[CAustin18]

I present two new cases here where an embalmed body was exhumed many years after burial. Pictures of this genre are unusual, though I have found in more recent years, more and more have started to become available.

The first case is of a man who was an Italian immigrant who died in Pennsylvania in 1941, of natural causes at a relatively young age (around 40). In the summer of 1965, his son, who was too young to remember his dad, wanted his remained returned to native Italy. Upon being exhumed, the body was found to be in exceptionally good condition...to the point where a 'viewing' could be conducted for the family at the funeral parlor where he had been prepared for burial some 24 years earlier. These two color pictures were taken there, and then the body was shipped back to his native Italy for reburial in a family plot.

The second case, of which I have only one photograph unfortunately, is of a man who died and was buried in 1950 in Hardin, Missouri.
In the summer of 1993, when the Mississippi river flooded and a levee failed near the small town of Hardin, a massive flash flood literally ripped about 40 per-cent of the local cemetery away downstream.

Hundreds of bodies were swept away in the floodwaters...some were never found, many were found but could not be identified. This man, who was apparently later identified (its implied in my source), had died in 1950 and when his casket was found, it was discovered that the body was perfectly mummified after some 42-43 years of burial.

[Dodger712]

The first case is remarkable! Other than the staining of the casket interior, one would believe this was a recent death.

[William May]

Normally, there is a little glass, brass, or stainless steel tube at one of the casket lower corners, and the undertaker is supposed to put a piece of paper in there, identifying the body that is inside the casket, and then screw the lid on. I suppose not everyone uses this, but I think most modern undertakers (From 1900 on) probably did use this feature. If you are standing in front of the casket, with the lid open, the memorial tube is to your right, at the very end of the casket, usually near the bottom of the corner, on the side facing you.

[ride]

Nice, but I'm going the dust route. Takes up less space.

[Budd Dwyer]

His handsomeness still intact, he could go out on a date with that Chad cheekbone
Ladies, want a generous companion? There is your chance

[K53]

Excellent, never looked better

[Roboticaproxy]

Originally Posted by William May ↗

Normally, there is a little glass, brass, or stainless steel tube at one of the casket lower corners, and the undertaker is supposed to put a piece of paper in there, identifying the body that is inside the casket, and then screw the lid on. I suppose not everyone uses this, but I think most modern undertakers (From 1900 on) probably did use this feature. If you are standing in front of the casket, with the lid open, the memorial tube is to your right, at the very end of the casket, usually near the bottom of the corner, on the side facing you.

Interesting! We’ve only ever been told they were for memorial tributes, so like if someone wants to preserve a letter with the deceased. The only identification we leave on the body is toe tags that come with them from hospital or ankle bands with name that we put on them if they come from the nursing home, etc.

[William May]

Originally Posted by Roboticaproxy ↗

Interesting! We’ve only ever been told they were for memorial tributes, so like if someone wants to preserve a letter with the deceased. The only identification we leave on the body is toe tags that come with them from hospital or ankle bands with name that we put on them if they come from the nursing home, etc.

Well, maybe using them is out of fashion now. But I know they used them on both of my grandparent's caskets. Everyone in my family who has died since then has either been donated to medical schools, or cremated, in which cases there's no need for any memorial tube.
But I have a set of plans for making a casket, and there is an installation drawing shown on the plans for that.
But since I plan to have my body either cremated, or shot out of a German Railway Gun, no tube will be needed. For one thing, I don't want them knowing exactly who it is, that just landed with a thump in the back 40. It's THEIR problem then!
I don't want them coming around, being all whiny about bodies that fell out of the sky onto their property.

[Tracy210t]

Originally Posted by William May ↗

But since I plan to have my body either cremated, or shot out of a German Railway Gun, no tube will be needed. For one thing, I don't want them knowing exactly who it is, that just landed with a thump in the back 40. It's THEIR problem then!
I don't want them coming around, being all whiny about bodies that fell out of the sky onto their property.

[Clouds in the Sky]

So interesting! Thank you!