NEWSOCTOBER 2022 Family Owned and Operated Since 1974 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY P O BOX 5 1 5 9 , YO U N G S T OWN, OH I O 4 4 5 1 4 1 - 8 0 0 - 3 2 1 - 7 4 7 9 WWW. NO M I SPU B L I C AT I O N S. C O M P r e v i o u s l y P u b l i s h e d a s t h e YB News • S t i l l t h e P l a c e f o r Yo u r N ew s ! Terry Brackney with his 1957 National Chevy Hearse In 1999, Terry built a 40-foot by 40-foot addition for garage space in the back. He also moved the embalming room to the new addition. It helped that Terry had been collecting equipment for his own funeral home even when working for Whitehurst. One of the things he collected was cars, and he had a funeral coach that could be used once the home opened. “We have vintage funeral coaches and modern ones,” says Terry. “It gives people options.” One car he has that he’s owned for ten to fifteen years is a 1957 National Chevy Hearse. When the vehicle was new, it was sent to the NaNomis Publications, Inc. proudly announces the 2023 Featured Firm: Brackney Funeral Service Crestview, Florida By Laurie Esposito Harley Terry Brackney, owner of Brackney Funeral Service, has always had an interest in the funeral industry for as long as he can remember. At age 16, he started washing cars at George Whitehurst Funeral Home in Crestview, FL. After finishing high school, he attended Gupton Jones Mortuary College and graduated in 1986. He received an Associate of Science in Funeral Service and then returned to Crestview. Terry began working at Whitehurst Funeral Home again. “I always knew I was going to open my own funeral home,” he says. “I began collecting equipment early on and storing it to use later.” When George Whitehurst Funeral Home sold out to Service Corporation International (SCI) in April of 1996, Terry resigned. “I didn’t want to be a part of corporate America.” In 1998, Terry rented a vacant building in Crestview, FL and began making renovations for his own funeral home. With a budget of only $20,000, Terry’s goal was to create a beautiful funeral home without cutting corners. “I did the renovations myself,” he says. The building was originally a newspaper office. The main area was a big, open room where the reporters used to sit and work on stories. Terry divided it up, separating the large, open room into individual rooms that would suit the needs of his new funeral home. He did wiring and plumbing to complete the project. “I renovate houses and rent them out as a hobby,” he adds. The knowledge gained through the years and from his hobby was the key in reaching his goal. It also funded his first year at the funeral home. “I used the rental income for the first year. What came into the business, I put back into it,” Terry says. “People like to see that you’re putting money into your business and not just pocketing everything.” He turned the front office of the building into a lobby with a hall. He put a visitation room up front and then created a space for the office and breakroom. He turned the former garage into the chapel. Terry opened Brackney Funeral Service in April of 1998. He rented the building for eight or nine months before buying it at the end of 1998. Continued on page A2 The 2023 edition of the Funeral Home and Cemetery Directory features Brackney Funeral Service of Crestview, Florida. Read of the dream Terry Brackney had as he purchased a vacant building and began renovations himself to create a comfortable and functional space for families to begin their grieving process. The tradition of mailing over 14,000 copies of the 2023 Pocket Size directory and Buyer’s Guide free to funeral homes across the country continues. All advertisers will also receive a link to the 2023 Digital Directory. We are constantly updating our data and changing the platforms in which it is available to you. The Digital Directory allows access across multiple devices. We continue to print the directory, Buyer’s Guide and the Funeral Home & Cemetery News, while growing the information available on our website. We also are working to keep you informed of industry happenings through our social media platforms. From celebrating anniversaries to the opening of new firms, additions of staff and implementation of community programs, for over 40 years the FHCNews has offered a platform for sharing with your peers. Trade associations, mortuary science programs and industry suppliers also keep the industry abreast of news and events. We continue to provide those who join our E-Mail list highlights of featured articles and news from around the webwith themonthly Funeral Home&Cemetery E-Newsletter. Our website, www.nomispublications.com will enter its 19th year. Updated daily, the Online Directories allow for 24/7 access on a desktop, tablet or smart phone. Anywhere. Anytime. Promo Code: 9243 www.messengerstationery.com/nfda-2022 NFDA 2022 | OCTOBER 9-12 BOOTH 822 Seas the day new horizons await! Convention Preview Begins on Page A21 Expo Floor on Page A23 2022 NFDA International Convention & Expo Baltimore, Maryland | October 9-12 Classified Ads Shipping Directory Index of Advertisers
Page A2 October 2022 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A Published Monthly by: Nomis Publications, Inc. PO Box 5159, Youngstown, OH 44514 1-800-321-7479 FAX 1-800-321-9040 www.nomispublications.com info@nomispublications.com Subscription: United States $30.00 - Canada/Mexico $60.00 Circulation 21,000 per issue. Overseas rates available. Deadline for Press Releases: 5th of the Previous month. Advertising: Display Ad rates sent upon request. Classified and Shipping Directory rates published in each issue. All advertising must be received by the 5th of the previous month. Due to the vast amount of sources, the publisher is not responsible for the content of any news articles or advertisements. Nor is the publisher responsible for any loss of revenue by failure to insert an advertisement. The contents of any advertisement submitted for publication are only the publisher’s responsibility if the error is made by the publisher’s typesetting department, and then only to the extent of the typesetting charges. Advertisers are responsible for adhering to individual state regulations regarding advertising. The contents of any news article submitted for publication is subject to editing and is published at the sole discretion of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any news article or advertisement. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or part, without the exclusive consent of Nomis Publications, Inc. Editor: Margaret (Peggy) Rouzzo © 2022 by Nomis Publications, Inc. ISSN 1944-1126 Funeral Home & Cemetery News Online at www.nomispublications.com Online Directories US & International Funeral Homes • Supply Companies Cemeteries • Pet Memorialization Companies Trade Associations • Plus Much More... www.nomispublications.com Like @Nomis.Publications FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS NOTICE The FUNERAL HOME AND CEMETERY NEWS is now sent in two parts. Section A, which includes pages A1-A44 and Section B, which contains the Classified Advertising and consists of pages B1-B24. If you do not receive both sections please call 1-800-321-7479 or email info@nomispublications.com. 800 - 321 - 7479 ~ www. Nom i sPu b l i c at i on s. com S E N D U S Y O U R N E W S W e w e l c o m e n e w s o f t h e i n d u s t r y Send us information on your firm today! FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Need Help Putting Your Press Release Together? Call Peggy at 800-321-7479 ext. 220 email Peggy@Nomi sPubl i cat i ons.com fax 1-800-321-9040 mail PO Box 5159, Youngstown, OH 44514 Send us any press release related to your firm which would be of interest to your fellow industry professionals. All press releases are published free of charge and at the discretion of the publisher. Be sure to include any photographs. Staff additions. . . Staff promotions. . . Anniversaries. . . Apprenticeships. . . Remodel ing. . . Moving. . . New Ideas. . . Community Service Projects. . . Graduates. . . Obituaries. . . etc. tional company in Indiana, where they converted it to a hearse. He also has a 1972 Cadillac that he uses as a hearse. “We have several others that we’re working on,” he adds. Brackney Funeral Service isn’t much different today than when it was founded. “We’re still for the community,” Terry says, adding that the community has grown with the funeral home. He treats each family as if they’re the only family they’re serving. He does all the prep work, talks to the families, and attends all the funerals. Terry’s daughter Amber is currently in mortuary college and will be done in a year or less. She’ll join him in the funeral home once her schooling is complete. Amber is 21 years old and was raised in the funeral home. “I raised her by myself,” says Terry. “After being a parent, I’ve told her that I understand why some animals in the wild will eat their young,” he laughs, adding, “she says that I’m not quite right. Life’s too short not to laugh.” Every year the newspaper holds awards for local businesses and the community nominates who they feel are deserving. Brackney Funeral Service has won the Emerald Coast Finest Funeral Home Award three times thanks to a community that supports their efforts and their attitude. “It’s gratifying that we were voted to win the award,” Terry says. Terry lives a reclusive lifestyle outside of the funeral home due to a targeted attack in November 2017. Four men attempted to kidnap his daughter, who was a junior in high school at the time. Terry used to be on the Board of the YMCA, part of the Masonic Lodge, and several other public roles, but in his words, he “stepped back.” “It changed the way we live,” he says. The men had to travel down a dead-end road that ended at Terry’s house. Luckily, his neighbors were vigilant. He adds, “The good Lord and my dogs were looking out for us that night.” The four men are now in jail, and Terry lives his life solely for his daughter and for the families in his community that find themselves in need of the services his funeral home can provide. Terry says it’s important to treat grieving families with compassion. He says, “Treat them like they’re part of your family. Some of the best friends I have I’ve made through the funeral home.” “If you’re good to the community, they’ll be good to you,” Terry says. For more information, visit Brackney Funeral Service’s website at www.brackneyfuneralservice.com. Brackney Funeral Service Continued from Front Page Embalming Tips Revealed Ebook by Monica Torres Now Available JUPITER,FL— Monica Torres has released Volume 1 of her ebook series on the practice of embalming. Torres shares valued trade secrets and as she describes her journey to care for the dead. The ebook, titled Embalming Tips Revealed with Cold Hands, is technical in nature and ideal for novices to experienced morticians looking for an edge in the prep room. Torres combines cosmetology, art, and science to her embalming role as a way of introducing a positive experience for grieving families around the world. Embalming tips within this first edition include how to rejuvenate the ears of the dead, how to find the femoral artery, and how to embalm a fetus by means of “submersion.” To purchase Embalming Tips Revealed, go to https://www.nxtgenmortuarysupport.com/ product/embalming-tips-revealed-volume-1/. From My Heart will Pull at the Heartstrings with Life and Grief Inspired Poetry by Bonnie Hopman Reynolds MEADVILLE,PA— An emotionally charged collection of life and grief-inspired poetry, From My Heart is the creation of published author Bonnie Hopman Reynolds. Reynolds was married to Rudy, with whom she shared many beloved memories before his passing. Reynolds shares, “There were many painful, sleepless nights after the loss of my beloved Rudy. In those waking hours, as mournful thoughts arose, I found some solace in transferring those feelings that came from my heart to my head to a pen and paper. From the depth of my inconsolable grief came the birth of From My Heart.” Published by Christian Faith Publishing, “From My Heart” will resonate with others who have faced the excruciating loss of a spouse and other life time experiences. Reynolds shares from the soul as she explores the varying waves of emotion that accompany a heartrending loss. From My Heart is available at traditional brick and mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. Columns Aftercare by Linda Findlay. .............................................................................. A8 Embalming 101 by Wally Hooker.................................................................... A16 HearseHub by Mike Jamar................................................................................ B8 Memoires des choix des Jacque by Kate Frediani-Gorman.......................... A34 Not Just A Widow by Patty Desiderio............................................................. A20 Observations by Steven Palmer..................................................................... A12 Powerhouse Marketing With Welton by Welton Hong..................................... A6 Random Musings by Nancy Weil...................................................................... A4 Rest In Peace Mr President by Todd Van Beck.............................................. A26 Monthly Features Classified Ads. .............................................................................................. B17 Shipping Directory........................................................................................ B14 Calendar of Events........................................................................................ B2 Educational News.......................................................................................... A20 Association News. ......................................................................................... A34 Death Notices. ............................................................................................... A42 Suppliers News................................................................................................B1
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Page A4 October 2022 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A By Nancy Weil We are at the time of year when we look back at the current year and determine what steps, if any, need to be taken to end the year hitting your annual goals. Is there a need for course correction? Are you using your staff members efficiently and allowing them to share their areas of genius with your firm? Have you done everything you could for each of your customers or do you still want to offer one more touch point before the year is over? There is still time to support your local veterans on Veterans Day by sponsoring or attending an event or hosting a “thank you” meal at your funeral home or cemetery. November and December are great months to hold a community remembrance service. Don’t forget that the seasonal merchandise starts being put out in stores before Halloween and those who are grieving the loss of a loved one begin to struggle with the upcoming holidays by early November. Perhaps you mail out “Thinking of You at the Holidays” cards to the families you have served. By October you may also be thinking about what you can do for your staff for the holidays. Will you be holding a holiday gathering? Giving out gifts or bonuses? How are you going to handle the scheduling for coverage over the holiday season. Yes, the final quarter of the year can be a busy time of review and wrap-up. However, this is also the time of year when planning begins for next year. What areas of improvement can you build upon? What new goals can you set? How do Random Musings you want to end the year differently than you started it? All of this is common business practice for a funeral home or cemetery, but it also applies to the associations you belong to. Whether it is NFDA, ICCFA, CANA, your state association or one like I work for, the Order of the Golden Rule, the association’s staff are going through the same process. They are busy assessing the member benefits they offer you in order to determine if they are the best that they can be, if they meet your needs or if they are even needed any more. They are lining up speakers for next year’s conference and on-line webinars. Beyond the daily tasks, budgets are being created, goals are being set and the current year’s progress is being charted. Associations are welcoming new members and sadly saying good-bye to members who leave. Those who join are seeking a like-minded community where they can network, grow professionally and utilize programs and cost-savings to help their business. Those who leave may be due to budget constraints, retirement or the selling of their funeral home. I promise you that all association staffs are constantly looking at where funeral service is heading in the years ahead and how they can best be prepared to help you be prepared for these changes. Serving as Member Resources Director at the International Order of the Golden Rule, Nancy Weil brings her years of experience 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 support for those who are grieving through her company, The Laugh Academy. With certifications as a Grief Services Provider and Grief ManagementSpecialist, FuneralCelebrant, Soul InjuryAmbassador 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 email Nancy@TheLaughAcademy.com. F U N E R A L H O M E & C E M E T E R Y N E W S w w w . N o m i s P u b l i c a t i o n s . c o m Monthly Columnsonline at So, when you see your association dues invoice hit your inbox or arrive in your mailbox, be aware that this investment in your association is truly an investment in your funeral home or cemetery, in your staff and in your community. That is how I see it and I hope you feel the same way too. How Do You Due(s)? SHROUDS Green Burial Cremation www.kinkaraco.com (415) 874-9698 100% American Made Burial Cradle CasketsSM Bay Memorials Zerbel’s Proportionally sized for Miscarried, Stillborn, & Newborn Babies 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 $48.00 Appropriate For Viewing Available in 10”, 20”, 30” Flannel Lined Unisex Juvenile Pattern White Corrugated Cardboard Beginning at $20.00 321 S. 15th St. • Escanaba, MI 49829 • 906-786-2609 • Fax 906-786-2692 • www.baymemorialsbabycaskets.com Infant Cremation Containers Kerri Balliet joins The Tribute Companies Phony Funeral Home Director Sentenced to Nearly 12 Years in Prison HARTLAND,WI— Kerri Balliet has spent her career in operations and business management and in July 2022 joined The Tribute Companies team as the office manager at the Pinelawn Memorial Park. In this position Balliet will is responsible for hiring, training and management of the office staff. In this position she will develop and implement programs to generate positive public relations throughout the community such as Memorial Day Program and activities, remembrance programs, clergy receptions and educational seminars. Kerri will also assist sales staff and coordinate with area funeral directors, monument dealers and other vendors servicing the cemetery. Kerri has spent the past 40 years working for brands such as Prevention, Taste of Home, Reader’s Digest and Family Handyman as well as owning her own coaching and consulting business. Her experience includes optimizing operational efficiencies, process re-engineering, leadership coaching and improving employee engagement. Kerri has been having a love affair with the word “why” for most of her career. Figuring out the answers to all of those whys has enabled her to create change and make a positive impact ment needs for over 40 years and helps them develop preplanning programs for the communities they serve. Within the cemetery division, the company owns four prominent cemeteries throughout Wisconsin: Pinelawn Memorial Park in Milwaukee, Restlawn Memorial Park in Wausau, Fort Howard Memorial Park in Green Bay and The Gardens of StoneBank in Hartland. Tribute’s affiliate divisions include Tribute Design, a full service architectural, design, construction and planning firm and Tribute Precast, manufacturer of cemetery products including mausoleum crypts, columbarium niches, lawn crypts and burial vaults. Pinelawn Memorial Park is located on the corner of Highway 100 (Mayfair Road) and Capitol Drive. Pinelawn offers a full range of memorialization options and focuses on personalization while providing caring, compassionate service and remaining family owned and operated. Their website is www.pinelawn.net The Tribute Companies is located at 352 Cottonwood Avenue in Hartland, WI. For further information visit www.tributeinc.com or contact Daiga Ancane directly at daigaa@tributeinc.com. Kerri Balliet for the companies she has worked with. Kerri believes that investing time to coach and mentor people creates sustainable change and fosters a culture of innovation and accountability. The Tribute Companies has focused on assisting cemeteries and funeral homes with their developTOLEDO,OH— Shawnte Hardin, a minister who was found guilty of running an illicit funeral home business across Ohio, was sentenced to 11 years, 10 months in prison August 26, 2022. “Real pastors pray at funerals, not prey on grieving families,” Dave Yost, Ohio Attorney General, said. “The defendant’s lies, fraud and complex scheme – including literally driving bodies across the state – are thankfully ended by today’s sentence.” On August 5, Hardin was found guilty in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on 31 charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, tampering with records, telecommunications fraud, operating an unlicensed funeral home, possessing criminal tools, abuse of a corpse, representation of a funeral director while unlicensed, passing bad checks, theft and failure to file taxes. He operated several businesses in Lucas, Cuyahoga, Summit and Franklin counties under various names: Hussain Funeral Directors, Celebration of Life Memorial Chapels, Hardin Funeral Home, Inc., American Mortuary Services and Transportation, and Shawnte Davon Hardin Services, LLC. The case was prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Section of the Attorney General’s Office and was investigated by the AG’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Special Prosecutions Section, and the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
Page A5 October 2022 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A
Page A6 October 2022 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A www.vischerfuneralsupplies.com NEW YORK,NY— Autumn, a death tech startup built to help bereaved Americans navigate life after loss, has unveiled the world’s first marketplace for purchasing products and services needed to manage the legal, financial, emotional, and practical aspects of life after loss. Autumn modernizes what has historically been an arduous, analog process by making otherwise complex information freely accessible in simple, step-by-step guides, and aggregating more than 500,000 local service providers, such as accountants, appraisers, attorneys, funeral homes, grief specialists, and more, into one platform. “We’ve built a diversified support system that gives bereaved people greater control during a stressful time. Autumn lets you manage loss the way you already do your own life,” said Daniel Shaw, Autumn co-founder and CEO. “Handling everything that’s required after a death can be challenging for anyone. Not only is it emotionally taxing, but the process can last for months, and is often confusing and uncomfortable.” By Welton Hong I used to say the future for deathcare marketing was mobile. Well, it’s not the future anymore. It’s the present. Almost 85 percent of Americans accessed the internet via mobile devices in 2021, and almost half say they now search for information about products and services more on mobile devices than on desktop or laptop computers. Mobile devices account for more than half of all internet use, having outpaced desktop access more than five years ago. And smartphones account for more than 75 percent of those devices. One main takeaway from these statistics is that more people are engaging with your digital marketing content on smaller screens. That alone has huge ramifications for what’s effective for deathcare marketing, as funeral home marketers and others must work to make content easier to read, view, and otherwise engage with on six-inch screens. Failing to invest in mobile marketing means ignoring a growing segment of your target audience, so integrate some of the tips below to ensure your deathcare firm connects with potential clientele on a variety of devices: 1. Define Your Mobile Audience Not all groups of mobile device users are the same. For example, if you’re targeting older retirees with a preplanning campaign, you may be addressing an audience that’s only just getting comfortable with smartphones. Many may have opted for basic models or those designed for seniors, which don’t have the same functions as more robust Apple or Android devices. These individuals might be most likely to engage with simple messages sent via email, Facebook, or mobile-friendly websites. Alternatively, if you’re working on a campaign to market preplanning services to millennials, you’re more likely to be engaging with consumers who are technically savvy and use a variety of apps on their devices. Deathcare firms with their own app might consider using it in these campaigns, but you can also connect with younger or tech-savvy consumers via YouTube and social media sites such as Instagram and TikTok. Take time to define your audience and test mobile marketing channels to see what works for your potential clientele. 2. Include Video Content in Your Campaigns By 2027, close to 80 percent of mobile data traffic will be related to video. Even now, that number hovers close to 70 percent, demonstrating mobile users’ preference for video. This preference comes down to convenience for many. It’s simply easier to watch video on a smaller screen than it is to read large amounts of text on the same screen. Ensure you have video content on your site so mobile visitors can choose between video and text. You can also include short videos in social media or links to YouTube videos in your marketing emails. 3. Ensure Fast Page Loads According to Google, more than half of mobile users click away from sites if they take more than three seconds to load. Studies show that the highest conversion rates occur when page load speeds are two seconds or less. Check your page speed for free with Google at pagespeed.web.dev to find out how fast your site loads on mobile and desktop. This tool also provides some highlevel tips for how you can increase page speeds, such as enabling text compression or deferring offscreen images (causing images to load only when the person scrolls to that part of the screen). 4. Focus on Local Keywords Almost half of all mobile searches have local intent, which means the person is searching for information about local businesses, services, products, or events. Integrate local keywords into your content to increase your odds of showing up in search results for these users. Five Mobile Musts for Deathcare Marketing Powerhouse Marketing with Welton One of the most common ways to do this is to add the appropriate town or city name to your content, such as “funeral home in Dallas” or “plan a memorial in Amherst, Virginia.” However, these types of keywords can be highly competitive depending on your city. Every deathcare firm in the area may be attempting to rank for them. Back them up with other local keywords and content, including mentions of your neighborhood, local landmarks, or even your street. 5. Get Your Firm Listed in Directories People searching on mobile devices are typically concerned with convenience. They don’t always want to read through pages of content on your site, and if they can glean what they need to know directly from the Google search results or a directory, they will. Ensure you show up for those searchers too by getting your firm listed in as many directors as possible and ensuring your NAP data is correct. NAP stands for name, address, and phone number. It’s important that this data is consistent across your own web pages and anywhere else it’s listed online. Claim your Google My Business page and your firm’s listing on sites like Yelp. Ensure your social media pages correctly identify your business and its NAP data, and look into getting listed on local chamber of commerce pages and industry directories if possible. Welton Hong is the founder of Ring Ring Marketing® and a leading expert in creating case generation from online to the phone line. He is the author of Making Your Phone Ring with InternetMarketingforFuneralHomes. Formore information, visit www.FuneralHomeProfits.com. F U N E R A L H O M E & C E M E T E R Y N E W S w w w . N o m i s P u b l i c a t i o n s . c o m Monthly Columnsonline at Autumn Launches World’s First Deathcare Marketplace In addition to helping consumers, Autumn’s marketplace supports small, local businesses gain qualified leads, while creating opportunities for new market entrants who have historically lacked access and distribution. Autumn offers four products: • Intelligent Guides: comprehensive instructions, from immediately after a death, through settling an estate, and mental health support; track progress and personalize information • Local Providers: products and services needed for the deathcare, estate, legal, financial, mental health, and everyday tasks associated with loss • Memorial Website Creator: an invitation tool for funerals and memorial services; share details, manage RSVPs, solicit support and collect memories • Supportive Communities: network of bereaved people; discuss everything from grief to logistics, launching August 2022 Autumn is backed by lead investor Bullish, who has a successful track record of investing in brand-focused consumer startups, such as Peloton, Warby Parker, Harry’s and Casper. Additional investors include Great Oaks Venture Capital, and Marco Zappacosta, founder and CEO of Thumbtack. “Daniel and Alex have harnessed a better deathcare management solution for the digital age,” said Michael Duda, managing partner, Bullish. “Autumn’s platform better serves people during a vulnerable period of time and we believe this team will transform deathcare.” “Autumn delivers a desperately needed resource for those grieving and navigating some of the hardest moments in life,” added Henry McNamara, partner at Great Oaks Venture Capital. “Daniel brings strong experience and an intelligent approach to product development and we are confident in his ability to realize Autumn’s full potential.” For more information, visit: www.autumn.co.
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Page A8 October 2022 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A By Linda Findlay Aftercare care?” The average person has no idea what Aftercare is. If you look up the definition of “aftercare” online, you are more likely to see websites about aftercare for tattoos. In addition to all of this, and maybe even more importantly, you all are so busy. Each day can start out one way, only to quickly go in a completely different direction! When I schedule calls with my funeral directors I always tell them that if they need to cancel and reschedule, I understand, and it is perfectly fine to do so. I don’t just say that to be kind and accommodating! I say it because I truly understand. There are only so many hours in the day. Taking care of the at time of need calls has to be the priority. So, let’s dig deeper about return on investment. I have shared many stories in these articles about the positive feedback I get from the families that I follow up with through my funeral homes. The Aftercare that I provide has always been well received. There are times when someone will call and tell us to stop sending mailings, but very few of these requests are made because somebody is mad about what we are doing. In over 30 years, I can count on one hand how often somebody was actually angry! The main reason families request us to stop sending mailings is that they feel they are okay and don’t need anything. For the most part, requests to cancel are few and far between in comparison to the large numbers of mailings I send out monthly. Return on investment with Aftercare is very difficult to measure, since your efforts may not produce immediate results. A family could come to your funeral home because of the Aftercare you provided years prior, or even because of the Aftercare you provided to someone else. There have been many times I worked with a family and they called me some time later asking if I could follow up with a friend who did not get help from their funeral home. Maybe that friend will make a different choice next time they have a need – but it can’t be easily measured, unless the family specifically tells the funeral home how their choice was made. In my many years of experience, providing some form of Aftercare to tens of thousands of families, I can honestly say, “You can’t put a price tag on helping with human suffering.” Feeling grief is human suffering, and can be the ultimate suffering in a person’s lifetime! The thing that makes all the difference in the world to someone who is suffering is having somebody to walk with them in support and understanding. We can’t ease the suffering or make it stop, but we can be there – through Aftercare, we can be there! I can assure you, Aftercare absolutely makes a difference in a human being’s life. If I look at return on investment in terms of making an actual difference in people’s lives, Aftercare is priceless! In addition, the alternative – no Aftercare – results in no return on investment at all! I am often asked about what the return on investment is by providing Aftercare. I understand the question and its importance when a business spends money. Especially today, everything is so expensive. There are times that we must decide what is really needed in business and how we can pare down on something or provide less of something, in order to not raise our prices. When it comes to Aftercare, I know that for some funeral homes, it is considered something extra! I do believe that funeral directors know Aftercare is important. I believe that they truly recognize the difficulty of grief. I find that funeral directors do not provide Aftercare for a variety of reasons. One is cost. Along with that, it is my opinion that providing support for grieving families, after they are taken care of at the time of need, is thought of as not being in their wheelhouse for a funeral director. I have had many conversations through the years with funeral directors who share with me that they are just not comfortable with their skill level to provide proper grief support after the funeral. They do not want to do more harm than good. Some feel that they don’t have quality resources or ways to get the information to families down the road and in a consistent manner. Many hope that families will find the resources in the community through a hospice or faith-based organization. I look at many funeral home websites. Many of them include local and national resources, which I guess is better than nothing. Some list that they do provide Aftercare, but I am not sure what exactly is provided, because it is not stated. If a family doesn’t know what is available, we can be sure that they will not call the funeral home and ask, “What do you have for After- Linda Findlay is the founder of Mourning Discoveries, Grief Support Services. She is a 29-year career Aftercare Coordinator, a published author, and an advocate for bereaved families. She is the founder and co-creator of The Grief Cruises and managing partner with The International Grief Institute. Linda can be reached at 315-725-6132 or Lf6643@yahoo.com. Visit www.mourningdiscoveries.com, www.thegriefcruises.com or www.internationalgriefinstitute.com. F U N E R A L H O M E & C E M E T E R Y N E W S w w w . N o m i s P u b l i c a t i o n s . c o m Monthly Columnsonline at Cost of Aftercare Return on Investment Scan QR for our website 1-888-792-9315 • mymortuarycooler.com Mortuary Coolers starting at $5,899 Custom Statues Bronze or Marble. Delivery in 120 days. One-of-a-kind sculptures. Starting at $9,500. Contact Gregory Cave caveco33@aol.com 516-456-3663 or visit www.statuemaker.us R&S MARKERS FREE Sample Upon Request CREATE CUSTOM TEMPORARY GRAVE MARKERS FOR AS LOW AS $4.95 EACH PHONE: 561 .963.4732 EMAIL: INFO@RSMARKERS.COM WWW.RSMARKERS.COM Professional Car Society Meets in Sturbridge Story and Photos by Gregg D. Merksamer Cincinnati-built 1930 Sayers & Scovill Washington Funeral Coach owned by Ted & Angeline Collins of Wilkes-Barre, PA was the oldest entrant. Competition from low-cost coachbuilders compelled Henney Motor Co to introduce its 1952 Clipper-based, 127-inch-wheelbase, Henney Junior. Owned by Pasquale Turano of Worcester, MA, remnants of USAF blue inside its left rear fender imply this was one of 256 ordered by the Department of Defense. Fords are a relative rarity at PCSMeets, so this 1963 Country Sedan fitted with a fiberglass raised roof and hearse door by the Whitehouse, OH-based Shop of Siebert was a big attention-getter. According to owner, Kevin M. Lyons, it was built new for his grandfather, Clarence R. Lyons, and originally delivered by the local Danvers, MA Ford dealer. Pillar-less side door openings with a 3-way casket table was a standout feature on this 1964 S&S Cadillac Victoria shown by Paul A. Phaneuf. He’d bought the car sight unseen from an Orange, CA funeral home owner – one condition of the sale is that he couldn’t change the color. Continued on page A10 STURBRIDGE,MA— Given its origins and long-time significance as a Native American and Colonial era crossroads still frequented today by motorists plying the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate 84 and historic U.S. Owned for nearly 30 years by David Dufresne of Cohoes, NY, this 1968 S & S Cadillac flower car features a stainless steel deck could be electrically sloped or left in the horizontal position so a casket could be accommodated after the rear boot was pivoted upward to clear the rear loading door. through Saturday, July 2, 2022. Newly re-elected PCS President Paul Steinberg – a Southbridge, MA denizen 20, the Pioneer Valley town of Sturbridge, MA certainly proved a fitting place for the Professional Car Society to stage its 45th International Meet fromMonday, June 27 SEND US YOUR NEWS! PO Box 5159, Youngstown, OH 44514 1-800-321-7479 info@nomispublications.com
Page A9 October 2022 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A
Page A10 October 2022 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A Call 651-450-7727 to request a wholesale catalog, Our Extra-Large Cremains Bags (13”x 15”) are perfectly sized for the Standard Plastic Human Service Urn. or visit UrnBags.com to order some bags. Just $2.90 each*. * Bags sold in multiples of 10 Choose from Black, Blue, or Burgundy J t $3.10 each* Choose fr m Black, Blue, rgundy, Green or Gray by KNAUER INDUSTRIES “Quite Possibly America’s Finest Line of Professional Cosmetics” • Cover Cremes • Lip Color • Liquid Tints • Powder • Brushes • Wax www.derma-pro.net 1-800-531-9744 Fax 903-641-0383 E-Mail: sales@derma-pro.net MOUNT AIRY,MD— March 1820, 2022 proved a milestone long weekend in Professional Car Society annals as its Mid-Atlantic Chapter assumed responsibility for hosting the club’s annual Micro Meet in Mount Airy, MD following a twoyear COVID-forced hiatus and sixteen hard-to-top stagings by Flint, MI funeral director Brady Smith and his wife Janet. Mid-Atlantic Chapter PCS members set the tone of the event through their diverse displays of miniature pro-cars reflecting their special areas of interest. Club co-founder George Hamlin’s tremendous pride in his Hawkeye roots and passion for Henney-bodied Packards found expression in a Hotel Davenport diorama fronted by 1/43 scale limousines, while Steve Lichtman recalled his paramedic career with an ambulancefocused exhibit featuring a largely scratch-built 1/25 scale replica of the 1963 Superior Pontiac U.S. Navy ambulance that took John F. Kennedy’s body to Bethesda Naval Hospital on the night of its return fromDallas. The Micro-Meet’s move to Maryland, inevitably, encouraged the participation of pro-car model makers and collectors who had never traveled to the Michigan editions. While Wesley Wood of Towson, Maryland insisted “I just grabbed what was easiest to grab in my display case,” he turned lots of heads with his huge display of 1/43 scale limousines (one standout was a 1956 Chrysler Crown Imperial that was #23 of 200 made by Legendary Models) and a 1/25 scale Ardleigh Elliott replica of a 1957 Cadillac bearing Elvis Presley’s John Hancock on the underside of its trunk lid under license from Elvis Presley Enterprises. Tim Peretich of Pittsburgh fielded an equally impressive array of 1/43 funeral car die-casts (mostlymade by Sunset Coach) replicating, among other classics, 1941 Henney Packard and 1949 Flxible Buick “slick top” Landaulet Hearses; a 1949 A.J. PCS: Miniatures MarylandBy Gregg D. Merksamer 1956 Chrysler Crown Imperial displayed by Wesley Wood 1957 Cadillac bearing Elvis Presley’s licensed autograph displayed by Wesley Wood Best of Show was Brian Martin’s 1959 Miller-Meteor Cadillac made entirely of Lego Replica of 1963 Superior Pontiac U.S. Navy ambulance that took John F. Kennedy’s body to Bethesda Naval Hospital on the night of its return from Dallas Tim Peretich’s impressive array of 1/43 funeral car diecasts included a 1958 Comet Oldsmobile that won the people’s choice vote in its class. Miller Cadillac “First Call” Coach; a 1954 S&S Cadillac Victoria shown with an appropriately-sized casket and church truck; and a 1958 Comet Olds Landaulet with wraparound corner windows that won the people’s choice vote in its class. In the end it was Brian Martin of Ellicott City, MD who ultimately earned Bestof-Show for a 1959 Miller-Meteor Cadillac made entirely of Lego, which he adapted from a GHOSTBUSTERS Ecto-1 kit he re-painted red-and-white to resemble a Sentinel ambulance rendering seen in MM’s 1959 literature. Professional Car Society Meets in Sturbridge Continued from Page A8 who hosted the proceedings with his wife Sandy – was proud to note this was the first time since its 1976 founding that the Society had ever held its biggest annual event in New England, ensuring it attracted several never-preed a dedicated pro-car display at the Brimfield Winery’s regular Friday evening cruise and a Saturday Concours at the Publick House Historic Inn that has been welcoming travelers to Sturbridge since 1771. The gathering’s Continued on page A16 viously-shown funeral vehicles, ambulances and livery service limousines. Most of the attendees who traveled in from points as far dispersed as Florida, Michigan, Tennessee and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and New Brunswick were funeral directors and EMS personnel who have spent their careers working with “procars,” making them fervent advocates of authentic restorations and preservations spurring public appreciation of the aesthetics and fine craftsmanship put into these essentially custommade vehicles by such esteemed specialist coachbuilders as Superior, Sayers & Scovill, Miller-Meteor, Eureka and Henney. The constitution and judging rules of the PCS, accordingly, prohibit coffins, cobwebs, skeletons and other macabre miscellany in any car displayed at its shows. New Englanders were afforded several memorable opportunities to admire PCS members’ hearses, flower cars, limousines, ambulances and hearse/ ambulance “combinations” during Meet Week, thanks to an itinerary that includSave on Shipping! 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Page A12 October 2022 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A slurry came rushing down to the small town of Aberfan, in southern Wales. Pantglas Primary School was in the path of the massive wave. Teachers and others only heard a roar “like a freight train” before it hit, devastating the school, and burying children, teachers and staff under coal sludge. Alarms went off, and emergency personnel and residents ran to the school and started digging with their hands. When the students were recovered, they took the bodies to the Bethania Chapel, near the school. A number was assigned to each victim and pinned to their clothes. No autopsies were needed as the cause was obvious. 116 children and 28 adults were laid on the chapel pews: boys on one side, girls on the other. The victims’ faces were washed, and surviving teachers made preliminary identifications. Parents, who waited hours to enter, walked through the chapel to identify their children. Those identified were taken to the Calvinistic Methodist Church until arrangements could be made. Fifteen children had to be identified through dental records due to their injuries. The Aberfan tragedy was a training lesson for all in rescue and recovery. Body recovery, identification, and prevention of further fatalities is the reason why these courses are taught. Another aspect of these tragedies is the traumatic effect on survivors, relatives, first responders, volunteers, investigators, mortuary staff and the press that witness these tragedies and interview the survivors. When Dr. Black was asked how those in the forensic field deal with what they must in these situations, her answer was a large amount of alcohol and illegal substances. Upon her own death, she wishes to be dissected in her dissection room. Remove all her organs and fat and have it cremated. Boil what’s left to allow her skeleton to be preserved. It will be used for centuries as a training tool for medical students. Her guiding thought is: “It is hard to imagine the crippling, unresolved grief suffered by the bereaved who never have a body to mourn.” “I want to be able to recognize death, to hear her coming, to see her, to touch her, smell her and taste her; to undergo the assault on all of my senses and, in my last moments, to understand her as completely as is humanly possible.” —Sue Black, All That Remains: A Life in Death Observations “This is why forensic anthropologists will examine every single fragment of a body, no matter how small, in an attempt to secure an identification.” —Sue Black When a Scottish medical student decides to spend her career in examining dead bodies, you get some raised eyebrows. Susan Margaret Black, PhD, internationally renowned forensic anthropologist, who served as Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee, puts her journey into examining the dead all over the world, into a book, it is worth reading. She was named the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2016. All That Remains: A Life in Death (Doubleday, 2019) should be an interest to those in the final care vocation. We see the deceased after medical staff or investigating authorities are satisfied with identification and hopefully the cause of death. Dr. Black has spent her career probing victims of violence, war, murder, and criminal dismemberment. Dr. Black writes that forensic pathology seeks the evidence of death, while forensic anthropology reconstructs the life led. She discusses the condition of the decedents she has been called to investigate. She also describes the decomposed remains and little-known facts, such as: • Maggots can raise the temperature of the decedent. A mass of 2,500 maggots can raise the temperature 57 degrees above the ambient temperature. • Cadaver dogs have a scent 1,000 times more sensitive than man. Rats and wasps also have this ability. • In Africa, where temperatures are high, insect activities can reduce a body from a corpse to a skeleton in seven days. • Freezing can stop the decomposition almost completely and recognizable features can remain for centuries. Dry heat will dehydrate tissue and preserve a corpse. Black’s Uncle Willie, when he passed, gave her the avidity for death investigation. As a young girl she now realized, “dead is really dead.” She states that “there is a void in them. Silence around the dead has a different quality from the silence that is just an absence of noise.” Once she realized he was really gone, she was comfortable with what was left of him. She discusses mutilated remains. An accident at work, a sporting misadventure, suicide, struck by a moving vehicle or airplane crash, each need to have every part of the remains collected. Her book outlines five classifications of mutilation: By Steven Palmer 1. Dismemberment: Almost always a defensive measure. 85% of these cases happen at the victim’s or the murderer’s home. The splatter of blood is very helpful. Cleaning still leaves these traces at the place of the murder. Most murderers will remove a head face down so they do not have to see the person they knew. The experience of the murderer is relatively easy to determine in how the body was dismembered. Those murderers who wish to hide (usually just delay) the identity of the victim disfigure the face, remove teeth, remove hands and even the skin with tattoos. 2. Aggressive: A haphazard, overkill that results in violent mutilation. 3. Offensive: Committed for sexual gratification and sadistic pleasure. 4. Necromantic: This is the rarest. The murderer thinks of their victim as a trophy. 5. Communication: This is a warning to others, such as a gang sending a message. Some terrorists use this method as a warning or for retribution. Dr. Black was sent to Kosovo during the war between the Serbians and the Kosovo Liberation Army to help with identification of the dead. Her first lesson, which she never forgot, was never to put your hands in the pockets of victims. Razor blades and hypodermic needles may be awaiting your fingers. Also, if you come across one, never cut a blue wire, as it may be connected to an IED. All body parts found in these situations are catalogued and retrieved. Buried bodies are always easier to work with, as the cool ground is a better preservative than the surface heat; also, insects are less. She also assisted in identification after the Sumatra Tsunami, which left about 230,000 dead – 5,400 in Thailand alone. The victims were taken to a local temple via flatbed trucks. Families were allowed to view the victims and claim them before the forensic teams arrived, and there were cases where the wrong identification was made, but loved ones were properly identified later. Bloating, odor, heat, flies, and rats made this ordeal challenging. The heat and humidity deteriorated many of the bodies, though refrigerated trucks helped address this problem. When Dr. Black was teaching, an assignment was given to police officers to do an essay on a mass fatality. The students were not happy but did the work. Their work was so good that a textbook was created, Disaster Victim Identification: Experience and Practice. One chapter was dedicated to the Aberfan disaster of 1966. An unknown underground spring, after several days of rain, filled an area full of “tailings,” the ore residue from mining. The The Dame of Death Steven Palmer entered funeral service in 1971. He is an honors graduate of the New England Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences. He has been licensed on both coasts, he owned theWestcott Funeral Homes of Cottonwood and Camp Verde, AZ, where he remains active in operations. Steve offers his observations on current funeral service issues. Hemay be reachedbymail at POBox 352, Cottonwood, AZ 86326, by phone at (928)634-9566, by fax at (928)634-5156, by e-mail at steve@westcottfuneralhome.comor throughhiswebsite at www.westcottfuneralhome.com or on Facebook. F U N E R A L H O M E & C E M E T E R Y N E W S w w w . N o m i s P u b l i c a t i o n s . c o m Monthly Columnsonline at www.vischerfuneralsupplies.com StoneMor Inc. Announces the Acquisition of Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services ©adfinity® Contact us today to learn more. (888) 889-8508 • travelplan@shipinman.com ShipInman.com Discover the... Want to earn extra income and offer families peace of mind? B E N S A L E M , P A — StoneMor Inc announced that it has completed the full acquisition of Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services located at 218 W Hurlbut Ave., Belvidere, IL. Joe Redling, Chief Executive Officer of StoneMor Inc., commented, “StoneMor’s acquisition of Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services is a valuable strategic move for us in the northern Illinois market. Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services has been serving the families of northern Illinois for many years and is a deeply committed and valued community partner. StoneMor is honored to be able to join with the Anderson family to continue to provide the highest level of family care. We’re also very pleased that members of the Anderson Care Team will continue to be a part of the organization serving the community as they have been for many years.” Stephen and Diann Anderson stated, “We’re truly honored to now be part of the StoneMor family. StoneMor’s mission and core values as a company are in alignment with our own. Not only in the care offered to the community, but to our team members as well. StoneMor brings an extraordinary level of industry experience and operations knowledge that will enhance the manner of which we have cared for our community and carry into the next generation.” Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services has been serving families in Boone and Winnebago counties since 1890. They have a long and proud history through four generations and 125 years of industry experience caring for the final needs of families in their community. The recent completion of a 4,000-square-foot, stateof-the-art Care Facility, which includes two cremators, provides expanded cremation capabilities. Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services serves the Belvidere, Rockford, and Love Park, IL communities. With 300 cemeteries and 69 funeral homes in 23 states and Puerto Rico, StoneMor serves 60,000 families annually with caring and compassionate family service. For additional information visit www.stonemor.com. @Nomis.Publ ications Like us on
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