Dear FRONTLINE,

My thanks goes out with the others here for your fine film. I'm a poet and professor at the University of Oregon and have been teaching Thomas Lynch's book for years as a part of my graduate seminar called The Poetry of Sex and Death where we explore what Yeats called the only two real subjects of poetry. The students are profoundly changed after reading The Undertaking and viewing the first episode of Six Feet Under. I now have this beautiful film to add to my syllabus.

Dorianne Laux
Eugene, Oregon

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am still in awe over this program which seemed to be about death, but was really about the power of love.

The Lynch family presented the behind the scenes look at the mortuary business in such a way that I felt a sense of peace and love. To Anthony and Nevada, there are no words to express how much you have taught me about the power of unconditional love. I will remember you and your precious son for a long time. Thank you for an inspiring show.

Kathleen Rawls
Greensboro, North Carolina

Dear FRONTLINE,

I was awestruck by the daring and reverence of this program to show the reality of death and the raw (and completely rational) emotions of those attending to it.

I'm so glad the Lynch Family and the bereaved let us into their true experiences with what awaits us all. I'm especially grateful in light of what appears to be commercial TV's latest trend this season: shows featuring the lighthearted, whimsical, quirky side of death (e.g. REAPER and PUSHING DAISIES). In some respects, these "comedies" are more disturbing than the already done-to-death grisly CSI-type procedurals. Thank you very much.

Barbara Williams
Warren, MI

Dear FRONTLINE,

I have an unusual job as a government bureaucrat: I work as the Field Liaison for Oregon Vital Records, and have spent the past 2 years visiting funeral homes in every one of Oregon's 36 counties. Our state is implementing a web-based system for filing death certificates, and I've been working closely with the funeral industry to accomplish this.

So, when my father died in June, my sisters tapped me to be the one to make the funeral arrangements.

On both a personal and professional level, therefore, I've had a great deal of contact with funeral directors this year.......they have earned my profound respect, and I thank Frontline for producing such a thoughtful and moving piece about the profession of "undertaking."

Kelly Paige
Portland, Oregon

Dear FRONTLINE,

I can never watch anything about dying children. However, I didn't change the channel. I watched the whole program and cried each time someone passed.

For Baby Anthony I cried for the fact that he was loved with unconditional love, he was surrounded by those that loved him, and finally his body is at peace.

Thank you for this program and for the transparency that you portrayed. I am no longer afraid of death.

I especially liked the readings from the diary - and the gentleness and compassion that was shown by all.

Thank you.

Rebecca Fleming
Pasadena, CA

Dear FRONTLINE,

I was so moved by all of the stories especially the Verrino's. Their son Anthony was so blessed to have such courgeous parents, and I am sure that he felt blessed to have them. God bless you.

Tony M
New York, New York

Dear FRONTLINE,

Three years ago I buried my Dad in a carefully chosen cemetery that I felt he would be comfortable in. He refused to discuss death and I grew up thinking he would somehow figure out a way to "dodge" it. The day he died, I held his hand and like to think I helped him release his ties to this world and move on to the next.

Strangely enough after his funeral, I needed to relocate to care for my Mother and needed a job. The funeral home knew it and suggested I take a position with them. At first the idea was completely weird, uncomfortable and out of the question but after working with the wonderful funeral director that cared for Dad and realising that she had qualities which I felt I might have, I accepted the position.

It's now two years later and I absolutely love my job. The opportunity to care for people in their saddest time and work with people who have similar passion is truly fulfilling. There is so much compassion, care and preparation involved in everything we do here yet I sense a lot of doubt from the public. They have many misconceptions of the funeral profession that I hope someday will go away. This beautifully done production is a step in that direction.

Susan Teale
Silverdale, WA

Dear FRONTLINE,

Dear Frontline; last nights broadcasting of "The Undertaking" answered alot of questions that I had about "funeral homes". My Mother just passed away in August & the funeral home here in my area was so thoughtful & kind & helped me in a time of sorrow.

Mr. Lynch & his sons helped me understand the kindness that is shown to the deceased & made me feel at peace that my Mother was shown this degree of kindness also. Please if you could, replay this episode again.

Walbridge,, OH

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you Frontline and the Lynch family for leading us ever so gently through to the final cycle of life.

Katherine Martin
Milford , MI

Dear FRONTLINE,

Dear Frontline,

Thank you for your presentation of "The Undertaking". There are no words to adequately describe the beauty, eloquence and power that this presentation has provided to thousands. I am a funeral director/embalmer who learned from an early age the importance what a funeral can mean to not only the family members but to friends as well. I know fully the words Thomas Lynch spoke in the narration of this story. Having read his book on undertaking as well as his book of poetry several years ago, I saw a man who knows intimately the importance of the job he has and what his presence, his knowledge and his abilities mean to hundreds of people.

I was trained by people who, like Mr. Lynch, knew the importance of making sure every detail, even the smallest detail, was not overlooked. I am always amazed at the small things people notice at a funeral service. It is these small things that people remember sometimes more than the big things. I applaud Thomas Lynch, his family and staff for continuing to offer the best of the best when it comes to saying goodbye to a loved one by the offering of their time, wisdom, talents and skills into helping make a sad, heartbreaking time into one of glad remembrances while at the same time easing the pain of death and goodbye,turning it into a beautiful memory.

It saddens me to see the corporations buying funeral homes and stripping them of their personal identity and the service that many had come to expect from these establishments. It is only still with the family-owned funeral homes you know you can depend on these people, who have chosen service over money,to provide the best for those you love. Thomas Lynch is a perfect example.

Nowell Briscoe
Atlanta, Georgia

Dear FRONTLINE,

This to me was the most honest and poetic programs on what goes on in the funeral business that I have ever seen. I was really touched by the young family who lost their child to a rare disease. I just loss my Grandmother in May and really could identify with this subject matter first hand. Although many people may feel that this subject is such a downer, we all have to come to terms with death sometime or another in our lives. Thank you for bringing it so honestly and beautifully.

Naylon Mitchell
Jonesboro, Georgia

Dear FRONTLINE,

I travel often for work, and I stumbled across this wonderful program while missing my family and the comforts of home. In a nutshell, the story was amazingly well told and moving.

Seldom do I feel richer for having watched television. I can confidently pronounce in this case I do. Incredibly well done, touching and personal on many levels. Very well done and thank you to the families for sharing difficult times that we may indeed grow from.

Michael Moore
Holland, Michigan

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you to everyone who shared their most personal moments with the us all. I am absolutely hearbroken over the loss of Anthony John Verrino. I have been in tears since watching your program. Anthony and Nevada are so brave, I cannot imagine the grief they must feel. I hope they come across this message and know that I have also learned from Anthony John and thier strength and courage. Their beautiful baby boy will be in my thoughts and prayers for the rest of my life and I would like to honor his precious life as best I can also. I will be thinking of him when I hold my own son, also named Anthony, tighter and closer to my heart.

Jennifer Vogel
Las Vegas, NV

Dear FRONTLINE,

What a wonderful wonderful program. I felt so much peace after watching this show and hearing the readings by Thomas Lynch.

I am 36 and my father died about a year and a half ago and I was not informed for several months after it happened. People have asked why I cannot seem to "get over" it because of how cold he was about having a child in the first place. I spent several years of my adult life trying to be a friend to him instead of a daughter. He remarried several years ago and that severed our relationship for many reasons, but it severed it without any anger or resentment. I just understood he now had a different life.

The overwhelming and basically "raw" sadness that I have felt everyday in trying to put this into perspective has at times been almost too hard to handle. But God has brought me this far and last night I believe he used his Great influence to bring me to watch this show and start to heal. My feelings were not unusual or unnecessary as I have been told. I just had to go through the loss of my father forever all in an instant. And as they said,funerals are the way we take care of the living also and having missed that has explained to me now that I needed that "closure" in order to move on. I have not been "silly" as my family have all told me.

A great many thanks to the families who shared and mostly to the Lynch family for opening up and allowing the cameras to share with the world the true professionalism of your trade and respect that our dead so desperately deserve and our living so desperately need. Because of this now I can start to heal. Thank you again.

Lisa Obert
Wake Forest, N.C.

Dear FRONTLINE,

I lost my sweet husband on the same day that little Anthony died. My husband lived for 50 years 8 months and 22 days. Melanoma took him prematurely.

Kevin wanted to have an open casket and the fear of that troubled me before he passed away. After the funeral I was so very thankful for his insight in knowing that we had to deal with his death in a very practical way.

Tom Lynch's' statement about telling the story of your loved ones final days is like a prayer said over and over again-- touched me so very deeply. Talking of my sweet husband and saying his name out loud feels so very prayerful and right. Tom Lynchs' words gave me a sense of freedom to say that prayer out loud over and over again.

God Bless you Tom Lynch

Karen Forster
Anchorage, Alaska