By Paula Mitchell
The writer has noted the number of deaths each week in The Pendleton Times. This means only one thing — that the population dynamic of the county is fast changing. The rite of the deceased has certainly changed from the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries.
In those days of yore, communities assisted families with the burial of the deceased, often washing and dressing the body, and holding wakes to ensure the deceased hadn’t “woken.” This ritual, along with the funeral, often took place in the home.
Funeral practices had some detailed processes.
After washing, dressing, the deceased was laid out in the home. The body was usually prepared in a simple robe after which the body was kept in the home for several days before burial.
The mourning period varied. The widow might mourn for two-and-a-half years, with some choosing to wear black for the rest of their lives. A husband or wife might mourn from one to two years while a parent or grandparent from six months to a year. A child mourned their parents for a year, and a mother mourned their child for a year. Brothers and sisters mourned from six to eight months, and the mourning for uncles, aunts and cousins was six weeks to three months.
Services were often held in the home or church, with minimal ceremony and no sermons or eulogies. Burials would take place in the family yard, family cemetery (usually on a hill), or in a local graveyard.
Pallbearers, often younger men, carried the coffin, sometimes with elders walking alongside holding the pall.
Grave markers were initially simple, often wood or engraved stones, but later became more elaborate. Men would dig the grave, often taking a day or two, depending on the soil/rock encountered in the process. Oftentimes, river stones served as a headstone for those unable to afford a memorial with writing inscriptions.
As always, time changes. The Civil War led to the widespread use of embalming to preserve the soldiers’ bodies for transport home. With the rise of embalming and funeral arrangement complexities, “undertakers,” who later were known as funeral directors, began to take on the responsibility of taking on the funeral and arrangements.
Funeral homes then arrived on the scene. Services such as casket selection and embalming became an everyday choice with funerals taking place either at the funeral chapel or in the place of worship.
Today, families are encouraged to incorporate unique elements to the service, such as video tributes, virtual funerals, online tributes, and themed services. Funerals are increasingly seen as a celebration of the deceased’s life, rather than a somber event. Memorial donations are often given to the deceased wishes of the charity of choice, and sympathy cards sent to the family.
Life’s little instructions include the following:
- Flush toilets in public restrooms.
- Give up one’s seat to someone who needs it more.
- Respect the line…no cutting.
- Knock before entering a closed door.
- Don’t gossip about someone who isn’t present.
Although Earth Day is celebrated April 22, trash pickup can be anytime, but most especially during the month of April before snakes arrive on the scene. Taking a stroll in the evenings with a Walmart bag is a great way to clean up around the home vicinity.
Quotes for the week are as follows: “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” — Oprah Winfrey “Never interrupt someone doing something you said couldn’t be done.” — Amelia Earhart “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the worst thing you can do is nothing.” — Theodore Roosevelt “When you win, nothing hurts.” — Joe Namath “Nothing is secret once you tell anyone. If you want to keep it quiet, don’t tell a soul.” — Richard Chamberlain.
Outside in a lawn chair is the best place to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
St. John Lutheran Church hosted a youth sleepover this past Friday. Sleep was the last thing on their minds as they enjoyed playing games, crafts, jumping in the bounce house, and eating pizza.
Friendly hummingbirds should make their appearance anytime in April. Filling their feeders with sugar water (not colored) is a sure way to welcome them back to the neighborhood.
Jim and Linda Rexrode’s forsythia bushes are a golden sight to behold. One can motor around to behold the beauty of spring.
Pidge Anderson has her vegetables and flowers planted and soon ready for those wishing to have a garden and do the beautification of one’s yard. The “happy smile” is all set to welcome the motorists who travel to Sugar Grove.
Tom and Paula Mitchell have returned from visiting their daughter, Janelle, Destiny, and Jace in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Wesley, Becky, Ben, Emma and Nathan Puffenbarger, and Robert, Nancy, Matt and Robby Hodges spent the weekend at Lane Anna along with Andrew, Natalie and Bach Hodges celebrating Andrew’s 50th birthday.
Motoring to Northern Virginia to attend a friend’s funeral on Friday was Phil Downs.
Brenda Fisher and Judy Rader joined the senior citizens on a bus trip to Washington, D.C., to see the Cherry Blossoms and other sights.
Attending the Bryan Bland funeral on Monday were Phil Downs, K.D. Puffenbarger, Ronnie Pitsenbarger, Wanda Pitsenbarger, Joanne Moyers, and Evelyn Varner.
Rita and John Todd enjoyed the wedding of their daughter, Sara, to Steve Tichnor, Saturday. The couple plans to make their residence in Rainelle.
Wanda Pitsenbarger of Franklin has reported that she has enjoyed several messes of dandelion that she harvested from her garden. She says that the dandelion is everywhere.
This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- The space between a person’s nostrils is called columella nasi.
- Honey never spills.
- The longest walking distance in the world is 14,000 miles.
- The bat is the only mammal that can fly.
- The Netherlands has no official capital city. Although Amsterdam is the most well-known and serves as the country’s cultural hub.
Concerns are for the following: the Elizabeth Alt family, Charles Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Dave Basagic, Allen Beachler, the Bryan Bland family, Liz and Mick Bodkin, “Bo” Boggs, Patty Chapman, Marie Cole, the Robert Cook family, Stanley Dahmer, the Thomas DeByl family, Phil Downs, Jennifer Errett, Isaac Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, the “Buck” Geary family, David Gillespie, the Lola Graham family, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Donald Hedrick, Hannah Hedrick, Jack and Starr Hedrick, George Hevener, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, the Virgil Homan, Jr. family, Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie Horst, the Arlin Dale Jamison family, Linda Jones, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, the Ralph “Pete” Keplinger family, Tom and Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, O’Dell Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Donna Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Audree Marsh, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, Jim Moats, Helen Nash, Rick Neil, Aaron Nelson, Angie Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Terri Parker, Wilma Pitsenbarger Rexrode, Andy Pond, Janice Propst, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Marilyn Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Tom Rader, Willard Rader, Brandon Reel, the Cheryl Reichard family, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Jenny Ruddle, Mary Sawyers, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Natalie Stephenson, Nelson Simmons, Tonya Simon, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Ed and Carolyn Smith, Natalie Stephenson, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Gary, Carol, and Jon Swecker, the Turner family, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Estelle Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer, Christians persecuted around the world, people of war ravaged countries and families affected by natural disasters.
