Mourners celebrate in style

 Overflowing with youth, energy and talent, many of them probably thought it possible. But, inevitably, we are all aware that ‘nothing is certain but death and taxes’, a fact that was expressed by Daniel Defoe, the English novelist, in 1726.
In recent years, developments in Cryonics, a process by which a human corpse is frozen in hopes of restoring it to life in the future, have encouraged individuals to delay the finality of death by making plans for another life on earth, with perhaps a chance to discuss the good old days with their great-grand children. But nature is likely to take its course, and after the allotted ‘three score years and ten’ (significantly fewer in Zimbabwe, where life expectancy for males is 42 years) you might consider taking out a funeral plan or telling your children what kind of send off you would like them to organise.
The scale of a funeral will always be dictated by cost, but regardless of your personal beliefs, religion or financial situation, it is always respectful to your loved ones to have a service, whether in a church, at a funeral parlour, or at home. Ancient Egyptians took funeral rites very seriously, fearing that bodies would rise again if mistreated after death. The wealthier the deceased, the more spells and talismans could be enclosed in the coffin, to assist in the stages of travel to the afterlife. Cremation was not an option, and coffins varied in shape, style and colours.
In China, cemeteries are usually located on a hillside – the higher the gravesite the better. Correct funeral procedures must be observed, as improper arrangements are thought to bring ill fortune on the immediate family. This includes dressing the corpse in muted colours such as white, brown or blue – never red, as the deceased could turn into a ghost.
Ghanaians consider death a celebration. The bereaved temper their sorrow by organising stylish funerals – the more funky the burial coffin, the better. In the 1950s, a carpenter called Kane Kwei designed the first figurative coffin, which was a cocoa pod for a traditional leader. The idea caught on and people began to choose coffins that echoed the profession      of the deceased – a huge mealie for a farmer, a fish, a cell phone, or a Benz for a businessman. This became an art form, and Ghanaian coffins are currently on display in the British museum. The coffins take about a month to make, and cost approximately US$500.
In Harare, the director of Nuffield Funeral Home, Michael Monson, described the local burial options available, which can be ordered and booked in the municipal office. These include Granville and Warren Hills cemeteries. Privately owned Glen Forest Cemetery is 14 km away, off the Domboshawa Road, and offers peaceful surroundings and a restful view towards the Mazoe Valley.
Many people, unable to find a burial site to their taste, are opting for cremation. Nuffield has recently built a private crematorium at Glen Forest; grieving relatives no longer have to drive their dear deceased to Mutare for cremation.
Monson, who was educated at Prince Edward School, said that he wasn’t academically gifted as a student. Clive Barnes, the then head master of Prince Edward, suggested he should spend some time in a mortuary as an apprentice, as a way of eventually re-focusing on his studies. The opposite effect was achieved, as Monson discovered a talent for helping families deal with every aspect involving the death of a loved one, and has been in the funeral business for over 15 years.
The team at Nuffield offers every service, including a 24-hour mortuary, transport, washing and dressing, coffins and caskets, and a spacious black Mercedes in which a number of mourners can accompany the deceased to the cemetery. Should you pass away on the top floor of a building without lifts, while on safari in a remote game park, or living it up in a holiday resort miles away from home, Monson’s men will swiftly and efficiently effect a plan to bring you home, and offer assistance with every formality.
Funky coffins are relatively unknown in Zimbabwe, but should local sculptors and artists become inspired by this popular Ghanaian art form, it’s likely that Nuffield Funeral Home would include them in their well-stocked showroom.