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Cover photo of St. Magdaleana in Villnoss Valley, Dolomites, South Tirol, Italy by Steve Myerson
January 2001
The Power of Credit Ron Hast
How the power of credit can help funeral directors.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
A look at Wilbert, cellular technology and the funeral director, the tremendous feedback from an article in our prior issue, and a look at Federal District judges in Mississippi and Tennesse who have recently overruled state legislation prohibiting anyone but licensed funeral directors to sell caskets.
When Families Disagree Douglas O. Meyer
When a family disagrees about the funeral or disposition arrangements the funeral director frequently ends up in the middle and is threatended with lawsuits by both sides. Here are some suggesstions on how to deal with them.
After All Is Said And Done Jerry Brown
Jerry reflects his thoughts on memorialization and its importance.
Ruling Opens Door To Casket Retailers (Jackson, Mississippi)
A federal judge has opened Mississippi to casket retailers, striking down a state law that had allowed sales only by licensed funeral home directors.
Toronto Stock Exchange Suspends Loewen (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
The Toronto Stock Exchange has suspended the common and preferred shares of troubled funeral home operator Loewen Group Inc. (Toronto: LWN.TO) for failure to meet the exchange's continued listing requirements.
Man Dies At Parents' Grave (Elyria, Ohio)
A man who frequently visited his parents' side-by-side graves was found dead, lying in between them, after an apparent heart attack.
Ex-Worker Charged In Theft (Tahlequah, Oklahoma)
A former funeral home employee was charged with embezzlement from Reed-Culver Funeral Home following a police investigation.
Charged With Embezzlement (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
A former funeral home bookkeeper allegedly embezzled nearly $500,000 from Fitzgerald-Arnold Moore Funeral Service and spent some of the money on cars, jewelry and Hawaiian vacations, according to federal prosecutors.
Indicted For Racketeering (Medford, Oregon)
A grand jury has indictedthe former head of Kern Family Services on racketeering and theft charges, ending a two-year investigation into the disappearance of more than $5.3 million in prepaid funeral trust funds.
Opposition Over Package Discounts (Fremont, California)
The proliferation of casket retailers has prompted some mortuaries to compete more aggressively, creating a two-tiered pricing system for funeral packages -- a standard price and a discounted price if families buy a casket from them.
Tombstones Get Wired (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania)
A new technology has emerged that can help graveyard visitors know more about the dead than what's inscribed on their tombstones.
Archaeologists Discover Ancient Funerary Bed (Abruzzo, Italy)
Italian archaeologists have reported the discovery of magnificent ivory decorations covering a funerary bed excavated from a Hellenistic-era (323-first century B.C.) chamber tomb located in central Italy's Abruzzo region.
Cemetery Privatization A Success (Colton, California)
Ever since Inland Memorial Cremation and Burial Society took over the management of Hermosa Garden Cemetery, the move from city oversight to private-sector management seems to be paying off.
Ashes Discovered At Closed Mortuary (San Bruno, California)
Thirteen small boxes of cremated remains were discovered in a San Bruno funeral home that was shut down after the owner was charged with a long list of health violations.
Body Transit Law Causing Confusion (Ankeny, Iowa)
The Iowa Board of Mortuary Science Examiners has filed charges accusing some funeral businesses of transporting bodies in conflict with state regulation by issuing burial transit permits before a death certificate has been filed.
Embalmers Study Mummification (Baltimore, Maryland)
Embalmers and funeral directors examined a modern-day mummy on display in a glass-top coffin during a seminar conducted at the last annual convention of the National Funeral Directors Association.
Trees Planted In Memory Of Loved Ones (Colburn, Idaho)
Four years ago, the Celebration Forest preserve was established in Colburn that is now home to more than 200 memorial trees.
Bringing Funerals Back Home (Sebastopol, California)
A Northern California minister is trying to take death out of the hands of the funeral industry and put it back into the hands of family and friends.
Gay Vets Dedicate Memorial (Phoenix, Arizona)
On Veterans Day, the Arizona Rainbow Veterans (ARV) became the first U.S. gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender (GLBT) group to dedicate a military memorial in a National Memorial Cemetery.
Dead End (Alameda County, California)
The relentless growth in population is a problem following Californians to the grave as high land prices and competition from residential housing, commercial development and demands for open space are making it increasingly difficult to plan future space for cemeteries.
No Time For Death (Washington, D.C.)
Once, motorists would pull aside and permit a funeral procession to pass, but amid everyone's hectic lives, there is no longer time for death and funerals are now often accompanied by honking, cursing and vile gesture.
Cover photo of George Washington on Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota by Ken Fick
February 2001
The Time Of Reckoning Ron Hast "I wish I didn't have to hear so much about the consolidators and see ads trying to encourage me to sell. My career is independent; that's what matters to me." Your wish may be coming true.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
A look at a funeral director who has registered a trademark for a phrase, some tidbits on Loewen's stock and the presence of interesting and unusual items as a distraction from grief.
Up The Chairs Or Out With The Chairs: Association Governance For The 21st Century RIchard J. Bryan
Like people, most corporations and associations have a life span, not unlike the human life span -- birth, childhood, adolescence, youth, maturity and old age. They go through levels of development.
Business As Usual Thomas Lynch
The end of the Age of Acquisition and the manifest failure of the policies on which it was built suggest that size may indeed matter. The bigger they are, the bromide safely goes, the harder they fall. But what has hapened to SCI and Loewen and Stewart Enterprises holds lessons for hte other larger-scale enterprises in funeral service -- the big suppliers and big manufacturers and big associations. Each ignores these lessons at its peril.
Verbal Authorizations Douglas O. Meyer
Historically, most funeral directors have taken certain actions based on simply the verbal authorization of the person entitled to make the funeral arrangements for the decedent. You should therefore give some thought to the law in your state regarding verbal authorizations.
Using God For A Profit (Oakland, California)
A controversial advertising campaign to market Roman Catholic cemeteries has proven extremely successful, increasing the number of people prearranging their burials by at least 25 percent.
Motion To Block Retail Sales Denied (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Casket retailers in Tennessee may continue to sell caskets without a funeral director's license until an appeals court decides whether a Tennessee law requiring such a license is lawful.
Mortuaries Win Case For Second Time (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
A funeral home in Ohio and one in Alabama have won an Oklahoma lawsuit in which they were accused of mixing up the bodies of two men.
Cremation On The Rise (Hinesburg, Vermont)
The number of cremations in Vermont is continuing to grow while the number of burials has leveled off as Vermonters look for ways to save money on funeral expenses.
Obituary Bandit (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Police recently arrested a man believed to have burglarized homes of Pittsburgh-area families while they were attending funerals.
Bones Discovered In Funeral Home (Chicago, Illinois)
There's nothing unusual about a dead body in a funeral home, but police launched an investigation following the strange discovery of a pile of bones in a funeral home basement.
In And Out (Atlanta, Georgia)
Drive-through funeral viewing has been deemed by most as a novelty that's had its day, but some feel that it could become a part of the trend toward convenience and personalization.
Century-Old Hearse Like New (Reedsville, West Virginia)
Century-old funeral equipment has been exhumed from a Reedsville barn, revealing a horse-drawn vehicle so perfectly preserved that even the window draperies still look flawless.
Stressed To Death (Huntington, West Virginia)
Most stress, according to a recent report, arises from the work environment -- and that may be particularly true in the funeral profession, where the line between work and home can be very thin.
Malaysian Man Innovates Business Of Dying (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Ten years ago, Malaysian-Chinese David Kong Hon Kong carried a bad stigma being in the business of death, but today, Kong has found his fortune.
20-Year-Old County Coroner (Albion, Indiana)
John Brazzell -- age 20 and still too young to drink legally -- will be in charge of investigations into all doubtful deaths in Noble County for the next four years.
Personalized Caskets (Westmont, Illinois)
As the baby boomers have shown a preference for "personalization" choices in the caskets they choose, the demand has been met not only by the major manufacturers, but also by some lesser-known alternatives.
A Rare Success (Arlington, Washington)
Running a cemetery can be an odd job for a city, but Arlington Cemetery has been a rare success story -- reaping thousands of dollars in revenue, hiring three employees and expanding the grounds.
Funeral Society Scandalized (Santa Clara County, California)
A class-action suit has been filed by members of a Chinese and Vietnamese funeral society, who accuse the non-profit group of misusing more than $1.5 million.
Student Sues College Professor (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
A university student has sued her professor teaching "Psychology of Death and Dying" because of a remark she alleges he made about her dead father that kept her up at night for months.
Sued Over Sales Tactics (Newark, New Jersey)
New Jersey consumer protection officials filed suit against a Pittsburgh company that operates six New Jersey cemeteries, charging they deceived elderly and disabled people by telling them they had won "free burial space" before pressuring them to make expensive purchases of mausoleums or crypts.
Not Completely Dead (Taipei, Taiwan)
A 75-year-old Taiwanese man spent five hours in a refrigeration unit after being wrongly declared dead.
Cover photo of a young field of wheat by David Noton.
March 2001
The Independent Advantage: Making It Work For You Ron Hast
Sponsored educational seminars relative to death care and funeral services.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
A look at "trading-in" a casket, free cremation, a look at new presentations at exhibits that might "test" the reaction of convention attendees and third-party limousine arrangements.
The Independent Advanatage Is Not Guaranteed Fred H. Kitchen
According to the National Federation of Independent Business, there is no greater time to be an independent business owner than today.
My Miracle Julie A. Robinson-Wileschael
A lot of people as me, "How do you do this?" I assume they mean, "How can you deal with death all this time?" I usually tell them that it's helping people that gets me through it. In reality, the fact is, when someone dies who has lived 80 plus years, one can feel that they helped a family saddened by loss to have closure and begin the process of grieving.
Finally, An Acreage Of Honor Jerry J. Brown
The importance of paying homage to the most courageous and dedicated generation of all time.
Grooming Policies Douglas O. Meyer
Mortuary owners and managers are in a tough spot. As fads and fashions have changed over the last few years, they have to consider the impression their employees make on families.
Funeral Home Discovers Live Body (Ashland, Massachusetts)
An Ashland funeral director was shocked to discover that a body delivered to his funeral home by emergency medical technicians was still alive.
Class-Action Settlement Proposed (Contra Costa, California)
A class-action settlement has been preliminarily approved by the Superior Court involving funeral services from the defunct Rogers Family Funeral Home, who was accused of inappropriate handling and storage of remains.
Taking Matters Into Her Own Hands (Durham, North Carolina)
A Durham mortician who ran into a huge road block when she tried to send a body back home to Mexico took matters into her own hands.
Cemetery Lawsuit Backfires (Santa Clarita, California)
A Superior Court judge has rejected a woman's demands for $50,000 in damages from Eternal Valley Memorial Park and instead ordered her to pay the cemetery's court costs.
Man Pleads Guilty to Morgue Theft (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
One of 10 former employees of the city's medical examiner's office pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit credit card fraud in connection with property stolen from dead people.
Compensation For Improper Burial (Tampa, Florida)
A Tampa funeral home was ordered to pay $425,000 to the mother of a homeless man who was buried in an unmarked grave in a casket filled with hazardous waste and beer bottles.
SCI Braving The Storm (Houston, Texas)
Service Corporation International -- deciding that some of its funeral homes are worth more dead than alive -- is selling 203 funeral locations for their real estate value alone as part of it's effort to pay down $3.3 billion in debt.
Eco-Funerals (Liverpool, England)
Liverpool is to introduce "green" burials using woodlands instead of graveyards for cremated remains.
Mummy With Wooden Toe Uncovered (Munich, Germany)
The discovery of a false toe attached to the foot of a mummy provides more evidence of the sophistication of ancient Egyptian medicine.
Estate Willed To Animal Care (Mobile, Alabama)
When animal-lover Elizabeth Buzzi died, she made sure that the animals throughout her community would be cared for by willing most of her estate to a trust fund designed to protect port city animals.
Death's The Ticket (Los Angeles, California)
The Museum of Death on Hollywood Boulevard features a collection of autopsy photos, skulls and coffins, and generates enough money from admissions to provide a living for its owners.
Rampage Suspect Slept In Casket (Quincy, Massachusetts)
The man charged with killing seven co-workers in Wakefield had at one point used a coffin as his bed, according to former neighbors of his.
Solor Power To Dispose Of Dead (Bombay, India)
A shortage of vultures is forcing the Parsees to look at other ways of disposing of their dead -- including using solar panels that would rapidly dehydrate the corpses.
Over-Charging Practices Suspected (Hartford, Connecticut)
A well-known Hartford funeral home became the target of a state probe for allegedly raising prices for customers who appeared to be wealthy and secretly replacing expensive funeral products with cheaper ones.
Shrouding The Dead With Holiness (Houston, Texas)
One of the most private rituals in the Jewish faith is the rite of tahara -- the ceremonial preparation of a body for burial.
The Final Gesture (Albany, Oregon)
The co-owner of a florist shop in Albany constructed a casket for his mother as a gesture of love after she proposed the idea.
Cover photo of a mission in Taos, New Mexico.
April 2001
Press Release Are Commonplace;
Releases From The Press Aren't Ron Hast Morticians of the Southwest, a family-owned and operated trade magazine serving the funeral service profession since 1947, has announced it is ceasing publication.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
A minister who offers services under the name "The Home Funeral Ministry" in Northern California and why the greatest part of life begines at 50, with lots of good sense to support it.
Alternative Dispute Resolution James H. Gadberry
Reputation is the most important asset that a funeral home can have. Your reputation is often built on generations of hard, dedicated service. One angry customer can erode a reputation surprisingly quickly. The problem may not even be anything within your control, but the way you handle it is up to you! A look at three broad benefits as a result from learning to handle conflict constructively.
Competing Discount Concepts Glen Gould
When shopping for a product, consumers have many retail options from which to purchase a specific brand name or similar product. Most of these retail options claim to offer that product at a reduced price through some type of discounting. Free enterprise is at its best when consumers have options.
An Expensive Problem Douglas O. Meyer
How an audit by the state or federal agency responsible for enforcing the wage and hour laws could be the beginning of an expensive nightmare. If the audit reveals a failure to pay employees properly, the back pay and overtime obligations for all current and former employees can be enormous. A look at several factors funeral directors should bear in mind and the best action to take.
Unted We Stand: NFDA President John Carmon Addresses The Profession John Carmon
What is the presidency of the NFDA like? After four months on the job, I can say that it is like running a marathon that never seems to get to the finish line and realizing that you have only eight months left to accomplish your goals. It can be frustrating, agonizing, exciting, ominous -- and yet fulfilling. So why do it?
Stewart Employees To Receive Back Pay (Metairie, Louisiana)
Stewart Enterprises Inc. said it would pay $2.3 million in back wages to current and former employees following a Department of Labor audit.
Hearse Plates Disturb Funeral Homes (Superior, Wisconsin)
A car collector is facing the wrath of area funeral directors who say the plates on his hearse are an insult to the funeral profession.
Pain In The Gas (Sacramento, California)
The well-publicized California energy crisis has had residents up in arms over the drastic increase energy bills, but for companies that rely on natural gas, such as a crematorium, the effect is particularly stunning.
Bill Limits Casket Sales To Funeral Homes (Louisville, Kentucky)
Only licensed funeral establishments could sell caskets in Kentucky under a bill approved by the Senate State and Local Government Committee.
Illegal Post-Mortem Organ Removal (London, England)
Doctors at a prominent hospital removed hearts, brains, eyes and heads from thousands of dead children without the consent of their parents, according to a government report in England.
Famous Farewells (New York, New York)
A company called FamousFarewells.com has launched what it calls the Internet's first celebrity condolence service.
German For Burial (Vienna, Austria)
Vienna is not only home to an undertaker's museum, it is also home to the web site www.begraebnis.at ("begraebnis" is German for "burial").
Outrage Over Green Graves (North Lanarkshire, Scotland)
Grieving relatives are furious after grass in a cemetery was replaced with garish green wood chippings.
Funeral Directors Provide Disaster Equipment (Hempstead, New York)
New York funeral directors joined humanitarian efforts to aid El Salvador earthquake victims by supplying disaster pouches to contain victims' remains.
Internet Sales Tax (Tallahassee, Florida)
A ruling by the Florida Department of Revenue found that a company that provides web sites for funeral homes is not obligated to collect and remit sales tax.
Men Charged Over Corpse Photography (Cincinnati, Ohio)
A deputy coroner and a commercial photographer were indicted on charges of abusing a corpse after the aide allegedly allowed the photographer to take pictures of bodies posed with syringes, sheet music, a key and other objects.
Funerals Tuned In To Pop Music (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Once the domain of somber organ music, funerals increasingly are marked by every stripe of popular music, including rock, country, swing and even polka.
Perpetual Care (Denver, Colorado)
Westland Services Corp., based in Westborogh, Massachusets, recently brought its cemetery-care services to Denver, but some industry insiders think its a concept that's unneeded.
India Crematoriums Burn Continuously (Ahmedabad, India)
An electric crematorium in the earthquake-hit city of Ahmedabad was so overloaded that the hinges of the furnace door melted.
Cemetery's License Revoked (Compton, California)
The Department of Consumer Affairs' (DCA) Cemetery and Funeral Bureau has revoked the license of Woodlawn Cemetery over conditions at the facility.
Putting The "Me" In Cemetery (Owatonna, Minnesota)
No longer content with simple tombstones, people are seeking to have their personalities etched into eternity.
The Grave That Lights A Fire (Paris, France)
No tomb in France has caused more trouble than the one under a tall tree in Division No. 6 of the Pere Lachaise cemetery in northeastern Paris.
Dogs Banned From Cemetery (Portland, Maine)
Portland city councilors voted unanimously to banish dogs from the city's 171-year-old Western Cemetery.
Ashes Scattering Legalized In Italy (Rome, Italy)
Italians can now scatter the ashes of their dead loved ones after their Parliament gave final approval to a new cremation law.
Eternal Sleigh Ride (Nottingham, England)
A craftsman for the Nottingham firm Vic Fearn and Company, which builds custom coffins, plans to make his final journey in a coffin shaped like a sleigh, with boots attached so he can be buried with his skis on.
Cover photo of a field of sunflowers by Steve Myerson.
May 2001
First Call Ron Hast
Why take good paper and ink to pontificate about first-calls? Providing hundreds of first calls, we learned a few things. It became necessary to stipulate a strong set of standards. Ron shares with you the essence of these standards.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
A look at food in the funeral establishment, why some funeral directors are fearful of adding hospitality food service and a new concept for old graveyards.
The Empty Crib:
Consolations of Victorian Parents -- Part I Maureen DeLorme
The first of three-part article on the philosophy and grief expression of Victorian parents in coping with the omnipresence of death and the uncertainty of childhood survival.
Keeping Promises Douglas O. Meyer
"Your Satisfaction Guaranteed." "No Charge If You're Not Completely Satisfied." These types of slogans are commonly used by businesses, including funeral homes. But what happens when something goes wrong and the business doesn't stand behind the slogan? If it's a shoe store and a customer is unhappy, very little will happen. If it's a funeral and something goes wrong with the service, the result is usually much different.
The King is Dead; Long Live The King Sue Simon
Once upon a time, in a backwater 'burb called Brookfield, there lived a king who eventually discovered, try as he might, he could not keep his subjects happy. Every day, morning 'til night and with increasing intensity, he was bombarded by conflicting requests to do the right thing for his lords, his craftsmen, his farmers, and serfs. Not born to the throne but appointed to it after the previous monarch either fell on his sword or was pushed (stories vary), King Bob, as he was called, ascended to power with grace and resolve, wearing a crown that never quite fit. One day it would be so large as to block his vision and rest on his ears; the next, it would shrink to a wee little thing that squeezed his brains to mush -- or so it felt.
I'm Dead Right Now, Please Leave A Message (Torrance, California)
A company claiming to be taking wireless communications to places never imagined is offering to sell their patent for device to allow the living to transmit audible messages directly in the casket of their deceased loved one.
Cemetery Requests Decoration Removal (Danville, Illinois)
In yet another example of cemeteries in various parts of the country restricting "grave goods," a cemetery in Danville has requested that all artificial flowers and plants be removed from the cemetery.
Treatment Of Remains Investigated (Apopka, Florida)
Several city workers in Apopka have been investigated by police in connection with the improper storage of human remains.
Burial Fraud Charges (Orlando, Florida)
In what a state official called a new low in insurance fraud, a couple who ran an Orlando funeral service are accused of taking payments for burying homeless men but having the bodies cremated at a much lower cost.
Maximum Punishment (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
A former funeral service executive was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for participating in illegal financial transactions connected to his unauthorized use of preneed money.
Woman A No-Show At Her Own Funeral (Paphos, Cyprus)
The grave was dug, the hearse hired and the mourners assembled, but an 85-year-old Cypriot woman spoiled plans for her funeral by coming back from the dead.
Monks To Sell Caskets To The Public (Dubuque, Iowa)
Trappist monks at the New Malleray Abbey in northeast Iowa that have been selling their handcrafted caskets to funeral homes and distributors are now taking their product directly to the public.
Custom Coffins Give You Wings (Nottingham, England)
Funeral personalization is a trend that's not exclusive to the United States, as a custom coffin maker across the sea is designing an increasing number of caskets to reflect the departed's lifestyle.
Anything Goes (Birmingham, England)
With an increasing number of people requesting unusual funerals in England, Co-operative Funeral Services in Birmingham has spotted the new market.
Drinking And Dying (Monmouthshire, Wales)
The proprietor of Welsh pub is offering his customers more than just a stiff drink -- he makes them their very own coffins.
Suit Settled For $4 Million (Contra Costa, California)
Insurers of a defunct Contra Costa funeral home business accused of losing, mixing up and improperly storing human remains will pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit by the survivors' families.
Cemetery Helps Trace Recycled Graves (London, England)
A London cemetery has gone onto the Internet in a bid to help people discover where their Victorian relatives are buried.
Entrepreneur Offers Crafted Obituaries (Chicago, Illinois)
The Obituary Store is a small but thriving business in Chicago's south side that came into being when its founder went to the funeral for his uncle and was not happy with the obituary the family had prepared.
Purified By Fire (Seattle, Washington)
Cremation is an astounding and laudable feat, if viewed through the eyes of Seattle's founders, considering that for nearly a century the city has been trying to rid itself of its most unproductive citizens -- the dead.
The Funeral Profession's New Look (West Windsor, New Jersey)
With the decline of funeral service consolidators and a brightening outlook for independent funeral homes, career prospects in the profession have expanded and the workforce is diversifying.
Restoration Uncovers Abandoned Remains (Charleston, West Virginia)
College students working to restore a historic funeral home over their spring break found the cremated remains of 19 people.
Murder Revealed From Embalming (Pensacola, Flordia)
A former medical examiner was convicted of killing his wife with a lethal injection nearly 10 years ago, a crime he allegedly covered up by having her embalmed before an autopsy could be performed.
Protecting Deceased Celebrity Photos (Jacksonville, Florida)
A Senate committee unanimously approved a bill that would keep autopsy photos sealed and protected from unauthorized access.
Funeral-Leave Policy Challenged (Indianapolis, Indiana)
A state welfare employee denied paid funeral leave when her domestic partner's father died won an appeal to press ahead with her lawsuit challenging the policy's constitutionality.
Banker's Corpse Stolen (Milan, Italy)
A man who lost a fortune on the Milan stock market said he snatched the corpse of legendary Italian banker Enrico Cuccia and would only return it when the market boomed again.
Morgue Investigated Over Corpse Experiments (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
The head of Sydney's main morgue has been suspended while an inquiry is held into reports that staff removed a spine from a corpse and replaced it with a broomstick, hammered skulls and stabbed bodies in medical experiments.
Cover photo of a breaking wave by Robert Brown Photography.
June 2001
Ambulances And Pre-Paid Funerals Ron Hast
Years ago it was common, and quite important it seemed, for funeral homes to provide emergency ambulance service for their communitiy. Most reported an overall financial loss to provide the service, yet wouldn't dare give it up; especially if competitors existed. How does all of htis compare and relate to prepaid funerals? Quite well!
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Wild turkeys taking on cars at cemeteries, investing in a quality organ and a response to the May 2001 Consumer Reports regarding prepaid funerals.
The Empty Crib:
Consolations of Victorian Parents -- Part II Maureen DeLorme
The second of three-part article on the philosophy and grief expression of Victorian parents in coping with the omnipresence of death and the uncertainty of childhood survival.
Getting Killed On The Web David Hunter
Spending money on your website and still not getting the results you want? Could be that you're not considering the potential customers who are visiting your site. Whether you're in business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer, if your site doesn't offer customers personalized choices and service so important in today's deathcare business, you're just throwing your money away. David looks at why the Web should definitely figure into your current and future business plans.
Special Consideration Douglas O. Meyer
Why not having a clear written policy about discounts can lead to awkward situations and hurt feelings and even affect the reputation of your firm.
And This Is Progress? Jerry Brown
We are in a time of nanosecond access; futures and fortunes found (or lost) by fingertips on a mouse, fathomless technology, oceans of anxiety, too little time and...
Loewen Case To Become Movie (Stuart, Florida)
High-profile lawyer Willie Gary has signed a movie deal for a film based on Gary's 1995 case involving a Mississippi man who sued The Loewen Group for backing out of a deal with his small, family-owned funeral home.
Guilty Plea In Tax Case (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
The founder and manager of Cremation Society of Pennsylvania has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges in U.S. Middle District Court.
House Votes To Repeal Death Tax (Washington, D.C.)
The House vote to repeal the estate tax over a decade capped a legislative blitz in which Republican leaders pushed through the major components of President Bush's $1.6 trillion tax cut just 75 days into his term.
Unusual Sentencing (Eauclaire, Wisconsin)
It's an unusual punishment, but Judge Paul Lenz was dead serious when he offered to shorten the jail sentence of a funeral home worker if he agreed to wear a sign saying, "I stole from the families of the dead."
Ties Banned At Funeral (Ada, Ohio)
A man who hated wearing ties through life has made sure that he won't be wearing one in death.
Stealing From The Dead (Hong Kong, China)
A Hong Kong court sentenced three crematorium workers to serve time in jail for stealing watches, jewelry and even shoes from corpses.
Man Halts His Own Funeral (Managua, Nicaragua)
A Nicaraguan man stepped in to stop his own funeral, appearing to his wife and family as they prepared to bury the wrong corpse.
Body Snatchers Raiding Graves (Hanoi, Vietnam)
Police in Vietnam have been investigating the disappearance of bones from dozens of graves at a cemetery in the south of the country.
Chinese Pay Last Respects Online (Hong Kong, China)
A Web site based in the western province of Sichuan is offering to save millions of Chinese a trip to the cemetery by giving them a chance to pay respects to their ancestors online.
Should He Stay Or Should He Go (Moscow, Russia)
Ten years after the collapse of Communism and turbulent decades since the death of Vladimir Lenin, a majority of Russians are ready to see Lenin buried.
Coffin Doubles As A Cupboard (Glasgow, Scotland)
A cabinet maker whose bookcases and wardrobes convert into coffins has been buried with orders.
Tree Burials (Shanxi, China)
This capital of north China's Shanxi Province has decided to promote an environment-friendly form of burial: cremated remains to be buried under a tree.
Casket-Sales Legislation Dies (Louisville, Kentucky)
A Kentucky Senate bill that at one point sought to restrict casket sales to funeral homes has died in session.
Owner Sentenced (Hinsdale, Illinois)
A Hinsdale funeral home was fined $125,000 and its owner was sentenced to two years of probation and 30 days of home confinement for violating a 1996 decree that required he provide price information to customers.
House Clears Organ Donor Bill (Washington, D.C.)
Hoping to encourage living Americans to donate a kidney or even a section of liver, the House voted unanimously to help pay donors' travel and other expenses.
Minister Charged With Stealing (Cincinnati, Ohio)
A minister has been indicted on charges that he stole nearly $100,000 from the endowment care fund of the Northside cemetery he runs.
Catalogs Enhance Sales Tastefully (York, Pennsylvania)
It may seem that selling caskets and other funeral-related items demand a personal touch, but a York-based funeral chain has found catalogs to be a successful sales tool.
Swindler Sentenced For Fraud (Oradell, New Jersey)
The masterminded behind a scam that bilked nearly $6 million out of funeral homes and individuals was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in federal prison.
Dank Linked To Psychotic Behavior (Kansas City, Missouri)
Friends of a man charged with four murders and accused of cannibalistic motives say that at the times of the murders, he may have been under the influence of cigarettes soaked in embalming fluid or formaldehyde.
The Shortage Begins (Huntsville, Arkansas)
The funeral industry is on the verge of prolonged personnel shortage, according to the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards.
Policy Changed Following Complaints (Oxnard, California)
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has decided to change its more than 20-year-old flag-decoration policy at its cemeteries in the wake of public complaints.
Turkey Adopts Mortuary (Spokane, Washington)
A tom turkey has adopted a Spokane funeral home as his home, gobbling from the rooftop and admiring his reflection in the shiny cars.
Licenses Revoked (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
The state has revoked the personal and business licenses for the owner of a Tulsa funeral home for conducting funerals while unlicensed.
Prepaid Funerals Get Blasted (Washington, D.C.)
Competition in the death industry has led to more aggressive marketing of prepaid funeral contracts, but according to the leading consumer-advocacy journal, the problem with prepaying is that many consumers may pay too much.
Falling Tombstone Kills Boy (Butler, Ohio)
A third-grader on a field trip to a cemetery was killed after a tombstone fell on him.
Cover photo of a view through a rock formation in Monument Valley, Arizona, by Chad Elders.
July/August 2001
Tuned In? Tuned Out? Ron Hast
The different methods of distributing information to death care and funeral providers with each one having its benefits.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
A true story that is not unlike others we have received. It tells what can and does happen in a factory death care environment.
The Value Of Documented Files Richard T. Callahan
In the more than 100 cases I've been asked to render an expert opinion on since 1993, there is a common thread. The thread is not nylon or yarn, but rather it is woven of paper, or as we shall see, the lack of it.
The Empty Crib:
Consolations of Victorian Parents -- Part III Maureen DeLorme
The third of three-part article on the philosophy and grief expression of Victorian parents in coping with the omnipresence of death and the uncertainty of childhood survival.
Caskets: Creating Value Through Education Fred H. Kitchen
The casket has always been, for the lack of a better word, the funeral "icon." It has been the symbol of the dead for centuries. In today's society, the consumer tends to view the casket in a somewhat different manner.
Photographing The Deceased Douglas O. Meyer
Many inquiries from funeral directors question the practice of photographing decedents. Is it legal? Unless your state has a prticular law prohibiting it, in my opinion the practice is permissible. There are a number of reasons for taking photographs of decedents, but there are several things to keep in mind if you have a policy of doing so.
Preneed Contracts In Limbo (Sarasota, Florida)
People who had prepaid contracts with a Sarasota funeral home were shocked when the business closed without notice.
Funeral Homes Fined (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
State Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher has suspended three funeral homes from selling prepaid funeral contracts for failing to timely file annual reports with the state.
Tightening Control Of Preneed Funds (Tallahassee, Florida)
When two of the nation's largest deathcare firms won permission from Florida regulators to replace $84 million in prepaid funeral funds with insurance-backed IOUs, it spelled the need for reform to some consumers, competitors and legislators.
Homes Burglarized During Funerals (Bergen County, New Jersey)
Police reported that two homes in Bergen County had been burglarized while the families were at funerals and issued a warning to the bereaved that the thief or thieves likely knew about the funerals from reading death notices in a local newspaper.
Obituary Bandit Pleads Guilty (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
A 37-year-old man, labeled the "obituary bandit" by police, admitted that he burglarized several houses in the Pittsburgh area after reading newspapers to determine when residents would be away attending funerals.
This Time He's Dead (Bruges, Belgium)
The man who held the world record for being buried alive in a coffin has died and was buried, in spite of distaste of the experience.
Partial Post (Grass Valley, California)
A dead man's family filed a lawsuit against a funeral home for improperly packaging the urn with his ashes.
More Than She Bargained For (Dallas, Texas)
A woman who bought a blue-wrapped box at a Dallas thrift store for one dollar was shocked to discover when she got home that it contained someone's ashes.
Historic Cemeteries Facing Challenges (Rochester, New York)
The state of the nation's historic cemeteries is a very grave affair, according to the organizers of a cemetery summit held to address ways to rejuvenate crumbling sites.
Year-Round Decorations (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Grave decorating is not just for Memorial Day anymore, as witnessed by Utah cemeteries where graves are trimmed for every season of the year.
Death Care Stocks Leap To Highs (Houston, Texas)
As an economic slowdown beats up the broader markets, funeral companies are showing a dramatic percentage increases in value.
De-Compost (Stockholm, Sweden)
A Swedish scientist investigating the most environmentally-friendly form of burial has found a way of quickly recycling corpses into soil enricher.
Cemetery Bans Plastic Flowers (London, England)
Highgate Cemetery, the last resting place of Karl Marx, prominent Victorians and other luminaries, has banned plastic flowers on graves.
From Hobby To Business (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Jim Tipton's fascination with cemeteries has grown into a sizable online repository of information on where the famous and infamous are buried in cemeteries around the world.
Homeless Veterans Burial Program (St. Louis, Missouri)
Homeless veterans are finding a dignified path to their final resting place, thanks to a program funded by a national chain of funeral homes.
A Carpetner's Work (Providence, Rhode Island)
A Providence woodworker who crafts simple, understated coffins in his basement says that in good hands, a plain coffin is God's work.
Murder Suspect Dies At Cemetery (Lodi, California)
A suspect in a quadruple slaying in Stockton, apparently stabbed himself to death after a two-hour standoff with police at a cemetery in the town of Lodi in California's Central Valley, police said.
New Zealand Memorials Go Online (Wellington, New Zealand)
Memorial websites in the United States have inspired a New Zealander to launch a similar service offering online tributes.
Bad Apples (Hutt Valley, New Zealand)
The financial collapse of two funeral services companies and the loss of proceeds from as many as 25 prepaid funerals is a serious embarrassment to the New Zealand Funeral Directors Association.
A Little Too Late (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
A man who have been suffering from alcohol withdrawal died after collapsing at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
Few Buried Locally (Phoenix, Arizona)
The metro Phoenix area has only 30 cemeteries, a figure that reflects the fact that more than half of the people who die in Maricopa County aren't buried in Maricopa County.
Chinese Shun Burials (Beijing, China)
In a sharp break from the centuries-old practice of burying the dead, more and more Chinese people are cremating their loved ones and scattering the ashes where a tree is planted.
Shipping Firm To Offer Scattering Service (Tokyo, Japan)
Japan's largest shipping company, Nippon Yusen KK, plans to offer a new ash-scattering service in a bid to capitalize on demand fuelled by the high cost of cemeteries in Japan.
Balancing Act (Reston, Virginia)
This resurgence in grave goods is creating a quandary for cemetery officials and patrons.
Home Alone (Chicago, Illinois)
In a bizarre occurrence in Chicago, an elderly man whose neighbors thought he had moved away, had actually died and sat undiscovered in his home for four years.
Rabbits Pose Cemetery Problems (South Taranaki, New Zealand)
The South Taranaki District Council is about to read the last rites to rabbits in cemeteries around the region.
"Miraculous" Preservation (Vatican City, Italy)
When the body of Pope John XXIII was exhumed after 38 years and found to be mostly intact, some people believed it was a miracle.
Hearse Decoy Used For McVeigh (Terre Haute, Indiana)
A black hearse escorted from the federal prison by state police after Timothy McVeigh's execution was a decoy used as a security measure, according to a prison spokesman.
"Six Feet Under" To Continue Another Season (Hollywood, California)
In an unusual move, pay TV network HBO has ordered a second season of its mortuary saga "Six Feet Under" before its first season has even premiered on June 3.
Not For The Russians (Moscow, Russia)
While the Russian Space Agency may have taken a private party into space for profit, so far they do not intend to go into the space funeral business, a service available in the United States.
From Ashes To DNA (Houston, Texas)
First, space enthusiasts were given the opportunity to send a portion of their ashes into space; now they can send their DNA.
Cover photo of the Statue of Liberty by Mike Howell.
September 2001
Six Feet Under Ron Hast
It is refreshing for a change to see funeral service portrayed in a real way on HBO's new sitcom "Six Feet Under." For once it's not some writer's version of how scary a funeral home should look or how ghoulish they can make the funeral director appear. HBO has come very close to portraying real working families who live within the funeral service facilities.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
A look at verious aspects of death care and funerals, closing graveside services to families, one florist's policy on flower deliveries and membership dues payment for your stat's funeral directors' association.
The Symbols of Life and Beyond Jerry J. Brown
Emblems embody the uniqueness of life. Symbols say volumes about t he character and personality of people. And through the the millennia, icons have become the touchstones of cultures, origins, geopolitics and religions.
Houston, You Have a Problem
Willie's Coming To Town Sue Simon
Remember Willie Gary? The son-of-a-sharecropper lawyer who chewed up and spit out Loewen Group in Mississippi in 1995 on behalf of Jerry O'Keefe and his Gulf National Group? Well, it look like "Mr. Willie's" fixin' to feast on SCI with the filing of a complaint brought by Mark Thomas, president and CEO of Taghulk Proprietary, Ltd., for patent infringement, fraud and deceit, unjust enrichment and interference with prospective economic advantage.
Credit Card Problems Douglas O. Meyer
Understanding "chargebacks" and how a customer may dispute the charge you made to their credit card.
"The Burial" Script Sold (Hollywood, California)
"Quills" writer Doug Wright has sold his script "The Burial," a legal drama about the 1995 Mississippi trial in which Willie E. Gary, a flamboyant black lawyer sued The Loewen Group on behalf of a family-owned funeral home.
KISS Off (Dallas, Texas)
Outrageous rock band KISS, which has seen its likeness on a variety of merchandising schemes, has one-upped itself by rolling out of line of caskets.
Lawsuit For Compassion (Oakland, California)
A jury has awarded $1.5 million to the family of a man who accused his doctor of not prescribing enough pain medication during his final days battling lung cancer.
Hospital Sued Over Lost Leg (West Palm Beach, Florida)
A widower has filed suit against a hospital in West Palm Beach Florida after they lost his deceased wife's amputated leg.
Arsonist's Timing Coincidental (Suffolk, Virginia)
An arsonist set two limousines on fire behind a Suffolk funeral home just weeks after a state board revoked the funeral home's license.
Aged Bodies Found At Funeral Home (New Haven, Connecticut)
Police discovered several decomposed bodies at a New Haven funeral home.
In The Bag (Greenville County, South Carolina)
Greenville County investigators arrested two people in connection with a duffle bag discovered by some fishermen that was filled with human skulls and other bones.
Wrong Woman Buried (Bronx, New York)
Body identification tags were accidentally switched at a funeral home and one woman wound up being buried in the other woman's grave even though at least one relative noticed something was amiss.
Only One Air Force Mortuary (Travis Air Force Base, California)
Now that the Travis Air Force Base port mortuary has shut its doors, the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware is the only U.S.-based Air Force mortuary handling servicemembers' remains coming in from overseas.
European Cyber-Funerals Patented (Austria)
Austrian undertaking company Pax has patented the scheme to offer mourners unable to attend the graveside farewell to a loved one the chance to follow events on the Internet.
Prehistoric Dentistry (Columbia, Missouri)
Prehistoric remains from people living in Asia 8,000 years ago show signs that they may have used stone-tipped drills to repair teeth.
China's Funeral Reform Successful (China)
Owing to the government's efforts on funeral reform, the percentage of Chinese who choose cremation has risen to 46 percent, from 14.5 percent in 1982.
Body Parts (Braintree, Massachusetts)
Police searching an apartment found a fetus in a jar sitting on a dresser, along with a skull, a brain, marijuana and rolling papers.
Police Use Web To Return Ashes (Pittsburg, California)
The Pittsburg Police Department turned to the Internet to find the owners of a brass urn of cremated remains that mysteriously turned up in the police department lobby.
Canada's First Official Military Cemetery (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Canada's first National Military Cemetery was dedicated during an interfaith service carried live on major television networks in Canada.
Dead Serious About Karaoke (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
A Malaysian coffin-maker got his final wish when his family and friends serenaded his body with some of his favorite old Mandarin and Thai hits from the 1960s and '70s.
The Lucky Lizard (Bangkok, Thailand)
Residents of a Thai town are flocking to the home of a bereaved mother to touch and see a five-foot monitor lizard she says is a reincarnation of her 13-year-old son and a bringer of good fortune.
DNA Sampling Criticized (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Although a growing number of funeral homes are offering to save DNA from the deceased, some critics claim the service holds false promise for survivors.
Insurer Doesn't Have To Pay (Louisville, Kentucky)
The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that the insurer for the Louisville Crematory and Cemeteries Company does not have to pay for claims arising from the reuse of graves at Eastern and Greenwood cemeteries.
Titanic Mysteries Probed (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
The efforts of a family to mark the headstone of an unidentified Titanic victim that was denied for lack of evidence, has instigated a project to identify several victims through DNA testing.
Cemetery Fund Expanded (Albany, New York)
A state fund created to help pay for repairs caused by cemetery vandals is being expanded to include the slower deterioration to graveyard monuments caused by pollution and weathering.
Cemetery Vandals Warned Of Danger (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Vandals as young as five who desecrated more than 150 gravestones in an Edinburgh cemetery, were warned of the danger of being crushed by a falling tombstone.
Cemetery Mystery Solved (Guilford County, North Carolina)
Authorities investigating damage at a historic 19th-century cemetery in Guilford County have solved the mystery of the apparent vandalism.
Corpse-Photography Case Turns Tragic (Cincinnati, Ohio)
A case involving a deputy coroner and a commercial photographer indicted on charges of photographing corpses has taken an emotional toll on family members and yielded tragedy.
Unlicensed And Inappropriate (Webb City, Missouri)
A Jasper County judge issued an injunction against an unlicensed Webb City funeral home worker. The order prohibits Russell Stanford from performing duties that state law delegates only to licensed funeral directors.
Afterlife Riches (Cairo, Egypt)
Archeologists have uncovered some of the most beautifully-decorated mummies ever found in what has become known as the "valley of the golden mummies."
Portrait Of A Mummy (New York, New York)
Scientists hoping to diagnose ancient neurologic disease in mummies have reported that, based on skull remains and ancient color portraits, they can accurately evaluate the nervous system of mummies that have been dead for over 2,000 years.
Cover photo of McWay Falls in Big Sur, California, taken by Allan Abbott.
McWay falls is located in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and is the only waterfall on the west coast that spills directly into the ocean.
October 2001
Publicly-Owned Funeral Service Ron Hast
Robert L. Waltrip launched the concept of funeral service consolidation. Followed by a multitude of permutations, this beginning evolved into Service Corporation International. Other corporations entered the market and the accumulation race began. Waltrip offers several suggestions for their survival.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
A look at why a funeral home found it it necessary to change its name, sytles of names, funeral bulletin boards and a letter written by Beacham McDougald.
The Wrong Message Thomas Lynch
NFDA staged what they called a "The Preneed Prizefight" -- a debate between John Eirkson, Executive Director of Pennsylvania FDA, Alan Creedy of Trust 100, Chester French Stewart of the French Mortuary in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Thomas Lynch of Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors of Milford, Michigan. Mr. Lynch's prepared comments are presented here.
Quo Vadis Gary J. Goff
Funeral service, out of necessity, has changed over the years to meet the needs of a changing society. The advent of third parties for the availability of funeral merchandise, the clergy and hospice personnel assuming funeral director duties and church buildings and community halls being used for visitations and services all diminish the need for funeral service professionals.
The Right To Overtime Pay Douglas O. Meyer
There is a common misconception that anyone who is paid a salary is exempt from overtime pay requirements. This isn't true -- there are only limited exemptions from the need to pay (or the right to receive) overtime.
An Unheralded Historic Preservation Influence:
The American Funeral Industry Ronald W. Johnson and Mary E. Franza
Throughout the United States, numerous contemporary public and private institutions and organizations have become involved in historic preservation. The American funeral industry illustrates the diversity of grassroots historic preservation and deserves recognition for revitalization of a portion of the nation's older residential housing stock in a useful and thoughtful manner. Various historic funeral homes are featured.
Beyond the Hype --
The Internet And The Funeral Industry Tod Abrams and Duane Goodnight
Opinions about what impact the Internet will have on the funeral industry are varied. Some have said "the Internet is just a fad and won't have any impact on our industry," while others claim that "the Internet is going to revolutionize the funeral industry." The fact of the matter is that neither statement is correct.
State Investigating Loewen's Claims (Detroit, Michigan)
The Department of Consumer and Industry Service is investigating whether the Loewen Group International Inc. is violating Michigan's Anti-Combination Law that prohibits dual ownership of funeral homes and cemeteries.
Lightning Strikes Cemetery Burial (Dresden, Tennessee)
Eleven people were taken to the hospital after lightning struck at a burial.
Skeletons In The Closet (Cairo, Egypt)
A police discovery in an Egyptian gravedigger's home has given new meaning to the expression "having a skeleton in the closet."
Iceman Mystery Solved (Bolzano, Italy)
Scientists have solved the mystery of what killed the 5,300-year-old "Iceman," a Bronze Age hunter whose frozen body was discovered a decade ago in the Alps.
Pop-Sicle (Yokohama, Japan)
A man kept his father's corpse at home in a freezer for 13 years, believing that he might someday come back to life, officials in Yokakama have discovered.
Graveyard Names Borrowed (London, England)
Loveable British children's character Peter Rabbit and a host of Beatrix Potter's other creations, whose antics have entertained generations of people around the world, may have had their origins in a graveyard.
A No-Brainer (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
Family members of a man were upset that they weren't told his brain was removed during an autopsy and kept in a hospital lab jar after his body was released for cremation.
State Offers A Deal (New Haven, Connecticut)
The state has proposed a settlement to the operators of a New Haven funeral home accused of mishandling bodies and operating without a license.
Tax Evasion (Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina)
The owner of a Fuquay-Varina funeral home was sentenced to three years of probation for tax evasion.
Standing Trial (Daytona Beach, Florida)
A former cemetery manager will stand trial for allegedly botching burials.
Owner And Insurer Deemed Liable (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
A Milwaukee County circuit judge has ruled that Travelers Property Casualty Corp. and Cemeteries Inc. are liable for damages in a civil suit against Evergreen Cemetery, allowing the case to proceed to a jury trial.
Breach Of Contract Alleged (Santa Cruz, California)
Relatives of a Santa Cruz woman are suing a funeral home for what they claim was a second-rate funeral.
Consolidator Bonds Bouncing Back (New York, New York)
Publicly-owned funeral provider's bonds are being resurrected as the companies are opting to shed assets to pay down debt and revive their businesses.
Chipping Away At His Business (Boulder, Colorado)
To convey the recent success of organ and tissue donations in Colorado, the advertising agency working on the campaign created a spot depicting a monument maker whose business has had to turn to gerbil gravestones.
Generosity Contributed To Trouble (Granite City, Illinois)
A former Granite City funeral director was sentenced to six months of home confinement and three years of probation for diverting money from preneed contracts.
Cremation Analysis Breakthrough (Gainesville, Florida)
Using a high-powered tool of modern physics, scientists at the University of Florida have found a new way to unlock the secrets of cremated remains.
Success Raises Suspicion (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Tulsa funeral directors are alleging that a local funeral service has illegally violated its contract with the state Medical Examiner's Office by soliciting private funeral business while conducting business for the state.
Repeat Offender (Mojave County, Arizona)
A former funeral home operator, notorious in the '80s for his criminal legacy, is facing prison again for an apparent probation violation and for missing a court date.
Cover photo of May Lake, a pristine alpine lake in the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite National Park taken by Gregory Abbott.
November 2001
The Dynamics Of Music Ron Hast
Dry eyes were unlikely as we observed all of Congress together singing God Bless America, Land of the Free... or when Celine Dion of Canada sang the same song solo in response to the September 11 tragedy. Over and over again, our nation comes together in song -- a universal language familiar to all -- while the spoken word doesn't seem quite enough to express emotions and feelings. The dynamics of music can tug at heart strings and emotions -- powerful in the process of assuaging grief.
Tribute To The United States
Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, widespread coverage was given to a remarkable editorial broadcast in 1973 from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. What follows is the text of his remarks as printed in the Congressional Record.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
A remarkable speech by an airline pilot to passengers on the first flight after the attacks and Walt Disney's words on freedom.
Sixty Years Later -- One More Day Of Infamy Jerry J. Brown
America has been tested as never before, but I believe that our proud history and the indomitable grit and spirit of our great nation will surely prevail.
Employment At Will Douglas O. Meyer
By law in many states, employment is considered to be "at will" -- the employment relationship can be terminated by either the employer or employee at any time without notice or cause. However, numerous cases decided over the years have chipped away at this notion.
Lest We Forget
Lest we forget, every time the phone rings at the funeral home, another opportunity presents itself. An opportunity to make all the difference in the world to someone.
Internet Offers Solace Amid Tragedy (New York City, New York)
Grieving Americans flooded onto the Internet for solace and solidarity after the terrorist attacks.
Funeral Homes Strain After Terrorist Attack (Manhattan, New York)
In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, New York's funeral industry is facing overwhelming business.
Space Funeral Becomes Burial At Sea (Vandenberg Air Force Base, California)
What was supposed to be a funeral in space turned into a burial at sea when a privately-owned rocket carrying the ashes of 50 people failed to reach orbit and crashed into the Indian Ocean.
Grounds For Denial (Riverside, California)
A Vietnam veteran who had been accused of killing his child was refused burial at the Riverside National Cemetery.
Social Factors Boost Cremation (Worcester, Massachusetts)
New Englanders are experiencing a fairly new social twist that is contributing to an increase in the number of cremations.
Independents Pick Up Consolidator Tactics (Springfield, Illinois)
In response to years of industry consolidation, independent funeral directors have become more conscious of everything from the value of their funeral homes to how them compensate employees and market their business.
Routine Inspections Reinstated (Hartford, Connecticut)
Following the discovery of decomposed bodies at a New Haven funeral home, state authorities have decided to reinstate routine inspections of funeral homes.
False Ad Fine Appealed (Alexandria, Louisiana)
A funeral home owner whom the State Board of Embalmers found guilty of false advertising says he has been unfairly targeted because he opposes funeral homes' casket monopoly and will appeal the ruling.
Casket Sales At Issue (Monroe, Louisiana)
An independent casket maker who was prohibited from selling caskets in Louisiana is suing in federal court to overturn the law.
Rising From The Grave (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil)
Rumors of bodies rising from their graves gripped a Brazilian town after a man who had been left for dead climbed out of his tomb.
Entombed In Cement (Philadelphia, Philadelphia)
Authorities discovered the cement-entombed corpse of a missing New Jersey woman in the basement of a Philadelphia house.
Yes, Deer (Charleston, West Virginia)
The state medical examiner's office mistakenly sent the family of a murder victim deer remains mixed with the dead man's.
Funeral Assault (Yuba County, California)
A gangmember was sentenced to four years in prison for attacking people at a funeral with a metal folding chair.
Death Certificate System Criticized (New York, New York)
Officials are criticizing New York City's electronic death certificate registration system, saying it takes too long to process requests.
License In Question (Centralia, Illinois)
The Illinois Funeral Director's Association informed a Centralia funeral home that a funeral director there did not have a license.
Satellite National Cemeteries (San Diego, California)
Space in some national cemeteries -- particularly those in or near large metropolitan areas -- is shrinking, and that has prompted one veterans group to propose a novel solution.
Lawsuit To Proceed (Los Angeles, California)
An appellate court has ruled that family members of decedents who willed their bodies to science may proceed with a lawsuit against the Regents of the University of California for failing to properly cremate the human remains.
From Post Office To Mortuary (Folsom, California)
The building may have once housed a dreary post office with cracked ceiling beams and a troubling bat problem, but now it houses a plush mortuary.
World Trade Center Memorial (New York, New York)
Since the World Trade Center attack on September 11 there have been no shortage of ideas for a memorial for the thousands of people who died there.
Cover photo of a glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park taken by Allan Abbott.
December 2001
Insurance Brokers -- Consultants -- Attorneys,
Asset or Liability Ron Hast
Unfortunately, the stories presented here are true. I have known each of the principals and firms involved for years. May this serve as a warning.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Initiated plans to demolish a long-standing funeral home to make way for luxury condominium development, installing a cremation retort within a funeral home and why cemetery/mortuary combinations receive calls of a higher percentage requesting burial in preference to cremation.
Don't Let Trends
Define Your Marketing Campaign Donald L. Potter
Serving clients in the marketing and advertising field for nearly 40 years and those in death care for a decade, I've watched trends gather momentum, reach critical mass and change industries forever. By the same token, I've seen lots of fads burst onto the scene then quickly fade into oblivion, never to be heard about again. With that experience and a critical eye, I applied my thinking to the current rage in death care marketing; "memorialization."
Labor Law Issues Douglas O. Meyer
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) governs the right of employees to engage in self-organization, collective bargaining, and mutual aid and protection. Many employers assume that because their employees are not unionized, the Act doesn't apply to them. Some recent cases, however, make it clear that the Act does apply even in non-union settings to some common workplace situations. A list of what employers should keep in mind with regard to interviews and meetings is reviewed.
Coming Home: A Sociological Imperative Jerry J. Brown
In his classic novel, "Of Time and the River," Thomas Wolfe suggested, "You can't go home again." Here's why I disagree.
Urns To Be Given To Victims' Families (New York, New York)
Families of the victims of the World Trade Center attack will receive a wooden urn with ash from the mass graveyard.
Death Certificates Expedited (New York, New York)
New York officials have spared families of the terrorist attack victims the red tape facing them in the painful process of declaring the thousands missing in the World Trade Center rubble legally dead.
Freeze-Dried Corpses (Sweden)
A Swedish Scientists says she has developed an environmentally-friendly alternative to cremation and burial by finding a way of freeze-drying corpses and then shattering the remains to create a soil-enriching dust.
The Dead Offer Clues To Killer Flu (London, England)
The corpses of 10 Londoners buried almost 100 years ago may be dug up to provide clues to the genetic makeup of one of last century's most deadly flu viruses.
Funeral Salesmen Banned (Manila, Philippines)
The Philippine capital has banned funeral salesmen from hospitals and clinics, saying they loiter in the hallways trying to sell funeral packages to relatives of dying patients.
Cemeterian Given Maximum Sentence (Volusia County, Florida)
A former cemetery operator, accused of misplacing bodies, was sentenced to the maximum prison term allowed by law.
"The Burial" Coming To Life (Hollywood, California)
Director Ron Howard of "Apollo 13" fame reportedly wants to take on the "The Burial," a fact-based project based on a script by "Quills" scribe Doug Wright.
Funeral Director Guilty Of Murder (Orange City, Florida)
An Orange City funeral director was sentenced to life in prison after a jury convicted him of murder for stabbing his wife to death and burying her in a casket beneath another corpse.
Body Left On Front Porch (Springfield, Missouri)
A man's corpse was left on his front porch after a funeral home wasn't paid for his cremation.
Death's Snooze Button (St. Louis, Missouri)
Professionals who deal with death and illness have witnessed that some individuals who are gravely ill can prolong life through the holidays or other special occasions.
Researchers Study "Soap Lady" (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Researchers are studying an obese woman who died sometime in the 19th century whose body changed almost entirely into soap.
Mummy Road Show (Hamden, Connecticut)
Those interested in ancient or unusual forms of preservation of human remains may very well want to tune into National Geographic Channel's new series, "The Mummy Road Show."
Men Convicted For Morgue Photos (Cincinnati, Ohio)
A former deputy coroner and a photographer were convicted of posing bodies at the Hamilton County morgue with sheet music, a key, an apple and other objects before taking pictures.
Stealing From The Dead (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Four city morgue workers were convicted of participating in a theft ring that stole more than $90,000 in cash and property from the dead.
Mercury Cremation Fumes (United Kingdom)
The British environment agency backed down from curbing dangerous mercury emissions from crematoriums earlier this year after the cremation industry said that pollution controls would result in cost increases.
Undersea Graveyard (Charleston, South Carolina)
The cremated remains of 18 people were mixed with concrete to form the first "community reef" memorial site created by Atlanta-based Eternal Reefs.
Mix-Up Denies Family Proper Burial (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
A mix-up at a hospital morgue traumatized the family of a suicide victim who was mistakenly released to another family and cremated.
Headstone Firm Fined (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
A Milwaukee headstone company has been fined for accepting payments for monuments at the troubled Evergreen Cemetery and not installing them.
Settlement Proposed (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
More than 400 families who sued Los Alamos National Laboratory for conducting secret experiments on their relatives' cadavers would share $9.5 million under a proposed settlement.
