Page A2 August 2022 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A Published Monthly by: Nomis Publications, Inc. PO Box 5159, Youngstown, OH 44514 1-800-321-7479 Fax 1-800-321-9040 www.nomispublications.com info@nomispublications.com Subscription: United States $30.00 - Canada/Mexico $60.00 Circulation 21,000 per issue. Overseas rates available. Deadline for Press Releases: 5th of the Previous month. Advertising: Display Ad rates sent upon request. Classified and Shipping Directory rates published in each issue. All advertising must be received by the 5th of the previous month. Due to the vast amount of sources, the publisher is not responsible for the content of any news articles or advertisements. Nor is the publisher responsible for any loss of revenue by failure to insert an advertisement. 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ISSN 1944-1126 Funeral Home & Cemetery News Online at www.nomispublications.com Online Directories US & International Funeral Homes • Supply Companies Cemeteries • Pet Memorialization Companies Trade Associations • Plus Much More... www.nomispublications.com NOTICE The FUNERAL HOME AND CEMETERY NEWS is now sent in two parts. Section A, which includes pages A1-A40 and Section B, which contains the Classified Advertising and consists of pages B1-B20. If you do not receive both sections please call 1-800-321-7479 or email info@nomispublications.com. Michelle at the installation of the third new cooler, which can house 87 decedents Michelle Johnston prepares to embalm during the Covid Pandemic Continued from Front Page East Texas Mortuary Service Continued on page A24 world. “It was a make it or break it time frame,” says Michelle. As the only embalmer, she and her small staff worked hard to serve the surrounding funeral homes and take great care of every decedent that passed through the doors. By the end of 2019, ETMS had concluded the year with 325 cases. “The business grew really quickly,” says Michelle, noting that she had to provide highquality work while still being a mom. “I barely had my feet on the ground when the pandemic hit. I was the only licensed embalmer for the full year of COVID.” As the business began to grow, so did the staff and the amenities at the mortuary service. Walls going up as the firm expands More removal techs were hired as well as an office manager to help with the workload. In January of 2020, a second embalming table was added to the prep room. This was followed by the purchase of the mortuary’s first threeman cooler. In August of 2020, the space grew to include a second rental bay, expanding to 2,000 square feet. With the expansion came many remodels, which included knocking down walls and building a new office. With Michelle still being the sole embalmer, 2020 ended with fulfilling 530 cases. Michelle was very proud at that time to have been recognized with the Texas Funeral Directors Association East Texas Embalmer of the Year award. In 2021, ETMS hit the ground running by hiring a second full-time embalmer. In March 2021, renovations began in preparation of pur- In December of 2021, Michelle was granted the ability to purchase the entire 4,000-square-foot facility. By the end of the year, the mortuary service had handled just shy of 1,000 cases; of our embalmers are female. In fact, it’s a full women staff. Men just don’t seem to come and ask me for jobs,” Michelle says, adding that there is a parttime worker who is male and comes every other weekend. (L to R) Marisa Gunstanson, Michelle Johnston, and Emmalee Kornowski awaiting the delivery of crematory equipment during expansion. Michelle left a hidden message during remodeling chasing an onsite crematory. Toward the end of 2021, another full-time embalmer was added to the staff, making for a total of ten staff members at ETMS and five removal vehicles. “There’s a lot of belief in the funeral industry that women can’t do the job, particularly with the heavy lifting, but all Like @Nomis.Publications Like us on Monthly Features Shipping Directory.................................................B11 Classified Ads. .......................................................B14 Calendar of Events.................................................B2 Death Notices. ........................................................A38 Educational News...................................................A26 Association News. ..................................................A28 Suppliers News.........................................................B1 MONTHLY Columns Aftercare by Linda Findlay......................................................... A8 Appropriate to Greatness by Alice Adams and Jim Kurtz...... A34 Bright Ideas for Funeral Directors by Mark Bowser................ A18 Embalming 101 by Wally Hooker.............................................. A16 HearseHub by Mike Jamar.......................................................... B6 Memoires des choix des Jacque by Kate Frediani-Gorman... A32 Observations by Steven Palmer............................................... A12 Powerhouse Marketing With Welton by Welton Hong. ............. A6 Random Musings by Nancy Weil................................................ A4 Rest In Peace Mr President by Todd Van Beck. ...................... A22 Working With Widowers by Fred Colby................................... A20 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS
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