Undertaker's Wife, The

No one will forget the people who pass through the home of The Undertaker's Wife. What James Herriott did for the country veterinarian, Celia Hastings does for the small-town undertaker. With warmth, humor, and "a splendid voice," this at-first reluctant undertaker's wife chronicles her own journey from farmer's daughter to obtaining an advanced theological degree and becoming an organist in a small-town funeral home-which is also the family home she shares with her husband, a second-generation funeral director.

As she is asked to help her neighbors plan their own funerals or those of someone they love, Hastings witnesses miracles; resulting in an unwavering and unconventional faith. With a keen storyteller's gift, she writes about her "customers" and the wisdom she has gained living a life helping others face death. Being of a practical bent, she also gives her readers a solid grounding in the process of planning and holding a funeral, and throws in a touch of wisdom for good measure.