November 2022

Page A16 November 2022 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A Burial Cradle CasketsSM Bay Memorials Zerbel’s Proportionally sized for Miscarried, Stillborn, & Newborn Babies Available in 10”, 20”, 30” allowing you to tastefully care for even the smallest baby with all the compassion every parent desires for as low as $48.00 Appropriate For Viewing Available in 10”, 20”, 30” Flannel Lined Unisex Juvenile Pattern White Corrugated Cardboard Beginning at $20.00 321 S. 15th St. • Escanaba, MI 49829 • 906-786-2609 • Fax 906-786-2692 • www.baymemorialsbabycaskets.com Infant Cremation Containers “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 I’ve often lamented with you folks, I don’t consider myself an expert, an educator, nor a writer…I am simply a practicing funeral director/embalmer still in the trenches working daily. These articles and my lectures are simply a reflection of my experiences and challenges…good and bad. I am fully aware, many of you have much more experience and talent than I. However, I believe a truly dedicated professional embalmer, will always seek new ideas and techniques to up their game, I know I do! My good friend Larry ‘Doc’ Friel from the Chicago area, has suggested to me…wouldn’t it be a great experience if a group of us could actually follow each other and watch each other prep a body…what an incredible learning environment that would be. All of us are a result of others we have been privileged to work with…good and bad, we learn from both. As I consult with embalmer/ colleagues from across the country, it’s troubling to hear the horror stories of some Knuckleheads who were never mentored…making us all look bad and perhaps driving the increase in no body present services. In performing soft tissue repair of the face (i.e. traumatic injuries, necrotic tumors/cancer that is presented externally), there are three primary sources of failure that seems to be common in the cases I have consulted on. Primarily an issue causing failure would be poor embalming/under-embalmed tissue. This could be a result of the talent/experience level of the embalmer, or internal conditions/traumatic injuries, which prevent the thorough penetration/diffusion of the embalming solution. I’m not a huge fan of hypoing and in my experience, it is very ineffective. In overcoming this issue, I suggest using a topical embalming treatment with penetrating abilities. I prefer a pink hexaphene based gel. This product can be topically applied, or internally, if open wounds or surface cancer is present. It will not only penetrate and preserve tissue to the bone, but it will also eliminate edema. This product will not bleach the skin and when covered tightly with a thin form fitting application of plastics, will demonstrate its penetrating properties. It is an amazingly versatile and useful product. It has saved the day for me many times. A firm, dry, base is an absolute must before By Wally Hooker, CFSP, MBIE attempting any type of restorative efforts. Anything less will be asking for trouble. A second issue causing failures would be not prepping the area thoroughly. Just this week I was engaged to remove a cancerous tumor that had overtaken the area from below the lips, around to the left side of the jawline and beneath the viewing side jawline. For lack of a better description, the external necrotic tissue was the size of a ‘hotdog bun’. The necrotic tissue internally extended half-way back to the ear, and on the viewing side, to the mid jaw line. The necrotic tissue was very soft, spongy and the only option was to totally dissect it away. There was no usable skin on the left side or on the neck. The photos the colleague sent for my review did not indicate the invasiveness of the cancer. When the family suggested to my colleague that they wanted it removed so they could have an open casket, my colleague shared with the family, this type of removal/reconstruction was out of their comfort zone…but they knew a guy. The family was informed there would be additional charges, he would be sharing photos with me, there were no guarantees, there would need to be adequate time and consents to be signed. My colleague played this one well…the son is an attorney. He asked about embalming; I advised him what chemicals I would use to embalm…he followed my suggestions and did a great job. When they brought this person to me late in the afternoon, I realized it would be more time consuming and involved than I thought. The invasiveness of the cancer gave this person a ‘Hermann Munster’ chin. From the base of the septum to bottom of the ‘new chin’ was twice the length as it should be. The amount of tissue to be excised would create a massive open area to reconstruct with absolutely no skin for reconstruction remaining. It took nearly three hours to remove the necrotic tissue and skin affected along the jawline, chin and neck. It was approaching dinner time and I was ready to call it a day and I was confident that I had removed the problem tissue/skin. This kind of tedious work fatigues me more than it previously did. I treated the open area (which was basically from mid-jawline on both sides, to Embalming 101 the tip of the chin and down to the base of the neck). I used the hexaphene based gel mentioned above, in copious amounts on the exposed tissue and the ‘undercuts I made into the cheeks. I wrapped/sealed the entire head in a plastic bag to confine the product and allow deep penetration into the tissue. His face and ears were treated with humectant for additional protection. The opening was more than significant and gave me angst though the evening and as I tried to sleep…considering if was going to be able to reconstruct this face. The next morning, the tissue was thoroughly treated, dry, with no leaks, I now had a base to begin building. Had I attempted to reconstruct without taking these steps it would have been a catastrophe. Yes, after 15 hours of effort it was an open casket and this case itself may be an article in the future. Another source of failure when applying artificial skins, waxes or adhesives to skin, would be the oil on the skin. You will not obtain proper/secure ‘attachment’ unless you thoroughly degrease the area. If oil is present on the skin, you will more than likely see a ‘curl’ or peeling along your feathered line of demarcation. It’s these little issues that can create failure and embarrassment at a very inopportune time. Until next month, be safe, go the extra mile for the families we serve, and don’t be one of the practitioners I’m often called about to overcome shoddy efforts! Wallace P. (Wally) Hooker CFSP, MBIE, is the owner, funeral director and embalmer of Family & Friends Funeral Home of Wingate, IN. He and his wife, Janet designed, established and built their funeral home in 2004. Wally is a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, where he serves on the Advisory Board. He is Past President of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association and board member of North American Division of the British Institute of Embalmers. In addition, he has served as chief deputy coroner/investigator of Fountain County, IN for the last 24 years. 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 Random Tips and Techniques Park Lawn Expands its Colorado Presence; completes Shackelford Acquisition TORONTO,ONTARIO— Park Lawn Corporation (TSX: PLC, PLC.U) is pleased to announce that it has strategically enlarged its presence in Colorado by expanding into the Western Slope through: Completing the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Ertel Funeral Home & Crematory, a standalone funeral home located in Cortez, Colorado serving the families of Dolores and Montezuma Counties and the Ute Mountain Ute and Navajo tribes. Entering into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Taylor Funeral Home consisting of three stand-alone funeral homes and one on-site funeral home and cemetery combination located in Delta, Cedaredge, Hotchkiss and Paonia, Colorado. The Taylor transaction is anticipated to close in early November 2022 following the receipt of regulatory approval. Brown’s businesses, Park Lawn has established a firm commitment to serving the families of the Western Slope of Colorado,” said J. Bradley Green, Chief Executive Officer of PLC. Mr. Green continued, “Each of these businesses have renowned reputations and pride themselves on providing superior service within their respective communities. We are honored to welcome each of them to the Park Lawn family.” Park Lawn Corporation also announced the completion of the previously announced acquisition of substantially all the assets of Shackelford Corporation, a group of businesses consisting of eight stand-alone funeral homes, two stand-alone cemeteries and one onsite funeral home and cemetery located in and around the Savannah, Tennessee area. “For over 90 years, Shackelford has been a leader dedicated to excellence in not only our profession, but also the communities we serve throughout Chester, Hardeman, Hardin, McNairy and Wayne Counties. As we move into the next phase of our journey, we are excited to partner with Park Lawn,” said Claire Shackelford, President of Shackelford. “Through the addition of Shackelford, Park Lawn has established a substantial footprint in western Tennessee as it continues to solidify its strength in the southeast,” said Green. Park Lawn Corporation also announced that the quarterly dividend of $0.114 per share was payable on October 17, 2022 to shareholders of record as at September 30, 2022. PLC provides goods and services associated with the disposition and memorialization of human remains. PLC and its subsidiaries own and operate businesses including cemeteries, crematoria, funeral homes, chapels, planning offices and a transfer service. PLC operates in three Canadian provinces and seventeen U.S. states. For more information, visit www.parklawncorp.com. Entering into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Brown’s Cremation & Funeral Service, a standalone funeral home located in Grand Junction, Colorado. The Brown’s transaction is anticipated to close in early November 2022 following the receipt of regulatory approval. “Through the addition of the Ertel, Taylor and S e n d u s yo u r n e ws ! ema i l info@Nomi sPubl i cat ions . com FAx 1-800-321-9040 PO Box 5159 , Youngstown, OH 44514 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS

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