Photo Essays – Tatiana Flowers

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York April 22, 2016 Vera Cheek, a funeral director in residence at Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York, practices transporting a body to the car before burial. She recently retired from teaching middle school biology and decided to become a funeral director. 4/22/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Leroy B. Rhodes lies in a casket at Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York on May 9, 2016. He died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. While he was alive, he loved jazz music and played the guitar. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Leroy B. Rhodes lies in a casket at Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York on May 9, 2016. He died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. While he was alive, he loved jazz music and played the guitar. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Leroy B. Rhodes lies in a casket at Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York on May 9, 2016, as his daughter and son in law pray over him. He died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. While he was alive, he loved jazz music and played the guitar. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Friends and family of Leroy B. Rhodes watch as one of his closest friends gives a remembrance speech on his life. Mr. Rhodes died at 85 in White Plains, New York from multiple health complications. He leaves behind a wife of 42 years, three brothers, three sons, three daughters, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Leroy B. Rhodes lies in a casket at Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York on May 9, 2016 just before he is transported to White Plains Rural Cemetary. He died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. While he was alive, he loved jazz music and played the guitar. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 A funeral card rests on a chair during a funeral for Leroy B. Rhodes at Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York. Mr. Rhodes died at 85 in White Plains, New York from multiple health complications. He leaves behind a wife of 42 years, three brothers, three sons, three daughters, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 This photograph was taken in White Plains, New York on May 9, 2016 on the way to Leroy B. Rhodes’ funeral at White Plains Rural Cemetary. He died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. While he was alive, he loved jazz music and played the guitar. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 This photograph was taken in White Plains, New York on May 9, 2016 on the way to Leroy B. Rhodes’ funeral at White Plains Rural Cemetary. He died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. While he was alive, he loved jazz music and played the guitar. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Catherine Rhodes arrives at the White Plains Rural Cemetary in White Plains, New York where her late husband, Leroy B. Rhodes is about to be burried. He died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. During the funeral, she did not cry at all. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Jennifer Lee, owner of Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York, gives closing remarks at the end of Leroy B. Rhodes’ funeral at White Plains Rural Cemetary in White Plains, New York. Mr. Rhodes was 85 at his time of death, and he died from multiple health complications. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Friends and family of Leroy B. Rhodes pray at his funeral as he lies in a casket in front of them at White Plains Rural Cemetary in White Plains, New York on May 9, 2016. He died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. While he was alive, he loved jazz music and played the guitar. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Friends and family of Leroy B. Rhodes place flowers on his casket as he rests in a casket at White Plains Rural Cemetary in White Plains, New York on May 9, 2016. He died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. While he was alive, he loved jazz music and played the guitar. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Friends and family of Leroy B. Rhodes attend his funeral and celebrate his 85 years of life as he lies in a casket behind them at White Plains Rural Cemetary in White Plains, New York on May 9, 2016. A member of the Naval Corps gives Mr. Rhodes’s wife a flag, just before the burrial. Mr. Rhodes died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Friends and family of Leroy B. Rhodes place flowers on his casket as he rests in a casket at White Plains Rural Cemetary in White Plains, New York on May 9, 2016. He died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. While he was alive, he loved jazz music and played the guitar. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Leroy B. Rhodes lies in a casket at White Plains Rural Cemetary in White Plains, New York on May 9, 2016, just as his friends and family left the cemetary. He died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. While he was alive, he loved jazz music and played the guitar. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 9, 2016 Catherine Rhodes arrives at the White Plains Rural Cemetary in White Plains, New York where her late husband, Leroy B. Rhodes is about to be burried. He died at 85 years old from multiple health complications. During the funeral, she did not cry at all. 5/9/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 4, 2016 Lee’s Funeral Home is a family owned business in White Plains, New York. To date, the business is 101 years old. 5/4/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 4, 2016 Jennifer Lee, the owner of Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York, looks out of her office window to see if a client has arrived. Lee’s and her family have owned the funeral home for 101 years. 5/4/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 4, 2016 Jennifer Lee, the owner of Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York, explains the different options for burrial to a family who just suffered a familial loss. Lee’s family has owned the funeral home for 101 years. 5/4/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York April 27, 2016 Jennifer Lee (front) explains the different options for burrial to Nicole Donnell aat Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains on April 27, 2016. Lee’s family has owned the funeral home for 101 years. 4/27/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York April 27, 2016 Nicole Donnell laughs at her grandmother at Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York on April 27, 2016. She and her grandmother have visited the funeral home on her grandmother’s 83rd birthday to prepare for her grandmother’s death. 4/27/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York April 27, 2016 Lucille Brunson smiles at her granddaughter, Nicole Donnell during a meeting at Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York on April 27, 2016. She and her granddaughter are preparing for her burrial on her 83rd birthday. She is not sick or currently dying, but she wants to lift any potential burden from her family that may be caused by her death. 4/27/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 4, 2016 Clara Rhodes and her family wait while paperwork and payment are processed at Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York. Their family member, LeRoy Rhodes died the night before to multiple health complications. He was 85 years old. 5/4/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York April 27, 2016 Nicole Donnell looks at her grandmother at Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York on April 27, 2016. She and her grandmother have visited the funeral home to prepare her grandmother’s death. 4/27/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 4, 2016 Catherine Rhodes exits Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York, after choosing funeral arrangements for her father, LeRoy Rhodes, who passed away the night before. Ms. Rhodes lost her 85 year old father to multiple health complications and she says she’s happy he is not suffering any longer. 5/4/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)

Lee’s Funeral Home

White Plains, New York May 4, 2016 Theodore Lee, one of the owners of Lee’s Funeral Home in White Plains, New York, waits for a friend to bring him a package. Lee and his family has owned the funeral home for 101 years. 5/4/16 (Photo by Tatiana Flowers/ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism)