Pop-up museum salutes funeral industry’s long life

From home embalming equipment to horse-drawn hearses, Alberta’s funeral industry has a rich history to celebrate, says a 24-year veteran of the business.

“This is the start of our 90th year,” said Stu Murray, Alberta Funeral Service Association vice-president, on Wednesday. “But there’s an asterisk on that. Our records go back further.”

A pop-up museum will be open to the public Thursday to highlight some of the industry’s changes in the last century. The temporary display will be set up at the Edmonton Marriott at River Cree Resort in Enoch in conjunction with the association’s annual conference.

“We’ll have a few old cars, hearses, carriages, lots of photos,” Murray said. And visitors can check out the tools used in a home embalming.

“They would bring a table in and they would also bring bottles to collect fluids removed from the deceased,” Murray said. “Once the embalming took place, the family would have a visitation in their home and then … they might be going to a church and cemetery.”

More than 10 Alberta funeral homes and businesses are contributing to the museum, he added.

Despite the industry’s evolution, funeral homes serve the same role they did in the early 1900s, Murray said.

“We’re here to help people celebrate the lives of their loved ones,” he said. “To me it’s the highest honour when a family walks out and says thank you.

“I’m proud to say that we continue to do what our predecessors have done.”

The funeral, free for the public, will be open Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Edmonton Marriott at River Cree Resort, located at 300 East Lapotac Blvd. in Enoch. The Alberta Funeral Service Association conference runs from April 27 to 29.