DuPage County Historical Museum exhibit looks at our death rituals

Modern American society often chooses to deal with death by avoiding the topic altogether. "Death in DuPage" is an upcoming exhibit at the DuPage County Historical Museum that will attempt to pull the curtain back on America's death rituals and practices - something long considered a private affair only to be known by undertakers and to be hidden from the public.

The exhibit opens Saturday, Oct. 14, and runs through June 4 at the museum, 102 E. Wesley St., Wheaton.

"The exhibit explores historical culture, materials and beliefs around death in the county. For many, it's difficult to talk about," museum assistant Morgan Valenzuela said. "My hope is that this exhibit offers visitors an opportunity for thought and conversation."

Thanks to modern medicine and the increased popularity of hospitals, death and illness can be concealed and suspended. It is easy to forget that in the time of the DuPage settlers, fewer than 15 percent of the deaths occurred away from the home. Dying in one's home was paired to other death rites, such as the family being there to witness and record last words.

Victorians observed stricter expectations for the family of the deceased. There were guidelines in place for how long someone should mourn or how they should deal with the body. Today, most people die away from home, and an increasing amount (a projected 54.3 percent by 2020) opt for cremation over the more traditional open casket and burial of yesteryear.

"Looking back is fascinating but sometimes uncomfortable. To think about how we, as a community, used to handle mortality and mourning might inspire some visitors to consider how we handle them today," Valenzuela said.

Admission to the exhibit opening is free. For information, call (630) 510-4941.

For those dying for more, the museum and the Wheaton Public Library will co-host a related presentation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the library, 225 N. Cross St., Wheaton. "Traveling While Dead" features funeral director Mark Hayes of Bolingbrook's Hayes Funeral and Cremation Service, who will explore how the dead were transported during colonial times, through the Civil War and to the present day. The program will pique the interest of not only history buffs, but those interested in genealogy as well. The event is free, but seating is limited. Register at the library's reference desk or call (630) 868-7520.