Burial at Night

Friends of Franklyn E. Rees in Omaha, Neb., waited four days after he died this month, until his sister should arrive for the funeral. She came, the night before Easter. The mortician in charge, Leo A. Hoffman, did not like the idea of a funeral on Easter, thought it might bring the mourners sad recollections on future Easters. Efficient, enterprising, Mortician Hoffman had an idea. Funeral services are often held at night. Wakes are an old custom. Why not--though he had never heard of one--a night burial?

Mortician Hoffman put up a canopy at the grave, at each corner a blue floodlight operated by storage batteries. (Few cemeteries have electric light wires through them.) The 400 mourners rode up in 93 automobiles and four sets of headlights were aimed to give further illumination.

Mortician Hoffman afterward announced: "Undoubtedly it was one of the most beautiful and impressive burials ever held in Omaha." Hot weather, he pointed out, adds to the discomfort of the bereaved, cool night services would be "of a comforting nature" to them. Moreover, as a matter of convenience, friends and relatives would not have to leave their work during the day if people were buried at night.

"We were a little afraid that the procedure might be 'spooky,' but it wasn't at all," said Mortician Hoffman. "Everything was very beautiful, and there was much favorable comment afterwards."

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