My husband and I live a bit outside of town, so we get our electricity from the Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association. They publish a sweet little magazine called Colorado Country Life.
The January 2012, issue features a story about Lorraine Melgosa who lives in a tiny Colorado Farming community of 500 in southeastern Colorado. Lorraine owns the Welllington Carriage Company, which makes use of a 1867 James Cunningham & Sons antique carriage, or hearse, to provide dignity and ceremony for families who desire a slower, more meaningful funeral for their loved ones.
The hearse is pulled by her magnificent Percheron horse named Duke. Together, Duke and Lorraine have provided horse-drawn hearse services for more than 700 funerals for over 17 years. Many of those honored have been soldiers being taken to their final resting places after dying in the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq.
I was very moved by the article about Lorraine and her work. Along with her passion for her mission to help provide dignified, ceremonial funeral processions, she also expressed passion for the horses, especially Duke, who make her business possible. Lorraine and her horses are truly partners in her business and it made me wonder what it might be like to work with and be financially dependant on an animal every day.
If you work with an animal, I'd love to hear what it's like for you. What have you learned from this arrangement?
You can follow Lorraine at facebook.com - Duke the funeral horse.
--Laurel
Very remarkable story! How dignified the whole process is made, through working with a majestic horse! And the carriage! Truly a thing of the past in most areas.
Posted by: Midge | February 24, 2012 at 07:00 AM