Been waiting for this video for a while. I left England when I was 21, and have been stateside ever since. What these guys do is more or less standard practice in the U.K. funeral industry. The walk with the cane and top hat is normally just from the house where the deceased lived. And the director will walk to the main road then get in the car. When my mum passed in 2018 the walk was supposed to have been from the pub car park to the main road, but a beer truck blocked that so the walk never happened. I think it is good to point out that 85% of people in the U.K. are cremated. Mums service was entirely at the crematorium. When the service was over we laid a rose on the coffin and were led out through a side door to look at the flowers. While we did this another service is ushered in to the cremation chapel. The flowers were left on stands at the crematorium. Often the ashes are not ready for a day or so as the crematorium gets so busy. I prefer the U.K. funeral service to here. I think here it all seems a bit casual, and often you have to pallbear which is just another stress to deal with. That funeral home is very wealthy. Most of the funeral homes I encountered back home were a simple shop front with maybe a tiny room out back for viewing.
I think though, on the whole, whether it is a simple shop front or a firm like this one you'll get the same level of refinement. I think this is one area where back in the U.K. is still uncorrupted and sacrosanct. Including any and no religion as well. You can't force this passion. I think America could learn quite a bit, and would find a great deal of comfort in it as well.
THANK YOU Kari for showing us how it's done in the U.K. It's wonderful to see a Funeral home show such deep respect for the deceased and their Family. This is how it should be, and shows even more what we are lacking here in the U.S. (specificly in my area). It's obvious the horror that occurred during my Dads funeral in Denton Texas would have never happened there. It looks like they wouldn't have ever risked the life of a Family member and the safety of the deceased in the hearse as the funeral home did with us. Laying a loved one to rest is hard, but should not be made harder with actions from the very people we pay to help us in those hard times! God bless those Men and Women who show true respect in their work. Stay safe everyone.
I'm from the UK. My mum had a lady with top hat. We lived on main road & the lady stood Infront of the hearse & walked to the next junction. They have little viewing rooms the size of a bathroom, called the chapel of rest. It was nice to see the staff bow to my mum's coffin with respect. It's nice to have old English traditions❤️
I'm a funeral director from England, I am working for my family business which is 103 years old! Me and my younger sister are the fifth generation and we are so proud that our family has been able to help other families within our community through which could have been the worst time of their lives throughout the last century! My Auntie (now 'the boss') and my dear grandad (now retired) both passed their embalming diplomas as well as their diplomas in funeral directing (I've got a Dip.FAA and Dip.FD). I love your videos, especially your comparison video of how things are so different from how we work to how you work in the USA. It's crazy how different our funerals/paperwork/coffins/viewings/time until the funerals are in comparison to yours! Just to update you regarding prices and regulations, funeral homes that are registered with the National Association of Funeral Directors are now legally required to put their prices online and also make sure they're visible within the funeral home. Thank you for providing such interesting videos about the differences between British and American funerals! Thoroughly enjoyed them! Thanks again and take care! You're Awesome 🙂 💕 xoxo
That's amazing! Were you the London funeral home that was featured in a documentary series on the BBC I think it was? The funeral director had two daughters and at the time the series aired the daughter was the youngest undertaker in the uk?
Kari, when I die, which may be sooner than I think, I desperately want to have a true Victorian funeral. The Horse-Drawn Hearse is VERY important to me. It is proving to be a VERY difficult process. I have always wanted this, and my mother raised me in the old world style and I learned funeral etiquette. No one here in the USA (especially WA where I live) seems to know or care about. I can only hope my sons and husband will find me a way to have my final ride by horse and a real, Victorian funeral. Thank you for posting this! You are a blessing and God will reward all of you, both US & UK
Excellent video! Well worth the wait! I like the tradition of bringing the deceased to the home to pick up the family and I like the traditions with the flowers. It is clear that Uden and Sons treats every deceased and family member with the utmost care, honor and reverence. A class act all the way around. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Thank you to Kari, Uden and Sons, and the family of the deceased who were kind enough to share their sacred moments with us. 🙏❤️🇬🇧
How absolutely classy and so respectful. So respectful. The deceased was treated with the utmost dignity and care. Thank you Uden and Sons and thank you Kari for a glimpse into the traditional English funeral.
It’s quite a British tradition (in the Midlands at least) to also have family carry the coffin on their shoulders into & out of church. They also allow family to do the hand lowering at burial. My husband is 39 and has already done this 3 times for close family members.
This is a great video. The funerals are done in a nice way from what I saw in England. I like the open glass hearses and horse and buggies. The funeral home staff dressed in morning coats and top hats is a nice touch. The only time I have seen caskets placed directly on the shoulders of pallbearers without touching the handles was in Montreal. It was a military honor guard that were pallbearers.
Congrats!!! Luv the UK as I have family over there. Their customs are a bit different.....but I was always impressed with the amount of detail..time......respect and love that went into their services. So happy you got such an incredible opportunity to visit and provide us with this amazing experience with us. Thank you for your dedication and energy you put into your channel. Have a blessed Thanksgiving in this uncertain time. Blessings n Peace Robb in ST LOU!!! LOL
Watching the gentlemen now to the decedent pops one word into my brain: Class. How wonderfully respectful, for the person and their loved ones. Thank you to everyone on both sides of the pond involved with the experience in this video.
Thank you for sharing this Kari! The gravesites are beautiful! And the level of reverence they display toward the deceased and the family is so impressive! Is it true that the British are appalled by our traditions of wakes and open caskets?
as a British person i can say i am not at all appalled by your traditions. we don't have the public viewings as you do but we still go and see our loved ones, i don't think that is a huge difference. some people have their loved ones at home the morning of the funeral with an open casket for people to come pay their respects so i think that is likely similar to what you do. we have refreshments and talk while waiting for the cars to come collect us, often the flowers are placed outside the house at that time. this video is just one example of many different ways we do things.
I'm British and not appalled at all, I love the traditions in the UK but there is so much that I equally love about the funerary industry in the US. I love that the families can spend lots of time with their loved ones in the Chapel of rest and that the casket is open etc in the US, I think that's truly beautiful. There are so many amazing aspects of funerals in the UK and the US. Both different but both professional and exceptional. X
I’ve always been so interested in the way the U.S do funerals and everything that goes with it e.g, embalming, viewing etc. it was nice to see you come to England! 🇬🇧
This is not normal tbh most funeral homes have maybe 2 limos and 1 heaurse. This was a very big operation. I didn’t see, but I think it was a London funeral home where there is def more business due to the population.
Thank you Kari. We've been waiting for this one. 👍 Very well presented. We would hope that our funeral directors, while maybe not being as formal, would still be as caring and attentive to details.
Thank you for sharing your experience learning about and working with a funeral director in England. I love the British and it was so interesting to learn about their customs in the funeral industry.
Great to hear your views on the funeral industry here in England. It would be interesting to hear the views of an English funeral director on how things compare in the USA. Looked like Kari enjoyed the beer here too!
Kari, great insight to British funerals. W Uden and sons you are very professional. I am from Australia, I think we have both some British traditional and American ideas in Australia. W Uden and sons thank you for allowing an Australian to view your very good work.
Wow. Just amazing to see all of this! With the exception of my personal preference of viewings we have here, I think it's a beautiful operation they have in place. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Kari, thank you so much for showing and talking to us about your trip and experience, it was so wonderful to see. I'm so happy that they reached back out, to you to talk.
WOW! I would absolutely love to have been there. They are awesome in the way they do everything. Personal opinion, the photo of you in the top hat leading the procession is living room portrait worthy! Great video, as always.
Here in the small town where I live the flowers are left mounded on the grave. We have 2 IOOF cemeteries and several church cemeteries throughout the countryside. Of course the live plants and gifts go home with the family.
visited London in Dec.2018 and was hanging out at a pub by my hotel and I saw people needing a table to eat. I was finishing so I signaled to them and offered up my table of 4 for them to sit and eat as I was alone. The people sat down with me and wouldn't have me leave on their account .I stayed there for hours talking to them and laughing so much with them and the people next to me. The guy who sat with me with his girlfriend worked for a funeral home there, i learned a lot about how they do things there and we stay in touch now via FB, i look forward to a return to London, COVID screwed up my plans for this year. On a side note Kari if i may innocently....innocently say in the most complementary way possible....you are absolutely beautiful.
@@KaritheMortician Hi Kari. Very interesting video. What's the difference btwn a coffin vs casket? I've been watching various videos and saw one where the lady was to be cremated. As the curtain was closing, ding dong the witch is dead played. Pretty cool. Question: why no vault and why was the grave so deep? Enjoy watching you. Thank you and have a safe Thanksgiving.
@@KaritheMortician I noticed that and it kind of surprised me. Rolls Royce used to be the premier motor vehicle company used by the royal family. However, Price Phillip had a custom Range Rover hearse and the Queen had a custom Jag hearse. I also noticed that the royal family was transported around in Range Rovers.
That is so interesting. My son's girlfriend os from England and she loved this video. She knows of this funeral home and said it is as great as you say in the video
Amazing video!!! Very interesting that there is no vault and for the most part no embalming. It’s more about giving their lives one a beautiful send off, not about “eternal preservation” like what is popular here, which I understand wanting your loved one to remain as they were, but I like the idea of returning to the earth and allowing nature to take its course. I love your videos and the care and respect you give your families! -Jill
That is def the reason why it is done earth to earth. And tbh all of my family have been cremated. Both sets of grandparents and my mum too. People don’t do a lot of burial over there anymore.
By far, the hardest funeral I have ever attended, was my 63 year old father’s funeral, in March this year. My dad passed of Covid, in February. I was extremely disappointed with the funeral directors who handled my dad’s funeral. They lacked the ability to handle a blended family correctly. I could not view my dad, as he passed of Covid, but I did attend the funeral directors the day before his funeral. Firstly to ask to have 2 letters placed in his coffin (before they sealed his coffin). I presume they did that. I explained my situation with the director surrounding my stepmother, I explained I am the eldest child, and my daughter was his eldest grandchild and I asked them to treat us as such, and that we were to be treated in the same way as my stepmother. I also informed them that they were going to receive a spray of roses which we wanted to make sure were placed on his coffin. The day of the funeral, we were stopped from going in as ‘family’. When they brought my father in, the funeral directors left the flowers that my brother and I had purchased, in the hearse (everyone else’s flowers were on his coffin). It was horrendous and heartbreaking for both myself and my daughter. The funeral director did absolutely nothing I had asked him to do.
The words, "lawsuit" and "funeral home" should never have to be thought of, much less mentioned, at the same time, especially around a funeral home, but I would, at least, consider, and, or hint at to them, the possibility, just to send them a message about the way you were treated. This is totally uncalled for, and should be corrected, if at all possible. Be Blessed and comforted in knowing that God loves you and cares, even, if they don't.
@@gotrane The words 'He who pays the piper calls the tune' comes to mind. Whoever is paying the bill is the customer and that person's wishes are obeyed, otherwise there could be a dispute about the bill.
So interesting! Yes! It would be great to have some of them visit the funeral industry in America 🇺🇸. I’m sure they would enjoy the experience, as well. Thanks for sharing this!
This is fabulous Kari. Much the same as Ireland, especially rural Ireland. Before Covid-19 an Irish funeral and the wake was comparable to a wedding. A respectful celebration of the person’s life. Would love you to hook up with my tutor in Navan. He is extremely well known in the US, Europe and Australia and of course Ireland. He’s renowned in the embalming and reconstruction ( among other disciplines) in the deathcare industry. He’s the most down to earth man I’ve ever met. He is fascinating. Would love you to come to Ireland. You rock Kari xxx
@@KaritheMortician Technology is Technology, at times it does as it wishes. I have a $4,000 laptop that is made for video and audio editing and of course the internet. Even still, tech is tech.
Kari, if you ever ever decided to do this, as a British woman I'd move my entire family to where you are to work for you. You're an inspiration. Thanks so much for so much effort you put in. I really appreciate you xxxx
@@KaritheMortician You did say in a previous video ,That you saw traditional Funeral practices making a comeback rather than progressing to just cremation
Love this video...Udins are my local funeral directors from my home town. Loved recognising Bromley and Blackheath. You need to connect with Albins funeral directors too...they are traditional East End directors and have buried many famous and imfamous London people
Outside of the family, others do not go and view the body at the funeral home in the UK. Some families choose to have the body at their own home the day before the funeral and people view the body then and on the day of the funeral itself. After the funeral there is generally food laid on, as often people have travelled to be there and need sustenance for the journey home. Typically this is sandwiches with the crusts cut off and loaf cakes, drinks are usually sherry, port and tea. Outside of a eulogy at the funeral which is often given by a close friend or the minister, we don't all make speeches in the style of American funerals, but we all chat at the 'wake'. If you are thinking of adopting hats as part of your funeral wear. I suggest that you try equestrian dressage suppliers for black hats with veils and top hats.
Hello Kari hope you and your family are safe bring back alot memories for the wrong reasons but a great video how and what goes on behind the scenes proud to be British (Traditions)you cant beat it. Thanks Kari stay safe Russ 🇬🇧🇬🇧⚡⚡
I have just watched your video Kari,i found it fascinating viewing,i am so glad you enjoyed your experience with Uden +sons,i think we just take it for granted that these things happen for the famiies,the attention to detail was superb,i hope Matthew visits you to experience a funeral home in America,i will look forward to seeing that video.Once again thanks for your visit.
When I was in high school I had thoughts of becoming a funeral director or mortician. Write a school paper on it too. Don't know how I got turned around, didn't ever pursue it. I wonder what differences it could or would have made in my life. Still fascinated by it.
Sorry I’m a year late to the party but I hadn’t found you yet. Glad your girls got to go. This is fascinating. Not that you don’t do this but the attention to detail is meticulous. Doubt you’ll see this old video but it’s here but it’s here for posterity l. :)
Thank you soooooo much for sharing this video. It was a wonderful insight as to how other countries conduct their business. I hope you have the opportunity to travel to other countries and bring other traditions to your audience.
Love your channel, I think it would be interesting and cool if you contacted the funeral director where I live. He is now the only funeral director on the remote northern scottish island where I live, the only other director retired recently. He and his family built a purpose built funeral home about 5 or so yrs ago. Previously used a room in his family home as office space and had a storage facility for coffins. The nearest crematorium is a 90min ferry and 3hr drive away where they travel to with the deceased if a cremation was requested.
He has just had a new hearse custom built, it's a family business, he took over running the business after working alongside and being trained by his father for many years, they have a website and Facebook page if you'd like the details anytime. At funerals where I live it's often common for the families to announce only family flowers only for the funeral (local notices of the funeral details are posted online, in local shops and the local paper). Most funerals have a donation system that anyone attending can donate money instead of flowers and the money goes to charities or causes chosen by the family or a charity that was part of the deceased life, like cancer research, dementia charities, the care home facility etc.
This was a very in formidable vlog! Nice job Kari! The actual burial of that person was interesting, and they bury deep! Noticed the Dr Who Tardis coffin towards the video end! Wish we could see you conduct "swinging the stick" for lack of better term.
Hi Kari lovely watching this video. Bromley is 20 mins from me. I agree this Particular undertakers are one of the largest in the UK and a very meticulous. I have attended several funerals they have taken and the care they show to the family right at the end of the Burial is really commendable. All funeral Services are different and you are lucky you did not attend one of the African funerals that the Service last for over 2 hours. We do have private visitations for close families and friends the day before at the funeral home. Also there can be a wake / vigil in the church where the person can be viewed though not very common due to cost involved. In 2018 I attended 1 where the gentleman was laid at home for the wake/ vigil ( they had a very big house) On the day of the funeral depending on the request of the person the casket/ coffin is opened towards the end of the service ( this can be during the Holy Communion time) so as you walk up you view or just view if you do not want to partake. Saying this the video was very enlightening from a different perspective. Hope you and your family enjoyed your time in the UK💕
Hi Kari, I lived for around 20 years in the area of London covered by Uden's - they are probably one of the top Funeral Directors in the area, traditional yet modern, and locally held in very high regard. The extent of the floral tributes are very much dependent on the wishes and traditions of the bereaved family, some prefer many elaborate tributes as you witnessed, other families tend to go for simpler arrangements. The bereaved may also suggest "family flowers only", and ask other mourners to make donations to either a cause close to the deceased, or to a hospice or other charitable facility that supported their end of life care, instead of paying for floral tributes, which can be quite expensive. It was interesting to hear your take on the differences between US and British funeral arrangements and traditions.
Thank you so much for your feedback on this! I know my perception of the Uden's was based on a short time period so it is nice to know you locals feel that way too!
I would love for you to visit one of our rural communites. Where I live, funerals are not quite so hi-tech. The service is generally in a church. Male relatives and friends are the pall- bearers. We do have visitations in the 'chapel of rest' - usually an allotted room at the funeral directors. We don't have anyone leading the car on foot - but that's probably because the drivers round here are so reckless they might run over them... After the service in the cemetery, people have the wake at the family home, or pub, for sandwiches and booze. Someone always gets drunk, but it's allowed :). I hope you visit some of our older churchyards too: they have the most amazing old graves. You can see the 'fashions' change over the years and so many different styles. Sometimes I feel our funerals are just a little *too* regimented. They haven't changed much since Victorian times and to me feel more ritualistic than a celebration of a life. That said I do appreciate our local undertakers and the care they take.
I’m British (happen to work at a crematorium too) this video is a really good reflection on how we run funerals across the UK.
Thank you so much!!
This makes me proud to be british ❤️ Kari, thanks so much for sharing xx
My thoughts exactly Ma'am , however in reverse 💯🇦🇺
Been waiting for this video for a while. I left England when I was 21, and have been stateside ever since. What these guys do is more or less standard practice in the U.K. funeral industry. The walk with the cane and top hat is normally just from the house where the deceased lived. And the director will walk to the main road then get in the car. When my mum passed in 2018 the walk was supposed to have been from the pub car park to the main road, but a beer truck blocked that so the walk never happened. I think it is good to point out that 85% of people in the U.K. are cremated. Mums service was entirely at the crematorium. When the service was over we laid a rose on the coffin and were led out through a side door to look at the flowers. While we did this another service is ushered in to the cremation chapel. The flowers were left on stands at the crematorium. Often the ashes are not ready for a day or so as the crematorium gets so busy. I prefer the U.K. funeral service to here. I think here it all seems a bit casual, and often you have to pallbear which is just another stress to deal with. That funeral home is very wealthy. Most of the funeral homes I encountered back home were a simple shop front with maybe a tiny room out back for viewing.
What made you leave? I'm American and would give a whole lot to move over there!
I think though, on the whole, whether it is a simple shop front or a firm like this one you'll get the same level of refinement. I think this is one area where back in the U.K. is still uncorrupted and sacrosanct. Including any and no religion as well. You can't force this passion. I think America could learn quite a bit, and would find a great deal of comfort in it as well.
THANK YOU Kari for showing us how it's done in the U.K. It's wonderful to see a Funeral home show such deep respect for the deceased and their Family. This is how it should be, and shows even more what we are lacking here in the U.S. (specificly in my area). It's obvious the horror that occurred during my Dads funeral in Denton Texas would have never happened there. It looks like they wouldn't have ever risked the life of a Family member and the safety of the deceased in the hearse as the funeral home did with us. Laying a loved one to rest is hard, but should not be made harder with actions from the very people we pay to help us in those hard times! God bless those Men and Women who show true respect in their work. Stay safe everyone.
My goodness! What did they do to put you at risk? That's terrible! X
Cari Tommy Lewis of Lewis funeral home has went above the call of duty he treated me like family he was so awesome
I'm from the UK. My mum had a lady with top hat. We lived on main road & the lady stood Infront of the hearse & walked to the next junction. They have little viewing rooms the size of a bathroom, called the chapel of rest. It was nice to see the staff bow to my mum's coffin with respect. It's nice to have old English traditions❤️
Thank you for sharing
I'm a funeral director from England, I am working for my family business which is 103 years old! Me and my younger sister are the fifth generation and we are so proud that our family has been able to help other families within our community through which could have been the worst time of their lives throughout the last century! My Auntie (now 'the boss') and my dear grandad (now retired) both passed their embalming diplomas as well as their diplomas in funeral directing (I've got a Dip.FAA and Dip.FD).
I love your videos, especially your comparison video of how things are so different from how we work to how you work in the USA. It's crazy how different our funerals/paperwork/coffins/viewings/time until the funerals are in comparison to yours!
Just to update you regarding prices and regulations, funeral homes that are registered with the National Association of Funeral Directors are now legally required to put their prices online and also make sure they're visible within the funeral home.
Thank you for providing such interesting videos about the differences between British and American funerals! Thoroughly enjoyed them! Thanks again and take care! You're Awesome 🙂 💕 xoxo
That is amazing!! I would love to visit you if I come back.
That's amazing! Were you the London funeral home that was featured in a documentary series on the BBC I think it was? The funeral director had two daughters and at the time the series aired the daughter was the youngest undertaker in the uk?
They're so meticulous! Its beautiful!
It was stunning
We are very traditional here in Britain! So glad you had a great experience 🇬🇧❤️ xxx
Kari, when I die, which may be sooner than I think, I desperately want to have a true Victorian funeral. The Horse-Drawn Hearse is VERY important to me. It is proving to be a VERY difficult process. I have always wanted this, and my mother raised me in the old world style and I learned funeral etiquette. No one here in the USA (especially WA where I live) seems to know or care about. I can only hope my sons and husband will find me a way to have my final ride by horse and a real, Victorian funeral. Thank you for posting this! You are a blessing and God will reward all of you, both US & UK
Very much enjoyed the seeing the traditions .
Thank you!!
Excellent video! Well worth the wait! I like the tradition of bringing the deceased to the home to pick up the family and I like the traditions with the flowers. It is clear that Uden and Sons treats every deceased and family member with the utmost care, honor and reverence. A class act all the way around. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to Kari, Uden and Sons, and the family of the deceased who were kind enough to share their sacred moments with us. 🙏❤️🇬🇧
Thank you so much for the kind words!!
How absolutely classy and so respectful. So respectful. The deceased was treated with the utmost dignity and care. Thank you Uden and Sons and thank you Kari for a glimpse into the traditional English funeral.
Thank you!
Makes me proud to be British, how smart are they
I think we do funerals in the classiest way here ❤️🇬🇧
It’s quite a British tradition (in the Midlands at least) to also have family carry the coffin on their shoulders into & out of church. They also allow family to do the hand lowering at burial. My husband is 39 and has already done this 3 times for close family members.
Yes very true!
Thank you for covering this.it really is done with a lot of respect and dignity.
Such a show of respect
Yes!
This is a great video. The funerals are done in a nice way from what I saw in England. I like the open glass hearses and horse and buggies. The funeral home staff dressed in morning coats and top hats is a nice touch. The only time I have seen caskets placed directly on the shoulders of pallbearers without touching the handles was in Montreal. It was a military honor guard that were pallbearers.
Congrats!!! Luv the UK as I have family over there. Their customs are a bit different.....but I was always impressed with the amount of detail..time......respect and love that went into their services. So happy you got such an incredible opportunity to visit and provide us with this amazing experience with us. Thank you for your dedication and energy you put into your channel. Have a blessed Thanksgiving in this uncertain time. Blessings n Peace Robb in ST LOU!!! LOL
Thank you so much
Glad you had fun, cute picture of the girls
Watching the gentlemen now to the decedent pops one word into my brain: Class. How wonderfully respectful, for the person and their loved ones. Thank you to everyone on both sides of the pond involved with the experience in this video.
Thank you
Thank you for sharing this Kari! The gravesites are beautiful! And the level of reverence they display toward the deceased and the family is so impressive! Is it true that the British are appalled by our traditions of wakes and open caskets?
as a British person i can say i am not at all appalled by your traditions. we don't have the public viewings as you do but we still go and see our loved ones, i don't think that is a huge difference. some people have their loved ones at home the morning of the funeral with an open casket for people to come pay their respects so i think that is likely similar to what you do. we have refreshments and talk while waiting for the cars to come collect us, often the flowers are placed outside the house at that time. this video is just one example of many different ways we do things.
I'm British and not appalled at all, I love the traditions in the UK but there is so much that I equally love about the funerary industry in the US. I love that the families can spend lots of time with their loved ones in the Chapel of rest and that the casket is open etc in the US, I think that's truly beautiful. There are so many amazing aspects of funerals in the UK and the US. Both different but both professional and exceptional. X
As a UK resident of the past 60 years and from 18 having worked
As a UK resident for the past 60 yrs, working in a social care background and de
It was the norm to have open caskets etc over here but more recently it's not done for the most part.
I’ve always been so interested in the way the U.S do funerals and everything that goes with it e.g, embalming, viewing etc. it was nice to see you come to England! 🇬🇧
I'm a Brit living in the US (Salt Lake City, UT) so I found this video particularly interesting. Glad you and your family enjoyed the UK 🇬🇧 ❤ 🇺🇸
Glad you enjoyed it!
What an awesome trip.
It was amazing
@Kari the mortician, the last picture of you and your husband and little girls is beautiful! What a sweet little family you have 🙂
Thank you so much!
This was so GOOD! I got chills watching their craftsmanship. Stunning. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much!
Yes kari👌 I have waited for this. I'm so glad u love our beloved England xx
I don't think I have ever seen a single funeral home with so many cars for one facility. WOW!
They have huge fleets
Also a funeral home may hire in a car for that funeral.
This is not normal tbh most funeral homes have maybe 2 limos and 1 heaurse. This was a very big operation. I didn’t see, but I think it was a London funeral home where there is def more business due to the population.
Thank you Kari. We've been waiting for this one. 👍 Very well presented. We would hope that our funeral directors, while maybe not being as formal, would still be as caring and attentive to details.
Thank you for sharing your experience learning about and working with a funeral director in England. I love the British and it was so interesting to learn about their customs in the funeral industry.
Thank you!
Kari, this was amazing. Thank you for sharing this. I loved visiting England. The respect they show is wonderful. You looked so cute in the hat. ❤🌹
You are so welcome!
I like the funerals here in the UK they are done with such class and dignity xoxoxo
SO Beautiful.. such a gorgeous display of headstones a d flat art ones❤
A lot of love goes into their preparations!❤❤❤
Yes it does!
Thanks Kari! Very interesting and nice finally seeing Mr. Kari. :)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great to hear your views on the funeral industry here in England.
It would be interesting to hear the views of an English funeral director on how things compare in the USA. Looked like Kari enjoyed the beer here too!
Most definitely!
That was interesting kari, thanks!
Thank you!!
Kari, great insight to British funerals. W Uden and sons you are very professional. I am from Australia, I think we have both some British traditional and American ideas in Australia. W Uden and sons thank you for allowing an Australian to view your very good work.
Lovely! THank you!!
Thank you for sharing this experience with all of us.
Wow. Just amazing to see all of this! With the exception of my personal preference of viewings we have here, I think it's a beautiful operation they have in place. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Glad you enjoyed it!
That is so awesome the way they honor the deceased
Yes it was amazing!
I really enjoy your videos, they've got a lot of info. I'm also in Michigan.
Kari, thank you so much for showing and talking to us about your trip and experience, it was so wonderful to see. I'm so happy that they reached back out, to you to talk.
You are so welcome!
WOW! I would absolutely love to have been there. They are awesome in the way they do everything. Personal opinion, the photo of you in the top hat leading the procession is living room portrait worthy! Great video, as always.
Thanks so much!
That was awesome and very interesting!
Thank you!
Thank you Kari for sharing with us. Love your videos!! You have a beautiful family.
Thank you so much!
Here in the small town where I live the flowers are left mounded on the grave. We have 2 IOOF cemeteries and several church cemeteries throughout the countryside. Of course the live plants and gifts go home with the family.
Thank you
visited London in Dec.2018 and was hanging out at a pub by my hotel and I saw people needing a table to eat. I was finishing so I signaled to them and offered up my table of 4 for them to sit and eat as I was alone. The people sat down with me and wouldn't have me leave on their account .I stayed there for hours talking to them and laughing so much with them and the people next to me. The guy who sat with me with his girlfriend worked for a funeral home there, i learned a lot about how they do things there and we stay in touch now via FB, i look forward to a return to London, COVID screwed up my plans for this year. On a side note Kari if i may innocently....innocently say in the most complementary way possible....you are absolutely beautiful.
Awww thank you! Thanks for sharing that story!
I enjoyed seeing the different traditions
Glad you enjoyed
Brilliant, Kari; thank you!
Thank you!
Very interesting! Thank you for sharing this with us! 💜
Thank you for checking it out!!
@@KaritheMortician Hi Kari. Very interesting video. What's the difference btwn a coffin vs casket? I've been watching various videos and saw one where the lady was to be cremated. As the curtain was closing, ding dong the witch is dead played. Pretty cool. Question: why no vault and why was the grave so deep? Enjoy watching you. Thank you and have a safe Thanksgiving.
@@joycesmith9777 a casket is rectangular with 4 sides. A coffin tapers towards the feet and has 6 sides.
Hey that was great my husband is from England and we live in North Georgia
Very nice
Your content just gets BETTER AND BETTER!
CONGRADULATIONS on a great channel Ma'am!
Thank you so much!
Great video! So informative. Your dedication to your industry shows!
Thanks so much
I love the idea of a chapel at the cemetary for a final good bye. Love it.
:)
This is awesome and thank You. I’m so glad you had the opportunity, and took it, to visit. The Uden family was very gracious and I thank them too.
Glad you enjoyed it!
What A beautiful experience. I’m so glad you shared it, gives me a lot to think about.
Thank you!!
The Jaguar hearse looks very similar to the custom one designed by the Queen for her funeral. I love how they lift the coffin high and bow.
They use a lot of jags there
@@KaritheMortician I noticed that and it kind of surprised me. Rolls Royce used to be the premier motor vehicle company used by the royal family. However, Price Phillip had a custom Range Rover hearse and the Queen had a custom Jag hearse. I also noticed that the royal family was transported around in Range Rovers.
This was absolutely fantastic...thank you so much for doing this!
You are welcome!
Wow. Very cool. I guess you know what you need to do now. Can't forget the cane either, that swagger was on point.
Thanks so much!
This was absolutely fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it!
That is so interesting. My son's girlfriend os from England and she loved this video. She knows of this funeral home and said it is as great as you say in the video
Amazing video!!! Very interesting that there is no vault and for the most part no embalming. It’s more about giving their lives one a beautiful send off, not about “eternal preservation” like what is popular here, which I understand wanting your loved one to remain as they were, but I like the idea of returning to the earth and allowing nature to take its course. I love your videos and the care and respect you give your families! -Jill
Yes it is a wonderful way to do it
That is def the reason why it is done earth to earth. And tbh all of my family have been cremated. Both sets of grandparents and my mum too. People don’t do a lot of burial over there anymore.
What a beautiful experience for you
It was amazing!
Loved the honor love and respect shown to o the family and their loved one.
Thank you!
By far, the hardest funeral I have ever attended, was my 63 year old father’s funeral, in March this year. My dad passed of Covid, in February.
I was extremely disappointed with the funeral directors who handled my dad’s funeral.
They lacked the ability to handle a blended family correctly.
I could not view my dad, as he passed of Covid, but I did attend the funeral directors the day before his funeral. Firstly to ask to have 2 letters placed in his coffin (before they sealed his coffin). I presume they did that.
I explained my situation with the director surrounding my stepmother, I explained I am the eldest child, and my daughter was his eldest grandchild and I asked them to treat us as such, and that we were to be treated in the same way as my stepmother. I also informed them that they were going to receive a spray of roses which we wanted to make sure were placed on his coffin.
The day of the funeral, we were stopped from going in as ‘family’. When they brought my father in, the funeral directors left the flowers that my brother and I had purchased, in the hearse (everyone else’s flowers were on his coffin). It was horrendous and heartbreaking for both myself and my daughter. The funeral director did absolutely nothing I had asked him to do.
I am sorry you had such a heartbreak
The words, "lawsuit" and "funeral home" should never have to be thought of, much less mentioned, at the same time, especially around a funeral home, but I would, at least, consider, and, or hint at to them, the possibility, just to send them a message about the way you were treated. This is totally uncalled for, and should be corrected, if at all possible. Be Blessed and comforted in knowing that God loves you and cares, even, if they don't.
@@gotrane The words 'He who pays the piper calls the tune' comes to mind. Whoever is paying the bill is the customer and that person's wishes are obeyed, otherwise there could be a dispute about the bill.
Love the way you say America sounds like americar. Adorable
That's the Michigan accent for ya'!
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing this !
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Kari it’s midnight here in Sydney but no way was I missing this
Thank you so much for joining!!
Loved the video and was interested in the differences in the way they bury the deceased, etc. Thank-you for sharing.
You are welcome!
That was amazing! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
So interesting! Yes! It would be great to have some of them visit the funeral industry in America 🇺🇸.
I’m sure they would enjoy the experience, as well. Thanks for sharing this!
You are welcome!
Thank you. Informative . My mother’s father was from Essex and it’s good to know these traditions.
Glad you enjoyed it!
They are very organized and I love this! Thanks for sharing this video very informative!🤗
Thanks for watching!
This is fabulous Kari. Much the same as Ireland, especially rural Ireland. Before Covid-19 an Irish funeral and the wake was comparable to a wedding. A respectful celebration of the person’s life. Would love you to hook up with my tutor in Navan. He is extremely well known in the US, Europe and Australia and of course Ireland. He’s renowned in the embalming and reconstruction ( among other disciplines) in the deathcare industry. He’s the most down to earth man I’ve ever met. He is fascinating. Would love you to come to Ireland. You rock Kari xxx
Yes that is my next plan!!
WHat is his name?
Actually would you email me directly on it?
Hi Kari email sent xxx
So many similarities yet so many differences
So true
Good Morning Kari!
Happy Saturday!! I tried to set this up with the live chat but doesn’t seem to be working :(
@@KaritheMortician Technology is Technology, at times it does as it wishes. I have a $4,000 laptop that is made for video and audio editing and of course the internet. Even still, tech is tech.
I saw a video on this funeral home on TH-cam. It just popped up in my feed it was fascinating.
I would love to own a British Style funeral home. Own, not run.... I think people would love the service. I think it would be a fun startup!
Would be interesting to see if that style caught on
Kari, if you ever ever decided to do this, as a British woman I'd move my entire family to where you are to work for you. You're an inspiration. Thanks so much for so much effort you put in. I really appreciate you xxxx
@@KaritheMortician You did say in a previous video ,That you saw traditional Funeral practices making a comeback rather than progressing to just cremation
@@Warcrimeenthusiast I think she meant "Our American" traditional coming back, Not the UK. 😊💕
This standard of undertaking has been normal for our family in East London.
Very nice!!
Love this video...Udins are my local funeral directors from my home town. Loved recognising Bromley and Blackheath. You need to connect with Albins funeral directors too...they are traditional East End directors and have buried many famous and imfamous London people
So wonderful! They are truly just lovely people.
If you ever have a chance, look at some of the services from O’Dwer and Sons in Dublin , Ireland. They are absolutely incredible.
I will!
You are an inspiration’. Attended UK, Kenya, Kathmandu and India. Learned so much. Really interesting and cool.
Thank you!
Outside of the family, others do not go and view the body at the funeral home in the UK. Some families choose to have the body at their own home the day before the funeral and people view the body then and on the day of the funeral itself. After the funeral there is generally food laid on, as often people have travelled to be there and need sustenance for the journey home. Typically this is sandwiches with the crusts cut off and loaf cakes, drinks are usually sherry, port and tea. Outside of a eulogy at the funeral which is often given by a close friend or the minister, we don't all make speeches in the style of American funerals, but we all chat at the 'wake'.
If you are thinking of adopting hats as part of your funeral wear. I suggest that you try equestrian dressage suppliers for black hats with veils and top hats.
Good points. But no need to use equestrian suppliers as you can order directly from funerary dress suppliers 😊 they usually have a catalogue.
It is so fascinating
Thank you for your insight and dedication to your profession.
My pleasure!
Hello Kari hope you and your family are safe bring back alot memories for the wrong reasons but a great video how and what goes on behind the scenes proud to be British (Traditions)you cant beat it. Thanks Kari stay safe Russ 🇬🇧🇬🇧⚡⚡
Thank you, I will
Great video, seen a funeral like that when i was in England, very traditional, that picture off you with a top hat was nice :-)
I have just watched your video Kari,i found it fascinating viewing,i am so glad you enjoyed your experience with Uden +sons,i think we just take it for granted that these things happen for the famiies,the attention to detail was superb,i hope Matthew visits you to experience a funeral home in America,i will look forward to seeing that video.Once again thanks for your visit.
Thanks so much!
When I was in high school I had thoughts of becoming a funeral director or mortician. Write a school paper on it too. Don't know how I got turned around, didn't ever pursue it. I wonder what differences it could or would have made in my life. Still fascinated by it.
Thanks for sharing :)
Sorry I’m a year late to the party but I hadn’t found you yet. Glad your girls got to go. This is fascinating. Not that you don’t do this but the attention to detail is meticulous. Doubt you’ll see this old video but it’s here but it’s here for posterity l. :)
Thank you so much!!
Thank you soooooo much for sharing this video. It was a wonderful insight as to how other countries conduct their business. I hope you have the opportunity to travel to other countries and bring other traditions to your audience.
That was so amazing I love to learn different things..I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Love Elizabeth
Thank you! You too!
Love your channel, I think it would be interesting and cool if you contacted the funeral director where I live. He is now the only funeral director on the remote northern scottish island where I live, the only other director retired recently. He and his family built a purpose built funeral home about 5 or so yrs ago. Previously used a room in his family home as office space and had a storage facility for coffins. The nearest crematorium is a 90min ferry and 3hr drive away where they travel to with the deceased if a cremation was requested.
That would be fascinating!
He has just had a new hearse custom built, it's a family business, he took over running the business after working alongside and being trained by his father for many years, they have a website and Facebook page if you'd like the details anytime. At funerals where I live it's often common for the families to announce only family flowers only for the funeral (local notices of the funeral details are posted online, in local shops and the local paper). Most funerals have a donation system that anyone attending can donate money instead of flowers and the money goes to charities or causes chosen by the family or a charity that was part of the deceased life, like cancer research, dementia charities, the care home facility etc.
Hi Kari, been having a lot of health issues 9f late.just getting back into watching.this was very interesting.🙏😊👍
Thank you!
This was a very in formidable vlog! Nice job Kari! The actual burial of that person was interesting, and they bury deep! Noticed the Dr Who Tardis coffin towards the video end! Wish we could see you conduct "swinging the stick" for lack of better term.
Thank you so much!!
Amazing video! Thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Absolutely beautiful. I wonder what a funeral there costs (and what a coffin costs) in general compared to here?
It was less expensive from some of the costs but the cemetery was much more because of the space issue
@@KaritheMortician I imagine that would be the reason for more cremations.
Hi Kari lovely watching this video. Bromley is 20 mins from me. I agree this Particular undertakers are one of the largest in the UK and a very meticulous. I have attended several funerals they have taken and the care they show to the family right at the end of the Burial is really commendable.
All funeral Services are different and you are lucky you did not attend one of the African funerals that the Service last for over 2 hours.
We do have private visitations for close families and friends the day before at the funeral home.
Also there can be a wake / vigil in the church where the person can be viewed though not very common due to cost involved.
In 2018 I attended 1 where the gentleman was laid at home for the wake/ vigil ( they had a very big house)
On the day of the funeral depending on the request of the person the casket/ coffin is opened towards the end of the service ( this can be during the Holy Communion time) so as you walk up you view or just view if you do not want to partake.
Saying this the video was very enlightening from a different perspective.
Hope you and your family enjoyed your time in the UK💕
Thank you!! I loved that area so much!
Hi Kari, I lived for around 20 years in the area of London covered by Uden's - they are probably one of the top Funeral Directors in the area, traditional yet modern, and locally held in very high regard.
The extent of the floral tributes are very much dependent on the wishes and traditions of the bereaved family, some prefer many elaborate tributes as you witnessed, other families tend to go for simpler arrangements.
The bereaved may also suggest "family flowers only", and ask other mourners to make donations to either a cause close to the deceased, or to a hospice or other charitable facility that supported their end of life care, instead of paying for floral tributes, which can be quite expensive.
It was interesting to hear your take on the differences between US and British funeral arrangements and traditions.
Thank you so much for your feedback on this! I know my perception of the Uden's was based on a short time period so it is nice to know you locals feel that way too!
Have you thought about showing an even more traditional funeral in England with the carriage hearse and black horses with the plumes?
I would have loved to if they had one going while I was there
I would love for you to visit one of our rural communites. Where I live, funerals are not quite so hi-tech. The service is generally in a church. Male relatives and friends are the pall- bearers. We do have visitations in the 'chapel of rest' - usually an allotted room at the funeral directors. We don't have anyone leading the car on foot - but that's probably because the drivers round here are so reckless they might run over them... After the service in the cemetery, people have the wake at the family home, or pub, for sandwiches and booze. Someone always gets drunk, but it's allowed :). I hope you visit some of our older churchyards too: they have the most amazing old graves. You can see the 'fashions' change over the years and so many different styles. Sometimes I feel our funerals are just a little *too* regimented. They haven't changed much since Victorian times and to me feel more ritualistic than a celebration of a life. That said I do appreciate our local undertakers and the care they take.
I would love to!! We traveled out to the countryside and it was so wonderful