CREMATION OPTIONS

Cremation services, when a new event is launched, organizers hold their collective breath that the event will go off with a hitch and that all those who said they would turn up, indeed show up. With more than 225 attendees traveling to Sarasota for the first Cremation Expo of the Americas, the organizers, FCS Worldwide, could breathe a sigh of relief and call the event a success. In addition to the several hours devoted to tour the nearly 40 exhibit booths, attendees took advantage of the strong schedule of speakers, filling the room for every session. When putting together the speakers’ list, two significant events were taking place in the profession. One was the predicted growth of the cremation segment of the market place, which is at over 25 percent nationally and is expected to continue a steady increase. The second was a developing story involving a crematory in Seabrook, N.H. which once again caused an erosion in consumer confidence in the cremation process. The agenda was designed to address these two current situations. Attorneys Andy Davis who defended funeral homes in the Tri-State Crematory law suit, and Harvey Lapin, who penned the model cremation law that serves as the template for 33 states were added to discuss the need for the diligence in the operation of funeral homes, cemeteries and cremation facilities. “Cremation is not reversible,” Lapin warned. Sessions by Dr. William M. Lamers. The Lamers Medical Group, one of the first physicians to develop a hospice program in the United States; Mike Kubasak , of Kubasak Associates, whose name is becoming synonymous with cremation education, and Bill Bates, Life Appreciation Training Seminars, spoke toward the ceremonial aspect of the cremation process. Steve Schaal, division manager of sales and marketing , Matthews Cremation Divisions, offered insight into his company’s detailed research into the mind set of today’s cremation customers. Chris Lowery, cremation product marketing , Batesville Casket Company, and former CANA president Thomas H. Snyder, offered insight into the product and merchandising aspect of cremation. The feedback from attendees was very positive, reported Jeffrey I. Kraft, managing director of FCS Worldwide. Attendees reported that they felt the program was well focused and attracted a good percentage of the decision makers for the funeral homes and cemeteries, as well as a number of operators who have not regularly attended industry events. Buoyed by the success of the event, FCS Worldwide has scheduled Cremation Expo of the Americas 2006 for March 1-2 in San Diego, CA. Cremation Expo of the Americas is the first independent professional event designed purely for the cremation marketplace and for professionals from the United States. Central America, South America and the Caribbean to network, share ideas and see the newest products.

If you or a family member have any further questions or concerns with respect to cremation, cremation services, cremation costs or a direct cremation please feel free to contact Cremation Options toll free 24 hours daily at 1-877-989-9090.

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Cremation, she and he was a friend of a friend. Born in New Jersey, she attended college and graduate school in Southern California. She moved with her husband to a small town in Alabama before moving north and settling in Philadelphia suburb. She is a teacher in a community college and her husband is a chemist. Our paths crossed a couple of summers ago at a backyard barbecue. As guests were shuffling from room to room I found myself alone on the patio with her. The normal pleasantries were exchanged. Yes it was a beautiful day, and yes I did purchase my shirt at a recent Jimmy Buffet concert. Then she asked me, “What do you do for a living?” As I was explaining to her what I did, I studied the expression on her face. As you all know, some people have an unusual reaction when you tell them that you are part of the funeral service profession. I remember Todd Van Beck once explained that the best way to prevent someone from talking to you on an airplane is to tell them you are a funeral director. Well, this friend of a friend was fascinated. She was asking me dozens of questions and looking at me with the same wide-eyed expression that was made popular this year by that “runaway bride” woman. She asked about the stories we wrote, “Six Feet Under,” the advertisers and she asked me about some of the news that was taking place. She had asked a question about the scandal at Tri-State Crematory in Noble, Ga. Somehow, she was looking for answers. I explained to her what I knew to be true about the story but I couldn’t come up with a motive because Ray Brent Marsh couldn’t come up with one himself. I told her he was probable going to explain it all in a book or a movie about his life story. After the burgers were grilled and the supply of hot dogs exhausted, all the invitees to this outing were sitting around the table chatting. Since I didn’t know many people there I sat quietly wondering when it would be a good time to fashion my escape. As I was sitting there, someone uttered the word “cremation” and my Pavlovian reaction jerked my head up and I was trying to make eye contact with the person who said it. Turned out it was my new friend. She was explaining to the group that she had planned on being cremated but after the Noble, Ga., story she was unsure and announced that she was considering earth burial. The next thing I knew I was involved in the conversation. Not only was I now involved, I became the center of it. In addition to answering concerns about burial vs cremation, I volunteered information about memorialization, personalization, preplanning, etc. Then I excused myself to secure another beverage. When I came back the conversation was in full throttle. Not only was my new friend, who was a very soft spoken woman, now leading the conversation, people who haven’t said I word all day were chiming in. Maybe it was the host, maybe it was the number of empty beer cans in the recycling bin, or maybe I had supplied some information that they needed but didn’t know where to ask, but the conversation rolled on at this back yard cookout for more than an hour. It was amazing to hear how much information these rather well educated consumers didn’t have. It was a bit alarming how much disinformation about the profession they believed. Education the public is more than a full-time job it is something that is necessary around the clock. SO now at all social events, after I finish explaining what I do for a living I just sit back and listen.

If you or a family member have any further questions or concerns with respect to cremation, cremation services, cremation costs or a direct cremation please feel free to contact Cremation Options toll free 24 hours daily at 1-877-989-9090.

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Cremation services events involving a Georgia crematory, as well as local level civil suits brought against licensed funeral directors and embalmers claiming failures to render professional services, emphasize the need for every funeral professional to possess professional liability insurance in addition to a commercial general –liability policy. While a general-liability policy usually protects a funeral home from such things as injuries resulting from slips or falls by visitors to the establishment, professional liability insurance –also known as an “errors and omissions” policy or “professional malpractice” insurance –insures a person or entity against claims brought as a result of negligence in the provision of, or in the failure to provide, professional services. Professional liability insurance is a necessity since general liability policies often exclude claims for injuries or damages resulting from the provision of professional services. The particular professional services excluded might be specifically spelled out in the general liability policy but, if not might be covered by a clause that excludes any service requiring a specialized skill or training. In the case of funeral service claims have been made that a particular preparation was “faulty,” to the extent that there was noticeable leakage, a “smell” or that the deceased simply “did not look like he did while he was alive.” While many of these claims are groundless, they still require the defendant to mount a defense, which can prove cost prohibitive. Professional liability insurance protects individuals such as funeral directors that perform professional services from suits alleging a failure to perform such services within the degree of knowledge or skill comparable to professionals within their industry. While professional liability policies were originally designed for professions requiring an advanced degree, such as doctors, lawyers and professional engineers, specific exclusions for professional services in general liability policies have become so brad that other professions, including funeral service, require separate policies to cover alleged professional malpractice. Every funeral director should determine whether he or she has insurance coverage sufficient to protect him or herself from a professional malpractice claim and if their existing policies do not provide this type of protection, they should obtain a professional liability policy immediately. To determine the extent of their existing insurance coverage, the licensed funeral professional should specifically review all applicable insurance policies with their insurance agent and close any gaps in the coverage. I also suggest that any professional liability insurance policy purchased should: include working specifically tailored to funeral professionals. Should state that the insurance carrier has a duty to defend under the policy. Should state that the carrier will pay on behalf of the insured (less any applicable deductible) instead of reimbursing the insured, and specifically pay for such things as legal defense costs and judgments, up to the policy limits. In addition funeral professionals should determine whether their professional liability insurance can/does cover prior acts that might have occurred before the purchase date of the specific professional liability policy. We live in a litigious world, and these days professional liability insurance is absolutely necessary to protect funeral professionals.

If you or a family member have any further questions or concerns with respect to cremation, cremation services, cremation costs or a direct cremation please feel free to contact Cremation Options toll free 24 hours daily at 1-877-989-9090.

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This is a great time of year for a sports fan. The recently completed World Series once again produced some extraordinary moments, the beginning of the NFL season has given many of us a chance to augment our incomes by picking wisely in office pools, the college football season is marching forward to bowl season and college basketball is about to begin its crusade towards March Madness. Also the NBA season and everything else in between has whet the appetite of the sports fan (with the exception of hockey, which at press time remains locked out). Every year in every sport it is amazing that they have been able to plug more statistics into a sports broadcast. “The Colts are 6-0 this year playing indoor stadiums when Peyton Manning wears long sleeves….” Your get the idea. The managing and coaching of professional sports teams has become more reliant on statistical data than what they refer to as the “gut instinct.” Recently American Funeral Director surveyed some 2,500 consumers to find out what is on the mind as it pertains to the funeral and memorialization. Of the 798 respondents, 36 percent said they want to be cremated. This number is slightly higher than the 28 percent that the Cremation Association of North American predicted for the United States in 2003. The association further predicts that 2025, almost 43 percent of all deaths will result in cremation. It is more than just number salad, there is no greater tool than statistics to predict trends. And predicting by definition is staying ahead of current developments. Going inside the survey numbers you will find answers to questions you don’t know you had. For example 21 percent of survey respondents said they don’t care one way or the other whether to be buried or to be cremated. What this means is that as many as 57 percent of those in the survey may end up choosing cremation. This translates into a huge opportunity for educating the public that those in funeral service need to embrace, and it also may require a shift in the products and services you offer. The survey also found that of those who said they want to be cremated, 49 percent want their cremated remains scattered somewhere with no visible marker or memorial—not good news for the supplier segment. However, it should be noted that aftercare providers believe t hat not having a tangible place to grieve and mourn does significantly impact survivors—a message that deserves passing on to the community. Meantime 33 percent of survey respondents want some sort of market, while 18 percent don’t care. Only 17 percent would want their remains interred in a cemetery; 9 percent want their remains kept in an urn at home and 5 percent want their remains in a columbarium. This statistic invites funeral service professionals to be more creative and develop ceremonies and services designed around scattering. It also will send them back to the books to find out what are their particular state’s regulations concerning the scattering of cremated remains. How consumers address the subject of memorialization within cremation is still nebulous, but the survey revealed that a majority of respondents who will choose cremation, 60 percent indicated they did want some type of a memorial service. Before you call your next play make sure you have all the data.

If you or a family member have any further questions or concerns with respect to cremation, cremation services, cremation costs or a direct cremation please feel free to contact Cremation Options toll free 24 hours daily at 1-877-989-9090.

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While getting ready for work early on a Thursday morning, the phone rang in the home of Albert Y. Hsu.  “Albert,” a neighbor said, “your mom needs you to come home.”  During that brief conversation learned that his father ended his life through suicide.  Thus began his journey into the grief of a suicide death.  Hsu and editor with Inter Varsity Press, a Protestant religious publisher, took time to reflect on his journey and shares his insights in the book: Grieving a Suicide: A Loved one’s Search for Comfort, Answers and Hope.  His eloquently written book is directed mainly to those recovering from a suicide death: “Survivors of suicide and feel as if they are caught in a winter storm of epic proportions,” he writes.  “The road ahead looks bleak and daunting.  It may not seem to lead anywhere or you may seem to be going in circles.  You may feel as if you are frozen in place. You may think that you’ll die.  But wherever you are on the journey, know that the path you tread is one that others have trod.”  Hsu adds the wish that his book will provide suicide survivors with “protection in the storm” and with “some tracks to follow to make your way through.”  People other than suicide survivors will find his book helpful, however.  Those wanting to deliver aid and comfort to suicide survivors will find Hsu’s book an invaluable resource.  Here are six insights and lessons Hsu learned as a result of the suicide death of his father.

A Suicide Impacts Many People

Hsu notes that suicides usually take place in isolation but never pass unnoticed by others. “There may be one primary victim, but….the collateral damage done to others nearby is massive.”  “There is a ripple effect of suicide that impacts family, friends, colleagues, neighbors and acquaintances.  “Every suicide leaves behind at least six survivors, sometimes ten or more,” he notes.  His father was a private person with few friends.  Consequently, Hsu was amazed at how many people came to this funeral and sent condolences.  “Far more lives had intersected with my father’s than I had ever imagined,” Hsu writes.

Healing Rarely Comes In Isolation Suicide Support Groups Are Extremely Beneficial

Six months after his father’s death, Hsu received a brochure in the mail that read: “Survivors of Suicide is a support group open to anyone who has experienced the loss of a relative or friend through suicide.  Survivors need a safe place to explore their feelings of grief and anger, to raise questions and doubts.  We will welcome you at any time.”  Although it had been half a year since his father’s death, and Hsu felt he was recovering well, he went thinking the group could help in ways he would not anticipate.  He listened as others shared their loss and when it was his turn, Hsu was surprised that he choked up as he spoke.  Yet, speaking came as a breath of relief. “These were people who understood the grief of suicide.  I didn’t have to worry about what they would think of me or the suicide; they were a community of fellow survivors, helping one another grieve on the journey.  ” Hsu advises others to participate in a suicide survivors support group if possible and offers this important insight: “Whether or not you have access to a suicide survivors support group, we all need to be part of some sort of community to help us find healing.  Healing rarely comes in isolation….when we draw on the resources of those around us, we will find that we are not alone in our grief.”

Survivors Can Always Expect Healing But Not Necessarily Closure

Hsu cites one survivor who bluntly stated: “I can’t handle the word ‘closure.’  I get sick of hearing it.”  Hsu identifies with that comment and adds:  “Ultimate closure is an unrealistic expectation.  We can close on a house, but we can’t close on a person’s life.  To put the past behind us and lock it up into a little box dishonors the memory of our loved one: it says that we are trying to pretend that this didn’t happen.  It’s form of denial.  No instead we acknowledge what happened, and that it was tragic; we acknowledge that it has changed our lives forever.  We live on as changed people who look at life and death differently now.”  He says that most suicide survivors get to the place where they realize they might always feel some grief but no longer feel it continually or consciously.  Just as the human body is never in a state of perfect health, suicide grievers are never completely recovered.  There is restoration and the wound closes but a scar remains.

Suicide Is Not The “Unforgivable” Sin

Hsu writes an exceptional chapter dealing with Christian attitudes toward suicide death.  He examines biblical references and cities theological authorities, and offers this constructive insight: “Many Christians throughout church history have considered suicide an unforgivable sin because it allows no possibility of repentance.  But virtually all deaths occur without wholly cleansed consciences.  If someone dies from a sudden heart attack, chances are that the person died without asking for forgiveness for any number of sins.”  Hsu points out, that most theological thinkers agree that an individual will not be judged on the nature of his or her death alone but on the nature of his or her life.  “One act does not necessarily invalidate a person’s entire life, especially if an act of desperation is completely uncharacteristic of that person’s demonstrated moral identify.”

Comforting Friends Need To Be Sensitive When Talking About Suicide

Hsu notes that survivors are “hypersensitive” to the topic of suicide and advises those who wish to be comforters to cultivate great sensitivity when speaking on the topic.  “It punches us in the gut if someone jokes. If this doesn’t work out, I’m going to kill myself.”  Hsu also objects to the traditional description saying that someone “committed suicide.”  He notes that “survivors reacted against this, saying it implies criminality, as one would commit murder.  Is suicide a crime that is committed, like a burglary?  In some cases, perhaps but in many cases no.  “Most survivors would prefer to use the phrase that someone “completed suicide.”  Those two words convey more accurately that suicide is not a single act “but the final episode in what may have been a period of self-destructive tendencies.”

Survivors Need To Forgive

Acknowledging that survivors have been victimized by their own loved one.  Hsu nevertheless urges survivors to move toward forgiveness.  “There is no pint in harboring resentment.  We cannot seek revenge.  Our loved ones have already sought vengeance upon themselves.  So we grieve them as victims, and we forgive them for the wrong they perpetrated on themselves and on us…We can forgive them for they knew not what they did.

If you or a family member have any further questions or concerns with respect to cremation, cremation services, cremation costs or a direct cremation please feel free to contact Cremation Options toll free 24 hours daily at 1-877-989-9090.

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It has been said that the process of discussing cremation and the rising cremation rate “encourage” families to select cremation services, including direct cremation.  The national cremation rate is approximately 30 percent and is projected to reach about 50 percent within the next 25 years.  This is a significant shift in public behavior. Funeral service must be prepared to serve and meet the needs of families that choose cremation.  It is not through discussion and preparation that that we encourage any form of disposition.  It has been my experience that the process of choosing disposition for a loved one’s body is a very personal and complicated one.  It is a process rooted deeply in ethnic, religious and personal beliefs and not a fad that changes with public whim.  Many people, including some funeral directors, associate the choice for cremation as a request for immediate disposition with no services, but he type of disposition selected does not dictate the type of funeral service, ceremony or celebration a family might choose.  The act of burial or cremation without taking time to pause and acknowledge the life of the deceased disturbs those of us who have dedicated our lives in honoring life and helping the bereaved.  We know the value of the services we provide-the value of ceremony, the value of viewing and the value of memorialization.  After a family chooses burial or cremation, it is up to the funeral directory to guide them through their service options.  We can encourage families to choose cremation, however by offering burial services that are not meaningful to those who attend.  National studies have found that people want to connect with friends and family at the service, and to share memories of the deceased.  They want the service to be personalized.  They want to celebrate the life lived and to reflect on the life of the person who died.  We need to suggest and help provide services that not only meet the needs of the family but also touch the attendees in the “back row.”  Those people must leave that service saying “I want that for myself.”  If they do not like what we offer, if they do not perceive value in the services they attend, then they might associate the lack of fulfillment with the act of burial.  Some will perceive that we cannot provide meaningful burial services and might think that cremation (disposition without ceremony) is their only alternative.  I also believe that a segment of our profession promotes direct cremation by advertising and focusing on minimal services and charges.  How many times in the newspapers do we see ads that read or imply “You don’t need expensive funerals” or “For just a few dollars, we can provide a simple direct-cremation”?  The perception that funerals are too expensive is a commonly held belief, and propagated by the media and many of the immediate disposition companies.  The typical funeral is about a third of the coast of the typical wedding, yet I cannot remember ever seeing an ad or an article about the high cost of weddings.  People see value in the wedding ceremony, and we need to educate the public to recognize the value of the funeral or memorial.  Some funeral providers promote such low prices that even minimal funeral directing to help families is impossible to provide.  The promotion of these minimal services announces to the public that what we do as funeral directors and the valuable services we provide are not important and are overprices.  If our services are not seen as valuable, then what we do is reduced to a commodity.  When one shops for a commodity, price is the most important factor.  The majority of us, and the families served by caring funeral directors, however know the importance of the services we provide.  Grieving families make important decisions that can affect them for the rest of their lives, and they need the counsel of a trusted professional.  Even while providing meaningful burial services and educating the public about the value of ceremony, families will continue to increasingly select cremation.  Some will choose not to view the body or even arrange for a ceremony or reception.  In 25 years every other family you meet with will decide to cremate.  Families that make this decision require the same care and options as those who choose burial.  The services and products we provide must be specifically designed to meet their special needs, regardless of the form of disposition.  They might not have a casket to bury but they will need a place.  They might not choose to view but they will need a positive memory picture and closure. They might not belong to a church or fraternal organization but they will need support from friends and family.  They might think they can do it by themselves but they will need a caring funeral director to help them.  As I have stated before, no one can do what we do better than us long as we are willing to listen to the needs of those we serve.

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If you walked into your funeral home with the mindset of a consumer (as NFDA CEO Christine Pepper suggested in June’s issue of The Director, would you feel confident that you provide a necessary service, that you are ethical, and that your firm has a great reputation?  If you walked through the public areas of your building and viewed it not as a funeral director but as a member of your community-a potential client-would you choose your firm?  Are you the funeral home of choice in your area?  What separates you from your competitors?  How can you improve your services and merchandising to help you become, or continue to serve as, the leading funeral home in your area?  You must know the demographics of your service area.  In other words, who is your target audience?  What group of people do you want to reach?  While you might not be able to serve every group in your community (and you probably do not want to try), you do need to know these days.  You also need to determine an advertising budget and how to use it most effectively.  NFDA frequently surveys consumers in order to track consumer trends, one of which was summarized in last month’s issue of The Director, (see Tracking the Trends.)  As a great member benefit, your national association also provides professional programs to help you market your firm locally, including information on how to advertise effectively, as well as its For a Life Worth Celebrating program, a comprehensive marketing and public relations initiative that offers a wide range of free materials to NFDA members to help them distinguish their firms as they promote the value of funerals and their profession within their communities.  Many other advertising/marketing firms can also provide stock or market-tailored advertising programs to funeral homes, and the leading firms have place advertisements in this issue.  Much of NFDA’s market research indicates that many people these days wish to preplan and prepay their funerals.  If the preneed laws and regulations in your city or state do not require you to guarantee a “frozen price” for a prepaid funeral, then promoting this fact within your service area can prove a great marketing tool to help distinguish your firm.  In the July 2004 issue of The Director, I stated that we must throw away the “cooking cutter.”  In today’s society, consumers must perceive value, which does not involve “money” (consider how Starbucks continues to expand, or how many people drink bottled water).  If people do not find funerals meaningful, then they begin to view them as merely disposition.  Therefore, become known for the personalized funerals you help families plan and you will become the funeral home of choice in your area, especially among the younger generation.  Finally, become involved in NFDA’s Pursuit of Excellence program.  Participating will help you review what you are doing, evaluate your programs and services and add the components that will make yours a premier funeral home-the funeral home of choice.  Moreover, involve your staff as part of a team effort as you develop programs that benefit the community, provide good will for your funeral home and give people an opportunity to meet you and your staff.  I work for an SCI firm in Flushing, New York, which is in Queens County and one of the five boroughs that make up New York City.  Two of the programs the company provides are  “Escape School” to help children become street smart, and “Smart and Safe Seniors,” which offers helpful hints to void being victimized and be safe at home.  There are many opportunities open to you-just be creative.  You can hold seminars for the clergy, eldercare attorneys, financial planners, nurses and social workers that are just educational or held during lunch.  Remember that personal touch by sending personal notes to people in your community for honors received, such as graduations, weddings, births, etc.  Whatever you do, try to bridge the generation gap when arranging a service.  The spouse will have ideas, as well as the children and grandchildren.  Keep in mind that one day, you will have the grandchildren as decision makers and the future will depend on how they experienced death as youngsters.

If you or a family member have any further questions or concerns with respect to cremation, cremation services, cremation costs or a direct cremation please feel free to contact Cremation Options toll free 24 hours daily at 1-877-989-9090.

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As I travel throughout North America presenting workshops on death and grief.  I have the honor of meeting funeral directors.  I am often impressed by their commitment to families and the creation of personalized meaningful experiences.  To share their inspiring stories with you, I offer this ongoing series of interviews with funeral directors whom I believe can help educate everyone connected to funeral service about the importance of striving for excellence in serving grieving families.  The following interview is with Rick Allnutt, who owns and operates Allnutt Funeral Service in Northern Colorado.

How Did You Get Started In Funeral Service?

I was working as a hunting guide near Cody, Wyoming after college and needed work to get me through the winter.  I thought I’d go to work for my dad and uncle’s funeral homes and then return to Cody each season to pursue a career as in outfitter.  Once I got into the business-which was 20 years ago-I never went back to guiding.  (But I do return almost every year to Cody to go hunting with some of my old coworkers!)  I found that funeral service is very rewarding and much easier on my body than packing horses, shoeing horses and living in the mountains in the toughest of conditions!

What Are Your Current Responsibilities?

As president of the company and chairman of our management team, I oversee our operations manager, chief financial officer, and marketing manager.  We spend about half’s day per week reviewing the status of current projects, personnel, finances and potential future projects.  The balance of my time is spent traveling Northern Colorado attending funeral services in the communities we serve and participating in public relations events and community boards.  My dad still serves on the management team, as well.

When You Think Of Excellence In Funeral Service Customer Service, What Come To Mind?

It is stated directly in our customer service goal in our customer service handbook: “Our goal is to provide quality customer service through the implementation and management of our resources, systems and people, not only to meet the expectations of our current and new customers, but to exceed them.  We will do this by focusing on customer service both internally and externally and offering more value for our services than our competitors do.”  This comes largely from our ability to personalize services.  Having excellent customer service means we listen to the needs of families, we are responsive to their requests and we are friendly, knowledgeable and professional in delivering those services.

What Trends Do You See In Your Service Area And What Are You Doing To Respond To Those Trends?

The trends in Northern Colorado seem to be increasingly limited services for some families and increasingly personalized services for other families.  The key is how you maintain facilities, staff and personnel to meet both types of families’ needs and earn a profit in doing so.  We have some families that request direct cremation with no services and really don’t even come to the funeral home at all.  Then we have the family that desires the use of all our personnel, your facility for several days and all of your automotive equipment.  We are fortunate enough to have multiple locations with staff to pull from for the peak times, yet keep staff costs under control when they are not needed.  A good bank of quality part-time staff is our best asset when it comes to getting things done.

What Do You Think The Biggest Challenge For Funeral Service Is Today?

I think the biggest challenge for us in our service area is being able to adapt to the extremely fast pace of the changes in our market.  We have some large facilities that go underutilized because of consumer preferences.  Real estate costs are premium in Colorado, and we must ask ourselves if we are maximizing our assets and getting the best return on our investment.  There are plenty of operators in Colorado working in very limited space (some out of their homes), and we have a difficult time explaining our overhead and basic minimum services to families comparing our service fees to these low-cost/low-budget funeral directors.  We must continue to be aware of what our costs are in providing services to all families and spreading overhead to them all as they come through our doors.  At the same time, we need to be competitive in our fees and watch our costs to produce a fair profit to remain in business.  As we enter our 120th year of service in Northern Colorado, our main focus is to remain flexible in all we provide and the way we get things done.  I also think that in serving the public, you deal with so many different personalities that you must be an expert at reading people and communicating or you will not be successful at satisfying all the families you serve.  If we serve 1,000 families a year, we must have a goal of 100 percent customer satisfaction, and that, as you all know, is quite a challenge!

What Do You Most Enjoy About Funeral Service?

I think for most people in funeral service, the most enjoyable thing we get is the personal gratification from the family well served.  The letters and phone calls we receive from families that tell us they were completely satisfied are what we work for.  I recently received a lengthy letter from a family that was served by our team in a location, and they mentioned everything we train our staff to do.  It’s so nice when the entire team works together to make sure things go right for a family and even nicer when the family recognizes the efforts you all put forth!

What Do You Do For Self Care That Keeps You Renewed As You Serve Families?

Living in Colorado it’s easy to take care of yourself.  Just get to the mountains for skiing, golfing, hunting, rafting, hiking, biking, camping, fishing or whatever else comes to mind.  I’m a true believer in balancing work and play.  I truly love the outdoors, and Colorado is a great place to live for me.

When You Contemplate The Future Of Funeral Service, What Comes To Mind?

I think the future of funeral service lies in creativity and flexibility.  We must think way outside the box when it comes to our future.  We must consider where locations need to be and what they need to look like.  We need to consider who our staff is and how they are used.  We must maximize our use of equipment, facilities and staff in a world of rising costs and declining profits.  That’s what our management team works on every week for a half a day, and the rest of the time we’re out providing excellent customer service at a reasonable fee.  There are plenty of other quality providers doing the same thing in our service area.  We all need to be aware that in order to make it into our 121st year, we’ve got to concentrate on providing consistent excellent customer service to each family that asks us to help them through the death of someone dear to them.  Pretty basic isn’t it.

If you or a family member have any further questions or concerns with respect to cremation, cremation services, cremation costs or a direct cremation please feel free to contact Cremation Options toll free 24 hours daily at 1-877-989-9090.

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Where do we go to grieve?  How is a loved one remembered?  How can family members remember loved ones at a memorial site if they have moved 3,000 miles away?  The answers to these questions have evolved greatly in the last century.  Many years ago if we wanted to remember a loved one, we would take a trip to the cemetery, if a child wanted to learn more about his grandfather’s life he would rely on stories told to him from memory and if we wanted to leave the world with lasting words about our loved ones we were limited to a line of grave market.  Technology now plays a major role in the options you can offer your families for memorializing their loved ones.  Today we are not limited to remembering family members and friends like we have been in the past.  Now we have the World Wide Web that grants us amazing ability to capture a loved one’s memory in many ways.  Using the Internet, we are able to create an instantaneous memorial allowing others to contribute their thoughts and memories, no matter where their physical location.  A traditional grave marker has a wait time of 90-180 days, when using a carver, and provides only a minimal space to voice an everlasting memory.  An online memorial is instantaneous, interactive, growing and changing.  If we consult a dictionary we find that a memorial is an adjective defined as: “Serving as a remembrance of a person or an event; commemorative.”  Technology does not change the definition of the memorial; it just provides many more tools and ways to honor our loved ones.  Technology allows us the ability to create an interactive avenue to remember and communicate our feelings within our communities.  We have a place to go, in the privacy of our own homes, where we are able to see loving messages written by friends and family and communicate thoughts and feelings, and perhaps realize that we are not alone.  Online memorials allow those that may not be in the position to attend a service to feel as if they are a part of the remembrance of a loved one.  We could be talking about guests too far away to attend a funeral or to a family member that is too ill to pay their respects.  Rather than feeling as if they have missed their chance to say goodbye, they are given the chance to take comfort with other family members and friends with an online memorial.  As technology has become the social norm, online memorials will become not only desired, but expected from your families.  In recent years there have been in excess of 1 million guestbook messages and condolences left on web sites.  It is clearly a growing trend and there are many companies offering the service.  With so many web sites claiming they offer online memorials we have to wonder if we are always getting just that-a memorial.  First, what makes up a quality online memorial -one that meets family expectations and represents your funeral firm properly?  An online memorial should be made up of more than just a guestbook or an obituary posted on your web site.  Your families want a way to preserve, honor and communicate feelings about their loss.  An interactive memorial remembers loved ones, connects families and celebrates life.  A good online memorial will give your families the ability to share dozens of photos, sign and view an interactive guestbook, and set password and security options. A guestbook or condolence button alone is the lowest evolution of an online memorial.  Memorial picture boards and family trees are available for enhancing the family experience.  Consider what experience you are providing families on your web site when looking at memorials and obits.  A quality online memorial gives the family ultimate control over the content on the site.  They are aware of the privacy policy of the provider, know where the data is on the site and how to add more, and there is no question how much the provider is charging if anything.  How good is a memorial if it does not contain a promise to the family of how long it will stand?  A quality online memorial site will offer subscriptions giving the family a clear way to control how long their memorial will remain online.  No one expects to bury a love one in a cemetery, place the marker by the grave and then be told that after a set time, the body and marker will be removed.  The expectation is that the body is there for eternal rest.  Similarly, your families don’t want to create an online memorial then have it be gone one day with no notice.  Your web site needs to be clear about its commitment regarding the family information, and how long it will be available online.  There are several reasons why funeral homes are offering online memorials.  First of all families are starting to expect this service to be offered.  Another reason to offer online memorials is the traffic it brings to your funeral home’s web site.  This is one of the greatest interactive ways to draw more visitors to your web site, providing an experience of love and connection that can otherwise not be found on a web site.  This is not only a great way to reach out to the community, but it may be the best way to send the message to the community of the level of service your firm provides families.  There is also a profit to be made by offering online memorials as a stand-alone offering or as part of a funeral package.  Online does not have to replace the grave marker; it is a value-added means of giving your family more options.  Today approximately 25 percent of U.S. deaths are cremated.  This number is increasing at 1 percent per year.  The rise in cremation will likely bring a rise to your online memorial sales as well.  It is likely more important for cremation families to have a common place to remember and share. Since in most cases there will be no grave to visit.  The use of the Internet for any purpose invariably raises the question of security.  This isn’t a new concern, s the traditional way of memorializing a loved one, the grave marker, comes with the risk of canalization.  With the online memorial, security issues are virtually non-existent as the interactive forums are password protected when you use a quality provider.  A good online memoralization company will have a strong privacy policy in place to help protect your firm and your families, as well as clear terms of use.  Technology and the Internet are very much a part of our lives and should be a part of your business.  Your families have come to expect the many forward moving attributes technology offers.  Online memorialization is not just a trend that will pass; it is a way to utilize technology both to your benefit and that of the families you serve.

If you or a family member have any further questions or concerns with respect to cremation, cremation services, cremation costs or a direct cremation please feel free to contact Cremation Options toll free 24 hours daily at 1-877-989-9090.

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There was a time when a top-to-bottom assessment of the items in a home or storage area would have resulted in an unwieldy pile of trash at the curb.  But these days, putting something in the trash is usually the third option for the home owner. A first option, traditional yard/garage sales, continues to grow in popularity.  Developments and neighborhoods try to schedule one day where everyone on the block puts out their wares for the convenience of the drive-by shoppers.  More popular than the yard sale is the other option to dispose of your surplus goods-auction sites.  The percentage of U.S. households that own at least one computer and have Internet access has been climbing.  According to the U.S. census, in 1998, 42.1 percent of U.S. households had a computer and 26.2 percent had Internet access.  In 2000, 51 percent of households had at least one computer and 41.5 percent had Internet access.  In 2004 an investor’s Business Daily/Techno Metrica Market Intelligence survey put PC penetration at almost 80 percent.  Whatever the numbers the Internet has changed the way we do business, how we relax and even how we shop.  Getting back to the ever popular Internet auction sites, eBay is probably the most popular with billions of dollars changing hands every year.  And the items seem to get more bizarre.  Remember a couple months ago the guy who made the portrait of that runaway bride from Georgia on a piece of toast?  He put it on eBay and it sold for over $700-for a piece of toast!  So it is official, there is nothing that is too bizarre for eBay shoppers.  If you log on to eBay and type in “funeral” on the search line, you will be able to peruse some 1,700 funeral items.  You never know what you might find.  A random search at any time, any day will lead you to a list of items that are rare, unique and have significant historical value.  Several years ago, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported one of the more unusual transactions of any Internet auction site.  This article noted the sale of tiny boxes of dirt from the grave of Wisconsin serial murderer Ed Gein.  Someone actually paid $27.48 on eBay for dirt supposedly scooped from Gein’s grave.  According to the Journal Sentinel, the seller, apparently anticipating skepticism among Gein memorabilia collectors also included a certificate of authenticity that the dirt was from the spot where the man who inspired the Alfred Hitchcock movie “Psycho” was laid to rest 16 years ago.  The certificate includes a photo of Gein’s tombstone with two disembodied hands digging up dirt.  Among other Gein memorabilia on the auction web site, people were selling small pieces of his farmhouse, which burned down shortly after his arrest; copies of his fingerprints; a reproduction of a poster announcing the auction of his possessions; and a 1957 Life magazine article about Gein.  Gein was judged insane and spent the rest of his life in a mental hospital after the remains of the owner of Plainfields’s hardware store were found at Gein’s farmhouse in 1957.  Authorities say he probably killed others and also robbed graves.

Getting In On The Bidding

The procedure is easy.  Log on to eBay or one of the many other auction sites, open an account and then view pages and pages of those hard to find items.  On this particular day, the lead item up for bid under the word “funeral” is a 1999 Cadillac DeVille funeral limo.  For $11.500 this vehicle could be yours. At last check, it had 11 bids entered but the reserve, the lowest price the care will be sold for, had not been met.  There were a number of cars offered up for sale.  With three days of bidding left, a 1996 Cadillac Funeral limo had a top bid of $810.  A 1992 Cadillac hearse, with eight days left in the auction had a top bid of $810.  A burial plot and funeral package in Utah had a minimum bid of $6,000/  The package which is billed as “the perfect gift of love to commemorate Memorial Day,” includes: single burial plot located at Memorial Estates Redwood in West Jordan, Utah-a gorgeous unisex deep plum colored casket-vault-including opening and closing-funeral service-your choice of one of the elegant rooms at Memorial Estates, or any location in the Salt Lake City valley and Funeral motorcade for family.  However it is noted that the package does not include obituary or prayer cards.  “This package is valued at over $12,000.  Will sacrifice for half that or highest bid, according to the listing.  If you were looking for your own human skeleton and coffin from the 1800’s, this particular day’s listings could make this day your lucky day.  This listing says: “I can’t believe I am going to sell this.  Barney is a totally complete and in perfect condition human skeleton.  He is in absolutely the best condition that I have ever seen.  Every bone is meticulously wired and none are cracked, bent, broken or missing.   The disk between the vertebrae have been replaced with a felt material.  He is tied to the bottom of the coffin and he has never been removed.  The only thing that I know about his is that he died in the early 1800’s.  He is most likely a medical study skeleton because of the way he has been wired together.  It is an unbelievable perfect job.  And he also comes with his very own antique coffin.  The coffin is in good shape considering its over 100 years old.  The lid has a removable section for viewing and the material is a little tattered.  You can look at the pictures.  Barney is the name that I gave to him.  Other items found via a search for “funeral” include a JFK funeral card, opening bid set at $7; a cobalt blue funeral vase, $4; a classic bronze cremation urn, $45; and a Winston Churchill funeral jigsaw puzzle $9.99.  Historians will find some of the listings on these auction sites to be fascinating>  For example, the July 18, 1831, issue of the United States Weekly Telegraph newspaper published in Washington, D.C., by Duff Green (one of President Jackson’s “Kitchen Cabinet”) was recently listed for $12.  It contains a front page article announcing the death of James Monroe and a long report describing his funeral including a list of the names of his pall bearers.  The May 20, 1865 issue of Harper’s Weekly, dedicated to the funeral of Abraham Lincoln was listed with an opening bid of $125.  These auctions usually feature at least one picture or newspaper from the funeral of President Kennedy, a mass card from Robert F. Kennedy’s funeral, photos from the funerals of President Lincoln and President McKinley, President Roosevelt or Princess Diana. You will also usually find a program from Mickey Mantle’s funeral.  Copies of the movie, “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” can usually be found on eBay for less than $10.  Sure there are these run of the mill eBay collectibles, but there is more.  A recent scan of eBay turned up a number of interesting items (including copies of American Funeral Director magazine from the 1970’s).  For $4.99 you could be the owner of a copy of a 1963 Chicago Sun Times newspaper which featured a 20-page memorial section on President John F. Kennedy.  Speaking of old journals, there is a 1928-29 funeral director and cemeteries catalog, “Guide of the New England Funeral Directors and Cemeteries.”  This historical publication is on the block for a minimum bid of $45.  Drapes from a 1978 Cadillac hearse are on the block and the bidding has driven the price up to $108 from an opening bid of $7.  There were three bids in on a 1930’s embalming/funeral cosmetic set.  The description said, “This is a great 1930’s set of embalmers makeup from the Embalmers Supply Co (ESCO).  It contains eight large individually labeled jars of makeup and three smaller ones.  It is missing two small jars.  It is also missing the brushes that came with the set.  This is a neat piece of embalming history and would be a great addition to your funeral, macabre or other death related collection!  Buyer to pay shipping.”  Well there you have it.  Of course, $26 isn’t going to get you this kit, the notation by the current bid status says, “re-serve not yet met,” which means the seller is expecting more than $26 before he would consider parting with this item.  For a minimum bid of $95, you could be the proud owner of Tibetan funeral art.  The item, it says is an old bell, Shaman figure that could quite possibly be more than 200 years old.  If you are the successful bidder her, you might want to make “The Antiques Road Show” your next stop.  But wait, a Masterpiece Tibetan Funeral Trumpet is also up for grabs.  Minimum bid $125.  A popular item seems to be a set of four books on embalming and funeral service that date from the late 1950’s to the early 1960’s.  The titles are, “Restorative Art,” “Psychology of a Funeral Service,” “The Principles and Practices of Embalming,” and “A Quiz compendium of Mortuary Science.”  As of this writing there are eight bids in on this item and the price to beat is $46.  Further on down the list were the words, “Super Rare, Lincoln Funeral Book, Buffalo, 1865.”  This item is described as “an extremely rare Abraham Lincoln memorial book published in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1865 at the printing house of Matthews and Warren after Lincoln’s funeral obsequies   and after Lincoln’s body was brought through Buffalo on its way to Springfield, Ill., in April of 1865.”  The book purportedly is an account of the “proceedings of meetings, action of authorities and societies, speeches, sermons, addresses and other expressions of public feeling on reception of the news, and at the funeral obsequies of the President.”  The book details all of the preparations for the funeral celebration and describes all the events that happened in Buffalo during the funeral ceremony on April 19 and the arrival of the funeral train on April 27.  At this minimum bid would have to be over $100.  An 8 by 10 inch black and white photo of a deceased man surrounded by his family is proving to be a hot item.  The opening minimum bid of $22.50 was quickly met and four other people have driven the price up to $41.50.  Buffs of funerary history would certainly have been intrigued by Victorian Casket Supports.  The online description of the item is as follows:  “This is an incredible pair of Victorian casket supports.  Families used these supports to hold the caskets of their loved ones during the receiving hours in their homes.  The stands easily fold closed for ease of storage.  These stands, I believe are made of mahogany and are in the ball and stick pattern.  There are overall scratches and wear (must have used these quite a bit) and a few balls are missing from the trim work on one.  However, I can just imagine what a conversation piece these would be when used as a base to a coffee table.  These are a wonderful antique from a time gone by that would certainly bring hours of enjoyment.  Since I’ve never owned a pair, please be sure to make your inquiries prior to bidding as I may have omitted information of which I am unaware.”  The opening bid was $9.99.  Two days later, it had escalated up to $157.50.  As mentioned earlier, Lincoln funeral memorabilia is a common product on eBay.  One recently posted item, an 18 by 6 inch poster, lists the program for President Lincoln’s funeral in Philadelphia.  The item, tagged as a “nice graphic piece for framing and display, a wonderful addition to any collection,” has a minimum bid of $375.  Bidding for drumsticks use at the funeral General Pershing has risen to $38, but the minimum bid has not yet been met.  The product description by the seller of this item was certainly eye-catching.  He said.  “OK, so you’re going to compare me to the used car salesman who shoots a couple of holes in a car and claims it was used by Al Capone!  All I can say is I knew the gentleman who owned these (now deceased) and he was proud to own something authentic and high quality.  He placed some stickers on these sticks starting that they were used at the funeral of General J. J. Pershing.  The stickers will peel off with no damage.  I have no reason to doubt that these ebony drumsticks were used at the funeral of General Pershing.  They are in perfect condition and are a real piece of US military history.”  Collectors might have been interested in a set of six matching handles-1930’s vintage and have an appropriate hourglass at the center of the back plate.  At last check, the bidding was up to $27.  My eyes popped open when I saw “Abraham Lincoln’s Funeral Catafalque in N.Y.”  being auctioned off for $300.  Upon further inspection, this auction is only for a photo.  The description reads, “Beautiful stereo image on yellow mount of Lincoln’s coffin placed on a magnificent 14 foot long funeral car during the processional in New York City on Tuesday the 25th of April, 1865.”  Marilyn Monroe memorabilia is also a staple of the auction pages.  One lucky bidder could own a first edition of “Marilyn:  A Hollywood Farewell” by Leigh Wiener.  Photos include removing her from home, the morgue/coroner’s office and the funeral.  The item has an opening bid of $150.  There you have it just a small sampling of the treasurers available every day on Internet auction sites.  Good luck on the bidding, and just remember winning bidder pays for postage and handling.

If you or a family member have any further questions or concerns with respect to cremation, cremation services, cremation costs or a direct cremation please feel free to contact Cremation Options toll free 24 hours daily at 1-877-989-9090.

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