Susana Alba, funeral arranger

Transcript: Susana Alba, funeral arranger

For a viewing or a service, I like to do that [in the] afternoon. Basically, I get to the crematory an hour prior. Most of our viewings happen at the crematory. I get there an hour prior. I like to get the person ready, make sure that they look absolutely, you know, beautiful for their big day. I like to call it the “big day” because I feel like it is. It’s a big day for them. A lot of people don’t give emotion to the dead, but I feel like... well, personally I feel like they’re still there. They’re saying goodbye and the family is saying goodbye. So it’s their big day, their final goodbye. So, I get there an hour prior, I get them ready. I like to get to the crematory to make sure it’s clean, that the restrooms look nice, that there isn’t any dirt on the floor or any trash. I like to set up before. We like to put little letters, little cards, with envelopes and pens, so the families can write a note, and then we put it in the casket. If there’s flowers, I like to set up the flowers to look beautifully. I never put it in the decedent’s hands because I encourage the family to do it. I ask them to grab flowers, and then we make a bouquet, and then they can place it in. That’s a form of getting them involved with the process, because most people are scared when they see a dead person. So then, by this time, I like to open the doors fifteen minutes prior, let family walk in, and greet them by the door. We wait for the next of kin, and when they tell me they’re ready, then I open the doors to the chapel space. And then I kind of stay beside them, if they want anything changed, if they don’t like the way the person is laid, if they want them moved a little bit, if the clothes don’t look nice, whatever they want. I stay there until I know everybody is at peace and then I walk away and give them their space. And then I check on them every ten or fifteen minutes. And then if there’s a clergy there, I like to stay there and talk to the clergy, ask him how it’s going to happen. And then ask him for cues. So that way they tell me, “When I say this prayer, that means that that you walk in.” And then, you know, I ask them for that. Usually, most viewings take an hour. During the last ten minutes, fifteen minutes, I like to tell the next of kin, “OK, we have ten, fifteen more minutes, just to let you know.” I don’t pressure them to leave, you know, at the hour I’m not like, “Hey, everybody, time to go, you know? It’s an hour.” I don’t like to do that. I just let her know, so that they’re aware. Then I walk away. Then I kind of stay by the door, and if they need me, I’m always there.