| Richard was the main undertaker in a rural town which meant that he knew most of the people that he buried. He remembers one particular harrowing car crash where six local young people lost their lives. Some of the difficulties of the job was finding reliable drivers for his hearse – a lot of the fellas would like a drink – and the other was making the coffins, which he had to do himself as there was a shortage of them during the war years. His son, Pat Healy, worked in the family business as a teenager and eventually took over the business when he married his wife, Cora. Cora was terrified of death but gradually got used to living and working in the burying business. An undertaker must be prepared at all times for any type of death. As soon as the phone rings they must be ready to deal with any type of situation. Their main priority is to speak with the bereaved family and find out exactly what they want for their loved one. The best-laid plans of undertakers do go wrong and a sign of a good undertaker is to make a virtue of necessity. Staying calm when things go wrong is vital to the job of an undertaker. What happens when the hearse breaks down on the way to the church? You must be able to think on your feet. The business has changed over the years and it is important to up-skill and move with the times. Embalming a dead body and hygiene have become a vital part of working with the dead. With the passage of time and the cost of burials will cremations be the funeral of choice? How do undertakers handle the sensitive issue of getting paid for the job they did? First Broadcast 30th July 1989 |
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Documentary on One: The Undertakers Art
