© 2026 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
DONATE
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Building Coffins Boosts Monks' Coffers

NPR
Published October 25, 2003 at 12:00 AM EDT

Brother Felix Leja at work on a casket. The New Melleray Abbey business is on target to grow 125 percent this year.
Allison Aubrey, NPR /
Brother Felix Leja at work on a casket. The New Melleray Abbey business is on target to grow 125 percent this year.

Not too many businesses are expanding by triple digits these days. But deep in rural Iowa, the Trappist Monks have a business that's growing like gangbusters.

The New Melleray Abbey near Dubuque launched a casket-making business five years ago after their farming operation went under. Now, in between their seven-daily prayer vigils, the monks can be found in the wood-shop sanding and sawing. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SUSTAIN what matters. BUILD what’s next.
With federal funding eliminated, WKAR relies more than ever on community support to sustain essential services that remain freely available to everyone in mid-Michigan. Your support helps shape what comes next for public media in our region. The best way to support WKAR is by becoming a sustaining member today or by upgrading your current gift. Support WKAR TV Here | Support WKAR Radio Here.