Charlie Hetrick says he's working to "put the fun back in funerals." But that might give you the wrong idea. He's not dressing in a clown suit and juggling at the funeral home door or suggesting champagne toasts in the chapel.
Hetrick, known to friends as "Outhouse Charlie," is making coffins -- in kit form for do-it-yourselfers or custom coffins designed to put you away with a smile on your face.
Want to spend eternity face to face with (depending on your age and stage) Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Jessica Simpson or Jane Fonda? A poster of your idol could be attached inside the lid. A favorite poem or artwork can be applied with a laser. A coffin interior may be wallpapered or painted a favorite color. The possibilities are almost unlimited.
Hetrick even has a model that comes with a new hammer and a packet of nails so friends can give the dearly departed an airtight sendoff. Hetrick suggests lid nailing can be part of the funeral ceremony.
Some of his clients order coffins early and put them to good use. One is currently serving as a glass-topped coffee table with
a model railroad running around inside. Another is outfitted as a bookcase. A full standing elk was carved on the lid for another client.
What started as a joke has become a business.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/190296_charlie.html
Hetrick, known to friends as "Outhouse Charlie," is making coffins -- in kit form for do-it-yourselfers or custom coffins designed to put you away with a smile on your face.
Want to spend eternity face to face with (depending on your age and stage) Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Jessica Simpson or Jane Fonda? A poster of your idol could be attached inside the lid. A favorite poem or artwork can be applied with a laser. A coffin interior may be wallpapered or painted a favorite color. The possibilities are almost unlimited.
Hetrick even has a model that comes with a new hammer and a packet of nails so friends can give the dearly departed an airtight sendoff. Hetrick suggests lid nailing can be part of the funeral ceremony.
Some of his clients order coffins early and put them to good use. One is currently serving as a glass-topped coffee table with
a model railroad running around inside. Another is outfitted as a bookcase. A full standing elk was carved on the lid for another client.
What started as a joke has become a business.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/190296_charlie.html
