August 2019

Page A38 AUGUST 2019 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A Experienced in helping funeral professionals with all their shipping needs since 1978. » Domestic Shipping » International Shipping » Removal » Embalming Exceptional Service » No Exceptions (800) 321-0566 www.shipinman.com Museum Corner www.nomispublications.com Funeral Home & Cemetery News Contributors share insights and exchange ideas. B logs The National Museum of Funeral History located in Houston, Texas, houses the country’s largest collection of funeral service artifacts and features renowned exhibits on one of man’s oldest cultural customs. It belongs to YOU and everyone in the funeral industry. Visitors can discover the mourning rituals of ancient civi- lizations, see up-close authentic items used in the funerals of U.S. Presidents and Popes and explore the rich heritage of the industry that cares for the dead. The Museum is located at 415 Barren Springs Drive, Houston, Texas 77090. Visit www.nmfh.org for more details. The National Museum of Funeral History, Houston, Texas This new exhibit explores memorial portraits made with the cremated remains of the deceased by artist Heide Hatry . Her unique talent allows us to memo- rialize our loved ones in a way like never before. Heide Hatry is a con- temporary fine artist rep- resented by Ubu Gallery in New York City. Her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world. Hatry’s father’s death at a young age left her with a persistent sense of unresolved grief and a daunting void within. Many years later, after a dear friend had committed suicide, she sought solace through her art practice as a way of coping with this now intensified and fiercely resurfacing grief. Following a sud- den inspiration, Heide Hatry de- cided that she must make portraits of her father and her friend using their cremated ashes. She invented a la- bor-intensive mo- saic technique in which she embed- ded the individual ash particles into a surface of beeswax through several ap- plications until a rich and textured likeness has been achieved. Her dis- covery revealed the possibility of a life- altering silent com- munion that Hatry knew she wanted to share with others who were suffering their own loss. Artist Heide Hatry L i f e A f f i r m i n g P o r t r a i t s made from C r e m at e d R e m a i n s Thomas Smith scores a Hole-In-One at the NMFH Charity Golf Classic Robert M. Boetticher, Sr . (Right) National Muse- um of Funeral History Chairman of the Board presents Thomas Smith (Left) a plaque in commemoration of his hole-in-one at the NMFH 25th Charity Golf Classic. Thomas Smith scored a hole in one on the Lake Course at the fourth hole at the Kingwood Country Club in Kingwood, Texas on May 20, 2019 and won an S&S Coach Company Cadillac XTS Masterpiece hearse. Congratulations, Thomas Smith! Knowing that love and loss are not exclusive to only human rela- tionships, Icons in Ash also in- cludes portraits of beloved ani- mal companions. a 2020 NFDA Convention Experience in New Orleans. Winners will be announced during the Wednesday Gen- eral Session (attendees must be present to win). Creating Memories in Sweet Home Chicago A lot of networking happens during workshops and in the Expo Hall, but NFDA’s distinctive social events will give attendees an opportunity to develop new relationships and renew old ones. Special events, planned exclusively for NFDA Convention attendees, will showcase Chicago as one of America’s (and the world’s) favorite cities. Attendees won’t want to miss their chance to say thank you to Chicago by participating in NFDA’s annual service project with Habitat for Humanity. On Saturday, October 26, attendees will help make the dream of home ownership a reality for a Chicago family by volunteering at a Habitat for Humanity build site. Attendees must sign up in advance. Those who cannot participate at the build site can support volunteers’ efforts by signing on as a donor or sponsor. Since its 2001 inception, the Funeral Service Founda- tion’s golf outing has raised more than $1 million to ad- vance its mission to support funeral service in building meaningful relationships with the families and communities it serves. On Sunday, October 27, experience all the perks of the Foundation’s annual Golf Classic in a social, casual and exciting atmosphere at Topgolf in Naperville, IL. New this year, attendees who don’t golf but still want to support the Foundation can attend as a spectator and experience the net- working and excitement of the day without the pressure of swinging a club. Visit www.FuneralServiceFoundation.org/ golf to register and learn about sponsorship opportunities. Attendees can channel their inner Jake or Elwood dur- ing the Blues Brothers-inspired Welcome Party on Sun- day, October 27. Taking place in the Aon Ballroom at legendary Navy Pier, guests will enjoy Chicago’s most re- quested tribute band, The Blooze Brothers; Chicago-in- spired snacks; and a cash bar (included with registration). Celebrate the shining stars of funeral service during the All-Star Recognition Ceremony on Monday, October 28. NFDA will recognize firms that earned the 2019 NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Award – including Best of the Best recipients and Hall of Excellence inductees – or NFDA’s Green Funeral Practice Certificate. NFDA will also honor this year’s NFDA Certified Crematory Operators, NFDA Certified Cremation Services Providers, NFDA Certified Preplanning Consultants, the Funeral Service Founda- tion’s award/scholarship recipients, and APFSP’s Certified Funeral Service Practitioners (included with registration). Attendees who have received one or more of these honors are invited to attend and be recognized with their peers. Public-safety officials serve and protect their communities and put their lives on the line every day. When the time comes, their lives deserve to be remembered with the utmost honor and respect through a meaningful funeral service. At- tendees should make time to attend the Service of Remem- brance on Tuesday, October 29 as NFDA explores the cus- toms associated with celebrating the lives of public servants, and honors the memory of funeral service family members who died this year (included with registration). Attendees of the Funeral Directors Under 40 Party on Tuesday, October 29 will have to keep their eye on the ball. Whether they’re ping pong pros or just interested in a casual volley, they can channel their inner Forrest Gump and serve up some fun with their fellow funeral directors! Tickets for the event include ping-pong tournament (with prizes!), pizza, hors d’oeuvres and three drink tickets. As the NFDA Convention comes to a close, attendees will gather for An Evening Under the Sea on Wednesday, October 30 at the renowned Shedd Aquarium. Guests can explore Shedd Aquarium like never before during this unforgettable evening. Soak up Abbott Oceanar- ium’s breathtaking recreation of a Pacific Northwest coastline and enjoy the Underwater Beauty Exhibit dur- ing cocktail hour. The evening continues with exclusive access to the Caribbean Reef and aquarium galleries, complete with dinner stations featuring a taste of Chi- cago, live music and a hosted bar (tickets required). Continued from Page A36 NFDA Convention: Relive the Past, Explore the Present, Focus on Your Future News Association ContinueD Continued on Page A39