March 2023

Page A18 march 2023 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A I regularly tell the Death CareWorkers around me that they are superheroes. I explain that they should wear a cape so the whole world knows of their superhero status. Everyone should know how important this Funeral Director’s devotion to their community is. March is the month of Funeral Director Appreciation Day. Why only take one day a year to honor ourselves when we could celebrate all month? Maybe that’s thinking too small. We should probably dote on ourselves a little bit every day. We are superheroes, after all. I am definitely onto something with the self-care but probably not nailing it with the cape idea. Imagine how much grime would get on a cape as it dragged along the funeral home floor…when was the last time you mopped those floors? Regardless, as the eccentric, fictional but deeply on-point fashion designer, Edna Mode declared: “NO CAPES!” But more importantly, how do we keep our metaphorical capes from fraying? How do we keep from getting caught up in the muck and the whirlwinds? How do we keep ourselves from unraveling in such a challenging industry? I would be kidding you if I said that I had all the answers. I have days where caregiver’s fatigue robs me of my ability to speak full sentences or even function. I have simply allowed myself to learn from those around me. I’ve read books and talked to therapists. I’ve taken classes and cried over scotch with other funeral directors. We need to take care of ourselves, to fill our own cups before we can serve others to the best of our ability. We need to prioritize our own health, happiness the moment is bookended by that “drowning in death calls” feeling. Most importantly: Be gentle on yourself, especially when you don’t have the ability to handle doing any of the above. Tomorrow is another day. Your community and this industry need you. The families that you serve need you. You are an expert in a unique field, and it would be a travesty if burn out took you away from your calling. Do what you need to get through the days and be kind to yourself. Happy Funeral Director Appreciation Day EVERY SINGLE DAY. So many are grateful for what you do. The world is better because you exist. 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 Marika McMeans is a first-generation Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, born and raised in the Midwest. She began her career in the industry at the age of fifteen and was managing a firm by age twenty-two. In 2015, she relocated to Rochester, New York. She is a graduate of the New York State Funeral Directors Association Leadership Academy, a member of their Bridge Commission and a past member of several Task Forces and Committees. She is the current President and Continuing Education Coordinator of Rochester Genesee Valley Funeral Directors Association. Her goal, now and always, is to help support and guide the next generation of funeral directors. and sanity. What we do is important to human existence. We are needed. We are valuable to our community. You are a superhero and what you do matters! So, let’s make a deal with each other. Let’s agree to do a little something every day to take care of ourselves. A little brainstorming with self-care ideas to get us started: Focus on your breathing every time you walk up and down the steps. (I am notoriously bad at this. So much so, I often get hiccups in the arrangement room.) Find friends in the industry who understand you when you talk about how hard this job is. Drink water in between those cups of coffee. Walk outside, even if you only have a few minutes in the day to walk around the parking lot. Get yourself a therapist. Schedule that yearly check-up. Do a little exercise. Dance in your kitchen while you’re waiting for the microwave to heat up those leftovers. Get really comfortable with saying “no” and “I need to rest.” Buy yourself flowers instead of just bringing home leftover arrangements. Try to get some vegetables in your diet. Read a happy-trash book just for fun. Buy the shoes. Start a savings account. Travel. Turn off your phone at least once a year (I promise the world won’t end!). Go see some live music. Spend all day snuggled up inside the comfort of your home. Get a massage or some other kind of body work done. Take a break from social media. Rewatch your favorite movie for the billionth time. Go to a museum or an art gallery. Do a puzzle. Doodle or color in a coloring book. Meditate or go to a yoga class. Write in a journal. Go out with friends. Take a class on how to do something you’ve never done before. Honestly, just do something that makes you happy in the moment, even if By Marika McMeans Musings with Marika “Quite Possibly America’s Finest Line of Professional Cosmetics” • Cover Cremes • Lip Color • Liquid Tints • Powder • Brushes • Wax www.derma-pro.net 1-800-531-9744 Fax 903-641-0383 E-Mail: sales@derma-pro.net 800-535-8667 www.cherokeechildcaskets.com Receive 10% off when you buy 10 or more caskets and/or vaults Carriage Services Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend Envoi Cremation Opens Cerritos Office Envoi Cremation has also announced the opening of its newest office, located in Cerritos, CA. The office gives Envoi customers the choice to arrange cremation services fully online, or consumers can connect with an Envoi guide on the phone or in person for further assistance. While online cremation arrangements are becoming more popular, there is still a demand for personal assistance when it comes to purchasing cremation and permanent memorialization services. In NFDA’s 2022 Consumer Awareness & Preferences Report, more than half (53.7%) of consumers mentioned that even though they had a good experience, they still needed the assistance of a funeral director. Envoi gives consumers the option – simple, online cremation arrangements for people who need it. Expert guidance for people who want it. “Trust is a critical component when consumers are handing over responsibility for the care of their loved ones,” said Giddens. “A physical office presence reminds consumers that, while our process is one that takes place primarily online, there are real humans overseeing the process of making sure their loved ones are handled with dignity and respect.” Envoi’s online arrangement services provide a simple 5-step process for ensuring the security of a customer’s loved one. Envoi customers are given the choice to have their loved ones personally delivered, or they may pick up their loved ones at the Envoi office or any of their partner locations including Inglewood Park Cemetery, Park Lawn Cemetery, or Roosevelt Memorial Park. The Envoi office is located at 18000 Studebaker Rd Suite #600, Cerritos, CA 90703. Envoi Cremation is the only technology company that delivers a full-service online cremation experience. Envoi provides simple, affordable cremation with transparent pricing fully online, while also allowing consumers the ability to chat with an experienced Envoi Guide as well as purchase post-cremation services such as permanent memorialization through its affiliate partners. For more information: www.envoicremation.com. Envoi Cremation Memorialization Partners Continued from Page A17 HOUSTON,TX— Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE: CSV) announced that its Board of Directors on January 19, 2023 declared a quarterly dividend of 11.25¢ per share payable on March 1, 2023 to common share record holders as of February 6, 2023. Carriage Services is a leading provider of funeral and cemetery services and merchandise in the United States. Carriage operates 171 funeral homes in 26 states and 32 cemeteries in 11 states. For more information, please visit www.carriageservices.com.

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