Bringing Dad Home

Excavation was very respectfully handled. No one knew what would be found after all this time so many options were discussed.

Greenfields crew actually did the lions share of the work...removing about 18” of topsoil, then 12”-18” around all the sides. These guys were great.

All-in-all, it couldn’t have been much better.

The soil was dry if not hard (we worried about ground water). It appeared that if any water ever got to the vault, it didn’t rise very high.

The vault, once exposed, was an “air vault” consisting of a concrete base and a concrete top. So after the grave was initially dug, a concrete base (leveled, reinforced rectangular ring and four (4) floor panels were laid into ring), the size being about 4” wider than the casket. The opening is then covered for the funeral. After the gravesite gathering, the casket is lowered onto the leveled base. The concrete top (like a box with no bottom) is lowered onto the concrete base, which fits just around the casket. There is no seal between the base and the top as the theory is that it traps air inside the box which helps keep out water. It appears it worked very well.

So we tried lifting the entire assembly (bottom, top and casket) out as one unit. However, the bottom was deteriorated and began failing putting the casket at risk. We immediately stopped and lowered it all back down to discuss options. Compression attachments were then placed on the vault top and it was easily raised off the base in tact and placed to the side.

Once exposed, It was clear that the casket was in relatively good shape, rusted with age but given its age, very, very good shape. The handles were rusted off and no longer usable. A wood base was then slid under the casket and muscled out of the grave by the group. (Their muscles). Then onto a truck bed and transferred to an on-site shed for investigation.

The top was rusted shut so a saw was used to cut the latch. Without me viewing (my choice) the top was opened. I am told the contents were in relatively good shape. Dads uniform was still visible, and the blankets were still in place and not water invaded. Hearing that, I decided to leave him in the casket, as is, and sent him to the crematory that way after a cardboard cover was placed over it.

At the crematory, they will remove the top and whole thing will go thru the crematory. The steel casket won’t burn so once cremated, they will remove the remains from inside the steel shell and that’s what I’ll bring home, properly tagged and certified.

The vault and casket will then all be properly disposed.

The process will take 24-36 hours so I prob can’t pick up the remains until mid-Friday meaning I won’t leave the RV park until Sat morning.

I’m actually very comfortable knowing the remains I’ll bring home will be my Dad and frankly happy that I didn’t have to see the open casket. I was prepared to (and actually signed legal waivers in order to do so). Hell, I never wanted to see the open casket in the two funerals we went thru in 1975; being more comfortable with the memories of what he looked like BEFORE.

Glad it’s winding down. Tomorrow, I’ll deal with the headstone people and finish up all the remaining paperwork and costs.Read more