December 2020

Page A34 DECEMBER 2020 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A Museum Corner The National Museum of Funeral History is proud to announce its sixteenth permanent exhibit, Jazz Funerals of New Orleans , open to the public as of November 12. “We are very excited to be able to present this exhibit that highlights the history and culture of jazz funer- als unique to New Orleans to the American people,” stated Bob Boetticher, Sr ., Chairman of the National Museum of Funeral History. This exhibition will focus on the late 1800s through today, in New Orleans, Louisiana, on how a common way to bid farewell to a loved one originated with a jazz funeral or a funeral with music that is now a tra- dition unique to the city of New Orleans, especially among the African American community. “New Orleans has a rich and fascinating history,” stat- ed Boetticher. “The convergence of the French, Spanish and British who colonized the area paired with the West African tribes from the domestic slave trade in the early 1900s, significantly attributed to this colorful culture.” Other influences in the early twentieth century include the Mardi Gras Indians (carnival performers who dress in suits influenced by Native Americans), and the Afri- can American Protestant churches. They celebrated with their black brass bands after a loved one’s death to please the spirits who protect the dead. From all of this, a new style of music emerged – jazz. The funeral bands quickly adopted jazz, and New Orleans jazz funerals were born. This jazz music is unique and quite different from con- significant change in tempo takes place,” Boetticher added. “The family members and friends say their final goodbyes, and afterwards, the funeral band launches into rousing, up- beat tunes such as “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Onlookers who join in behind the riveting funeral band, are called the “second line.” The second line is en- couraged to join in the rolling excitement and they usu- ally perform a strutting dance step that carries the partici- pants forward in pace with the band. Although the majority of jazz funerals are for musicians, anyone can request one. Sidney Bechet, the renowned New Orleans jazzman, once said, “Music is as much a part of death as it is of life.” The jazz funeral today still plays an integral part of the rich heritage of the African American Community of New Orleans and will con- tinue on for generations to come. Since 1992, the National Museum of Funeral History has housed the country’s largest collection of funeral service ar - tifacts in 30,500 square feet of exhibit space. The museum features 16 permanent exhibits on one of man’s oldest cul- tural customs. Explore the funeral memorabilia collection, discover the history of mourning rituals, and learn about the rich heritage of funeral services. The Museum is located at 415 Barren Springs Drive, Hous - ton, Texas 77090. Visit www.nmfh.org for more details. N ew E xhibit revealed... J azz F uneral s of N ew O rleans temporary jazz or even traditional Dixieland jazz. Boetticher said, “Today’s jazz funerals adhere to a strictly defined parade structure. Once the funeral wake ends, the band accompanies the family from the funeral home or church. It leads its way to the cemetery, sometimes using a horse-drawn hearse. The group, also known as ‘the first line,’ play som- ber funeral dirges and traditional spiritual hymns.” The parade master, dressed formally wearing a lavish sash, a black hat, and sometimes includes a decorative parasol, typically walks at the front of the funeral procession as the procession makes its way past major thoroughfares and down the neighborhood streets of New Orleans. “After interring the deceased in the family crypt, a www. vischerfuneralsupplies.com ® Free Marketing Support for Today’s Funeral Professionals The Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC) created Have the Talk of a Lifetime ® – a national campaign that encourages people to find out what matters most to their loved ones, so they can celebrate life when the time comes. We’ve prepared free marketing materials for use in your community, including: print and digital ads, PR materials, social media, and more. FAMIC members can download materials at: FAMIC.org Have questions? Email us at: HavetheTalkofaLifetime@gmail.com News Association ContinueD Pennsylvania FDA Installs President-Elect and Secretary-Treasurer HARRISBURG,PA— Bruce Parthe- more was installed as the 2020-2021 President-Elect and Michael Hacker was installed as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association (PFDA) at the Association’s Fall Board Meeting. Parthemore is a licensed funeral direc- tor and Certified Preplanning Consultant. He attended West Virginia University, the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and holds a Pennsylvania Insurance license in life, annuities, accident and health. In addition to PFDA, Bruce is a mem- ber of the Capital City Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, International Order of the Golden Rule and was past president of the Central Pennsylvania Funeral Direc- tors Association. Hacker earned a degree in Business Administration from the Pennsylvania College of Technology and graduated from PIMS. He started his career with McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home as an intern in 2002 and continued to work for the Thomas family as a licensed fu- neral director until purchasing the fu- neral home on July 1, 2009. Organized in 1881, PFDA is one of the largest state funeral director associa- tions in the nation. press_releases@nomispublications.com www.nomispublications.com Send Us Your News! ADS Classified www.nomispublications.com Onl ine