March 2017

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Page A27 MARCH 2017 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A
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We support funeral service in building
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1015
How Does A Birthday Card Reunite A Couple
Separated By Death?
It all started when we wanted to find a clev-
er, fun way of getting people to update their
old self pre-need arrangements with us. But
how do you call a family and ask if some-
one has died or moved without sounding like
a vulture or at the very least insensitive? If
someone arranges their own final expenses it
usually shows me that person is quite practi-
cal and very often has a great sense of humor.
So, the idea of sending a birthday card to
the person that had made their own prear-
rangements made sense, but carefully chosen
words would be the obstacle. It was decid-
ed that we would use a birthday card with
“Congratulations for not needing our ser-
vices again for yet another year!!” Then with-
in the card we would go on to say, “All kid-
ding aside, we here at McKenzie tMortuary
wish you a very happy birthday. If you wish
to update your file, change phone numbers,
addresses etc., please visit our web site or call
us.”The idea was that it was so unique people
would brag to their neighbors, “Look I just
got a birthday card from my mortuary!” And
indeed, that’s exactly what happens. On an
At-need basis, we have seen a rise in new cases
when family and friends call the person that
received their yearly card: “What’s the name
of that mortuary that sends you a card?”
The response was great and continues to
be great. We get calls, cards and handwrit-
ten letters of appreciation. It let us know
we had decided on a good idea.
A few months back we received a birth-
day card back stamped “DECEASED” for
Beatrice Smith. This was baffling because
we had held Beatrice’s pre need arrange-
ments for many years.
This unique notice started our investigation
to find out where Beatrice was. It turned out
that she had been in a convalescent home for
an unexpected illness and passed away with
no family and no information. Her body was
sent to the county morgue where it lay for
months. After a period of time the public ad-
ministrator authorized cremation and for the
ashes to be placed at a local park. With the
hand written instructions that were given to
McKenzie from Beatrice we were able to go
to court to obtain a court order giving us per-
mission to act on her last wishes which were
to be buried with her husband at the nation-
al cemetery in Dayton, Ohio. We disinterred
Mrs. Smith’s Urn and sent her to be with her
husband at the Veterans cemetery.
If it hadn’t been for a simple birthday card,
this couple married for over 60 years would
not have had their final wishes realized.
Sometimes, all we need is to step outside
of our comfort zone in our marketing and
follow-up programs.
If you feel it’s right in your heart then it’s
probably the right thing to do.
Kenneth McKenzie
McKenzie Mortuaries and Crematory
Men of Mortuaries Calendar founder,
co-author of Mortuary Confidential
and Over Our Dead Bodies