NEWSJANUARY 2023 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 ! Scan QR for our website 1-888-792-9315 • mymortuarycooler.com Folding Dressing Tables MODEL #FS1-0034 Oversized Hydraulic Embalming Table MODEL #FS1-1001 Ships Fully Assembled AMC N W IN STOCK READY TO SHIP STANDARD $799.00 OVERSIZED $929.00 $3,523 Hooper Memorial Home, Inc. Stands with Their Families Second Location on Cumberland Street Founder Walter J. Hooper, Sr Hooper Memorial Home, Inc. Original Location on Foster Street HARRISBURG,PA— Hooper Memorial Home, Inc is a family-owned funeral home that has been in operation in the central Pennsylvania area since 1912. In the late 1800’s, Walter J. Hooper, Sr. came to Harrisburg from Philadelphia and was recognized by the local media for being on the cutting edge of human preservation and bringing the most advanced embalming techniques with him. Not only was he a n entrepreneur, but he was also a strong community activist. He started in business with another funeral director, Joseph L. Thomas, who passed away a few years later. Walter then founded Hooper Funeral Service in 1912 located at 604 Foster Street in Harrisburg. The area is now recognized as a historical district that was noted for African American, Jewish, and immigrant families and businesses who were displaced due to gentrification. Unfortunately, Walter died shortly thereafter at the age of 53 on July 15, 1939. Walter’s daughter Millicent Hooper entered the business at the age of 23 to continue the legacy. “Hooper’s was built on a vision of serving the community. It has been so for well over 100 years,” says Angela M. Ulen, the Supervisor and Funeral Director who now operates Hooper Memorial Home, Inc. “During Mr. Hooper’s tenure, the funeral business was a male-dominated industry. Millicent followed her father in the family business and became a trailblazer as a woman in the industry and her community. Angela describes how Millicent was in college majoring in music when her father passed away. She left to attend Continued on page A2 POFS Global celebrates First Anniversary See Page A8 Glass Remembrance is excited to present their Gilded Sentiments Line See Page B9 See Page A14 Simpson Funeral Home enters Third Generation of Ownership www.NomisPublications.com @Nomis.Publications Like Classified Ads Shipping Directory Index of Advertisers
Page A2 January 2023 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. 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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-A36 and Section B, which contains the Classified Advertising and consists of pages B1-B20. If you do not receive both sections please call 1-800-321-7479 or email info@nomispublications.com. Monthly Features Classified Ads. ................................................................................................ B13 Shipping Directory.......................................................................................... B10 Calendar of Events............................................................................................B2 Educational News. .......................................................................................... A30 Association News. .......................................................................................... A26 Death Notices. ............................................................................................... A34 Suppliers News................................................................................................ B1 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. he brought his artistic talents to the business with his restorative techniques. He would later change the name of the business to Hooper Memorial Home, Inc and relocate to the current building at 3532 Walnut Street in Harrisburg, PA. Lance passed on April 27, 2017. “I started out doing the books and was told I would make an excellent funeral director, but I was hesitant and fearful of the idea,” says Angela. She made it through school with ease and was glad she did because she was able to keep the business up and running after Lance’s passing. Angela is a graduate of Northampton Community College School of Mortuary Science and Harrisburg Area Community College School of Business. “There were a few bets that I wouldn’t make it through Mortuary Science School,” she Newspaper Clipping, circa 1962 Hooper’s Banquet Center Hooper Memorial Home Continued from Front Page mortuary school and received two licenses, one in New York and one in Pennsylvania. “She took on the role with pride and dignity and set a tone for young black women that you can make a difference in this world,” says Angela. “It’s an honor for myself and Lance to follow in her footsteps.” Millicent, known in the community as “the Elegant Lady,” was in business for over sixty years and had accomplished many firsts in her career. She was the youngest to pass the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors examination, first female president of the United Cerebral Palsy Center of Camp Hill, PA to name a few. She relocated the business to its second location at 1416 Cumberland Street in Harrisburg, PA and changed the name to Hooper Memorial Home. During her tenure as a businesswoman, she raised two sons, Lance and Clive Ulen. She passed away December 5, 2004. After her passing, Millicent’s son Lance W. Ulen picked up the baton and carried the legacy of the Hooper family tradition as a third-generation funeral director, serving as President and Supervisor. Lance graduated from the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, GA, and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He was an artist for many years in the city of Philadelphia, and laughs. “They thought I would give up and give in. It’s a tough science.” Angela is also the President of the Millicent Hooper Foundation, which provides scholarships to students who have lost a parent or guardian. “The Foundation was created in honor of Millicent. It’s to help students continue their education. When the community needs help, we give,” says Angela. Angela tells of how recently she heard on a broadcast that over 400 students and families were experiencing homelessness in the Harrisburg School District. The Foundation was able to provide donations and a check for $1000 to a local shelter to help the families right before Thanksgiving. The physical donations consisted of clothing, coats, turkeys, toys, and baby items. Continued on page A12 Columns Aftercare by Linda Findlay. .............................................................................. A8 Embalming 101 by Wally Hooker.................................................................... A16 HearseHub by Mike Jamar................................................................................ B6 Memoires des choix des Jacque by Kate Frediani-Gorman.......................... A30 Museum Corner............................................................................................... A32 Musings with Marika by Marika McMeans...................................................... A18 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.............................................. A22 Working With Widowers by Fred Colby.......................................................... A20
Page A3 january 2023 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A $3,523 IN STOCK 15 AT THIS PRICE $856 EACH WHEN PURCHASING 6 OR MORE $989 EACH WHEN PURCHASING 1-3 $929 EACH WHEN PURCHASING 4-5 $734 EACH WHEN PURCHASING 6 OR MORE $809 EACH WHEN PURCHASING 1-3 $799 EACH WHEN PURCHASING 4-5 32” WIDE 750 lb CAPACITY 26” WIDE 550 lb CAPACITY Oversized Dressing Table Model #FS1-0034XL Oversized Hydraulic Embalming Table MODEL #FS1-1001 Ships Fully Assembled Standard Dressing Table MODEL #FS1-0034 View Online! Dual Action Brake Pedal View Online! View Online! View Online! CAN HOLD UP TO 1,000 lb 1-888-792-9315 Columbia, SC: (803) 769-8153 • Pittsburgh, PA: (412) 515-3019 • Reach us locally! mymortuarycooler.com 140 Kwickway Lane, Building #7 • Johnson City, TN 37615 Email: cool@mymortuarycooler.com MADE IN USA $6,423 12 INCH LOADHEIGHT Industries Lowest! HD 1000 Plus Low Profile Lift MODEL #HD-1000LP Ships Fully Assembled • 67”x 27”Top • Optional Weight Scale +$595.00 (not included) • Built in charging station • Can be used for side or end loading • Standard Load Height 12”, 12.5”with scale • Max Load Height 69”+/- • Industrial Strength with over 1000 lb. load capacity. AMC N W IN STOCK READY TO SHIP AMC N W FAST SHIPPING AVAILABLE ON SELECT PRODUCTS AMC N W FAST SHIPPING AVAILABLE ON SELECT PRODUCTS
Page A4 January 2023 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A LEASING OPTION AVAILABLE 585-330-5772 Work Smarter – Not Harder! .com Watch Our V i deos Onl i ne ! Reduce Lifting Injuries by Over 90% Injury Costs by Over 95% Missed Time of Work by Over 90% Increase Morale by 200% Affordable Automated Cargo Loading & Unloading System By Nancy Weil Disclaimer: I am re-running a slightly updated article that I wrote for last year’s January issue. This is because I truly believe that it is important to remind you about this opportunity to comfort the bereaved into the new year, get some free publicity and host a program where I have done most of the legwork for you. So read on… As we begin the year, we may still be recovering from the recent holidays. We could be reviewing the year that was (and what a year it was!) or we may be just trying to get through the day. However, it is time to start looking ahead to what I call the “forgotten holiday of grief.” Yes, Valentine’s Day. In grief work we help people through the holidays that fall from the end of November through January 1. Never do we consider that Valentine’s Day, the holiday that celebrates love, can also be very difficult for those who have lost a loved one. It may be a spouse, a child, a parent or anyone who was part of their Valentine’s Day celebration. No cards or chocolates are to be exchanged. No “Hallmark movie” moments will unfold. No one will even call and recognize that this can be a day that brings tears along with memories. You have the opportunity to address this, but only if you get to work on it now. Why not host a community remembrance service for Valentine’s Day this year? As long as the pandemic has waned and it is safe to gather (the latest covid wave has subsided), you can plan a program and invite the families you have served and your community to join together to recognize this forgotten holiday of grief. If it is still better to remain apart, you can put together a program and stream it live and then post it on your website Random Musings 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 al home or cemetery requesting coverage. Having few stories they can run to address Valentine’s Day, they will likely accept your request. Radio, television news and print media can all cover this event. Again, I can help guide you in how to pitch this story and what to do when they schedule your interview. February 14 is a Tuesday this year. You can host an event the weekend prior or even the evening of. I can help you with the pieces you need to create your event. You can provide comfort to the bereaved, get free media coverage and provide the promise of the lyrics that you will be there for those you serve “Always.” Happy Valentine’s Day! (Again) and social media channels. If you live where it is warm, you may be able to hold the program outside. No matter where you host this program, just being willing to offer it will open up opportunities you have not considered. I held an “Always” remembrance service near Valentine’s Day for many years. People were so grateful to have a space where they could take their pain of losing their Valentine and find comfort and hope. The service was a blend of poems, song (including Irving Berlin’s “Always”) and the reading of names. We closed by giving out chocolates, roses or other types of seasonal items. Full disclosure: the chocolates were the most appreciated! Here is where you are wondering how you will ever have enough time to pull this together and here is where I tell you how easy it can be. I have done most of the work for you! I have a templated service that you can adapt for your event. All you have to do is hire the musician/singer and recruit your staff to take part in the service. Send out invitations to everyone you have served in 2022, take the reservations, print the program book, buy the chocolate and you have a service ready to go. If you are streaming the service, then it gets even easier. No program book or chocolates needed. Although you can put together a small care package and invite people to stop by the funeral home and pick one up prior to your service. Be sure to reach out to your local media and ask for coverage prior to your program. Ask for help in letting your community know that you are providing a place to come to remember their missing Valentine. While Christmas finds hospices, churches and other funeral homes and cemeteries hosting a service, Valentine’s Day does not. The press will likely only be approached by your funerI’ll be loving you Always With a love that’s true Always. When the things you’ve planned Need a helping hand, I will understand Always. Days may not be fair Always, That’s when I’ll be there Always. Not for just an hour, Not for just a day, Not for just a year, But Always. — Irving Berlin “What a caring and professional staff!” “Steve and the staff at Settle-Wilder have provided quality and consistent service during not once, not twice but three of the most difficult times in my life.” New Smyrna Beach is a coastal town located about 15 miles south of Daytona Beach and about a one hour drive east from Orlando. Settle-Wilder’s two founders, first, Willis Settle and then T.C. Wilder established and maintained the level of service that earned them this recognition. Walter Johnson purchased the funeral home from the Wilder family and operated it for 40 years until his retirement. The legacy and tradition of Settle-Wilder continues with the long-term management team of Stephen Dambaugh, general manager and licensed funeral director in charge, Meg Seabury, licensed funeral director and embalmer and Janice Conrad, office manager. Together, they have a combined 45 years of service with Settle-Wilder Funeral Home. Families of New Smyrna Beach and all of Volusia County are fortunate to have these dedicated and caring professionals to call on when needed. Settle-Wilder Funeral Home and Cremation Service is owned by Capstone Services Group, owner and operator of quality funeral homes and cemeteries with locations in Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, Louisiana and Oregon. Capstone Services Group is fortunate to be in a financial position where they do not have to borrow from banks or other lending institutions and are completely debt free. This allows them to continue to invest in the businesses they own and more so in the staff and employees who are the key to each location’s success. Reach out to Richard Lee at 407-2575024 or contact him through their website at www.CapstoneFuneral.com for more information. Settle-Wilder Funeral Home and Cremation Service voted “Best Funeral Home” in New Smyrna Beach NEWSMYRNA BEACH, FL— The readers of weekly community newspaper Hometown News have spoken and awarded SettleWilder Funeral Home “Best Funeral Home” for 2022. Settle-Wilder is a full service, privately owned and operated funeral home that has been serving New Smyrna Beach and surrounding areas since 1931. All you have to do is read the testimonials to understand why this place is dearly loved.
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Page A6 January 2023 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A www.vischerfuneralsupplies.com By Welton Hong Does your funeral home marketing content serve long-term needs for potential clientele, or do you work constantly to publish content for the here-andnow (no pun intended)? If you’re doing the latter, you’re likely working too hard for a lesser return. Evergreen funeral home marketing content holds its value through the seasons and years, just as evergreen trees hold their leaves and needles. This type of content—when done correctly—is better for your deathcare firm because it continues to convert long after you publish it. Funeral homes and other deathcare firms are lucky because marketing in the niche lends itself well to evergreen content. Here are three tips for ensuring you’re creating this content correctly: 1. Pay attention to keyword and search trends. You know the saying about death and taxes, so you probably realize that general content about funerals, caskets, or other related services and products is naturally evergreen. How people search for this information and what specifics they might be interested in does differ over time, though. Conduct ongoing keyword research so you understand how people search for these services regardless of the change of seasons and trends through the years. 2. Write content that is up to date but long-lasting. Once you know what long-term trends look like, create content that aligns with searcher needs. Ensure your content is up to date and reflects the authority and expertise of your funeral home. It’s okay to include references to current statistics or funeral home technology, for example. However, ensure that even without those bits of information (or if those pieces of information were to become obsolete), the rest of the page continues to serve the reader well. 3. Regularly update parts of content that might be outdated. Keep an index of your content and audit it at least once a year. Take time to update those potentially outdated portions, such as statistics or discussions about new trends or technology. If you’re doing this right, you only have to replace a few sentences or paragraphs, so the bulk of the content you created still works for you and you’re spending less time creating content as you move forward. When in Doubt, Repurpose! According to the EPA, around 75 percent of the garbage generated in America could be recycled. But, as a nation, we’re consistently recycling less than a third of it. You might be generating that kind of waste in your funeral home marketing processes if you’re not repurposing. Repurposed content isn’t unwanted content you take out of the gift closet and dust off because you forgot to create something for this week’s blog post. It’s actually your best content from the past repurposed for new value. Here are some examples of repurposed content: • A blog post on preplanning from five years ago that you update with all new fact and stats and republish • Pulling major facts and stats from a blog post to create separate social media status updates • Turning the steps of your step-by-step preplanning download into an abbreviated infographic version Here are three ways you can repurpose funeral marketing content: Content Fundamentals: Evergreen & Recycled Powerhouse Marketing with Welton 1. Reduce research investments. Every minute you put into (or pay someone to put into) content creation costs you money. That includes keyword research or gathering the latest industry statistics. Reduce how much time is spent on data gathering with organized processes that ensure everyone has access to the information and can use it across all channels and content types appropriately. 2. Reuse images. If you paid for professional marketing or sales images of caskets, urns, or various rooms in your funeral home, make the most of that investment. Add them to social media posts, blog posts, downloads, and infographics. You can use photo editing tools to crop images or update lighting to make them appropriate for different channels and ensure your content is consistent without being too repetitive. 3. Recycle preplanning content. If you have a download or handout on the preplanning process, turn it into multiple pieces of content. Important steps become a checklist or infographic. Details of each step—such as what documents you need or how to discuss preplanning with family— could become blog posts. Each benefit of preplanning might be a social media post. 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 www.derma-pro.net sales@derma-pro.net Nadene Cover-Up Cosmetics Ltd. A name you know. . . . . . Products you trust 800-531-9744 Fax 903-641-0383 did not die of natural causes. “Mrs. Foster and her family have experienced so much tragedy already, and the mishandling of her beloved husband’s remains and destruction of his brain add insult to injury,” said Ken Abbarno, a DiCello Levitt partner and plaintiffs’ co-counsel. “The defendants in this case had one job to do, and their gross negligence and incompetence are nothing short of horrific.” The lawsuit, which also names the local funeral home’s operator and director, along with ACORD Corporation, which issued an insurance policy to the defendants, accuses the defendants of improper embalming and handling, and improper storage and disposal of human remains, as well as negligence of funeral home hiring and supervision. “A full year later, significant questions remain as to why Mr. Foster died in the back of that police car,” Abbarno added. “Pickens County still owes Mrs. Foster and her family answers regarding her husband’s death. That the family now must also contend with the mishandling of his body is truly heartbreaking.” The case is Anny Pamela Foster v. Carriage Services, Inc., Carriage Services of Louisiana, Inc., Carriage Services, Inc. d/b/a Garden of Memories Funeral Home, Carriage Services, Inc., d/b/a Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home, John Appel, Jr., and ACORD Corporation, in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans State of Louisiana. Submitted by Baretz + Brunelle Legal Industry Advisors and DiCello Levitt. Lawsuit is Filed on the First Anniversary of Foster’s Death in the Custody of Alabama Law Enforcement Authorities NEW ORLEANS,LA— Publicly traded funeral home company, Carriage Services, Inc (NYSE: CSV) failed to properly embalm and care for the remains of ex-national football league player, Glenn Foster, Jr., according to a civil lawsuit filed on December 6, 2022 in New Orleans. The suit, brought by Foster’s widow, Anny Pamela Foster, alleges that not only did the funeral home fail to properly prepare the body of the former New Orleans Saints player, but it also destroyed his brain without consent or authorization, in breach of the contract between the parties. DiCello Levitt serves as co-counsel with Ben Crump Law LLC. Foster died on December 6, 2021, in the custody of the Pickens County, AL police department, while being transported in the back of a police car. His death came two days after he was arrested for allegedly speeding and resisting arrest in Reform, AL prompting his family to suspect he was having a mental health episode. The day before he died, a Pickens County judge ordered Foster held without bond and ordered him to undergo a mental health assessment. A year later, the circumstances surrounding Foster’s death remain in question, as the initial autopsy findings indicated that he Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home & Crematory Offered Free Rides to the Polls ROANOKE,VA— Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home & Crematory, provided free rides to the polls for Roanoke City residents on Election Day, November 8, 2022. “If someone would like to vote, transportation should not be an issue. We are just trying to do our civic duty,” says CEO and Owner Michael L. Hamlar. “This is non-partisan effort.” Since 1952, Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home & Crematory has served the Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem, New River Valley and Franklin County community including in alphabetical order Boones Mill, Calloway, Ferrum, Glade Hill, Hardy, Henry, Penhook, Rocky Mount, Union Hall Wirtz and surrounding localities.
Page A7 january 2023 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A Church & Chapel Metal Arts, Inc. www.church-chapel.com | (800)-992-1234 | Info@church-chapel.com BODY POSITIONING Sampson “One Man”Hydraulic Body & Casket Lifter CB 7760SQ 1000 Pound Capacity! Chapel Furniture | Funeral Home Supplies | Urns Family Owned and Operated Since 1933 2616 W. Grand Ave. Chicago, IL 60612 ALUMINUM NAME PLATES Angelus Prep Block CC 10121 Soft Touch Headblock CC 10126 Wedge-Ease CC 10128 Hydraulic Scissor Lift CE CP 1000 Styrofoam Headblock CC 10127 White Casket Flag Band CC 1950 CHAPEL FURNISHINGS & SERVICE ITEMS Redneck Light Bulbs CB 100 Casket Facial Lamp CB 645 Wood Reserved Seat Signs Reserved, Family, Pallbearer Replacement Body Straps CB 5404-4 Casket Lift Supports CB 4900-2 Large Body Positioners CC 10134 Small Body Positioners CC 10132 Lamp Shades 15+ different styles Portable Register Stand CE XL-8 Portable Self-Folding Traffic Guides (Set of 5 w/ wall bracket) CB 6401-5 Please No Parking Funeral CB 6402-5 Funeral Parking Only CB 6407-5 No Parking CB 6406-5H No Parking w/ Handicap Symbol CB 6408-5 Blank Funeral Stickers CE WS 647 BODY LIFTING DUODRAPE CB 4005-2 Casket Pedestals CE 6950 Illinois Prarie Chapel Set Casket Lifter & Transport Truck CB 6320-ND-2 1000 Pound Capacity! Cherry Memorial Display Tray W/ Cabinet CC 646-C ALUMI NAME PLATES 4” Block - Chrome Finish 3” Block - Gold Finish 3” Script - Polished Bright Finish 3” Slant - Polished Bright Finish 2” Block - Polished Satin Finish 2” 2 Line Plate - Polished Bright Finish Available in polished or satin standard finish. There are many custom styles, including bright chrome and brass plated name plates available for an extra charge. Stock Finish - Polished Bright & Lacquered Slant Style Font available at no additional Charge Plates sold in pairs 2” Block, Standard or Slant $12.50 per letter Max 21 letters & spaces per plate 3” Block, Standard or Slant $16.50 per letter Max 13 letters & spaces per plate 4” Block, Standard or Slant $18.75 per letter Max 11 letters & spaces per plate Above prices are per letter, per plate. Minimum charge per plate $1 5 0.00 Double line plates are priced per letter - at 2 times the longest line. 50% upcharge for Script Style letter. Upcharge for brass or chrome plating $100.00 per plate, per line. PHONE: 773-489-3700 FAX: 773-489-3434 800-992-1234 800-626-3299 info@church-chapel.com • www.church-chapel.com Scan QR Code To Easily Get To Our Website!
Page A8 January 2023 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A 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 By Linda Findlay Aftercare es. The tone began to change behind me. It seemed that the funeral directors were participating and commenting positively. It was clear that they listened to what was being shared with them and were participating and doing the exercises! It was very interesting to me. I believe they left that session inspired, and with a different perspective about self-care. I noted that all the evaluations of my sister’s session were marked “Excellent.” Why does Self Care Matter? • Stress and emotional exhaustion can make us less organized and productive, and emotionally depleted which can lead to insomnia and other health problems. • Caring for others can reopen old wounds. • Self-care produces positive feelings and boosts confidence and self-esteem. • Good self-care habits help your internal battery stay charged. In turn, this helps you remain sharp, motivated, and healthy. • It’s necessary to remember that your needs are important too. Self-care refers to healthy habits and activities that reduce stress and maintain well-being. It’s any deliberate activity we do to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Because bereavement care involves looking after others, it’s imperative we also look after ourselves. Making time for yourself is crucial to your own well-being. Aims of Self Care • To help manage stress • To prevent physical illness • To help maintain equilibrium and honor one’s own needs Self Care Tips • Recognize that you can’t fix a loved one’s grief. It’s a rite of passage for everyone. • Learn the signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue. Seek support when you’re struggling. It is amazing how many funeral directors have never heard of compassion fatigue, but when taught about it, immediately recognize their own symptoms of it. • Learn to let go, say no, and ask for help from others. Honor your own limits. • Do one nurturing activity each day. Read a book, take a bubble bath, go for a walk. • Carve out time in your day to recharge your battery by doing things you love. • Eat healthy and stay hydrated to boost immunity and physical well-being. • Engage in light exercise and practice good sleep hygiene. • Plan for short respites from supporting bereaved loved ones. Consider taking a vacation with others you love. • Embrace joy without guilt. Listen to children laughing, smell a rose, watch a sunset. • Sing. In a choir, in the car, in the shower. It releases muscle tension and stress. • Enjoy a good laugh every day. Laughter lightens a heavy load and boosts your mood by releasing tension. Watch a comedy show or movie or watch funny videos. • Engage in activities that involve your hands such as gardening, knitting, woodworking, painting, pottery, beading, or coloring. Repetitive motion of the hands is soothing and calms the mind. • Take up journaling to release inner thoughts and feelings in a private, safe place. Some people may feel that self-care is useless, or it doesn’t do much good. I beg to differ, and I challenge you to at least try some of the suggestions I have provided-pick one and practice it regularly. See for yourself if you feel differently. You might surprise yourself and furthermore, you might be able to confidently suggest self-care to your families and provide some resources about it that can be given to them. The new year is a great time to incorporate something new. Give it a try! Benefits of Self Care There have been many times that I have had conversations with the funeral directors that I work with about self-care. There have been a few who I feel, had they practiced self-care, would still be funeral directors today. One funeral director comes to mind. He lost his adult daughter to a drug overdose. What he found was that most people “figured” he was doing fine. After all, he was a funeral director. The number of times people in the community would run into him in public and not mention his loss became unbearable for him. Everyone knew his daughter died from an overdose. Most people said nothing. A few commented that he must be doing fine because he deals with death every day. This was furthest from the truth. I shared with him that he needed to take his funeral director hat off and put one on that is for a grieving father! We talked about self-care. We had, together, presented workshops on self-care for our families. When I asked him what he was doing to take care of himself, he said nothing. He felt that it was not for him. My funeral director friend sold his funeral home! It was a third-generation family run business! Another interesting story about self-care and my funeral director friends is when I had participated in a “Day of Healing” some years ago. Funeral directors from the community participated to earn the CE’s. One of the sessions was on mindfulness and mediation. It just so happened that my sister, who is a holistic practitioner, was presenting the workshop, but the other attendees did not know that. I sat near the back, and behind me were about five funeral directors. In the beginning of the session, I heard them grumbling about the subject of holistic practices. Some comments were, “I am not doing this,” and “This is stupid,” and “All I need is the CE credit, so I guess I need to sit through this.” It was kind of comical to me, both because it was my sister they were grumbling about, and because they did not consider that anyone could hear what they were saying. As we got into the session, my sister had the attendees participate in some examples of holistic practic- 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 Take Care of Yourself in the New Year! Phone: 877-770-TIES (8437) Fax: 276-466-3474 E-mail: customerservice@tiesforyou.com www.tiesforyou.com STYLISH MATCHING TIES FOR PROFESSIONALS Any Size Group or Organization “We’ve worked on building trust and have gained two to four funeral homes that use us monthly and one that utilizes us as their main transport service,” says Curtis Durham, founder and owner. New clients are regularly using the transport service and growing to appreciate the professionalism and respect of Curtis and his devoted employees. The two vans owned and used by the transport POFS Global Celebrates First Anniversary Curtis Durham company are secure transports with hydraulic deck systems that can carry up to four deceased at a time. They are fully-insured, handle after-hour removals, and deal with oversize decedents of over 300+ pounds. Their main goal is to provide care, dignity, and privacy for the deceased. Curtis left the IT field in 2004 to go into logistics. He accepted a business offer driving and managing Bobtails locally in Houston and saw the highs and lows in the logistics industry. DHL bought HOUSTON,TX— Priority One Fulfillment Services Global, LLC recently celebrated one year of service offering mortuary transportation services to the Houston area. While they mostly work with funeral homes, they are available and have worked with casket companies, retirement homes, hospice centers, and private residences, as well. out the company they were contracting through, and so he began looking through newspaper ads for other logistic opportunities. “There was a featured story about families having issues getting their loved ones back to their homeland in Mexico. They were putting them in station wagons and minivans,” Curtis says. It was this ad that inspired his interest in the area’s need for reliable mortuary transport. Curtis started mortuary school but left before his lab courses when he was diagContinued on page A16
Page A9 january 2023 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A oversize 31” Call: (888) 366-7335 to order starmarkcp.com | sales@starmarkcp.com ceremonial rental caskets Copyright © 2022 Starmark. All rights reserved. Specific portions of Starmark products may be covered by one or more U.S. patents, additional patents pending. To learn more visit starmarkcp.com/patents. *48 contiguous states | Pricing subject to change without notice. ceremonial rental casket Ceremonial Rental Inserts Ovation Scan to view online Replaceable head panel Interiors that can be easily positioned with our patented J-Channel system. Patented crank and adjustable bed system. Wood-based Insert: As low as $218 each $2,095 each, delivered* Select Rosetan crepe interior Satin finish ID 80” x 31“ x 15” | OD 84.875” x 35.75” x 21.5” NOMISJAN2023 Starmark ceremonial rental caskets provide an affordable solution for bereaved families to hold full memorial services. The Starmark Ovation 31” ceremonial rental casket includes a girth accommodating bridge and all of the “Built To Last” features expected from Starmark, such as replaceable head panels for extended product life, heavy duty bed crank mechanism for ease of raising and lowering of the bed, adjustable bed with recessed rollers for safe loading/unloading, and the J-channel interior system for a perfect fit every time.
Page A10 January 2023 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A www.kinkaraco.com (415) 874-9698 YOUWOULDN’TUSEOUR LEAK-RESISTANT CREMATION TRAY AS A TOBOGGAN, BUT YOUCOULD. We test ours in the labsoyou don’t have to test it in the real world. 1-800-992-1925 | CustomAirTrays.com © Custom Air Trays **Non-professional stuntman. Please try this on ski slopes. asking is such a kind woman that I instantly knew the answer had to be a definitive no. After our conversation, I wondered if I had done something to offend our friend. I hadn’t even considered that I might be the cause of our friend’s disappearance from our group, so I immediately tried to contact her. Unfortunately, she did not return my calls. I followed my efforts up with a drive to her office. Her door was locked, and her secretary came out to tell me that she was not available. Oh wow, I felt terrible. At this point, I was reasonably confident that I had indeed hurt my friend’s feelings. I tried to remember the last time I had been with her and what I had said and done. I couldn’t think of a thing, but that’s not unusual for me. I live a highly stressful lifestyle, so social details often slip past me. I have few friends. With my lifestyle, I wonder that I have friends at all. I wonder how they tolerate me, how they confide in me, and how they continue, year after year, to overlook my friendship skills deficiency. Those friends that I do have, I love, and I feel terrible when I forget important dates or events. Fortunately, my friends forgive me. They overlook my discrepancies because they know me and my stress level. They love me and accept me as I am. Those, my dear readers, are the marks of great friends. I have often vowed to invest myself in developing better friendship skills. Still, somehow my life’s priorities infringe on that goal. My work overrides most social activities, and I can’t wait to call or visit my children or grandchildren when I have a spare moment. Birthdays and anniversaries almost always slip past me; nevertheless, I love my friends and am grateful for their tolerance and kindness. At long last, I was able to contact my missing friend. Our conversation made me feel terrible about myself. She assured me that I had done nothing to offend her but that she was suffering from the recent loss of her nephew’s life. I was her family’s funeral director; I should have known this. However, she is so high functioning that I wasn’t worried about her. She is an elected executive officeholder, organizes and provides services for others, owns her own business, and sees to the safety and comfort of her constituents. She is so capable that to see her falter (especially under such excruciating pain) breaks my heart. It also calls me out as a friendship failure. Upon the death of her loved one, I asked her how she was doing. She assured me that she was okay. Therefore, I focused my worry on her brother, the father of her nephew. Sadly, he suffered extreme health concerns within a week of losing his son. I saw it coming when he was at my funeral home making arrangements. I should have, however, kept my eyes on his sister (my dear friend) too. Moreover, my friend is a singing evangelist. Her voice is that of an angel. With those credentials, I figured she was good to go. That was my mistake. That was stupid of me. I saw my friend today. We were at the wedding of another friend. Her angelic tones accompanied the beautiful bride as she entered the holy bonds of matrimony with her groom. After the vows were witnessed and recorded, I lingered to find my friend for a chat. I wanted her to know how deeply I have missed her and how honored I am to have her in my life. Her life has been heavily laden with grief, yet she has nurtured herself back to a place where she can bear those painful darts with grace and thanksgiving. She is a healer and has sought healing from a higher power. In her wisdom, she has found her strength through grace. I love her, and I am so thankful for her. Please be mindful and reach out to those suffering grief. I hope I can be a better friend, and with the assistance of my wonderful friends, I think I might make it there. It is my life’s work to comfort the bereaved and help them live on. Tracy Renee Lee is a Certified Grief Counselor (GC-C), Funeral Director (FDIC), published author, syndicated columnist, Podcaster, and founder of the “Mikey Joe Children’s Memorial” and Heaven Sent, Corp. Tracy writes books, weekly bereavement articles, Podcasts, and Grief BRIEFs related to understanding and coping with grief. She is an American Funeral Director of the Year Runner-Up and recipient of the BBB’s Integrity Award. For additional encouragement, please visit her podcast “Deadline” at https://open.spotify.com/show/7MHPy4ctu9OLvdp2JzQsAA or at https://anchor.fm/tracy874 and follow her on Instagram at “Deadline_TracyLee”. Friends By Tracy Renee Lee Tracy Renee Lee I was at an event when a friend of mine asked me if I thought she had done something to offend another of our friends. The friend Like @Nomis.Publications Like us on
Page A11 january 2023 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A & You CJF.com | 800.785.0003 Everyday we are committed to amping up the profits and overall success of each one of our clients. While you know us for insurance assignment, we’re here to provide you with insights and programs that many of our client partners have used to help their firms reduce accounts receivables, increase cash flow andmaybe best of all, help increase their revenue per call up to 30%! Everything we do is driven by our passion to be a trusted partner to the many thriving funeral homes we serve. But don’t just take our word for it. Listen to what our partners have to say and then call or visit us online to learn more. Amp up your revenue per call by 31%. “C&J is a valuable partner in helping not only our cash flow, but they also allow our team to focus on families while they handle the time-consuming assignment details.” David Lee Hernández Jr. Principal at JerseyMemorial Group
Page A12 January 2023 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A www.vischerfuneralsupplies.com In addition, the three Columbia astronauts whose remains could be identified individually have individual gravesites near the memorial. Captain David Brown, U.S. Navy: Section 46, Grave 1180-3; Captain Laurel Blair Salton Clark, M.D., U.S. Navy: Section 46, Grave 11802; and Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson, U.S. Air Force: Section 46, Grave 1180-1. Remembering these men and women, along with those who died in the Apollo I launchpad fire in 1967 and the Challenger explosion in 1986, remind us how risky space flight is and how much we respect their courage. Observations “Rockets by their nature, are complex and unforgiving vehicles.” —NASA Columbia Accident Investigative Board Nacogdoches, “The Oldest Town in Texas,” made history again on February 1, 2003. The Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107, exploded 39 miles above them and rained debris and human remains over a large area. It was a day of immense tragedy that this town will never forget. On the morning of February 1, a large boom was heard over the Texas town. When residents looked to the sky, they saw several smoke trails pulling away from each other. Some thought two jets may have struck each other and were falling downward. But others knew the objects were too large to be jets. Television news began to broadcast the news that Columbia had disintegrated in its final journey into the atmosphere. Nacogdoches County Constable Tony Jasso was aware of the explosion and called his wife Peggy, who was an employee of Commercial Bank. He told her there was a large piece of metal behind the bank, and he believed it to be from Columbia. Many residents reported hearing the explosion and finding debris. NASA was notified and asked local law enforcement to preserve the discovery areas. Approximately 1,200 pieces reportedly fell in Nacogdoches. Tommy Patterson was working in his garden in Littlefield, Texas. He saw a shiny piece of burned metal and showed it to his wife Jean. They called the sheriff and had asked to keep the piece, but NASA asked for it back. Columbia was the first space shuttle to fly, named after the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe, and made its maiden flight in April 1981. Columbia launched its 28th flight on January 16, 2003, with a seven-member crew and a busy schedule of experiments. At 7:30 AM, the shuttle crew was driven to launch site. After being elevated 195 feet up, Commander Rick Husband entered the shuttle first. At 10:39 AM, Columbia left the launch pad. At 81.7 seconds after liftoff, a piece of foam broke off the external tank and hit the shuttle’s left wing. The foam came from part of a structure that attaches the external tank to the shuttle, called a bipod ramp. The damage to the wing was hard to determine but there was no immediate danger, and the damage would be investigated before its return. Over the next 15 days in orbit, over 80 international scientific experiments were conducted, the crew working constantly, in alternating shifts. By day 8, Mission Control had studied the photos from By Steven Palmer the foam strike on the wing and concluded that there was “no concern for RCC or tile damage.” The Intercenter Photo Working Group had concerns about the impact injuries, and the Debris Assessment Team thought that the heat damage might occur but did not state that structural damage would result. The phenomenon had been seen in other launches, and Mission Control finally determined there was “absolutely no concern for entry.” On February 1, at 8:10 AM (EST) the shuttle crew was okayed for de-orbit burn, and Columbia reentered the earth’s atmosphere at 8:44 AM. By 8:53 AM, after passing the California coast, debris was sighted falling off the shuttle. The structure damage led to the loss of control and breakup of the shuttle. The debris fell at a speed of up to 12,000 miles an hour in a broad trail fromWest Texas to Louisiana, with its center in East Texas and the Nacogdoches area. Citizens were warned not to touch the debris, both because the pieces could be dangerous, and because officials would need to document the trail of debris. Amazingly, no one was injured by falling debris and little damage to property was reported. The Columbia Accident Investigation Board concluded that “the breach in the Thermal Protection System allowed superheated air to penetrate the leading-edge insulation and progressively melt the aluminum structure of the left wing, resulting in a weakening of the structure until increasing aerodynamic forces caused loss of control, failure of the wing, and breakup of the orbiter.” The damage done during liftoff let in heat at reentry that melted the structure. But why the foam pieces came off the tank to strike the wing may never be known. The left wing broke up due to high heat and aerodynamic forces. The right wing was lost due to just aerodynamic forces. The crew module was destroyed in a period of 24 seconds beginning at 140,000 feet and ending at 105,000 feet. As the cabin lost compression, the crew quickly became unconscious. We remember the Columbia crew: Commander Rick Husband, 45; Pilot William McCool, 41; Payload Commander Michael Anderson, 43; Kalpana Chawla, 41; David Brown, 46; Laurel Clark, 41; and Ilan Ramon, 48, a colonel in the Israeli Air Force and the first Israeli in space. At Arlington National Cemetery, NASA administrator Sean O’Keefe, accompanied by more than 400 family members, former astronauts, and friends, dedicated a memorial to the crew of STS-107 Columbia on February 2, 2004. Standing just a few feet away from the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial, the marker features a silhouette of the space shuttle imprinted with the names of the astronauts, surrounded by seven stars. Almost Home, Always Remembered 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 “Their mission was almost complete, and we lost them so close to home. The men and women of the Columbia had journeyed more than 6 million miles and were minutes away from arrival and reunion. The loss was sudden and terrible, and for their families, the grief is heavy. Our nation shares in your sorrow and in your pride. And today we remember not only one moment of tragedy, but seven lives of great purpose and achievement.” —President George W. Bush, leading a Memorial Service for the Columbia Astronauts’ families on February 4, 2003 at NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston. Memorial Home, Inc. contributes to many community organizations that support the Central Pennsylvania area. Continuing the vision, Angela has been actively serving the community for more than 25 years. “It’s not just a job, it’s about service, community and sacrifice” says Angela of her role as funeral director. Service is a calling, and it is not taken lightly or for granted. My families expect and get a level of care that includes not only professionalism, but empathy and special care for the ones they love. It is trust, a sense of peace, that they know we are there for them, and we will give our very best in whatever type of service they choose. At Hooper Memorial Home, Inc. we celebrate the life of each loved one, it is not just a funeral but a celebration of their life. We serve with compassion and respect and that has allowed us a reputation for over 100 years as ‘A family business with family sensitivity.” The current location is a 15,000 square foot facility with two chapels, parking for over 100 vehicles, conference rooms, offices, casket and urn showrooms, cooling and preservation room, video-streaming-recording technology center and The Millicent Hooper Foundation banquet facility. Not only has she experienced the passing of Millicent and Lance, but she lost her youngest son a little over two years ago. Angela also has two other children, Jonathan and Amanda who also work in the business. Through her own grieving she continued to serve her families stating, “I’m standing with you and beside you. That’s the difference Hooper’s makes.” Hooper Memorial Home Continued from Page A2 “DUNCAN STUART TODD KNEWWHAT WE NEEDED.THEY MADE IT SIMPLE IN HAVINGTHE TOTAL PACKAGE.” -THEWOOD MORTUARY PREPARATION ROOM Design + Equipment 720 - 583 - 1 886 info@duncanstuarttodd.com www.duncanstuarttodd.com SINCE 1991 “The homeless community is often not seen,” says Angela, adding that they try to be connected with those less fortunate. “It’s a responsibility for all of us. Some people talk the talk, and some people walk the walk.” Hooper
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