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FEBRUARY 2013
FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS
S ec t i on A
STYLISH MATCHING TIES
FOR PROFESSIONALS
ANY SIZE GROUP OR ORGANIZATION
Phone: 877-770-TIES (8437)
Fax: 276-466-3474
E-mail: customerservice@tiesforyou.com
John A. Chew is a Funeral Service Education Specialist, Con-
sultant, Tutor, Thanatogeneticist, and a Licensed Funeral Direc-
tor and Embalmer. He is a retired former Associate Professor and
Director of Funeral Service Education at Miami Dade Community
College as well as the Institute for Funeral Service Education and
Anatomy at Lynn University (1967-1997). He is presently Director
of Education at Embalmers Supply Company, Recinto De Ciecias,
Medicic, UPR, ESCO/OMEGA, and the Academy of Restoration
and Embalming.
By John A. Chew
Many pre-existing conditions determine the rate of
tissue breakdown following a death. The first may be
overall weight or body mass which is a pre-disposing
condition of certain specific diseases. Death occurs in
stages. Tissue breakdown may take from several days
up to years. At all stages of decomposition, insect infil-
tration occurs on and in the body. The initial or fresh
stage of decomposition occurs during the first few
days with no physical signs.
Homeostasis of the body has ceased allowing cellu-
lar and soft tissue changes to occur because of the pro-
cess of autolysis. This is the destruction of the cells
and organs due to an aseptic chemical process. At this
point, the body enters algor mortis – the cooling of
the body to that of its surroundings. When the body’s
cells reach the final stage of autolysis, an anaerobic en-
vironment is created that is an environment wherein
oxygen is not present.
This allows the body’s normal bacteria to breakdown
the remaining carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. The
products from the breakdown create acids, gases and
other products which cause volatile organ compounds
(VOC) and putrefactive effects.
Substances produced during the fresh stage of de-
composition attract a variety of insects. Dipteral in-
sects begin to lay their eggs in the body during this
stage, especially members of the calliphoridae family.
Embalming
Technology
(Part 3)
If the body is on the ground or buried in soil, there is
also considerable insect activity by insects that live in
the soil surrounding the body. The reasoning for this
is simple. A dead human body serves as an excellent
source of decaying matter on which to feed.
Odor, color changes and bloating of the body dur-
ing early stages of protein breakdown must be neu-
tralized during putrefaction in the lower part of the
abdomen. Body tissue will begin to turn green due to
bacterial activity in the cecum. Bacterial breakdown
of hemoglobin into sulfhemoglobin also causes a
green color change. A formation of gases enters the
abdomen which forces liquids and feces out of the
body orifices. The gases also enter the neck and face
causing swelling of the mouth, lips and tongue.
Due to this swelling and misconfiguration of the
face, identification of the body can be difficult. Bac-
teria also enter the venous system causing blood to
hemolyze. This leads to the formation of red streaks
along the veins. This color soon changes to green,
through a process known as marbleization. It can be
seen on the shoulders, chest and shoulder area and
thighs. The skin can develop blisters containing se-
rous fluid. The skin also becomes fragile leading to
skin slip.
The Life of Frederick D. Gardner
By Todd Van Beck
Todd Van Beck
This introduction was writ-
ten by Frederick D. Gard-
ner, a former embalming stu-
dent of Joseph Henry Clarke
(founder of the Cincinna-
ti College of Embalming) in
Clarke’s 1917 book entitled
Reminiscences of Early Em-
balming
.
“
It may be of some interest to
the funeral profession to know
that the present Governor of
Missouri is not only a manufac-
turer of caskets, but is himself a
practical embalmer, having taken a course of instructions twenty-
five years ago from Professor J.H. Clarke, and now holds one of his
diplomas. Professor Clarke was one of the pioneers in this work,
and were he living today, he would see the fruits of the splendid
work, which he began many years ago, in every state in the union.
I am sure that I but speak for every one of his thousands of students
when I say we all loved him and admired him, and that we miss
him now
.” –F.D. Gardner.
Frederick Dozier Gardner
, thirty-fourth governor of Mis-
souri was born in Hickman, KY on November 6, 1869. His
parents, William Henry Gardner and Mary Ella Dozier were
married in 1864 at Enterprize, MI. They had three sons and
two daughters. William served as a soldier in the Confederate
army and was a manufacturer of spokes, buggies and wagon
wheels. He lies buried in the cemetery at Union City, TN.
Gardner was educated in the public schools of Tennessee and
Kentucky. At 17 he launched forth on a business career located
in St. Louis, MO, where he became an office boy at $10.00 per
week with the
St. Louis Coffin Company
.
On October 10, 1896, he was married in St. Louis to Jea-
nette Vosburgh. Governor and Mrs. Gardner had three chil-
dren, William, Dozier, and Janet.
Governor Gardner’s grandparents emigrated from Virginia
to Tennessee in 1820. His grandfather was a farmer and had
a personal acquaintance with Thomas Jefferson and Andrew
Jackson.
WhenMr. Gardner in 1916 became a candidate for governor
in the Democratic primaries, the public became interested in
four topics he advocated: a rural credit system for the farmers;
rehabilitation of state finances on a business basis; abolition of
convict contract labor and reform of prison management; es-
tablishing and building a state system of good roads.
From his years in the funeral profession Gardner’s business-
like program appealed to the voters and he was nominated on
August 3
rd
.
The election of 1916 in both the nation and the State of Mis-
souri perched on the Democratic banner. Governor Gard-
ner proved an able state administrator. Just three months after
Gardner became the Chief Executive of Missouri the United
States declared war against Germany and enteredWorldWar I.
Three days later Governor Gardner issued a state war procla-
mation calling a state-wide food conference at St. Louis to car-
ry out the wishes of President Wilson and Congress. On April
24
th
theMissouri Council for Defense was organized to address
the pressing issue of feeding the troops “over there.”
In his address to this Governor Gardner said:
“
As Chief Executive of this State, I wish to say that what I have
formerly said, that so far as the people of Missouri are concerned,
from north to south, east to west, we stand regardless of race, creed,
or color, united and inseparable- one and all for our nation and
our flag forever
.”
In the end Missouri furnished 156,232 officers and men in
the First WorldWar. Missouri’s loss in the war was 3,644 killed
and 6,944 wounded, a total of 10,588.
At the close of his administration Governor Gardner quietly
returned to his home in St. Louis and resumed his career in fu-
neral service. He spent 47 years in the funeral service profes-
sion having graduated from the
Clarke School of Embalming
.
During his active funeral service career Gardner worked for the
Ellis Undertaking Company
,
M. Hermann & Son Livery
& Undertaking
and the
Southern Undertaking & Livery
Company
all located in St. Louis.
Gardner eventually connected with the St. Louis Coffin
Company where he led the business to great heights of success.
So innovative was Gardner in the manufacturing of coffins
that he had a coffin display exhibited at the 1904 St. Louis
World’s Fair.
In addition to his active funeral career and casket manufactur-
ing, Frederick manufactured funeral coaches and ambulances
through the
GardnerMotor Company
. In 1932 they chose to
close up shop before the Depression wiped out their automo-
bile manufacturing assets as well as those of the St. Louis Coffin
Company.
Frederick D. Gardner died on December 18, 1933 and was
buried in the Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
The St. Louis Coffin Company was acquired in the late 1950’s.
Todd W. Van Beck is one of the funeral profession’s most prolific au-
thors and presenters. From simple staff development at the smallest
funeral home to clergy seminars to keynote addresses at the largest of
gatherings, Mr. Van Beck tailors each presentation to suit any occasion.
He is currently manager of Forest Hill Funeral Home and Cemeteries in
Memphis, TN. For more information or to contact Mr. VanBeck visit his
new website a
Jersey for Mortuary Science. She was a successful business
woman at a time when there were very few women work-
ing in the funeral service. When her father was severely
burned in an accident on his boat in 1945, it was Faustina,
just 24 years old, who took over and successfully ran the
business alone until his recovery years later.
Fire again touched their lives, not once but twice with-
in a nine month period in 1954 and 1955. The second
fire totally destroyed the funeral home. At that time, they
built a state of the art facility at their present location,
1110 E. Chestnut Avenue. With two chapels, a show-
room, a lounge, a garage and enough parking to accom-
modate the largest of funerals, the new Rone Funeral Ser-
vice property on Chestnut Avenue became a showpiece
of the funeral industry. C. Victor Rone dedicated his life
to the family business and to his community. For many
years he served as county coroner, was president of the
Cumberland County Chapter of the American Cancer
Society, and president of the Vineland Jaycees. Tragically,
Vic died suddenly of heart failure at the age of 52.
In 1955, Faustina’s husband,
James A. Geraci
joined
the family business. His very personal touch, comforting
ways, and quiet professional demeanor characterized his
work ethic. Those working years ended with his death in
2007.
James C. Geraci
followed in his parents footsteps,
attending mortuary school, becoming a licensed funeral
director and joining the family business in 1984.
In 2009, Rone Funeral Service was voted business of the
year by the Vineland Chamber of Commerce.
Today, a dedicated staff works with owner/manager, Mr.
Geraci, always mindful of the timeless words of founder
C. Calvin from 1957. “We realize that the confidence of a
community is a sacred trust, and creates a solemn respon-
sibility. Throughout our years of service, the Rone Funeral
Service has earned a reputation for sincerity, understand-
ing and dignity of purpose with thousands of families.”
Staff members include funeral director,
Nick Cha-
menko
; retired funeral director,
Doug Lee;
funer-
al director
Michael DeStefano;
office manager
Lori
Rone-McLaughlin
; retired secretary
Chicky Tamagni
;
building and groundskeeper,
Moe Torres;
along with
part time staff
Jimmy Rosati
,
Ed
and
Tim Zatzariny
,
and
Mel Pender
. For more on Rone Funeral Service visit
Rone Funeral Service
Proudly Serves their
Community for 80 Years