The document discusses the history and evolution of hearses from horse-drawn carts to modern vehicles. It notes that while traditional limousine-style hearses are still common, many companies now offer alternative vehicle options like trucks, vans, and motorcycles to reflect the deceased's interests. There is also a trend to use the actual vehicles from people's lives to carry their coffins. This allows funerals to better honor and celebrate the individual's life while also encouraging discussions around end-of-life wishes.

1. Hearse? What hearse?
From a hand-drawn cart to a batmobile, the history of
hearses is a long and varied one. Vehicles have always
been of assistance to get bodies from A to B, whether
that is from home to church, from hospital to the
undertaker or anything in between.
Over time, funerals became more significant and stately
with horse-drawn hearses, black horses, plumes and so
on, until motorisation took over and the hearse as we
know it today became the norm. However, whilst the
majority of funerals still involve the use of a traditional
limousine-type hearse, there is plenty of scope to make
a funeral genuinely reflect the life of the deceased.
Many companies can provide alternatives, such as a
hearse tank, an ice cream van, campervans and
caravans as well as the well-known Robin Reliant from
TV show Only Fools and Horses and, of course, the
motorbike sidecar. Whatever the interests or
enthusiasms of the person, there’s a hearse for it. Even
the classic hearse can be made over with elaborate
décor, unusual colour schemes and themed accessories.
Interestingly, however, despite this huge range of
ready-made hearses, there is still an enthusiastic and
innovative trend for using real-life vehicles from the
deceased person’s actual life. A coffin was recently
carried on the back of an HGV truck, another in the
bucket of a JCB. Funeral Directors and employers are
working together to honour the dead and respect the
wishes of families. But, just as importantly, these
unusual funeral arrangements also give everyone who
sees or hears about them the opportunity to talk about
their own final wishes.
In a world where we avoid even thinking about the end
of life, let alone discussing the details of funerals,
anything that gets a conversation on the subject going
is a good thing. If granny wants her final journey to be
aboard a double decker bus, we need to know. If
brewery-employee dad wants his coffin to be carried on
a horse-drawn dray, with his colleagues and friends
walking behind, let’s hear about it so that, when the
shock and confusion of death comes, his family will
have a clear idea of how to proceed. And, of course,
once that conversation is initiated, it can range far and
wide, to the benefit of everyone involved.
A funeral is not the place for gimmicks but it is the place
to celebrate the life of the person who has passed on.
A person’s job or hobby may well be one of their
defining characteristics so let’s celebrate that aspect of
their life, whilst giving the living an excuse to think
about – and discuss – how they would like to be
remembered.
Get in touch with us!
Join our LinkedIn Group, Safer Embalming
Follow us on Twitter @Naturensbalm
Or find us on Facebook
Naturensbalm.com