MR. PET-IT OF PETTETT FUNERAL HOME
Mr. Pet-It was the English Spot Rabbit in the above photo, and Teresa Basinger is holding him. When this picture was taken in April of 2005, Mr. Pet-It was five years old. There is quite an unusual story behind Mr. Pet-It, so please take a few minutes and read his story. Since March of 2000, Mr. Pet-It has been the "owner" of Pettett Funeral Home. But, Mr. Pet-It has a far greater importance.
It is very difficult to come to a funeral home, whether you are coming because a relative has passed away or because a friend has died. Mr. Pet-It can make you feel at ease. If a two foot long, twenty five pound rabbit is calm at a funeral home, his nature can soothe children and adults, alike.
Patches is on the left and Mr. Pet-it is on the right and our funeral home acquired her at the end of 2002. She was probably a distant cousin to Mr. Pet-It, but he has adopted her as his baby sister.
His presence at the funeral home has come to represent the true meaning of funeral service, to bring comfort to those who have lost someone very special to them.
Mr. Pet-It passed away very suddenly Sunday morning October 8, 2006, with his adopted sister at his side. Pettett Funeral Home had a memorial service with sixty five people attending and they shared their memories of Mr. Pet-It.
Mr. Pet-It's funeral home is dedicated to continue his memory by providing comfort to those who have lost someone very close to them.
For several months after Mr. Pet-It's death, we did not have a bunny rabbit to meet and greet families. Patches seemed to be grieving for Mr. Pet-It. She enjoyed children coming to her cage, but she did not want to leave her cage at all.
We wondered what we were going to do and God always provides help and care just at the right time. Because on March 21, 2007, the first day of spring, Cousin Fred came to the funeral home to help Patches greet the children of all ages. He is a solid white bunny and looks like the Cadbury bunny. He is very eager to follow in his cousin's footsteps.
COUSIN FRED OF PETTETT FUNERAL HOME
At 10 p.m. Monday, July 2, 2007, Patches died in the lap of Teresa Basinger and with Cousin Fred at her side. She grieved for Mr. Pet-It and hardly ever left her cage after his death. Patches was buried aside of Mr. Pet-It in Mr. Pet-It's Garden Tuesday morning.
Cousin Fred "royally" served his duty at his funeral home until 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, 2011, when he passed away at the veterinarian's office.
However, what we did not know was that Ma and Pa Pettett (bunny rabbits) had a litter of seven rabbits at the first part of April, 2011. Among this litter was a bunny that was named Uncle Herbert Pettett or more affectionately known as Uncle Bert. He was born on a farm south of Cobden. He, his brothers and twin sisters and his parents lived in a two room shack. But farm living was not the life for Uncle Bert, his destiny was to come to Pettett Funeral Home. When I (Teresa Basinger) met Uncle Bert on Memorial Day weekend, he wanted to leave with me and move to the funeral home; however, we were not quite ready for Uncle Bert to come to the funeral home. So I told Uncle Bert, I would be back to get him. His caretaker told me that every time she opened the door Uncle Bert was ready to leave. He was dressed in his formal black suit and white shirt as you can see in the picture. So, on Wednesday morning of June 22, 2011, Uncle Bert made his way from the farm to the big city of Murphysboro, to be at Pettett Funeral Home! Come and meet Uncle Bert!
UNCLE BERT OF PETTETT FUNERAL HOME