Don't put a coconut in a coffin

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...ester-42920984

This news item made me giggle, although there could be dangerous consequences.

Apparently a coconut, which had been put in a coffin, exploded when it was being incinerated at the crem. People are putting all sorts of weird items in with the corpses.

I believe my sister put some items that belonged to my mother into her coffin before she was buried, like her school photo in it frame, her handbag and one or two other bits and pieces.

Re: Don't put a coconut in a coffin

Our friend Paddy was recently interred with enough brandy and cigarettes to stock a small pub. His son who was a pull bearer said he had to bite his lip to stop himself laughing as they brought the coffin out of the house and the bottles all clanked

Re: Don't put a coconut in a coffin

We live very close to local cremotorium I've seen notices going up recently saying to tell the crem what's on the coffin before the service, I did wonder what they were about but this now makes more sense.

Re: Don't put a coconut in a coffin

I must warn our eldest girl, who is a vicar, about this. She might need to wear a flak jacket when she next takes a funeral service at the crem.

Re: Don't put a coconut in a coffin

I went to a funeral the other week. The man was a keen fisherman and his fishing rods were attached to the side of the coffin.
As he was being buried, the family threw floats, instead of roses, onto the coffin!
We were all invited to pick a float and throw it in!

His son, my cousin’s husband, is an undertaker, so he got the best of funerals with a horse drawn carriage, the lot!!

Re: Don't put a coconut in a coffin

I often wonder what happens with rings etc that are left on the corpse? my SIL insisted that MIL was cremated wearing her wedding rings seemed daft to me but everyone was so upset I kept quiet.... I do wonder though do they actually go in the incinerator.

Re: Don't put a coconut in a coffin

All gold from rings and teeth, metals from hips etc, are recovered after cremation and sent for recycling

Re: Don't put a coconut in a coffin

Thank you Missy

Re: Don't put a coconut in a coffin

I think they take the handles off the coffin before the cremation?

Re: Don't put a coconut in a coffin

When I mentioned this to our daughter, she said there are notices up in the crems in her area of jurisdiction, warning people about what can and can't be put in the coffins.