| Before I went onto full time LTD and
| |
| | that I wasn't violating any health codes
|
| SSDI, I had my DREAM job. I was the first
| |
| | by wheeling a casket through the kitchen
|
| female part owner/VP Human Resources for
| |
| | (and I wasn't as long as the body was
|
| an American Ship Repair Yard. We employed
| |
| | embalmed).Now, that Friday, as luck would
|
| over 2,500 employees; 24/7 operations; 11
| |
| | have it, was Halloween. And, remember
|
| unions, and lots of turmoil!!!My
| |
| | this is a rough and tumble, grubby ship
|
| agreement with the Managers who fixed
| |
| | repair Yard!! Just years before the yard
|
| ships was simple: I did people; they did
| |
| | would host Halloween parties with an open
|
| big metal "things".It was a rainy
| |
| | casket filled with ice and booze! And,
|
| Wednesday, end of October night - around
| |
| | even though we were kinder and gentler
|
| 8:00 pm. We had a ship in for repair with
| |
| | now, I didn't want the Swing Shift to see
|
| an English Capt., Head, and his wife
| |
| | a group in the all windowed room off of
|
| aboard (they traveled the world
| |
| | the Cafeteria with an open casket! So, we
|
| together). They were out for a stroll,
| |
| | purchased and figured out how to hang
|
| and, for whatever reason, were walking
| |
| | drapes.Then, I remembered that I needed
|
| down the middle of the one way street
| |
| | to find a Priest! Took a while to find
|
| leading out of the Ship Repair Yard. 8 pm
| |
| | one at the last minute~ It is finally
|
| is "lunch time" for Swing Shift; and,
| |
| | Friday, around noon. I panic, remembering
|
| they only get 30 minutes.A young man
| |
| | that I don't have any appropriate
|
| working in the Yard for a Contractor came
| |
| | "funeral Catholic Mass" music to play,
|
| tearing out of the yard going way over
| |
| | and run to the nearest Mall's music shop.
|
| the speed limit, trying to drive while
| |
| | I ask for funeral music, forgetting,
|
| wiping the windshield. He felt a thud,
| |
| | momentarily that it is Halloween, and the
|
| and stopped the car - only to discover
| |
| | clerk tries to sell me the Monster Mash.
|
| that he had hit and, regretably killed -
| |
| | I explain and get the correct music; get
|
| Capt. Head. I got a call at home about 3
| |
| | back to the Yard and get the room set up
|
| am to come into the Yard and "deal" with
| |
| | for the Service. Dash home to change
|
| the situation, since I did "people". I
| |
| | clothes; dash back to the Yard, where I
|
| came in, dealt with the police, the
| |
| | remembered that I had to pay the Priest
|
| grieving widow, the hospital, etc. Got
| |
| | for his services!!So, I dash to
|
| the widow into a downtown hotel;
| |
| | Accounting and ask for a check made out
|
| contacted her family in England and
| |
| | to the Priest, and receive the wierdiest
|
| arranged to get them tickets to fly over
| |
| | looks - until I remembered that not all
|
| to stay with her; went home for a few
| |
| | folks working in the Yard knew about the
|
| hours of sleep.Now remember, the customer
| |
| | upcoming Memorial Service.Get back to the
|
| is always right. So, the next day,
| |
| | room; all arrive and the Service begins.
|
| Thursday, I met with the family, and the
| |
| | Now, I hope you realize how serious an
|
| widow wanted to have an open casket, full
| |
| | event this is. I had preped the Priest,
|
| Catholic Mass, Memorial Service, the next
| |
| | that the Capt.'s name was Richard Head.
|
| day, in the Yard, so that the Ship's
| |
| | But his family came from the UK, and they
|
| company could say one last good-by to the
| |
| | insisted in calling him, throughout the
|
| Capt. I had already priced caskets,
| |
| | service by his nickname, Dick. I was
|
| embalming, cremation, etc., and when I
| |
| | horrified when folks in the service put
|
| started to convey the information to the
| |
| | the two names together, in "American
|
| family, the "Ship's Representative" - our
| |
| | slang", and started snickering. Well, we
|
| "customer" said: "They no pay; you pay!"I
| |
| | got through the Service; we had arranged
|
| thought OK, but I wonder what Accounting
| |
| | for light food afterwards, and the
|
| was going to think when they saw my next
| |
| | evening ended, with all
|
| month's VISA statement wherein I charged
| |
| | satisfied.Observations: first of all, I
|
| a casket, embalming, and cremation onto
| |
| | challenge any other HR Executive to have
|
| it!!!!!I leave the family; make
| |
| | this type of task to perform! Second of
|
| arrangements with the Funeral Parlor to
| |
| | all, this is a True Story! Only in an
|
| prepare the Capt. for the service the
| |
| | American Ship Repair Yard can you have a
|
| next evening - Friday - for a 6 pm
| |
| | full Catholic Mass Memorial Service for
|
| service. Now, the only place within the
| |
| | Capt. Dick Head on Halloween.About
|
| Yard suitable for the service was a nice
| |
| | DisabilityKey.comThe Disability Key
|
| room off of our Company Cafeteria. And,
| |
| | Website ( ) is designed to assist each
|
| the only door wide enough to accept a
| |
| | person in his/her own unique quest to
|
| coffin was the one that would lead the
| |
| | navigate through the difficult and often
|
| coffin through the kitchen. So, I had to
| |
| | conflicting and misleading information
|
| call the State Health Dept. to make sure
| |
| | about coping with a disability.
|
