Maitland I fear it also. I know that I will be with Jesus when I leave this life. But I am terrified of how and when I will die. Sometimes it keeps me awake at night.
I feel the same way the thought of never seeing anything again final extinction really scares me
Just found u.... Ur a doll I love how u explain an get across the truth of the job of death. Thank You for what u do. It's an honorable profession. Thank you
After my aunt passed last spring the funeral home was wonderful they let us know that if we wished we could be as much a part of preparring her for her viewing as we wished, I was only able to go help dress her bc I couldn't handle seeing her before her embalming process just bc I didn't want to remember her that way. It does help the family so much when a funeral home is wonderful.
I know this is unrelated but i sure think kari is a very pretty woman..and very kind ..what a great catch for someone ..i really like her
Kari Northey ...yes he better..enjoy your channel😌
You truly seem so sweet and just down to earth real! I really like your channel and I’m glad I fell into it somehow! These are good things to know and the best thing about it is your channel is not frightening or scary in anyway!!! Death is not scary to me, but sometimes can be presented that way with the ghoulish things! And, I just don’t care for that!
Which is what draws me to always watch your videos. They are high class and in such good taste! You are really appreciated! And, yes!!! Let the hubbs know!! We all tend to take spouses for granted every now and then, but it’s good to get that reminder, not to!!❤️😘
Kari is awesome. I'm a new subscriber but have been watching her for a while now. She definitely has the ideal nature and personality to do what she does. She's great and yes very beautiful. I love her hair hehe 😊
Swing and a miss.. lmao!
U r a jerk. She's married and has a real man I'm sure.
Hi another question and thank you. When my mother was buried we kept her rings on the body. I wondered if there is concern grave diggers remove valuables from bodies before they finish the burial?
Kari Northey thank you..makes me feel better
Your videos are by far the most informative of anyone on UA-cam. 👍
You are a strong lady. Alot of men couldn't handle that stuff. I admire your strong constitution Kari. What a special lady you are.
I'VE HEARD ALOT ABT THIS BEFORE ESPECIALLY IF A PERSON WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT THEN ONCE EVERYTHING IS REMOVED IT PUTS YOU IN MIND OF HEARD DRAIN PIPES THING SETTLING. I MOST DEFINITELY COULDN'T HAVE A JOB LIKE THIS BUT BLESS YOUR HEART
I'm so thankful for people like you that can deal with all the gross things. Not everyone can do that so thank you for what you do.😊
:) thanks
I wanted to be a mortician. For some reason, I wanted to change the industry to make all funeral directors be exactly as you are: compassionate, understanding, kind and sensitive to the family. I apprenticed with a wonderful man who I grew up admiring. Doing all the dirty work was not a problem for me, it was when a baby came in. I just couldn’t handle it. Thank you for being the way you are.
You are welcome!
Kari friend used to and may still remove deceased and theyre not always recently deceased but can be weeks or months old.
I asked him about it and he's replied "as soon as you get home strip and wash it, and you won't get the smell out if your clothes"
Hot weather doesn't help things either as 1 might imagine.
Called out to a job 1 afternoon .
(Car accident) was someone her knew so they sent someone else.
Ernest Hemingway wrote about the Spanish Flu of 1918 and I vividly recall his comment that he made in his famous bullfighting book “Death in the Afternoon”
“You know how a you know a person with the flu has died? He sh*ts the bed full.”
That struck me so hard as a 9 year old, when I read Hemingway, that it tormented me for ever....
Love how you keep it real!!! As usual, I learn so much from you!!! You're amazing!!!
She is my go-to person for anything I want to know. Her calming spirit is amazing. I just love her. 🤗🤗
Aww thank yoU!!
When my husband was in the dying process he had white foam coming out of his nostril profusely..I had called hospice as I was awaken by the death rattle early that morning. The nurse told me to just keep wiping the foam away..which of course I did...I wanted to keep my husband at home...he died of pancreatic cancer that morning. But I was never told what was the cause of all of that white foam...I almost used a whole box of tissue.
I am so sorry for those memories for you
Thank you. Part of my job in the ED was to see all deceased when brought in DOA or was an ED Death and to gather information for the Medical Examiner. Interesting seeing all different causes of death and giving as much support to loved ones.
:)
I was told once that they plugged openings where fluid could leak out( ?).
Takes a special person to do this job and I certainly never could. Thankful for those who care and can!
Thank you!
I have watched several of your videos. I am quite appreciative of the highly descriptive nature with which you have answered questions. Moreover, the extreme sensitivity with which all questions are handled highlights your professionalism and passion for the industry.
You bring up so many points ive never even given a 2nd thought to. Ive never had to deal with anything like you & your commenters speak of. Thanks for your expertise & patience. 🙏❤😊
My mother left me suddenly on a Sunday night. She had a massive heart attack. Ironically, she had just seen her doctor. Friday night, she seemed fine. Saturday evening was when she became sick. She said her stomach was hurting her, and she was going to bed. When Sunday morning came , she was still abed. I knew she didn't feel well, but I never thought heart attack. Long story short, tho it was 30 yrs ago it still hurts. I was 31, when she died. I'm 62 now. By 6pm Feb. 20. 1991, she transitioned. And she died 9yrs & 2days after my dad, who transitioned 2/8/82. He had long cancer. It wasn't the cancer that killed him. It was a blood clot. He was 66.
Thank you for sharing about your loved ones.
Hi Kari - you are an awesome person for sure! It is so important what you do. Thank you.
Thank you so much!
My father's sister had married a funeral director so she took my father under her wing and they tried to groom him into the business. When my mother met my father he told her he couldn't handle it because the bodies would sit up sometimes. Mind you this was back in the 1950's but as you explained that can't happen. Thank you
This career sounds interesting and rewarding, but I opted out of this path because I just don’t have the stomach for this kind of stuff. I know that it’s normal, but sights and smells would get to me right away. God bless the people who can do this and do it well.
I'd love to be a mortician or embalmer, I have worked as a first call removal service and for the Coroner office for removal of many types of deaths from natural to car accidents and homicides and suicides, not pretty at times, you are right decomposing are the worst especially when I worked in the DESERT alot...a week in 100 plus degrees before found...
I don't need to tell you,
I am a retired Registered Nurse and I can certainly empathize with funeral directors. I worked for a long time in ICU so I have had to deal with all the above. We had a lot of deaths so I also did my share of post-mortem (sp?)care, so I got it both ways. ;-)
I recently learned from a friend who witnessed a suicide in her home (shotgun blast to head) that apparently coroner's offices will not remove or clean up the residuary remains (e.g. body organs or parts of the body, spilled bodily fluids, etc.) that remain on private property when removing the body itself. This revelation just stunned me. So what's the family to do with "Johnny's" brain tissue pieces, skull fragments, blood stains, etc. scattered all over their living room carpeting and walls after the body itself and all the forensic detectives have left the scene? It's not like they can call in Merry Maids or even ServPro to handle such a task. The answer is: they had to clean it up THEMSELVES, b.i.o.n.. How insane and emotionally difficult to do!
I think every county coroner's office should have a Special Services Team that goes in after the body has been removed in such cases to, with dignity and following HazMat protocols, finish the job. Please let your local county commissioners know of this idea and urge them to press the issue to your county coroner's office.
atty garland I can assure that is fact. My cousin committed suicide with a rifle and pretty much decapitated himself. My aunt and uncle got home from church to find him. After his body was removed, they were responsible to either clean it up or have a company do it. My aunt did it. She actually picked up hundreds of pieces of brain matter, etc. She then let a cleaning company come in and tear up carpeting, etc. I seriously still cannot imagine. This was after my oldest cousin died on her prom night in a car accident.
@@scrapper900 THere are numerous companies that handle ALL the cleanup even to the point of removing and replacing damaged floorboards carpeting etc. They completely disinfect all surfaces that had biological debris or fluids etc so the family does not have to see orsmell anything.
As has already been stated, there are professional companies that handle this for a fee. Expecting your County to have a special squad is ignorant. Do you want to pay higher taxes to support it? What about rural counties where the need for this is infrequent? Should we just pay taxes to pay the squad members to sit around between infrequent jobs?
Seriously? Why in the world would you think it is the coroner office's job to do this clean up? Sorry, it's your problem. Why should a county have such a "team" that would rarely be needed and taxpayers on the hook for. Maybe people helllbent on killing themselves should think beforehand and do it outside.
Its also a dangerous bio hazard . Companys with special equipment do this for you . Huge mental health risk to do it your self . Heard of a man blew his brains out in the woods because his grandaughter had exposed him as a peodophile . Glad he choose the woods not the house . Ive listed a cleaning company incase I die at home and am not found until decayed . Big problem now a days .
I used to do removals. We picked up a gentleman from the hospital and drove back to funeral home which was about 30 mins away and when got back to put him in refrigeration I uncovered his face and he was bleeding pretty badly from his left nostril. Was a bit of a mess to clean. But yea there are some not so fun things to deal with when you're one of the first people to come into contact when the human body starts to enter that stage of death.
Glad someone told the truth about things we don’t understand.
Always truthful!
Two days before my first patient died of natural causes (95 years old a) his organs were shutting down , he would cough due to his heart failing and tons of black clotted liquidy fluid with what seemed to be chunks of his bowels flowed from his rectum ..it was just coming out non stop , it smelled like rotting blood...I had never seen that before , I remember trying to clean it up but more would just keep coming out .the smell almost made me gag , I had to turn my face a few times because it was so bad, and I did not want him to feel bad ,as I had cared for him for so long before his death... I knew it was time to call hospice when he was leaking non stop for over a day , finally he had nothing left in him and it stopped. Any idea what it could have been ? It reminded me of decaying organ tissue ,black, sticky liquidy clots...with a smell like no other .
I like your style. When it comes to death I'm not sqeamish but if someone , alive, pukes near me, I'm outta there! Subbed!
Is suicide bodies hard to prepare I know as a EMT those scenes are hard to deal with just wondering hopefully the question is ok
You are a saint. I could never deal with that. My wife is a nurse and she can't deal with flem at home.
Paul, I'm a nurse too and I think it may have something to do with dealing with gross stuff the whole work shift while having to suppress your natural response (so as not to hurt your patients' and their families' feelings). So then when you finally get home, the last thing you want to deal with is hearing a gross sound or seeing something gross.
I've heard stories from my great aunt that was 83 yrs old when she passes away that back in her time people had a (sleep sickness) where doctors said the patient was dead & they were buried alive also back then they didnt seal vaults when the buried people & cemeteries would flood & caskets would rise to the surface & some of the people were found ripping out their hair & signs of a struggle from being buried alive. Have you ever heard of this? Or any stories about it?
Yes they used to put in bells and such just in case that happened
When you strap a body on the cot and get on the road then hit a bump you will definitely hear air released.
Quick question for you, how long does the embalming last in the body before it dissipates and the body can start to decompose? Or does it ever dissipate? If not how does the body decompose when preserved?
Kari Northey interesting! I will research that further! Thank you for answering me so quickly! Your videos are great
Thank you for being such a sensitive person for us.
You are so welcome
When we arrived at the family residence, we would ask if any member wished to pay respects BEFORE we took any action. We would then request family to pop into other room so we could do the necessary. This allowed us to temporary pack mouth/ nose etc & place deceased on plastic to avoid leakage on floor. Then wrap deceased in a sheet to contain any leakage etc.
This ensured families were not embarrassed or upset through liquids or worse.
Must add that they were very appreciative of our actions. 🇬🇧…..
thank you for sharing
I had a downstairs neighbour killed (she was raped and stabbed, nearly decapitated). The first Responders were literally running out the door, vomiting in the bushes. It was horrid.
As a funeral director, curious how do you clean up the fluids mentioned? How do you protect yourself from the fluids? The possible diseases you could get, from the fluids? I understand that they’re natural and it’s a normal thing. Why don’t funeral directors where suits/and gloves while caring for the bodies for the purposes of protection?
Hi Kari,
If decomposition has occurred to a degree, is embalming still done? I mean, can embalming fix this?
Hi, Kari. I’m a new fan. I have a question. I have a friend who is a death worker, and they said that decomposing bodies smell similar to decomposing potatoes. It’s a curiosity for me because if I ever do decide to go into death work, it would make part of it easier to mentally process.
Interesting now I have to go let some potatoes rot and see!!
I recently found your channel and really enjoy it alot more so than a few well known channel's on here...
I hate to be "the one" who thought to ask this next type of question, I figured while you just came out with this video answering some of these type of questions it would best best to ask now 😏... If you feel comfortable and it's not too graphic/respectful then I apologize in advance, I just know others are always wondering. What have been some of the "worse, tradgic,gruesome, sad,and or horrible" (all above however one would prevue it) things that you have seen/encountered/dealt with a deceased body etc.? I hope I asked this in the utmost respectful way esp. Towards someone's loved one. Thank you for everything you do. I truly mean that, I sure wish I was close to your area because I would make the arrangements in advance to be sure that you handled not only myself but my own loved ones when that time comes. Such a compassionate caring and professional loving person you are! 🤗
i worked with a guy, his best friend was a funeral director. his friend said it was rare but sometimes he could feel someone was watching him. does that sound true to you?
I have a question about drowning. My son died in a car accident where the car ended upside down in a creek. This was during blizzard like conditions. The coroner report stated cause of death drowning. It said period of time was minutes. What does that mean? How many minutes? Did he suffer? Was he in shock from freezing water? My worst fear is he was stuck upside down and couldn't get his seat belt off. The driver and my son were still buckled in. They were found by a search party around 33 hrs of being discovered missing. Went into the creek at 1:30 am Saturday morning. Found on Sunday Feb 14th at 9:30am. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I wish I had all the answers for you as I am sure you replay what might have happened often. He may have been unconscious and not able to get out of the car and drown as a result of that.
@@KaritheMortician thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question.
I worked as a CNA in a nursing home so death occurs pretty regular there.It was our Rules that when someone died,unless the family was going to ask for a autopsy( almost never), we were expected to wash the body & put them in a clean Johnny. I definitely had bodies expel urine or poop. I sometimes heard what sounds like groaning when air expels. I had 1 man whose eye’s kept popping open even after I closed them.It didn’t freak me out but I had a trainee with me the day the man both groaned & his eyes kept opening. Poor girl ran out & quit that same day. I hope because we moved the bodies so much that hopefully the funeral directors had less to deal with.
Thank you for sharing this!
New to your page but want to tell you I think you're a sweetheart of a person.
question... what do u do if a body is already in the decomposition stage or was in a bad accident and there face is messed up but family still wants an oen casket funeral can/do u say no?
I hope no matter how long you have been in your business you still treat bodies with dignity when no one is watching. I have seen a funeral person pick up a body and stuff Clorox wipes up someone’s nose and stuff their mouth with them as well. To me that is disgusting and everyone should know about their post mortem practice and be shut down. That person still was loved by a family!
During Covid many new practices were happening to protect the living.
You are Wonderful about what you do. We Thank you!!!
Happy my job is programming computers. Although, I appreciate the fact that I will require the services of a professional like you someday.
Hi Kari ☺ Since I was a small child I've always had a fear of dead people, funeral homes, and cemeteries. I've never had a bad experience with any.
I'm not sure if the fear comes from being a big fan of horror movies. The Night of the Living Dead being one of my favorites. Lol. These types of movies don't scare me. I just love the adrenaline rush. I love roller coasters also.
The fear of cemeteries has really lessened as an adult. But funeral homes and dead people still terrify me. Ugh! My grandmother used to tell me, "the dead people you don't need to worry about, it's the live ones that will hurt you."
So, I just wanted to tell you that all of your videos about the funeral home procedures from beginning to end as well as cremation are educating me. And I'm praying they will lessen my fears. 🤔
Also, I don't have a fear of dying. As a Christian I know I don't need to fear this.
So, thank you Kari for your time, patience, and education. I truly appreciate what you do. You have been a blessing to me.👌🏻😊
Vickie Byrd right there with ya. Keep getting educated, eventually the fear will subside.
A very strong and compassionate Christian Woman. 🕇✔💯
If you have a gag reflex stay the hell out of the industry.I do bio hazard clean up and grama clean up and I found out fast the smell of decomp.I had to shave my beard off cuz the decomp was so strong it saturated my beard.
I hear you. It's a smell like none other and once you smell it, you never forget it!
Kari Northey I used to think being a CSI would be cool until I realized how sensitive I am to smells 😬 I'll stick to living people or embalmed cadavers lol
Also, I've heard of a corpse flower which supposedly smella like something rotting but I'm not sure how accurate that smell is 🤔
Brandon Roberts I have never smelled it thank god,but I have heard that once you smell the odor of decomp, you will never,ever forget it
And with that, I'm out. I desperately wanted to get into this industry so I could truly care for those who have passed on and to care for their living family and friends during such a difficult time. However, I could absolutely not handle this kind of stuff. It pisses me off and makes me furious with myself for being "weak", but I now know I could not do it. Heartbreaking. 💔
Ostaraeb4, burn victims are the worst.