St.Joseph Abbey Woodworks Caskets-Monastic/Traditional Cypress Caskets

Shortly after the Abbey started selling these caskets to the public it learned that there was a state law in Louisiana that only licensed Funeral Directors in Louisiana could sell caskets.  The Funeral Directors sued the Abbey and asked the court to order the Abbey to cease and desist.  The Abbey decided to fight back.  Via the 14th Amendment the Abbey prevailed and now they sell about 20 caskets/month to the public.  They are made of cypress wood, are quite attractive and pretty reasonably priced:


SAINT JOSEPH WOODWORKS

For more than 100 years, the abbey has maintained and cultivated an abiding spiritual presence in southern Louisiana that is manifested in our daily rhythms of prayer and witness through a life of simplicity. One physical symbol of the simple Benedictine life of prayer has been the pine caskets in which we monks are buried.

Over the years, the abbey has been asked to produce these caskets for individuals and has done so only on a very small scale and to select friends. Today, in an effort to support the needs of the abbey and to help maintain its communal life and apostolates, we are beginning to make available to the general public a line of cypress caskets under the name Saint Joseph Woodworks. We also hope that this enterprise will serve as a witness, to educate the greater community to the true meaning of death as taught by our Catholic faith.

Pictures, pricing, availability, and additional information will be accessible on our website in the future. Answers to commonly asked questions can be found by clicking here, or you can contact Mark Coudrain by phone, 985 867-5161, for further information.

CASKETS

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Monastic style
Our monastic style is made out of cypress wood and has metal handles. It is a flat top box. The dimensions are 16 1/4 inches high, 25 inches wide (handle to handle), 22 1/2 inches interior, and 79 3/4 inches long. Cost: $1500.



Traditional style
Our traditional style is made out of cypress and has wooden handles on each side. It has a curved top. The dimensions are 18 inches high, 29 inches wide (handle to handle), 22 1/2 inches interior, and 82 inches long. Cost: $2000.