Confessions of a Funeral Director: How Death Saved My Life

Sixth-generation funeral director Caleb Wilde understands the reticence and fear of death and discovered that caring for the deceased and their loved ones was making a difference in their lives. He offers an intimate look into the business and a new perspective on living and dying.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2018
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc

We humans, as a species, possess an innate fear of death, a primal instinct to prolong our existence as long as possible. However, we have become skilled at avoiding and ignoring this inevitable fate, often delegating our final arrangements to professionals.

Sixth-generation funeral director Caleb Wilde understands this reluctance and fear. Growing up, he had envisioned himself pursuing a different path, away from the family business. He yearned to make a meaningful impact on the world, but he questioned how he could achieve that amidst a profession centered around death.

Yet, as he immersed himself in the world of funeral service, Wilde gradually realized that caring for the deceased and their loved ones was not only impacting the lives of others but also rescuing his own. A profound sense of spirituality began to emerge as he observed various poignant moments:

• The family who lovingly dressed their deceased father for his burial, symbolizing their deep love and respect.
• The act of embalming a little girl, offering her grieving family a precious gift of closure.
• The nursing home that honored a woman's life by standing in procession as her body was taken away, symbolizing the community's collective grief and respect.
• The funeral that united a conflicted community, bringing people together in a shared experience of loss and healing.

Through his storytelling, Wilde offers an intimate glimpse into the world of funeral service, blending humor and poignancy to shed light on the complexities of living and dying. His experiences challenge our preconceptions and encourage us to embrace death as a natural part of life, recognizing the beauty and significance that can arise from it.

Weight: 180g
Dimension: 199 x 156 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780062465252