Kentucky State Fair 2009!

Abbey Caskets, a work of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, IN, will be one of the exhibitors showcasing wooden caskets and cremation urns at the Kentucky State Fair.

The fair runs from August 20-30 at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds in Louisville.

Abbey Caskets, located in Booth 31 in the south wing Expo Hall, will feature its handcrafted wooden caskets and cremation urns, which are produced in southern Indiana from native hardwoods, including oak, poplar, cherry and walnut. Abbey Caskets staff will answer questions and explain how a Benedictine monastery decided to sell caskets, including a design modeled on the simple shaped casket used by the Saint Meinrad monks for more than a century.

Abbey Caskets, in business since 1999, sells wooden caskets and cremation urns directly to the public. For more information, contact Abbey Caskets at (800) 987-7380 or info@abbeycaskets.com. The Web site is www.abbeycaskets.com.

Home Funerals

I found this discussion on NPR, National Public Radio, about home funerals. It is interesting to hear about the different experiences people have had with caring for their loved ones.

In Home Funerals, Families Caring For Their Dead

What happens to your online accounts when you pass?

I was listening to NPR while making a delivery yesterday, and the program All Things Considered was on. The subject was "Searching for the perfect password." The discussion was about protecting your online accounts with safe passwords, but what happens to people's online accounts after they pass? How do family members gain access to the deceased's account so that hackers cannot access the account and steal the identity of the person? One more thing to think about while preplanning your funeral. Who will take care of your online accounts? Listen to the complete NPR story below:

Death Often Brings Disputes Over Online Lives

Celebrating 10 Years!

When you think of a casket company, you normally don’t think of a celebration. But I believe Abbey Caskets is more than a casket company; it is a ministry to help others honor their loved ones in a simple way.

I started working for Abbey Caskets in 2005. I never thought that I would be working in the funeral industry. As a new college graduate, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. At that time, death was scary to me, but I took this job, in an industry I was fearful of, and have found it to be a ministry to others.

From a business perspective, it is awesome to work at a company that is growing. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Abbey Caskets. The business is operated by and supports a Benedictine monastery, Saint Meinrad Archabbey, in southern Indiana.

From a personal perspective, this job is very fulfilling. I get to help families during a rough period of their lives. Although most of what we do is behind the scenes, and some families don’t ever speak with us directly, we treat each sale as though it is for our own family.

So, we celebrate our 10th anniversary not only as a growing business, but as a celebration of the lives of our deceased loved ones. I thank you for your support.

I hope to keep you updated on the events taking place at Abbey Caskets. I also hope to be a resource for coping with grief and information within the funeral industry.