ONE LETTER AT A TIME

Starting with "I", add a letter to each succeeding word:

A worried mortician is speaking:

"_ don't like _ _ ,"

said the man wearing a black _ _ _ .

"It's true that the _ _ _ _ is impressive,

but when we _ _ _ _ _ people,

they _ _ _ _ _ _ a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ identity.

There will be a negative _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ when the family realizes

the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of this."

Answers:

I
it
tie
rite
inter
retain
certain

reaction
cremation
importance