The only three person casket known to exist was built for a disturbing reason after sad tragedy
Ella Scott
Featured Image Credit: The National Museum of Funeral History/Coral Schmidt / Robert Kimberly
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
Spending the day at the National Museum of Funeral History sounds pretty morbid but the Texan institute is actually chock-filled with some fascinating stuff.
Opened in 1992, the museum features 19 permanent exhibits that delve into the likes of embalming and presidential funerals.
And if you ever find yourself wanting to see the original funeral bill for George Washington, you know where to go.
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Elsewhere in the museum is a famed casket that can fit three people in - the ‘Casket for Three’ if you will.
The story goes that back in the 1930s a couple unfortunately lost their young child.
It’s said that the pair were so distraught by their baby’s death that they thought about ending it all together.
While mourning their offspring, the parents made a pact and decided that they would join their youngster in the afterlife.
To make their plan a reality, they approached a local mortuary and revealed that they were contemplating suicide.
They commissioned the casket makers to build a coffin that would comfortably fit all three of their bodies, to be buried as a family.
The idea was that the mother and father would be on either side while their child lay in the middle.
However, by the time the casket was finished, it seemed as if the family had changed their mind and no longer wanted to go ahead with their suicide.
Following the project’s completion, it’s said that the funeral directors heard zilch from the couple - until the wife sent a letter 20 years later.
Apparently, the correspondence revealed that the woman’s husband had recently died and that she wanted a refund for the Casket for Three.
Unfortunately, the mortuary director wrote back and said that the funeral home had changed hands twice since she’d paid for the coffin and that he was unable to refund the amount.
After adding that the casket needed moved, the woman went quiet and never came to claim her three-person casket.
It was instead donated to the National Museum of Funeral History where it is still on display today.
While the coffin has never been resold, one funeral-goer recently made headlines for trying to flog their own grandmother’s funeral flowers.
TikTok account Depop Drama recently posted a video which showed a woman receiving a direct message on Vinted.
The content was in response to her selling funeral flowers for $145.
“Not to be rude but it’s offensive selling someone’s funeral flowers," the anonymous shopper messaged the woman.
The Vinted seller responded by saying: “Well that is rude. It’s my nannas flowers. I suggest you leave your thoughts to yourself because I find you rather offensive at a difficult time.”
Hundreds of people have since flocked to the comments section, with one TikTok user writing: "I think it’s actually a good idea to help people struggling to afford funeral flowers. They’ve served their purpose why not sell them on.”
A second said: "Are they supposed to be left at graveside? Or at least donate to hospice or hospital - honestly.”
UNILAD has previously contacted Vinted for comment on the sale.