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JULY 2014
FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS
S ec t i on A
Funeral Directors Research,Inc.
AMRA INSTRUMENT,
LLC
623 N. Tower (P.O. Box 359)
Centralia, WA 98531
“the shorter the supply line the better off you are”
WEB DIRECT GIFT & PRICING
TM
®
All urn designs © 1994-2014 Terrybear, Inc. Terrybear is a registered trademark of Terrybear, Inc.
Hold on to Your Memories
Visit us at:
(888) 588.8767
urns@terrybear.com
Personal
Keepsake
The Personal Keepsake is an
alternative to cremation jewelry
and is small enough to carry at all
times. Use it to preserve cremated
remains, a pinch of soil, or a small
flower petal.
Honorees Mildred Vitangcol and
Crisma Henriquez-Ramirez
By Elleanor Davis Starks, CFSP-CCA,
Founder and Executive Director of the 100 BWFS, Inc.
preparation of their dead, the laying out of the body by earlier civiliza-
tions, to the most important events surrounding the Civil War which
defined the embalming process by allowing the return of loved ones so
families could mourn and have a last look at those lost in battle. Our pro-
fession is demanding and respectful. The 21
st
Century licensed funeral
director and embalmer must pass national and sometimes state board
exams to serve the public. Mortuary training schools and educational
seminars have been developed. Around the nation training has taken
place at Clark’s, Welch School of Embalming, Dr. Renouard’s Training
School, Eckels, Landig, American Academy McAllister, New England In-
stitute, Pittsburgh Institute, Worsham College, Barnes School, Cincinnati
College of Mortuary Science, Kentucky School, and Atlanta College to
name a few. Some of these historical training grounds have been re-
placed with newer institutions, while others just closed down over the
years, but the training lives on in the lives of great funeral legends.
The 100 BWFS Organization, founded in 1993, is honored to present a
select group of International Funeral Professionals who will be recipients
of the 2013 International Leadership Awards and the 2013 International
Awards of Excellence - 2 different categories recognizing contributions
to the rich history of our demanding but great profession. Some of these
great colleagues are legacies and go back as many as seven generations.
Some are International leaders, officers of funeral service organizations,
some hold and represent historic positions or honors in these organiza-
tions, while some are new generational founders and owners who have
impacted the funeral industry. Each story is different, each personality
different, each journey is different but you
find the ultimate goal the same, success and
love for the funeral profession. It's time for
you to "Meet Your International Colleagues
and National Movers and Shakers in Funeral
Service." Over the next 12 months we will
travel around the world and meet the old
heroes who created legacies and the new
generations who were polished to step into
the 21st Century to create their own legacy
or follow in the footsteps of someone who
had an impact on their life.
International
Leadership
Excellence
Throughout history the funeral
service profession has played an
important role in our lives. Dating
back to the Egyptians, Greeks and
Romans servicing the dead was or-
ganized. From the high priest who
selected the finest balm leaves for
Mildred Vitangol
This month we conclude our series of the distinguished In-
ternational Leadership Award Honorees by profiling
Mil-
dred Vitangcol
of the Philippines and
Crisma Henriquez-
Ramirez
of the Island of Curacao.
Mildred Vitangcol believes that, “Together we touch lives
through the funeral service industry both nationally and in-
ternationally working with the same mission for all the peo-
ple in need.” A well respect-
ed and successful leader, she
attended high school in Du-
magueta City and her col-
legiate education is a who’s
who of institutions. Start-
ing with Silliman University
where she received a BS in bi-
ology; she attended the Uni-
versity of Asia and the Pacif-
ic; Ateneo Graduate School
of Business; and Cebu Doc-
tor’s University followed by
a residency in Gastroenter-
ology at Veteran’s Memorial
Medical Center. Today Mildred is CEO and President of
St.
Peter Life Plan, Inc.
which is a pre-paid death care compa-
ny founded in 1970 by the late
Francisco Bautista
. Mildred’s
husband,
York Vitangcol
serves as the Vice Chairman of the
Board and as a Director of the St. Peter Group of Companies.
“In the demanding funeral profession it is possible to suc-
ceed in spite of short comings as long as we are able to com-
pensate. You must be willing to allow others to impart their
wisdom to help you and share their expertise. I am so lucky
to have my husband involved in the same industry, he im-
parts this information: You can win every battle if after every
loss you stand up again,” Mildred wrote. Mildred is driven to
accomplish great things for the people of the Philippines, she
knows no mountain is too difficult to climb and no master-
piece can be too hard to create.
Crisma Henriquez-Ramirez is one of the most success-
ful and respected women on the island of Curacao. She was
raised in the Wishi Marchena neighborhood and left home
at a young age. Following the loss of her first husband and
separation from a bad relationship with her second husband,
Crisma found herself as a single mother of two young chil-
dren. Through hard work and determination she was able to
serve families of Curacao by opening Agencia Funeraria El
Señorial in 1984. Señorial Memorial Park opened in 1997.
Crisma wrote, “As a woman who sold everything from avo-
cados to clothing door-to-door,
Garris Funeral Home
takes delivery of New
Vehicles
MOUNT OLIVE,NC—
(L
to R)
Mr. Rikki M. Best
,
Mrs. Nannie M. Barfield
and
Ms. McKale Barfield
Best
, owners of
Garris
Funeral Home,
took de-
livery of two 2014 Cadil-
lac Armbruster-Stageway
XTS-L6 Cadillac Six Door
Limousines, and their
companion Armbruster-
Stageway Crown Regal
Funeral Coach on May
22, 2014 at the funeral
home in Mt. Olive, NC.
Three generations of the
Barfield Family own the
firm that was established
in 1929.
Bill McKeithan
,
representing
Crain Sales
of Albemarle, NC made
the delivery.
FUNERAL HOME &
CEMETERY NEWS