Jean's Casket

This past September, our close friend Jean passed away. Jean lived on New Hamburger, a wonderful artist, carpenter and farming community in Central Vermont. So what happens when a key member of a creative community passes away? The community rallies together to build and decorate the casket.

A few months before Jean's passing, David S. had built a casket for another close friend. He printed out the plans and briefed Barney, Sam and Bruce.

The required pieces of stock. From here, the team split up and milled the required pieces.

To make a custom casket, we first need to understand Jean's dimensions - her height, width and depth. When we saw the numbers on paper the dimensions seemed too small - especially the depth. To get comfortable with the depth, we mocked up a test depth. Here Bruce, Jean's son, tests the depth. In the end, the depth and width were correct. We made a mistake on the length; we built the casket using Jean's standing height but we failed to factor in that her feet would point downward when in repose.

Sam cuts to length 10'' boards that will be used for the sides, top and bottom of the casket.

Rounding and styling the buttresses.

All of the stock is ready. Now, it's time to assemble.

Bruce nails the sides to the corner post.

Sam explains the plan to Julie.

The four walls are built.

Bruce adds the bottom board. The bottom boards are perpendicular to the sides. This is a stronger construction than going lengthwise.

Final sanding of the bottom boards.

Game-planning the top.

Bruce fastens the top boards together.

Construction is finished.

The next day, friends and family gathered and painted the casket. Each painting symbolized something about Jean's life.

The final product! We love you Jean.

Jean and David.