Death in America

Death in American, culturally, centers around denial. In other cultures, people view death as a natural progression in the cycle of life. Most Americans shy away from any conversation, preferring not to talk about death at all.

Euphemisms Abound

When death does approach, as it always will, we often use euphemisms such as “passed on,” “passed away” or even “expired” rather than to say “dead” or “died.” What’s more, most Americans fail to plan for their own deaths. This is a shame, since “Pre-arranging/Pre-Planning” a funeral could make the foreseeable death much easier on family members left behind. In the absence of clear cultural norms regarding funeral details, most Americans push the planning aside until it is too late.

Estate Planning & Death

When it comes to wills, estate planning, and disposition of property, death is treated as something “optional” and eventually catches up with the family involved. While Americans do not like to talk about death, we often iconize dead people. This is especially true when a celebrity dies prematurely. The recent passing of celebrities such as Olivia Newton John and Anne Heche remind us of our own immortality. However, whenever possible, we avoid talking about the inevitability of our own demise.

Death in the Public Eye

Insurance companies advertise plans to meet “your final expenses.” Once death arrives, its victims are not “dead.” Instead, they are “loved ones,” “the departed,” “the deceased,” the “late so and so.” Rather than burial, the dead are “laid to rest” or “sent to their reward.” Those about to die are “terminally ill” or “imminent.”

Death in the Family

Through much of American history, death… sometimes by violence and often by sudden disease, was an everyday experience. People died at home and were cared for by their family. They were bathed, dressed, and laid out in the parlor of their homes by their relatives.

Old Age & Death

Today death is remote. Although some people die at home, most will die in a nursing homes, hospitals, or hospices. When they die, they do so in an institutional structure that may not include supportive families or ingrained cultural rituals for the acceptance of the death.

On the Plus Side

At the same time, a deep sense of Optimism and Hope emerges as part of the American psyche. Death in our American minds is something for the distant future. And we hope they invent a cure before we get there. Even if we do plan to die, many of us predict (or at least hope) that we will be too old and feeble to know the difference. In any case, death in America is optional until proven otherwise. We do not like to talk about it.

The Cost

By keeping death at a distance, Americans face a heavy emotional cost. At funerals, dressed in black, we bravely attempt to meet the dignity of the occasion with dry eyes. Tears and wailing are reserved for undignified people in other countries. In fact, these other cultures have organized ways of showing and expressing grief that many Americans lack. In place of organized grieving, without the support of each other, many Americans prefer not to memorialize their dead or choose not to attend a funeral or memorial service of a close relative or friend.

Death at a Funeral Home

For the funeral home, death is an everyday occurrence. For our client, it is a sudden shock. People rarely plan for funerals and burials even when someone they love is slow to die. Under such circumstances, the funeral industry has the decided advantage over the consumer.

• Funerals are expensive,many times unnecessarily so.
• Grieving survivors of the dead person often purchase needless items.
• Foothill Funeral, however, is a place where you can shop around for the right prices and services.
• Remember that if you are planning a funeral, the less money you spend… the more that will be left for the survivors to continue.
• It is better to show respect for the dead person by leaving the survivors with the money they need to survive than by giving it to a greedy, high priced funeral home. The dead person can’t tell the difference.

About Foothill Funeral & Cremation

We plan to incorporate Aquamation into our service offerings shortly. Drop by our Glendora showroom any time. In Covina, our relationship with Sacred Heart Chapel is the perfect place for mourners to host funerals and memorial services in a grandiose yet intimate setting. We proudly serve the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Basin, Orange County, and the Inland Empire. Working in the mortuary industry since 1996, we have worked hard to build a reputation of quality, sincerity, and trust. Please allow us to help you at your time of need or in the future. Call today (626) 335-0615 or drop by our showroom.