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Page A27
MARCH 2017
FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS
S ec t i on A
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS AND SUBMISSIONS
1-877-402-5900
The Foundation ‘45 Awards
are
offered on the premise that access to
solid education and resources can
benefit you throughout every stage
of your career. Our transformative
academic and professional development
scholarships and opportunities, combined
with our mission-focused resources can
help you
unlock your potential and
take your career to the next level.
We support funeral service in building
meaningful relationships with the families
and the communities it serves.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
AWARDS
NEW THIS YEAR
Up to 60
Career Development Awards are
available to all licensed funeral
directors. The awards underwrite
your registration fees for a single
NFDA Cremation Certification,
Arranger Training or Certified
Preplanning Consultant (CPC)
session of your choosing.
Submit your name online.
ACADEMIC
SCHOLARSHIPS
EXPANDED
The Foundation is
pleased to offer an expanded
slate of academic scholarships,
ranging from $1,000-$2,500,
to full- and part-time students
pursuing a degree in mortuary
science from ABFSE-accredited
schools.
Online applications
accepted Jan. 1 - March 30
and Sept. 1 - Nov. 30.
Learn more at
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1015
How Does A Birthday Card Reunite A Couple
Separated By Death?
It all started when we wanted to find a clev-
er, fun way of getting people to update their
old self pre-need arrangements with us. But
how do you call a family and ask if some-
one has died or moved without sounding like
a vulture or at the very least insensitive? If
someone arranges their own final expenses it
usually shows me that person is quite practi-
cal and very often has a great sense of humor.
So, the idea of sending a birthday card to
the person that had made their own prear-
rangements made sense, but carefully chosen
words would be the obstacle. It was decid-
ed that we would use a birthday card with
“Congratulations for not needing our ser-
vices again for yet another year!!” Then with-
in the card we would go on to say, “All kid-
ding aside, we here at McKenzie tMortuary
wish you a very happy birthday. If you wish
to update your file, change phone numbers,
addresses etc., please visit our web site or call
us.”The idea was that it was so unique people
would brag to their neighbors, “Look I just
got a birthday card from my mortuary!” And
indeed, that’s exactly what happens. On an
At-need basis, we have seen a rise in new cases
when family and friends call the person that
received their yearly card: “What’s the name
of that mortuary that sends you a card?”
The response was great and continues to
be great. We get calls, cards and handwrit-
ten letters of appreciation. It let us know
we had decided on a good idea.
A few months back we received a birth-
day card back stamped “DECEASED” for
Beatrice Smith. This was baffling because
we had held Beatrice’s pre need arrange-
ments for many years.
This unique notice started our investigation
to find out where Beatrice was. It turned out
that she had been in a convalescent home for
an unexpected illness and passed away with
no family and no information. Her body was
sent to the county morgue where it lay for
months. After a period of time the public ad-
ministrator authorized cremation and for the
ashes to be placed at a local park. With the
hand written instructions that were given to
McKenzie from Beatrice we were able to go
to court to obtain a court order giving us per-
mission to act on her last wishes which were
to be buried with her husband at the nation-
al cemetery in Dayton, Ohio. We disinterred
Mrs. Smith’s Urn and sent her to be with her
husband at the Veterans cemetery.
If it hadn’t been for a simple birthday card,
this couple married for over 60 years would
not have had their final wishes realized.
Sometimes, all we need is to step outside
of our comfort zone in our marketing and
follow-up programs.
If you feel it’s right in your heart then it’s
probably the right thing to do.
Kenneth McKenzie
McKenzie Mortuaries and Crematory
Men of Mortuaries Calendar
founder,
co-author of
Mortuary Confidential
and
Over Our Dead Bodies