February 2021

Page A34 FEBRUARY 2021 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c 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 $46.00 for cremation. John Jr. insisted on looking inside the casket before the cremation. After viewing the body, he got into his car, white as a sheet, and said, “Thank God I’m drunk, I’ll never remember it.” The actor’s cremated remains were delivered to Phil- adelphia Burial Company , whose professional staff oversaw the inurnment in Mt. Vernon Cemetery in the Blythe family plot, as Barrymore originally wished. The Funeral John Blythe Barrymore died May 29, 1942, 10 days af- ter collapsing in a rehearsal and being rushed to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. His last words, spoken to the attend- ing priest: “Die? I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would ever do such a conventional thing!” His death, at age 60, was due to kidney failure related to cirrhosis of the liver, complicated by pneumonia. Pierce Brothers Mortuary in downtown Los Angeles, was in charge of Barrymore’s arrangements. Charles Tyrone Pow- For over a century, the name Barrymore has dominated the American stage, radio and screen. Around the world, few families – generation af- ter generation – have been blessed with the bril- liant talent and acting ability. Their talent has been unquestioned. However, the Barrymores’ morals were questionable, and their addictions were destructive. Nonetheless, we continue to appreciate the work the Barrymore family has left as their theatrical legacy. In this century, actress/director Drew Barrymore is the heir to her grandfather John’s theatrical talents. Maurice Barrymore, AKA Herbert Arthur Chamberlayne Blythe, was the son of William Edward Blythe, a surveyor for the British East India Co., and Matilda Chamberlayne. He was a fine scholar and athlete who became involved in an acting troupe while attending school in London. After immigrating to New York, he met his future wife, Georgiana Emma Drew, in his first stage play in America. Maurice and Georgiana had three children: Li- onel, Ethel and John, who carried on the family tradition in the theater and later on screen and radio. John, the youngest, was an alcoholic by age 14. He also took the Barrymore reputation for womanizing to new heights, with his many dalliances, including four marriages. John Barrymore had four children, three girls and one boy, John Drew Barrymore. Like his father, John Drew opted to go into the fami- ly business and became a screen actor. Also like his father, was married four times and fathered three girls and a boy. His family name, Drew, along with the Barrymore stage talent, was be- stowed on John Drew’s youngest daughter. Strewn about the Barrymore family tree are al- cohol and drug addictions, mental illness and dysfunctional relationships, along with the bril- liant acting talent and Hollywood good looks. John Barrymore, better known as “Jack,” was of- ten called “The Profile” because of his strong fa- cial features. FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS www.nomispublications.com Monthly Columns online at An award-winning writer, Alice Adams has chronicled the men and women in funeral service for more than two decades. “My goal has always been to recognize funeral directors and cemeterians who self- lessly assist families during times of their darkest grief,” she said. Since 2018, Alice has teamed with fellow historian and photographer Jim Kurtz to tracing the much ignored and neglected beginnings of the funeral service profession. Adams resides in Dripping Springs, Texas, where she enjoys her children, four grandchildren, Cassie, the Black Lab and two cats – all three rescues. Jim Kurtz has been a funeral director in Texas since 1973 and is pres- ident of TFDA’s North Texas Region. He is a historian and educator, he founded the Jim Kurtz Museum of Funeral History and archives in Dallas, Texas. Jim Kurtz Alice Adams Appropriate to Greatness: Caskets of the Rich and Famous Written and researched by Alice Adams and Jim Kurtz There have been many good books written about the deaths of the rich and famous. However, none have taken the viewpoint of the funeral service professional or cemeterian. In this series, we hope to accomplish exactly that with the little-known details, obscure facts and citations we have found in our research. We’re excited to share our findings. J ohn B arrymore the Greatest Actor of his Time F ebruary 14, 1882 - M ay 29, 1942 Barrymore’s Funeral Procession John Barrymore in his casket neral, June 2, 1942, cars were arranged for the Barrymore family and pallbearers, including a car for the priest, a hearse and a car for Mr. Powers. The simple Catholic ceremony, held in Calvary Cemetery’s Mausoleum Chapel, began at 11 a.m. Approximately 100 guests were admitted. Among the invited Hollywood glitte- rati were Cecil B. deMille, David O. Selznick, Clark Gable and Norma Shearer. Several thousand fans waited outside. The Rev. Msgr. John O’Donnell of Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, said the Requiem Mass and read the Committal Ritual. The only relatives present were brother Lionel and John’s daughter Diana. Elaine Barrie Barrymore, John’s fourth wife, also attended. “Her eyes were dry, but sad,” The Los Angeles Times reported. Pallbearers were author Gene Fowler, artist John Decker, actors E. J. Mannix and W. C. Fields, and makeup men C. J. Briden and Stanley Campbell. The actor left specific instructions to be cremated and his ashes buried next to his parents in Philadelphia. However, as cremation was forbidden by the Catholic Church, John’s body was entombed in the cemetery’s mausoleum instead. On August 13, 1980, John Drew Barrymore, Jr. recruit- ed his son to help remove his father’s casket from its resting place of 38 years and drive it to the Odd Fellows Cemetery Lights. Camera. Funeral. Continued on Page A35 Continued from Page A33 camera (of some fashion); batteries (or fully charged device); lighting; sound system; a signed broadcast release; authorization and permission for recording. Also include the process on your checklist: who is re- cording; what platform will be used; who is bringing equipment; when will recording begin; and when will recording end. (As an aside there is an issue making headlines of a funeral service that was being recorded and then not stopped after the family left the room. As the recording continued the funeral staff and min- ister were caught making insensitive comments about the deceased. Again, a checklist and understanding of the entire process is critical - and would have prob- ably prevented this incident from ever occurring - or at least from being recorded.) We are in a new era of funerals. Whether you are a funeral home or cemetery - you are going to come to a point where services will probably be recorded or broadcasted. Are you ready for this to happen? Chances are that if you have done this - you weren’t fully ready and probably just did it. Chances are that if you haven’t done it - you will one day; and you will just do it. In a world where so much has changed due to things we can’t control - take the time to control how you provide funeral productions. After all, while ers was Funeral Di- rector-In-Charge. Elmer Gault was the embalmer. An open-casket viewing was held at the mortuary. Hahn’s of Beverly Hills de- signed the casket spray, while one of the mourners placed a gardenia in Bar- rymore’s hand. The solid bronze-beaded Masterpiece casket with a silver finish was made by Bel- mont Casket Com- pany . It had two hinged lids and a full-glass inner seal. The day of the fu- Your Real Source. Anywhere. Anytime.