Digging a grave for a burial at a cemetery
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- čas přidán 26. 06. 2024
- Micah, a local gravedigger, shows us the steps to digging a grave for burial. We ask him about several situations he might encounter while digging the grave.
It was a cold and nose dripping sort of day but the sun allowed us to get the video shot with beautiful lighting!
Holy cow, that guy works HARD! Can’t believe he does all that he does by himself! Mad respect!
@42Zero_Pizzaman_Tampa In the winter, also? What kind of grave yard did you work for?
Micah is a true asset to your local cemeteries. The care he takes is awesome! I hope all cemeteries have Micahs.
Me too
I sure hope so too!
Neat guy, takes his job seriously. A hard worker too.
I hope MIcah is being well compensated for his work. This is the part no one sees, and Micah you are much appreciated. My uncle use to be a grave digger, before the machinery.
😰😰😰😰😰😰ur poor uncle
@42Zero_Pizzaman_Tampa 😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳
@42Zero_Pizzaman_Tampa Jesus that sounds brutal😰
Not really most places pay their actual workers roughly 12-15 an hour.
That's so true, I live in Louisiana, the " Grave Attendants" down south makes $1,200 a pop.
My grandfather was also a grave digger in New York for 38 years.I commend all of the people who do this type of work because I know I couldn't do it.
Yvonne Major it’s really not that bad if you have a crew of people on the grave sites, it goes much faster. But I give Micah props for doing it by himself.
I hope Micah has an awesome chiropractor. My back hurts just watching him. Thank you for your hard work and caring for your customers.
K b
Opening a grave
Didn’t even use gloves, his hands must be like leather…
Thank you for posting Kari. You can tell Micah takes pride in his work.
He does!
I didn't realize what meticulous work digging a grave is. Thank you to Micah for his hard work and caring. Thanks for sharing!
Vault guy here, and i can tell you this is not normal and he is creating way more work for himself. Grave diggers are careful people tho, they have to be. This guy idk about. Tbh he irritate me if i showed up to do my service and seen this.
My company also has its own grave diggers.. But some places have contracts where only a certain person is allowed to dig in that cemetery, as well as my company has contracts that make us the only company allowed to dig in certain cemetery's..... Side not our company and most every other ome that doesnt leave a dirt pile they have a dump truck or gators the use to haul the dirt away with verses sitting it on the ground amd pushing it away, thay leaves a huge mess especially with no plywood down..
Да, блять, мы в России вручную все могилы копаем, какой нахуй экскаватор на кладбище? И объясните этому, с козлиной бородкой, что выравнивать могилу надо штыковой лопатой, а не совковой. Он более десяти лет копает могилы и не додумался штык к трубе приварить? Fucking horror show...
Why the LOUD MUSIC between scenes ??
We are contracted to dig graves at four cemeteries. I've been digging graves for many years. He makes a big production out if a simple task. It doesn't have to be so perfect, no one sees it. The vault crew will cover everything with carpets
Thank you Micah for all the hard work you do to take care of the cemeteries.
I can't even imagine how they manage to find a grave when there's snow and the stones are even covered. And setting up the vault is basically a science. It's nice to see how much this man cares about the people he serves. Thanks you!
Lot of places now store bodies over winter, bury in spring.
Micah is of a special breed of man, he is very kind and caring. God bless him! I worked for a cemetery and I have to say I have the utmost respect for the people who do this labor intensive work in all sorts of weather, and all sorts of circumstances. Markers are not always easy to find, and the lay of the land is sometimes hilly and curvy making it even harder to maneuver the spaces. Thank you Micah for sharing what you do! 💕🙏🏼
This guys shovel work is very good, very CLEAN, sharp straight walls, great edges. Sounds funny but as a "short handle" ditch digger myself, excellence was expected.
An interesting video. It's a look at one of the most unappreciated and overlooked jobs in the world.
Best regards to Micah.
Yes, please tell Micah thank you for all that he does! You can really see how much work he puts into what he does. You can definitely see and hear how passionate he is about his work. I am glad people like him exist
He is one hard worker, if i tried, i'd probably put my back out with my luck,its obvious he treats the recipiant with respect thank you sir.
There is a lot more work digging a grave than I realized. Thank you for educating me.
You are welcome!
I would be so comforted knowing Micah was taking care of my family. ❤
Fq
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
He seems to care he takes that extra time .
I thought the same same thing
Micah seems like such a genuine man and I’m sure the families are very happy knowing he cares for them all. Such hard work!! Thanks Kari for another great, informative video.
Awe. Absolutely wonderful Micah. Thanks
Great video Kari! I have actually gotten to witness a completed burial with vault and all. I was around 11 yrs old at the time and the cemetery workers were very understanding of our curiosity. They took the time to explain what they were doing and didn’t try to run us off. I like the respect you show others and identify them as part of the team. It’s funny how many people still think the town drunk digs all the graves.. lol
This was very cool to learn about! It was awesome that Micah not only knew how to do his job well, but that he knows so much about the people buried & the cemetaries, too 😊 Thanks Kari!
I wonder if Micah had anyone he didn't exactly like? He could come up with ways to hide someone where no one would find them! Ha-Ha!
The music! Just no. However, love that there is passion for the deceased and the families. Very cool.
Agree. The music is inappropriate and awful.
Yeah, I'm right there with ya on that. I'm glad she no longer uses it, (this video was from 2018).
The music was just so loud that you had to constantly adjust the volume, down, up, down, up. Ack!
😱
Omg stfu you pompus ass! Nothing makes you happy! I feel sorry for your spouse!
Wonderful video, Kari. What an enormous amount of work involved in the grave preparation! Micah worked tirelessly on this job and showed an incredible amount of knowledge. He’s obviously very meticulous, which shows such respect for the person being buried, those buried around this grave and the loved ones left behind. Thank you for sharing, Kari.
Thank You Mr. Micah for all that you do. This video bought me to tear. No not sad tears. Seeing Mr. Micah prepare the grave with such passion means a lot. Thank You Karri for sharing with us.
this is so ironic i just got back from a funeral and theyre having a burial at this time
Pooo9
Great comment and it's so great to know that there are people like you, me and so many others that can appreciate the hard work that does into bringing the living comfort concerning their loved ones.
My step dad dug a lot of Graves and gravestone footings in the 1960s and 70s all by hand never used a machine. In the Adirondacks we didn't do much grave digging in the winter but when the frost left the ground the old man was balls to the wall and almost every grave meant a gravestone so it was good side money as highway man's wages weren't very high back then.
@@KaritheMortician It was a family event, after supper and on weekends, it really didn't take him that long as for his unbelievable work ethic. The folks he didn't care for he always dug a little deeper, that however back fired on him when he passed, he spent the winter in the vault next to a woman he totally hated.
He does his job so well those dug graves are absolutely perfect, it must be extremely hard work though
thanks Kari & Micah
My back is hurting just watching him.
Genuinely great job making this video. Thank you, and thank you Micah!
I am a gravedigger at a Catholic cemetery in Norfolk, Va. I really enjoyed this video. I love showing people what we do. Thank you so much.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your hard work!!
I've always been the kind of person who hates not knowing secrets. Your line of work has always been a mystery. Thank you for sharing all the behind the scenes information.
You are welcome!
She is only doing this for the money, she is not well respected in our community of funeral directors , her work is horrible as a funeral director so that's why the videos , she should have her licensed revoked ..disgrace to the mortuary community
@@tripswithtom any evidence to back the slander Tom?
@@tripswithtom That’s pretty libelous.
@@johnblaesel5493 how so is that? It's the truth everyone in our industry knows this also
Bless Micah for all of his hard work! It was interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this video. As a person also interested in cemeteries, this was very informative. Really appreciate people, like him, that perform this service for the community.
He is amazing!
I met with the funeral director and two hours later stopped at my dads grave and the grave digger had already dug my mom’s grave! The grave digger was so sweet and happy to talk about his job with me. I’m so appreciative of these hard workers who do such valuable work so we can lay our loved ones to rest.
Wow!!
Micha is awesome... you can tell he cares about his job.
Micha is awesome. My uncle was a "grave digger" ( his term not mine) and also cared alot about the people and places he tended. But sadly from what I have heard that is not common. So thank you to Micha very much for caring when many others would not. Shows respect for all things and a good moral fiber. We need more Micha's in the world .
He is such a caring person and a hard worker!!!
Doing such a physical and precise job all year round and for many years is incredibly admirable!
Bless Micah 💙💙 Give him my heartfelt thanks.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for guys like Micah. It's more work than I could imagine. It requires brains and brawn. Fun fact: Rod Stewart once briefly worked as a grave digger.
I love cemeteries with great stories. I live a half mile from a cemetery called Clinton Grove Cemetery. Many of the founders of the city of Mt. Clemens(MI) are buried there. They were veterans of the war of 1812. At the time, the government didn't have the money to pay the soldiers. Instead, they gave them plots of land here in S.E. lower Michigan as payment for their service. Those veterans eventually formed the town. Every October the town historical society arranges cemetery walks. It's both fascinating and beautiful with the autumn leaves falling all around. Mt. Olivet Cemetery, in Detroit, is also fascinating. My late mom's side of the family is buried there. She would take me on walks to the older sections. I've always loved reading headstones and imagining what kind of incredible life the decedent might have lived.
Rikki Spanish How could Rod Stewart even hold up a shovel with those spaghetti arms of his? Are you sure thats true? I dont think he’s strong enough to lift anything heavier than a 🎤 microphone.
Appreciate that you're always loud and clear.
Thank you!
Thank you Micah for your hard work and caring.
There is ABSOLUTELY ZERO substitute for experience, clearly this gentleman knows his business.
Very true
Merry Christmas to you and Mr Micah! Thanks for sharing and a special thanks to Mr Micah for all that you do!
This man is amazing so much hard work God bless him xx
Wow! I knew it took work but I had no idea that they work with so much precision. Micah really cares about the people he serves. That is very refreshing. Noble.
Thank you for sharing.
This is so interesting.. I didn't know so much details went onto digging a grave always great information
A grave digger is one of the only jobs in this world where you get to start at the top.
and theres many people under you
And the subject never complains
He's also the last one to let you down
It's a dead job
Yep, but just never thought I could go to work every day and work in a cube.
I'm amazed. I really thought that graves were dug by machines. The amount of work that goes into it is incredible. Hats off to Micah and others like him.
Thank you!
Here's a guy who is not afraid to do work! Kudos to Micah.
No he is a hard worker!
THANK MICAH FOR YOUR SERVICE
Yes!
This is a very interesting video! I am glad that he cares so much about his work and takes pride in what he does. It is nice to see what goes on behind the scenes.
Thank you for sharing and educating us about this Kari. God bless you Micah for all that you do!
Thank you so much!
Late comment but wanted to say how impressed I am with Micah! He takes such pride in his work. I have been very disappointed to see at our local cemetery that poorly done grave digging jobs have resulted in graves continuing to settle improperly for months. I am particularly impressed with how he retains the sod- a lot of hard physical work. It makes sense to keep it but more often I’ve seen the sod discarded and the vast majority of the work done by machine.
You'd better slip your local cemetery Micah's business card😂
Seriously, I had no idea how much work went into digging a grave.
Micah certainly is no stranger to doing hard work, and doing it right!👍
This SOB really works hard and knows his craft.
Very informative video we greatly appreciate this
Reminds me of a good friend named Ron, a wild card of a human. Could make you laugh, cry, and just shake your head at the stories. Micha, you are a treasure. Slainte to you.
absolutely the BEST video on youtube
Thanks
Wow this was really awesome to see!
I'm just gonna have my ashes dumped behind an old Kmart building.
That works for me too.
Your loved one is not there ,what are you thinking?
I want a plumbers funeral. Right down the old American Standard toilet! :)
Wal mart is a better place. I want to be in above ground grave
provided they're any left
I salute you my fellow gravediggers ! for sure one of the hardest jobs in the funeral industry.
Interesting and lots of hard work. Thanks Kari
Ah yes, such happy music for such a warm subject.
Exactly
The music makes it sound like A do it yourself weekend project
Micah seems like a really cool guy. I'm so glad there are people like him out there taking care of our loved ones at the end and making sure their final resting place is the best it can be.
He is wonderful!
Micah..very cool he spends so much time making sure everything is just perfect. Awesome Gentleman
He is awesome!
Sheeeze, talk about a person being under valued and acknowledged. Allow me to say thank you. I have no idea how in the world ... you gotta be pretty strong and obviously in good shape. Oh, my
@@KaritheMortician look. NY the time I'd jumped on the edge of the shovel I'd have fell out. Lol I'm so glad I saw this video. I'm more appreciative and grateful.
Good video. This explains why opening and closing are so expensive.
Wow, digging is some pretty difficult work, even with the equipment. He may be thin, but I'd bet hi pretty freaking strong. Kudos to Micah. The love and respect he shows to these people in the worst moments of their lives is noteworthy.
Thank you for this very interesting and informative video. Micah thank you for all your hard work you do to ensure the cemeteries and gravesites are properly maintained.
Here in the North East, many cemeteries are closed in the winter and you do spring butials. The caskets are kept in vaults by the cemetery.
Same here in Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We have what is unofficially breferred to as burial week in the spring.
There’s a lot that goes into this. When my aunt died almost 31 years ago they basically dug a hole, brought her in from a van and filled the hole placing all the flowers on top. There was no gravesite ceremony, and it was a bit hard to see the aftermath of her life and death in such a fashion. After seeing that I can appreciate the care Micah has in opening and closing graves.
Why was there no clergy man or service? Was there a financial problem? Possibly that is what your aunt wanted. When my brother died he wanted absolutely nothing!! He was cremated and that was it!! I thought it was terrible for the family.
Nothing but respect for this type of work. Telling people "I'm a gravedigger" must be pretty cool too.
Thanks!
Thank you Micah for your hard work and your sensitivity!!... I pray that there are many out there that have your heart. ✝️💜
I hope so too
Wow, Micah is amazing! Merry Christmas Kari!
That was fascinating. Merry Christmas!
Micah seems to know exactly what he's' doing - that takes a lot of experience! The fact he can do what he needs with machinery or shovel shows exactly how competent he is! So cool to watch and shows how respectful he is!!
Yes he does!
Crazy how much labor he does. We dig graves for the township and it takes less than 30 min with an excavator. No hand digging at all. Dirt goes into two trucks - one for top soil that will go back on top the vault and one for sub soil that gets hauled off.
This is so fascinating! You answer so many questions that I never would have even thought to ask! :O I hope you and your family have a VERY merry Christmas, Kari.
So facing East..is that for resurrection day? I find it Fascinating. Thanks for sharing!
@@deborahadams1777 Yup!
No such thing as an overweight grave digger that is HARD WORK id cut out the sod and not be able to move for 3 days
@@KMRN-nx8hw Wow...not too judgemental, are you...how do you know he doesn't have some health issues that diminish his ability to lose weight...thyroid and endocrine problems can contribute to a faulty metabolism, as well as diseases like multiple sclerosis which can limit a person's mobility and exercise tolerance, not to mention mental illness. You don't know what that "poor slob's" life has been like that contributes to his lack of ability to care for himself. I certainly hope you're not an RN...being a nurse actually requires some degree of compassion.
I have helped dig graves and, it's not as easy as it looks.
Stan Kowalski I totally agree with you. Also, at least the guy holds a job, too. @K.M. RN.......what a silly comment you made.
@@KMRN-nx8hw I'm sure your uncle didn't mind. No one really aspires to be a grave digger so just be happy he has a job and I bet he did his job really well. Everyone has a back story. You'll have one one day and others might be as disgusted as you were to that guy.
@@KMRN-nx8hw What a way to remember your uncle's passing. Sad.
Very interesting, as always. Thank you!
Kari, this was very interesting.
Thanks for sharing !!
Great,interesting video as always special lady,loved the tune.You look adorable in your little hat.Aww,bless Micah's heart, VERY intelligent, hardworking man.You are so awesome Keri.Thank you for all the videos,love,respect, honesty you give.May God bless you&your family always.Merry Christmas, Happy,safe New year. You are a VERY special lady.Happy holidays Micah,thank you 2.With love,your lil'addicted, admirer from In.
This is interesting A friend of mine digs graves and I volunteered at a cemetery from ages 12 to 18 I went to every burial and even got to drive the Machine a few times so grave digging was my introduction to the funeral industry I’m still trying to get into mortuary school
Mid America
I've been a funeral director for the last twenty years and have worked all over New York State. In my travels I have learned that every community has a "Micah" and each one is a unsung hero of the community.
So very true!!
Many thanks for this, the memories came flooding back, I was a grave digger here in the UK for 12 years late 70s-80s, eight years dug by hand, man that was hard craft! then by machine at West Norwood cematary opened 1837- 40 acres, 42,000 graves 200,000 interments, the best job I ever had, the machine made the work easier but kinda killed the peace quiet and tranquility whilst working, big respect to all diggers.
Thank you!
I had an uncle whose nickname was literally "Gravedigger", as he was responsible for openings and closings at the city cemetery in Checotah, Oklahoma. Now he's there himself. RIP, uncle Arch.
Very cool!
My stepdad dug graves for many years . This guy looks a lot like my stepdad too , except my stepdad didn't wear glasses . It was hard on my stepdad though, because he had gout and arthritis in his arms and legs real bad . It was real hard if he had to dig a grave by hand . I guess it depends on where you live , but sometime they would have to use dynamite to break the ground up before you could even dig a grave . We live in Ga. , so we have a lot red clay and rock . The only graves he refused to dig was a baby grave , because he had a baby boy that was born stillborn when he was married to his 1st wife . I could understand that . But he was real careful too around the other graves . I don't know how he was able to get that backhoe in some of those spots in the cemetery to dig graves . But like Micah said , it all depends on the operator . I don't know how I found this video, but as soon as I saw it ....I thought for a minute it was my stepdad digging graves . 😉 Thanks for this video !!
This is NOT an easy job. These workers not only have to be strong, but very smart. They also have to be extraordinary careful as to not cut into an existing grave because in crowded cemeteries, the graves are pretty much butted right up to the next grave. Much respect to these professionals who are so easily taken for granted.
Very interesting to find out all the hard work that goes into the opening of a grave! Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome!
that's a lot of work thank u to those who do the work
Was there really no other background music available? Silence or the machinery noise would have been better.
I agree the music was a bit too distracting for the topic at hand. But the content was excellent. Thanks Micah for all you do.
Charles Darnay
Seriously! It sounds like the music from a Quilting show or the tune they play on every DIY show on PBS every weekend.... Definitely ODD. ;0
A lot of her videos have really annoying music and I can’t stand it but the video itself is interesting but I wish she could STOP with the music she picks. It’s not appropriate or fitting. Classical music sure. This ..... noo.
@Charles Darnay
I was JUST thinking the same thing. I had to stop the video and check the comments to see if anyone else was turned off by the music.
The music is probably what is free content that one can post with the video. Copyright laws are pretty severe on CZcams, so many people use the free stuff which is sometimes not quite right for the portrayal. In this the machine and her and him talking would have been enough.
This was very educational
My Father was a gravedigger back in the early 60s.
And it was all done by hand and 2 people.
Thanks!
Thank you and thank you to Micha, we truly appreciate sharing this video, learned how much work goes behind the scenes. God Bless you both
Glad you enjoyed it
I've dug several graves , including my grandmother and dad.
If your good enough with the equipment you could save a lot of hard work.
I work in a cemetery office that manages 7 cemeteries. I watch a few funeral director channels here on You Tube and I wish they'd highlight cemetery work more often. A funeral director works with a family very closely for a few days but a cemetery works with a family forever. The office and the field staff work very hard to ensure that proper care is taken to maintain the cemetery, it's inhabitants, and it's records forever.
it's also important to remember that every cemetery has its own rules and regulations. There are also laws that govern cemeteries which are not standard through every state. Even within a state a religious cemetery and a municipal cemetery may have different laws that govern them.
I think there's a lot of great information to be had about cemeteries and cemetery workers. I think this was a great start!
What a perfectionist... love it! What a wonderful story and testament to a proud, hardworking man - THAT is so hard to come by anymore in this country! Reminds me of my Dad. Please let Micah know of all the wonderful messages people are leaving on this video! He should be proud of himself!! Love your videos, Kari... keep 'em coming! Hugs, from Mesa, AZ
Thanks. We have total respect for guys too and hope you give him a coffee. We are West coast and tsunami fears and displacements are my fears
I dig the graves here in my city cemetery i have a 3 foot wide bucket for my backhoe that way i dont get it too wide or narrow and it makes for way less shovel work
i also dug graves for 5 years, Ford 555D backhoe, and 3' bucket. I kept the side edges of my bucket sort of sharpened, as well as the teeth, my lines were beautiful, 3x8x4-41/2 (depending on the section), Where I worked had all flat stones with bronzes, and instead of sodding, we just tamped the fill, put about 3" of topsoil down, leveling it off with the terrain, seeding, then topping with mushroom manure. The owner of the cemetery decided to basically hand over control to a bigger company that specifically does cemetery work and i was out of a job. 3 years later he BEGGED me to come back and take over the whole operation myself. The cemetery is now bankrupt and hasn't been touched in 4 years, I rented a small backhoe twice and dug the graves for the last 2 people to be buried there at the request of the one funeral home. Township revoked burial permits there after that.
@@mattcat231 That would suck for people wanting to be placed next to their loved ones.
@@Bonzi_Buddy Yes it does suck for the 100 plus families that have/had gravesites there, a cemetery in a town 12 miles away gave a few lots away, and a few families had their loved ones disinterred from my old cemetery and reburied at the still active one.
Thank you
Could you please do a video on placing the vault into the grave, is this done the day of the funeral?
Awesome thats the other thing I was going to inquire about. Sorry I'm needy. Lol. Jk
Craig Perry o
Thanks for the informative, not scary video! My son wanted to see the process and your video allowed us both to learn something new! Also, thanks for being matter-of-fact. I want him to see death as natural and something to be respectful of, and you and Micah have helped me do that.
Excellent video! Thank you!
Glad you liked it!