Page A8 april 2024 1-888-792-9315 • mymortuarycooler.com Scan QR for our website Cots not included MODEL # TR3 Triple Cot Roll-In Mortuary Cooler AMC N W FAST SHIPPING AVAILABLE ON SELECT PRODUCTS SHROUDS Green Burial Cremation www.kinkaraco.com (415) 874-9698 100% American Made In my 30 plus years as a funeral director and serving with our coroner’s office as an investigator/deputy coroner…I have made more death notifications to families than I can recall. Some cases remain very vivid, while many have diminished from memory over time. Many of these deaths leave an indelible footprint in our memory and hearts. These traumatic injury deaths share a common theme…the family usually asks two questions. Where are they and can we see them? My friend and colleague Dominick “Nick” Astorino presents a very poignant lecture built around, “Can We See Them?” With death and viewing the deceased…seeing is believing. Viewing a deceased loved one lost in an unexpected, tragic event brings comfort to families and friends. A body-present service gives family and friends the opportunity to say goodbye to a loved one...to hold their hand, kiss them, spend time with them. Unfortunately, along the way, we as a profession, have stepped back from explaining the value of open casket services. In addition, we seem to be reluctant to explain our talent and abilities to families. Too often, well-meaning MEs, coroners, law enforcement officials, etc. have told families viewing their loved one was out of the question. These professionals do not know our talents and abilities and should stay in their lane! For many of us it’s a challenge, but for most of us, along with experience, talent and ability, we work with HEART! Without our hearts in the mix, I find people fall short in presenting quality results. By Wally Hooker, CFSP, MBIE Too many firms simply throw in the towel and do not attempt reconstructive efforts. Not going the extra mile to provide open casket services leaves big questions in the minds of families left behind. They are left to imagine the worst…for a lifetime. Sometimes our work isn’t perfect, but we can provide acceptable “open casket results”…this is where the healing begins. The manager of a large firm lamented to a group of us at a conference, they don’t have the time or employees for reconstructive work…they either suggest a closed casket or direct cremation. Many of you have heard me say, “We have seen the enemy and it is us!” Here is a prime example. This person became agitated when they were challenged for this mindset. When a family makes a decision and chooses our funeral home, they are placing their trust, confidence and expectations in us. The firm I am discussing is totally disrespecting and under-serving the families in their care. Perhaps we have become too complacent in our roll…it is vitally important we all take a step back and consider when working with a family that just suffered a loss, “What if I were in their shoes?” What would be your expectations? How would you feel if a lazy funeral director told you no, you can’t view your loved one? How would you feel if, after the services you found the firm you chose simply didn’t want to bother with time consuming restorative surgery? This disgusts me and it’s difficult not to be judgmental toward this lack of professionalism…we’ve come too far in Embalming 101 our profession to simply allow it to be thrown away! If you or your staff are not capable or prepared to perform difficult restorative efforts, swallow your egos and consider calling someone in to save the day! The families you serve expect you to go the extra mile for them…don’t let them down! The next few articles will be dedicated to everyday RA efforts. Be well and enjoy the beautiful spring weather ahead, and… don’t be a Knucklehead embalmer! Wallace P. (Wally) Hooker CFSP, MBIE, is the owner, funeral director and embalmer of Family & Friends Funeral Home of Wingate, IN. He and his wife, Janet designed, established and built their funeral home in 2004. Wally is a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, where he serves on the Advisory Board. He is Past President of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association and previous board member of North American Division of the British Institute of Embalmers. In addition, he has served as chief deputy coroner/investigator of Fountain County, IN for the last 24 years. FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS www.NomisPublications.com Monthly Columnsonline at Can We See Him/Her? (Part 1) Fargo Cemetery Partners with Eickhof Columbaria Inc for Fabrication and Installation of a New Columbarium Carriage Services Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results; Mel Payne Steps Down as Chairman HOUSTON,TX— Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE: CSV) announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023. Carlos Quezada, Vice Chairman and CEO, stated, “We are pleased to announce our strong fourth quarter and full year 2023 results. Total revenue grew by 5.2% in the fourth quarter and 3.3% for the full year, despite the COVID ‘pull forward’ impact resulting in modest declines in funeral contract volume experienced during the year. This momentum, marking four out of five consecutive quarters of solid performance, instills confidence and excitement in our core initiatives as we advance into 2024 and focus on fulfilling our new purpose statement, which is ‘Creating premier experiences through innovation, empowered partnership, and elevated service.’ For those interested in learning more, we invite you to explore our newly launched website and discover our refreshed Carriage image, which aligns with our vision of the Carriage of the future,” concluded Mr. Quezada. Mel Payne Transitions to Advisory Role After 32 years of founding and building Carriage, Mel Payne, has chosen to step down from his role as Executive Chairman of the Board and transition to a new role as special advisor to the Board of Directors, which will allow him to be available and share his wealth of knowledge and insights with the Board of Directors and the senior leadership team. Mel will continue as a member of the Board until his current term expires at the May 2024 annual meeting of stockholders. Mel, who served as Carriage’s only CEO and Chairman of the Board for the Company’s first 32 years, started with a vision in 1991 that was born out of a very personal and impactful experience he had following the loss of a loved one. He turned that experience and vision into a team of more than 2,700 employees and 200 businesses, all driven by a collective mission of serving families during the most challenging time of their lives. “Next to my family, Carriage has been and continues to be, the greatest love of my life. The friendships I have made over the years are priceless, and watching the growth and development of so many wonderful leaders throughout the organization has been a true highlight of my career. I have complete confidence in Carlos’ vision and ability to lead Carriage into its next chapter of growth, and, as still a large shareholder, I will be cheering on the team and offering support,” stated Mr. Payne. “Mel has built a special company and is one of the true pioneers in this profession. He has handpicked an incredibly talented senior leadership team, and the Board is excited for the future of Carriage and our stockholders,” stated Lead Independent Director, Don Patteson. For more information and full results, visit www.carriageservices.com. Artist’s rendering of the new memorial space at Riverside Cemetery in Fargo, ND FARGO,ND— The Riverside Cemetery Association is planning a new memorial space with columbaria for families seeking cremation memorialization. When the first phase is complete, it will provide space for the respectful inurnment of over 1,200 individuals. Columbaria have separate inner recesses, called niches, that hold urns. Each niche in this new space will accommodate two funerary urns, making them suitable for married couples or an individual person. Once the inurnment is complete, the names of the individuals are sand carved into the granite, as well as their birth and death dates. The columbarium, built by Eickhof Columbaria in Crookston, MN, is finished in granite quarried in North America. Eickhof Columbaria has spent over 35 years developing a better way to engineer, design, and fabricate columbaria. Their attitude fosters a culture of constant improvement and that attitude, along with their experience, is the reason they are the industry leader of columbaria at churches, cemeteries, higher learning institutions, and retirement communities, in the United States. Their product has been tested for years by exposure to all different types of climates and weather. This has allowed them to make product improvements based on direct experience, providing their customers with an American made columbarium that is more beautiful, requires less future maintenance, and operates simply during inurnment ceremonies. For more information, visit www.eickhofcolumbaria.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @eickhofcolumbaria. Send Us Your News! We welcome news of the industry. info@NomisPublications.com PO Box 5159, Youngstown, OH 44514 CALL 1-800-321-7479 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY News
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