March 2017

A31 A1-A52 B1-B28

Page A31 MARCH 2017 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A
Funeral Directors Research,Inc.
AMRA INSTRUMENT, LLC
623 N. Tower (P.O. Box 359)
Centralia, WA 98531
“the shorter the supply line the better off you are”
WEB DIRECT GIFT & PRICING
TM
®
3” HEARSE NAMEPLATES
1-8 spaces $80.50 per nameplate
9-13 spaces $92.50 per nameplate
14-15 spaces $109.00 per nameplate
16-18 spaces $119.00 per nameplate
Many Letter Styles and Sizes Available
DEDUCT $10.00 each for Satin Aluminum Finish
NEWS Educational CONTINUED
Let’s think for a moment about the concept of view-
ing and identification. For example: once forensic tests
confirmed that the sons of Iraqi leader Saddam Hus-
sein were dead, allied forces shared photos with Iraqi
people for proof. The public demanded it, because see-
ing is believing. It is not unusual for world leaders to
lie in state so that the public can view, pay respects in
person, and find visual closure. Viewing matters.
Consider improving your website with more edu-
cational material about the values of viewing. At a
recent seminar, a student told me that since his fu-
neral home began offering visitations at no charge it
has seen an increase in clients choosing embalming
prior to cremation. It is also my opinion that funeral
homes should offer longer visitation periods. Some
visitations happen in a very short window of oppor-
tunity, denying friends and loved ones the chance to
view and say goodbye. The family does not need to
be present the entire time, so why the rush? With fu-
neral staff on hand, longer visitation hours will, at
the very least, offer time for friends who can’t make
the service, enabling them to leave a message for fam-
ily in the guest book – a book that funeral homes are
quick to sell, but not as quick to fill.
At my recent 2016 FNA International Conference
I offered a presentation entitled When I Die. I dis-
cussed the things that I want and don’t want when I
die. First and foremost, I do not want my family to
allow a funeral home to rush them to final disposi-
tion. I’ve never understood the concept that if you
die on Monday we need to bury you by Wednesday. I
want my wife and daughters to have a visitation for as
long as they feel necessary. I want to allow them time
to grieve and mourn and begin the transition of their
life without me. I do not subscribe to the notion that
Are we educating the public as effectively
as we should be?
the quicker we get the body buried or cremated, the
quicker we heal our grief.
I believe funeral service professionals should pro-
mote educational programs locally and across the
United States to help the public understand the ins
and outs of embalming, cremation, viewing, visita-
tion and the process of navigating options following
the death of a loved one. Currently there are people
who are not friends of funeral service who are hap-
py to speak in public forums about our profession,
often providing inaccurate information. It is incum-
bent upon us to be forthright with the communities
we serve. I challenge every national and state funer-
al service association across the country to create a
speakers bureau and begin to support and promote
public education. Presentations can be held at funer-
al homes, colleges or libraries and can be offered free
to the public. As an incentive for the pubic to attend
these presentations we should clearly advertise that
the names of attendees will not be taken upon en-
try and the presentations are for accurate information
only and not a sales pitch. It is better that we stand up
and educate with accurate information than allow the
public to be misinformed and misguided by others.
We entered this professional because we are compas-
sionate. We are professional. We are dedicated. We
should be proud of what we do, and share our knowl-
edge with the people we serve. Our families and our
communities, and our attitude toward death as a so-
ciety, depend on it.
Vernie R. Fountain, CFSP, embalmer and post mor-
tem reconstructive specialist is the founder of Fountain
National Academy of Professional Embalming Skills in
Springfield, MO. He can be reached at vrfountain@
Send Us
Your
News! FUNERAL HOME &
CEMETERY NEWS
PO Box 5159, Youngstown, OH 44514
Fax 1-800-321-9040
Email