March 2017

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Page A41 MARCH 2017 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A
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NGFSPA to host Annual Retreat in Orlando
DEERFIELD,IL—Select-
ed Independent Funer-
al Homes has named Hel-
en Loring Dear of Porter
Loring Mortuaries in San
Antonio, TX as the 2017
recipient of its NextGen Pro-
fessional of the Year Award.
Loring Dear was honored at
a ceremony at the opening
reception of the group’s an-
nual NextGen Seminar, held
January 22-26 at the Iberos-
tar Cancun, Mexico. Recip-
ients are presented a physi-
cal award and reimbursed
NEWS Association CONTINUED
Helen Loring Dear presented Next Gen Award
Helen Loring Dear
cide Prevention Coalition (AATSPC).
“I have been personally involved with and marveled at the
community commitment that Helen has made which re-
sulted in establishment of the AATSPC. Helen’s leadership
regarding this pressing issue has now evolved into a major
effort with staffing, a Teen Advisory Board and participa-
tion by almost every school district in the San Antonio re-
gion,” said Marian Sokol Ph.D., and executive director of
the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas. “She
has been recognized in our community as a dynamic young
woman who is among the ‘Rising Stars of Texas.’”
In 2016, Helen was chosen as one of San Antonio Business
Journal’s “40 under 40,” honoring young leaders succeeding
in business and contributing to their community. “Helen un-
doubtedly has a bright future and is a remarkable reflection
on her family, her community, her business and Selected,”
noted one judge on the Professional of the Year Award panel.
Perhaps Helen’s father, Porter Loring, III, put it best when
he said, “Beyond the professional accolades is a devoted wife
and mother of two young children, who ensures that she de-
votes time to her family as well as taking care of the business.
Integrity and perseverance are at the core of everything that
Helen does.”
Selected Independent Funeral Homes created NextGen to
develop young funeral professionals as well as acknowledge
those new to the profession. The four-day NextGen Semi-
nar, held annually, offers educational and networking ses-
sions for its attendees.
Founded in 1917 as National Selected Morticians, Select-
ed Independent Funeral Homes is the world’s oldest and
largest association of independently-owned funeral homes.
With a common interest in providing families and individu-
als with compassionate care and professional integrity, mem-
bers agree to uphold the association’s Code of Good Practice,
a pledge to provide the public with reliable, high-quality fu-
neral services and funeral-related information. Further in-
formation on Selected Independent Funeral Homes can be
found at .
for the meeting registration. The award highlights career
achievements, community involvement and achievements of
funeral professionals under the age of 50.
Loring Dear, president of Porter Loring Mortuaries, began
her journey in the funeral profession at the age of 16 as a
housekeeper at her family’s firm. Since then, she has worked
in virtually every position within the firm, performing each
role with the utmost compassion for the families she serves.
Active in numerous organizations in her profession and in
her community, and her involvement in Selected has played
an integral part of her development and growth. She is a Se-
lected Study Groups participant and a graduate of Selected’s
Leadership Academy, an intensive two-year leadership train-
ing program. Graduates of this program complete a Cap-
stone project to demonstrate and apply the leadership tools
developed over the course of the program.
The focus of her Capstone project was on teen suicide rates
in the San Antonio area. She soon determined that there
were few resources for teens in her community and wanted
that to change. For a year, she worked with several local non-
profit directors to plan a Roundtable on Teen Suicide. The
meeting resulted in the creation of the Alamo AreaTeen Sui-
FLORENCE,SC— New Generation of
Funeral Service Practitioners Associ-
ation (NGFSPA) will host its Second
Annual Funeral Professional Retreat
in Orlando, FL at the Westgate Lakes
Resort April 6-9, 2017. Young profes-
sionals from funeral homes around the
country will come together for three
days of learning and networking.
The retreat programs will encourage
young professionals to become better
leaders and visionaries in their com-
munities. Presentations will include
Attorney Christopher Chestnut of
the Chestnut Law Firm with “Sur-
viving, Preventing, And Avoiding the
Storm,” Attorney NuruWitherspoon
of the Witherspoon Law Group
with “7 Things You Should Know To
Avoid Being Sued,” Rob Brice from
C&J Financial with “Three Simple
Strategies to Increase Your Bottom
Line,” Attorney Kevin Kelly of the
Kelly Law Firm with a “2017 Update
on Legal Issues in the Funeral Indus-
try,” and Attorney Ortavia Simon of
the Simon Law Group with “Issues:
Who is Next to Kin Uninsured and
Underinsured Inadequate Processes
and Procedures.”
For more information, contact Event
Chair Lisa Leland Norwood at (786)
262-7587.
Submit your photograph or line drawing
and Include:
• your firm’s name, address, phone number(s)
• name of contact person
• a short description of your facility
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