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Page A18 JUNE 2017 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A
A Difference You Can See & Feel
toll-free
877.848.6243
outside the US
847.381.9000
The power of touch is what forges permanent
connections between your families and their loved
ones. As the originators of Thumbies™, Buddies™,
and Phoenix™ print and cremation keepsakes, this
is why each of our unique keepsakes is still cast—to
maximize their touch-ability.
Experience the Meadow Hill difference.
By Jim Starks, CFuE, CCrE
Tips for Transferring Cremated
Human Remains into
Urns/Keepsakes
While serving clients in the death care profession, we trans-
fer the cremated human remains into the urn/keepsake pur-
chased from the firm or the receptacle provided. Unfortu-
nately, sometimes this transfer happens at an employee’s
desk, in the lounge, embalming room or dressing room.
It is of utmost importance to make the transfer with dignity
and respect while attempting to retain all of the cremated hu-
man remains during the transfer. And there are procedures to
assist in the transfer of cremated human remains from a tem-
porary container to an urn/keepsake:
• When transferring, use a flexible cutting board under the
urn/keepsake to collect any cremated human remains that
did not make it into the opening of the container. The
flexible cutting board can be folded to allow any spilled
cremated human remains to be placed into the urn/keep-
sake. Often when transferring on a desk or counter top,
staff tend to wipe up the spilled cremated human remains
and dispose of the residue. Remember, no matter how
small of a particle, it is part of someone’s body.
Protecting
Your Families
and Business
cation that will not fall off when moved or handled.
Also, in cases of more than one container they should
also be labeled 1 of 2 and 2 of 2. This helps ensure all
the containers are accountable.
Whenever I write an article on cremation, I attempt
to upgrade the cremation procedures that many of the
death care providers are currently following. These pro-
cedures may take more time or may add cost to your
firm. If they do, you may want to research what you
are charging and adjust to reflect the dignity and respect
that everyone needs to have when dealing with the con-
sumers that chose cremation.
• Funnels of different sizes are a critical tool when
transferring cremated human remains into small
openings of some urns/keepsakes. The plastic fun-
nels can be modified by trimming some of the tube
on the discharge end. It’s always good to use a spoon
to fill the funnel and not pour directly from a tem-
porary container.
• Another item that firms should have when filling
keepsakes are baby bottle liners. They will fit inside
the keepsake and can be closed with a plastic ca-
ble tie. Placing the cremated human remains in the
baby bottle liner reduces the chance the keepsake is
opened and the contents spill out and become un-
recoverable.
• Firms should also have a supply of the heavy Mil
bags that crematories use to place cremated human
remains in temporary containers. Many times when
transferring cremated human remains, a new bag
must be used if the urn did not come with one or
the receptacle that was provided by the family needs
one. Reminder: Whatever you do, do not place cre-
mated human remains in a used plastic bag from
your grocery store.
• Many urns/keepsakes do not have a secure top! In
these cases the top must be attached, ensuring it
does not fall off. Before securing the top, make sure
to verify with the person in charge that it is ok to se-
cure it. Two products that work well to seal tops are
silicone in a resealable tube and hot glue guns.
• Plastic cable ties in different sizes are also important
items to include in an inventory of transfer equip-
ment. When sealing the plastic bag, depending on
the container, small plastic cable ties may be needed
when filling a keepsake.
• Labeling is another critical issue when placing cre-
mated human remains in urns/keepsakes. Make
sure the container displays some form of identifi-
Jim Starks, CFuE, CCrE, is President of J. Starks Consulting in Lutz,
FL, and a nationally-recognized trainer on funeral home and crema-
tory risk management.
He used his experience in both funeral home and crematory oper-
ations and risk management, combined with his involvement with
funeral homes of all sizes and geographies, to become an author-
ity at controlling risk and loss in the death care industry, providing
lectures and presentations to private firms, as well as regional, state
and national associations. He also conducts private audits and risk
assessments to independent funeral homes and crematories in the
US and Canada, often identifying ways to save or generate thou-
sands of dollars of profit.
Jim is a Michigan and Indiana Licensed Funeral Director and
Embalmer and ICCFA- and CANA-certified crematory operator, as
well as Dean of ICCFA University’s College of Cremation Services. He
is a graduate of the University of Wyoming, the Mid-America School
of Mortuary Science, and the ICCFA University. For more information
on risk management in the death care industry, visit jstarksconsulting.
com. Contact Jim at (813) 765-9844 or
Coffee Lounge
tastefully decorated offer-
ing a spacious and com-
fortable area for families
to gather. These rooms
can accommodate every-
thing from a traditional
period of visitation, to a
more contemporary me-
morial visitation, to a
private family service.
While the chapel is not
intended to compete
against the reverence and
respect of the church, it
has been tastefully de-
signed as an option for
those who do not wish a
formal church setting. It
provides a dignified set-
ting for family, friends and
the community to gather
together and pay tribute
to the deceased. The main
chapel can accommodate
over one hundred visitors
for funeral or memorial
services.
The reception lounge
offers a seating area for
private conversations
or contemplation away
from the main chapel. It
also can provide a conve-
nient setting for a time
of fellowship and light
refreshments after the
funeral service. This is
George FitzPatrick
Funeral Hom
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