The Ultimate Goodbye...Spoken With Meaningful Images

A Delicate Subject

At the risk of making some folks uncomfortable, while also providing "a good ( "ah ha" moment/idea)  for future reference for others, I am going to tell you about one of Vital Sign's newest product offerings. Now before you decide that we have crossed the lines of decency, please let me paint (or wrap as it were), a picture of the possibilities for you.

We were recently approached by a funeral director who wanted to know if we did "Casket Wraps"?

" Um, well...um, we haven't done it before, but perhaps we could?! " So there it was, an idea we had certainly never thought of, and a market we never anticipated being a part of (at least not until the end of our own lives). But as we always say, we love thinking out of the Vital Signs box, and this request definitely met that criteria. No pun intended.

Specifically, our customer had a life-long friend who was about to pass and had always asked his dear friend to fulfill one of his very specific and personal last requests. That was, to be buried in a casket that looked like a Budweiser Beer Can or if not a can, to at least to pay tribute to this gentleman's lifelong beverage of choice. Our customer obtained the necessary permissions from the Anheuser-Busch company and we were off to pop the lid on this new project concept.

A Humorous Goodbye To/From A Gentleman Who Played Hard & Looked At Life Smiling

A Lasting Tribute

The casket was delivered to Vital Signs, where we disassembled the handles/railings for easier wrapping access. While it was a first for us and initially a bit unsettling, from a wrap standpoint, it was a large object like any other that we wrap.

This idea however, really made us think about Vital Signs offering Casket and Urn Wraps. We decided that while this type of end-of-life personalization might not be for everyone, for others it would be the perfect compliment to saying goodbye. The Casket/Urn Wrap does not have to be comical or irreverent. I can think of many comforting ideas that would enhance this always sad occasion. We are now working on designs for many categories which a family might choose from. For instance: Many topics/categories of interest may have/had a very personal and deep meaning to the deceased and/or family. Creating a wrap design that might speak to a person's life-long hobby; a loved sports team; a beloved pet; a family home; military service; gardening; firefighter/policeman; a humorous tradition or just meaningful scripture with a religious themed wrap may serve to complete the service in a very comforting way for the family, as well as for those in attendance. 

Funeral Homes are offering many personalization options within the context of themed funerals for it's customers. End-of-life Wraps are just one more aspect of this personalization. Vital Signs Design Team will always work to provide a Casket or Urn Wrap that is complimentary and tasteful to the desires of the decendent's family wishes. This specialty wrap will add a 2-3 day delay to the beginning of the Funeral Home viewing schedule.

Military

Hobby

Pittsburgh Specific

Gardening

A trademarked name/brand cannot be used without permission. Vital Signs would prefer to create designs that do not have any trademarked brand/product included in the Casket Wrap design(s). But for the sake of showing you the Casket Wrap concept, we did use some content above that would require permissions if we were actually creating one of the trademarked brands shown.

Oddly Peaceful & Comforting...

We understand that this idea is not for everyone. We also know that this type of customization will likely appeal only to a family or individual who wishes to have a very individual-specific personalization. We truly believe that an 'End Of Life' Wrap will memorialize a decedent in a very comforting, personal and unique way. When I think about all of the deceased members of my family who proudly served in our military services, I can't help but think about how nice it would have been to honor them and to say my last goodbyes in such a beautiful way. It's almost as if they are being wrapped in a final hug by an image of something that they greatly loved or enjoyed in their lives while living. And that makes me smile.

What Do You Think?

Please share your thoughts with us on this new 'End Of Life' Casket/Urn Wrap idea. Can you think of any design ideas that would have been meaningful for someone who passed on in your family?