Please tell me this can't be true!

[JaffaCake70]

My Mum visited this afternoon, we were talking about wills and things that the departed have left in trust for their loved ones. During the course of the conversation Mum told me the following:

When my Grandmother passed away a few years ago at the age of 82, my Mum's older Sister wanted her wedding ring (for sentimental reasons).

When my Auntie went to collect the ring the undertakers gave it to her and told her that it had been stuck on my Nanna's finger so tight that they had cut her finger off in order to retrieve the ring.

I feel sick. Please please please tell me that this can't possibly be true? Has anyone else had experience of anything like this? I just can't believe it's true.. but if it's not true why would my Auntie, who isn't one for making things up, say it is?

Mortician here (although I am no longer working in the field). We do not cut fingers off.
If necessary, we would cut the ring. But this isn't often necessary, as we have lots of tricks (the string trick, for example) and, while the body may swell initially, embalming or even just the breaking of rigor mortis, also brings swelling down.

My DH works for an undertaker. They would never cut a finger off. He has known the cotton thread method be used or Vaseline. It would not be allowed to cut the finger off - ever

It's more likely they cut the ring off than cut her finger off!

I doubt it's true and I hope not. Maybe the ring had to be cut off but not your nanna's finger. They would surely have had to consult your family before making such a drastic decision.

It's a misunderstanding, misheard or a bad joke.

They didn't cut her finger off.

I work with undertakers and they would never do this!

They do cut out pacemakers if the body is to be cremated, but cutting off digits? No.

Not nice and isn’t info you’d tell a family unless there was visitation and then you’d need to know.

They wouldn’t have cut the finger off, they would have cut the ring off the finger. When my DH passed away the funeral director returned his wedding ring, saying that it couldn’t be left on because of crematoria regulations. I would think there’s been a misunderstanding.

I can’t believe they’d mutilate her body for the sake of jewellery!
I think there has been something missed in communication.

No, I don’t think they’d be allowed to do that. Funeral directors are very careful to make sure everyone knows the treat the deceased with dignity, their business depends on it. I exoect they cut the ring off the finger.

If there were a situation where they needed to do such a thing I would imagine the family would have to be consulted and give consent first, but I think it’s unlikely in any case.

If I die with a tight ring on my finger, the undertakers are welcome to cut off my finger. I'll be dead - I won't miss it.

I mean - they are dead, I don't suppose it matters.
It's pretty horrific that they told her though, unless they thought she might notice if she was dressing her (my mom did this) or trying to hold her hand when saying her last goodbyes? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Absolutely no way this would happen.

My granny's rings went with her, as they couldn't get them off her fingers at all, and we didn't want them cut off. There is absolutely no way in hell they would chop an actual finger off just for a ring.

Although now I think about it, my grandmas ring was cut before I received it, I was never told I just noticed it had a tiny slice in it... no way they'd have got it off naturally tbh.

This is true!
I had to get my mother in laws wedding ring from the undertakers. She was much bigger than when she got married and hadn't taken it of for many years.
I asked the undertaker how he managed to get it off, and he said he cut her finger off. They do it all the time, but don't tend to advertise the fact.
The ring was completely undamaged, so it definitely wasn't cut off her finger.

Stock image of a ring cutter - standard piece of kit in medical treatment rooms?
e.g. if you go in with a swelling hand injury it can be best to cut the rings off sooner rather than wait.

Daughter works in funeral industry, did not happen is her opinion, they may have had to cut the RING off that’s all

My nan's ring was cut off, not the finger

I very much believe the same is true here.

Or point Nanna’s finger 😱

Nah that's nonsense.

I’m with the majority that the ring was cut. Undertakers can’t mutilate a corpse.

If I was dead I would rather they cut the finger than the ring as my DD could have my ring.

Yes, it’s true. A close friend was an Undertaker previously and they’ve told me before that usually they snap the deceased’s finger and break the bone in order to remove any jewellery. It is quite a common occurrence.

It’s horrible to hear but I suppose the deceased isn’t going to feel it or know any better.

Oh wow so it's true then?! Well I guess you learn something new everyday...!

Yes, I'm sure that is usually what happens!