January 2019

Page A4 JANUARY 2019 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A Bay Memorials 321 S. 15 th St. • Escanaba, MI 49829 • (906) 786-2609 • Fax (906) 786-2692 Zerbel’s www.baymemorialsbabycaskets.com PROPORTIONALLY SIZED FOR MISCARRIED, STILLBORN & NEWBORN BABIES Burial Cradle caskets SM Available in 10”, 20”, 30” allowing you to tastefully care for even the smallest baby with all the compassion every parent desires for as low as $42.00 By Nancy Weil Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you measure, Measure a year? In daylights? In sunsets? In midnights? In cups of coffee? In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife? Perhaps you recognize these lyrics as the opening num- ber in the Broadway musical Rent . This is the time of year where we are looking back at the year that just closed and looking ahead to a blank slate of twelve months with no way to know what exactly will transpire. Perhaps we can tweak the lyrics a bit to: How do you measure a year? In cremation counts? In church services? In military honor guards? In pre-need contracts? In driving in snowy weather? In hurricanes? In google reviews? In staff turnover? In unpaid accounts? Random Musings Or we can also shift our focus to: How do you measure a year? In tears that flowed? In hugs that were given? In hearts that were comforted? In memories that were shared? In laughs that erupted? In appreciation for a job well done shared? As we conclude our year end accounts, our statistics and our reports, it gives us time to allow our left brain to de- termine if the year was a “good one” or a “bad one.” As the saying goes, “figures won’t lie.” So we set new budget goals for 2019, we speculate on what our cremation per- centage will be and we determine what projects will be completed as the year unfolds. Yet it is our right brain that keeps us connected to why we do what we do. Simon Sinek famously speaks on the fact that in order to be successful you must start with “why.” It is within the second list above that I believe our “why” is contained. It is what inspired us to work in a funeral home or cemetery in the first place. It is in believing that what we do leaves an impact and makes a positive difference. Of course, if we did not run our business successfully, then there would be no funeral home to show up to and no families to support. If we did not run our busi- ness successfully, then our cemeteries would be taken over by our town and we would be relegated to the sidelines. We must do our facts and figures. It is im- perative that we know where we have been in order to predict where we are going. So wrap up 2018 and look ahead to 2019, but keep in mind the wisdom of Mr. Sinek who advises us to, “Imagine a world in which the vast majority of us wake up in- spired, feel safe at work and return home fulfilled at the end of the day.” I wish you that kind of year. May it be so for all of us. www.nomispublications.com Funeral Home & Cemetery News Contributors share insights and exchange ideas. B logs Serving as Member Resources Director at the International Or- der of the Golden Rule, Nancy Weil brings her years of experi- ence working in the funeral industry to funeral directors across the globe. Her professional experience includes serving as Director of Grief Support and Community Outreach at Veterans Funeral Care in Clearwater, FL and at eleven cemeteries in Western New York. Nancy travels throughout the country offering presentations on how to reduce stress, combat compassion fatigue and offer sup- port for those who are grieving through her company, The Laugh Academy. With certifications as a Grief Services Provider and Grief Man- agement Specialist, Funeral Celebrant, Soul Injury Ambassador and Laughter Leader, Nancy is uniquely qualified to bring new perspectives into how to best meet the needs of the families you serve. For more information on how Nancy can help you and your company grow, visit her website: www.TheLaughAcademy.com or e-mail Nancy@TheLaughAcademy.com. Denny Dormody publishes memoir “Confessions of an L.A. Funeral Director” Denny Dormody LOS ANGELES,CA— “It’s rainy. The oncoming head- lights are blinding me. I have to stay awake. It’s 2:00 A.M. and less than two feet behind me is the body of a woman sched- uled for burial in about six hours…” Funeral director and comedy writer Denny Dormody is an actor who moonlights as a funeral di- rector to pay the rent. He recently published a mem- oir, Confessions of an L.A. Funeral Director . Self-described as “Ac- tor. Writer. Dad.” Denny Dormody is also a graduate of Ohio University and a veteran. His latest book, Confessions of an L.A. Funeral Di- rector is a comic and often touching look at his role as per- haps the only ac- tive member of the Screen Actors Guild that is also a real-life fu- neral director. Dormody has appeared in numer- ous movies and television shows, and is the comedy author of Riding the Holly- wood Glacier , Riding the Hol- lywood Glacier 2. The book is available at www.Amazon.com . I nv i tat i on s • ya r d s i gn s • pos t e r s • T i ck e t s s tamp e r s • S e at i ng Ch a r t s • B u s i n e s s Ca r d s and Forms P romot i ona l I t ems • Acc e s sor i e s • l a b e l s 8570 Foxwood Court, Youngstown, Ohio 44514 800-321-7479 info@boardmanprinting.com www.boardmanprinting.com Now offering a Personalized Memorial Line custom greet ing cards • funeral programs • memor i al inv i tat ions t-sh i rts • magnets • prayer cards • Canvas Pr ints • full color banners Members of the Funeral Industry Save 10% Every Day! Call today for your FREE Sample Kit