Dear FRONTLINE,

I just finished watching "The Undertaking" and was very moved. I cried because Pat Lynch has buried both my mother (Dorothy) and brother (Jim) 16yrs to the day apart. But, I also felt relief because I knew that he cared about my family, but I never knew how much of himself was put into service. Pat was also a family friend to my brother, and helped so much with this undertaking. Plans are in order with Pat Lynch for the funeral of my father in the future. He will be my undertaker for myself when the time comes. Know that this is a remarkable documentary and will be ordering a copy for myself and will be sharing it with all of my family. Great Job!!! Please forward this E-Mail to Pat Lynch if possible.

chris o'neil
lincoln park, mi

Dear FRONTLINE,

I loved the book 'The Undertaking' and recommended this program to people who have also read and loved the book. This program would have flown had it been aired many years ago but it did not represent death and dying today nor did it do service to Mr. Lynch's sensitivity or creativity. I wouldn't have been interested in his books if I had seen this program first and I am sad that someone might miss out on his wonderful writing.

Lana Groves

Dear FRONTLINE,

My father and grandfather were small-town funeral directors in the midwest. They practiced their profession with the caring thoughtfulness and concern for the living that was shown in your incredible documentary.

Thank you for giving me a vehicle for remembering my family with renewed respect and love. They buried their friends and their friends'children and parents. It wasn't easy, but they saw it as a sacred duty. A wry sense of humor kept us all sane. I chose not to follow in the profession, as I didn't feel I had the ability to emotionally detach and serve my friends and family. It is an all-compassing profession. It is with you 24 hours a day, and seldom leaves your thoughts.

Again, thank you for sharing the families and their thoughts, both those serving and those served. I want my children to see this and to somehow know a bit of their history.

Linda Sprague-Bringer
Lakewood, WA

Dear FRONTLINE,

As one who works in the industry I enjoyed reading the various views. Although the program may have portrayed what was thought to be expensive funerals, that was not always the case. In one scene a body is being taken to the crematorium in a cremation tray, a simple cardboard and wooden box.

Whatever a family wishes is entirely up to them. Like any business the bottom line is to turn a profit and keep the shareholders happy. However in my experience I have never seen or heard anyone in our organization try to foist unnecessary expenses on any grieving family. Granted if they buy an expensive casket so be it. But if they don't, that is their choice and not for us to try and dissuade them. Embalming is also an option but required for viewing, for obvious reasons.

As far as funeral costs go, it might surprise many of your viewers of just how many man hours are required.

Seattle, Washington

Dear FRONTLINE,

With a healthy 17 month old daughter sleeping in her room nearby, I watched the story of the Verrinos in tears. What a lovely couple who has endured such sorrow. May God bless them.

Frontline presented their journey in a respectful and enlightening way that I will never forget. Funeral directors (good ones) help us to grieve and this program reminded me of the significance that funerals of my relatives and friends have helped me remember them in life.

Karen Jaworski
Shoreline, Washington

Dear FRONTLINE,

How sad that some viewers cannot take the beauty and humanity expressed in this program as an example of how people can make their daily work a gift and a prayer.

Of course there are problems in the funeral business, but what aspect of life does not contain good and bad? I think the people served by the Lynch family are the best judges of their value; and those who are concerned with cost factors can plan ahead. I speak as one who had a very unhappy experience with my mother's funeral, but I am so glad that people like the Verrino's lived in Milford and had the Lynches at hand when they needed them. God bless all the wonderful souls involved in this program.

Christine Flacks
Canton, MI

Dear FRONTLINE,

I have just completed the viewing of your feature entitled "The Undertaking", As an African-American 5th generation Undertaker & Mortician. I truly sat continually in awe of what it has been, since I was a boy of age 8 and now a man at age 39 to what I have have completely dedicated my life to serving and preserving as a legacy placed in the fold and handed down by my family since the mid-1870's following the civil war times of reconstruction in America.

As having 1st hand memories of my Aunts as well as my Uncles carrying on a sacred trust of care that was bestowed upon them when they were called on by the community in their most darkest hour. Tonight you reaffirmed in a positive manner over the years yet... of all of the many sleepless nights... No days off or working weekends/holidays ... To why it is and has been worth while important to me of what we do as a profession... that even today my mother (age 60), My Great Aunt (age 72) and I will always walk ahead in dignity with distinctive honor to continue this ministry of undertaking with great reverence of heart to those who call upon us when their beloved have made the transition into the celestial ages of peace.

From this tonight program I regained a sense of resolvement and pride in this privilege until I cease to be able-bodied to maintain that path.

Keith A. Ridley, IV
Washington, DC

Dear FRONTLINE,

My Mom and I both watched this program and we certainely learned alot from it. My Mom is 68 and will be 69 in Febuary and I'll be 46 next month(Nov.). Mom has her cremation and death certificates already paid for;which is a great help on my part. We had no idea that you could be there waiting for your loved one being cremated,or all the undertaker has to do to get your loved one ready for the " showing " part of the visitation. Many found this to be kinda creepy...but we found it 100% interesting and informational. Thank you again,

Cindy Hoch
Kenosha, WI

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you for doing this important and necessary documentary. Your willingness to allow the world to witness the most intimate times in your lives is a generous gift that will commemorate the life of Little Anthony. I thank you for reminding me the pain, struggle, relief, and joy that a family goes through during the final stages of a loved one's life.

As a pediatric cardiologist at an academic center I plan to use this documentary as a teaching instrument to train young physicians how to better assist families during this difficult time...and in the process, also commemorate your son's life.

With deep respect and sympathy,

P.Nelson Le, M.D.
Harrisburg, PA

Dear FRONTLINE,

I was fortunate tonight flipping channels to find your profound documentary that touched me as I listened to the stories of loved ones lost. I myself have had a daughter and a son die, and a 7 yr old niece.

Listening to the Verrino's share so openly about their precious Anthony made me sit and agree with every word, as I have walked through this journey as well. We have been blessed with a family funeral home here and I have known three generations to show such compassion and loving care as Mr. Lynch and his sons. We will always feel very close to these fine men who "undertook" our children.

We were able to dress our son ourselves which was something we are so grateful that we did...one of the last opportunities to do "something" for him. Having "learned" the grieving process by "living" through it, I know that for many, death is not a topic that people openly share unless it has touched their lives in a profound way. Thank you so much for revealing this very much needed subject.

Saranac Lake, NY

Dear FRONTLINE,

My dear deceased husband was just the kind of funeral director Mr. Lynch and his family are. Even after 5 years I still grieve my loss.

This program brought back to me how important my husband's calling, being a funeral director, was to him, and all the families he impacted during his life. It also reinded me of how meaningful his funeral was to me and to all the hundreds of friends that paid their repects during his funeral. Thank you for reminding me of the wonderful legacy he also left behind.

Jane Zefran
Chicago, IL

Dear FRONTLINE,

what a lovely film. beautifully written and crafted, i found it uplifting and actually quite life affirming. i've been through a couple of these things, and i've come to agree and respect that like other stages in life, death not only merits but also requires a more than ordinary "rite of passage."

it is a shame that the subjects of both aging and death have become taboo in the US so much so that the rites associated with death (a wake or "viewing," for example) are often shunned with, i think, the mistaken idea that somehow the death will be "easier to deal with" for all involved. grieving is a process and no step is "easy to deal with." and rest assured, with or without "ceremony," no step along the way in that process will be skipped or avoided.

it has been my experience that rite and ritual at death help tremendously in the healthy grieving process simply because they give that process a tangible place to start.

R.A. Bailey
Orlando, Florida

Dear FRONTLINE,

Such an amazing story. I will never ever forget Anthony. I will appreciate his parents courage for the rest of my life. Just by chance I caught this story. PBS was left on from this mornings cartoons...sort of ironic to me that I'm putting my son to sleep and he's resting next to me as I watch Nevada and Anthony tell their story I realize I have no words that can describe my feelings. To say Thank you just doesn't express what I'm feeling.

Williamstown, NJ

Dear FRONTLINE,

I have never seen a show that has affected me in so many ways as "The Undertaking" has. The words written by Mr. Lynch were so wise, and deeply thought provoking. The respect given to the departed, and their loved ones gives me peace. The most extraordinary people, sharing with us in their time of grief was so gracious and appreciated. Now as I wait until tomorrow morning, when our family gets results from the test that will tell us if my six week old grandson has Cystic Fibrosis, I have the wonderful story of little Anthony, and his loving parents to comfort me. I will never forget the story of how they chose Anthony, and how I believe God chose them to be his parents. Thank you so much.

Tina Halloran
Erie, PA

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you for such a frank yet tender presentation on death and dying. I am especially grateful for the grace and strength Mr.and Mrs. Verrino shared with us as they journeyed through the joys and sorrows of their precious son's birth, life and subsequent death. I commend them for the message they have expressed to all of us by their example of unconditional love for their son. His life was a gift to them, and through their shared testimony, to all of us who viewed this presentation. Would that all of us could live our lives with as much dignity and grace even unto our death. May their grieving be lessened by the knowledge that their witness has been and will be a blessing to others.

As a physician working in Palliative Care and Hospice I cherish their example and the meaning of their son's life. Hospice care is not about being dead but living as richly and joyously as possible until the natural end of life occurs. Peace.

Gerald Walthall
Indianapolis, Indiana