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In a message dated Tuesday, March 25, 2003 4:57:03 PM Liz in the NAVY writes:
John,
Just to let you know, and you may post this in the next bit of news if you would like. As of March 19, 2003, I have been deployed by the United States Navy to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Presently, I am on the west coast waiting for final paperwork in order to deploy to the Middle East conflict with the Marines.The worst part, has been leaving my business in someone elses hands. However, I was blessed by Bergen Funeral Service having been able to cover my business. It has taken a great deal off of my mind.
Lynn Meloni
Lisiecki Memorial Home
Trenton, NJ
MORE
Dear Lynn, we honor and support your service, we pray for a speedy and healthy return to the homeland soon.
Please write when you can.
We will keep you in our prayers
Honestly
John McDonough
In a message dated 4/24/2003 1:10:56 PM, Beacham McDougald writes:
This is from the Kiplinger Washington Editors. Wonder how this trend will effect the proposed changes in funeral service wage and hour laws or if indeed funeral service is included in the new law?
Business Complaints
Lead to Changes
In New Wage Rules
By Dean Scott
April 24, 2003
Proposed regulations to clarify overtime requirements will be eased at least a little in response to complaints from bars, restaurants, retail stores and other small firms that will be most affected by the new rules.
The changes, though, will be relatively minor, and the net effect will still be an increase in pay for about 1.3 million low-wage workers.
The proposed changes unveiled in March would compel all companies to pay at least $22,100 to assistant managers of coffee shops, restaurants and hotels as well as workers at auto repair shops, retail stores and construction sites&emdash;all operations where it's not uncommon to have assistant managers earning less than $22,100.
If businesses don't pay the floor amount, the employees will be eligible for overtime.
To soften the pain for these firms, the Department of Labor (DOL) is moving to make relatively minor changes in its proposals, with revisions due out late this year or early next year. One change will be to lower the $22,100 minimum by at least several hundred dollars.
The other alteration will be to simplify the "duties tests" that must be used to determine exactly who is eligible for overtime. Confusion over the definition has led to a number of class-action lawsuits and high legal fees for businesses large and small.
While low-wage employees will get a boost from the changes, more than 600,000 higher-wage workers will no longer be eligible for overtime. They include thousands of white-collar hourly wage earners who typically earn over $50,000 a year. They'll be reclassified as salaried under the broader administrative and professional exemptions.
The recommended regulations will also include a salary cap for white-collar workers, beyond which employers won't have to pay overtime.
The Labor Department currently favors a $65,000 "loose" cap, meaning workers would still have to have some managerial responsibilities to be exempted. The cap will hurt high-salary employees in health care, defense and aerospace who today can easily earn overtime on top of a $65,000 salary. "Overall, the primary winners in all this are low-wage earners, those [making] between $16,000 and $21,000, many of whom will get overtime," says David Fortney, a former Labor Department solicitor and now a labor attorney. "The losers will be those that will lose overtime, but are far fewer in number and in many different jobs," he adds.
Other parts of the proposal will likely see changes. They include:
New criteria for determining whether a worker has enough formal education to be deemed a professional and thus exempted from overtime. Under the current rules, employees essentially have to have college or other education experience to be considered salaried professionals. DOL is proposing that years of job experience be equated with a degree, but has left vague what amount of experience would be necessary. In the final regulations, the Bush administration will likely have to provide examples to help employers determine what experience, or combination of experience and work toward a degree, would render a worker exempt from overtime.
More clarification of salary exemptions for computer employees. Under a 1996 law, computer workers&emdash;from computer systems analysts to programmers to software engineers&emdash;can be exempted from overtime as long as they are paid at least $27.63 an hour and exercise "discretion" and "judgment" in their work. The Labor Department has proposed eliminating the discretion and judgment requirement, which will mean more computer employees lose overtime. Employers are complaining that it is still unclear who has to be paid overtime, and the DOL has agreed to try to clarify. It will stop short, however, of offering specific job titles that are and are not exempt.
While many small businesses have complained that the proposed $22,100 floor for assistant managers is too high, the AFL-CIO says it's too low. And Democrats on Capitol Hill want added protections for those middle- and high-salary employees to keep them from losing overtime.
The momentum is behind the new rules, however, because they are a top priority for industry groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which sees a rare opening to redo the regs while the GOP controls both chambers in Congress and the White House.
In addition, the rules will work politically for the administration, which can focus on the benefits to low-wage workers. The White House can also highlight the large percentage of minorities among those low-income employees&emdash;about 25 percent are Hispanic, about 17 percent, African-American&emdash;in selling the proposal.
I have survived the hosptal..
Robin G. Wall
AlbuquerqueNM.com
Metropolitan Direct Burial and Cremation Center
The Cyber Mortician ™
iCremation.Net I have survived the hosptal..
Robin G. Wall
AlbuquerqueNM.com
Metropolitan Direct Burial and Cremation Center
The Cyber Mortician ™
iCremation.Net
As most of us remeber Robin is the Father of Keyword Funeral Director for America on Line, due to his health, Robin Retired from Keyword Funeral Director, he is a remarkable man here is more about my friend Robin G. Wall
In a message dated hursday, March 20, 2003 8:29:46 PM, Mike Flynn in Boston, Massachusetts writes
Canadian Press
Man continues road trip home to Canada after mother-in-law dies in car
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
BROCKVILLE, Ont. (CP) - A Pembroke-area man stopped at the U.S.-Canada border Wednesday was unusually anxious to get home - police say he drove from South Carolina with his mother-in-law's corpse in the car.
The 88-year-old woman is believed to have died of natural causes while returning from Florida with her daughter and her daughter's husband, police said.
Police said the couple wanted to get the woman to a home-town funeral parlour.
An autopsy was to be performed Thursday in Kingston.
Police said the man arrived at the Thousand Islands International Bridge, in eastern Ontario, about 7 a.m. and told Canada Customs that he had a body in the car. Customs officers found the woman covered with a blanket and called police.
The couple returned to their Pembroke home after a brief investigation.
(Brockville Recorder and Times)
In a message dated 4/8/2003 3:53:29 PM, kmonfre@nfda.org writes:
Contact: Fay Spano 800/228-6332
2003 NFDA Advocacy Summit a Success
Advocacy Summit attendees praised for their commitment amid world tension
Washington, D.C. &endash; More than 150 National Funeral Directors
Association (NFDA) members and other funeral service professionals
converged on Washington D.C., for the 2003 NFDA Advocacy Summit, March
25-26.
"We're extremely proud of the commitment our members have to advancing
funeral service issues," says NFDA President Dwayne Spence. "The fact
that they traveled to Washington, D.C., during turbulent times is a
testament to their dedication as funeral directors, and as
representatives of NFDA. In addition, Advocacy Summit attendees who
made visits to members of Congress were quite successful in getting
support for NFDA's key issues," says Spence.
In addition to NFDA members, leaders of many allied organizations also
were present at the event, making the Summit truly successful in its
goal of creating one solid voice for funeral service.
The NFDA Policy Board also met during the Summit. The Policy Board
consists of representatives from each state and establishes NFDA's
official public policy positions on a variety of legislative issues.
This year the Policy Board focused on expanding the Federal Trade
Commission Funeral Rule. It also passed policy positions on eliminating
the federal estate tax on small businesses; exempting licensed funeral
directors and embalmers from the federal Wage & Hour Laws; and including
funeral service personnel in the group of first responders eligible for
inoculation against smallpox and/or other biological agents.
For complete information on the positions passed by NFDA's Policy Board
please visit http://www.nfda.org/page.php?pID=158.
During the NFDA Political Action Committee (PAC) Phone-a-thon, funeral
directors called upon their colleagues to make a financial contribution
to the NFDA PAC. More than $90,000 was collected or pledged during the
PAC Phone-a-thon.
"Every dollar contributed to the NFDA PAC by our members benefits
funeral service and their individual businesses," said NFDA Chief
Executive Officer Christine Pepper.
For more information about NFDA's PAC, visit
http://www.nfda.org/page.php?plD=166. To make a donation, please
call 800-228-6332.
Other Advocacy Summit highlights included presentations by Senator
Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY 15th),
Representative Don Manzullo (R-IL 16th), and Capt. Kevin Yeskey, M.D.,
Director, Office of Emergency Response. The Capitol Steps, a political
satire comedy group, capped off the Summit with a special performance
during the closing banquet.
NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., with an office in
Washington, D.C. It is the world's oldest and largest nationwide
funeral service association, serving about 13,500 members. To learn
more about NFDA, visit our Website at www.nfda.org.
In a message dated 4/21/2003 10:25:47 PM, Mike Flynn in Boston, Massachusetts writes:
Funeral home owners offer warm hospitality
By Cathy Flynn / Crier Staff Writer April 18, 2003
Most other days of the year, the Callanan-Cronin Funeral Home offers a dignified setting for the newly-departed and their grieving loved ones.
But on Marathon Monday, its owners open up their home to a bevy of runners and their friends, who enjoy having a comfy place to hang out until the big race begins. At their Church Street home that is connected to the funeral parlor, Mary and Jack Morrissey will entertain their runner friends, both old and new. Some are family; many more are friends. And a few are friends of friends.
"We sort of run a 'do-drop inn'," said Mary Morrissey. "We never know who will show up. Sometimes we'll get 10 or 15 people."
While federal law limits the type of get-togethers in the funeral home itself, the Morrisseys - who share their home with 92-year-old Mary Cronin, Mary's mother - entertain in style in their personal residence. Joining in the fun are Morrissey's brother Tom Cronin and his family, who live nearby.
"A lot of people come in to use the facilities, stretch, and sit in nice comfortable chairs until it's time to go," she said. "We have a big buffet breakfast for everybody to enjoy."
This year's guests will include Eugene "Bud" Primomo, the Morrissey's nephew from Albany, New York, where he works as a federal prosecutor.
"He's a tri-athlete, he does biking, running and scuba-diving," said Morrissey. Primomo will be running the race on Monday.
In the past, the family has opened their home to Greenfield, Massachusetts friends of Mary's sister Kathleen AuClair and to runners from Pennsylvania, from Worcester's Holy Cross College, and from other places.
"Some of them are runners that my dad met on the streets," said Morrissey.
Their hospitality to runners honors the family's strong stake in the marathon's history. Mary Morrissey's great-uncle was George Brown, who is the founder of the Boston Athletic Association and considered by many to be the godfather of the marathon.
"It was pretty small back in the early days, only 40 or 50 runners," Morrissey said. "Not like it is today, with the international media."
The Morrisseys are just one of the many Hopkinton families who will be opening up their homes to visiting runners and spectators on Monday. Less than a mile from the starting line, on East Main Street, hostess Carol Spengler will be welcoming at least 100 guests to her front lawn, which offers a ringside seat to the parade of runners. On Hayden Rowe, local historian Rose Levielle hosts runners from Maine in her home, which has become known as Maine House during Marathon days. On Grove Street, Edna Mullins often invites runners from the nearby Athletes' Village at the high school to come in and relax in comfort.
Source: http://www.townonline.com/hopkinton/news/local_regional/hop_feahcparlor04182003.htm
In a message dated 4/9/2003 11:22:38 AM, Mike Flynn in Massachusetts writes:
Hysterical crowd prevents cremation of SARS victim in Thailand
Wed Apr 09 2003 01:01:42 ET
Bangkok - A hysterical crowd prevented the cremation of Thailand's second SARS victim in their neighbourhood for fear the virus would spread through the air, local newspapers reported Wednesday.
About Thai 100 protesters from communities surrounding a Buddhist temple where the cremation was to take place on Tuesday turned up to block the ceremony, newspaper reports said.
The villagers feared the SARS virus would spread in the air since the crematorium furnace would be opened every hour until the dead man's body was reduced to ashes.
Hong Kong-born Thai citizen Hiang Siang sae Lim, 78, died of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) last week in a hospital in his home town of Hat Yai, 650 kilometres south of the capital Bangkok.
He was reportedly Thailand's second SARS victim and had contracted the viral disease during a visit to severely stricken Hong Kong.
Senior medical staff of Prince of Songkhla Hospital reportedly rushed to the scene of the commotion and unsuccessfully tried to persuade the crowd that Lim's cremation would pose no danger whatsoever.
``I tried to tell them that the virus would automatically perish two to three hours after the infected person's death. Furthermore, the 1,000-degree Celsius crematorium fire also would eradicate the virus completely,'' Dr. Weerasak Jongsoowiwatwong, an epidemiologist, was quoted as saying.
When the protesters remained unconvinced Lim's body was returned to the hospital morgue, where it will remain for an indefinite period or until another location for cremation is found.
In recent weeks, Thailand's population has been increasingly gripped by anxiety and hysteria over the SARS outbreak in the region, although so far not a single patient who had contracted the disease locally could be confirmed.
All SARS cases, including the two deaths, were derived in high-risk countries like Singapore, Hong Kong and China.
The Thai government has advised the public to remain calm and not to overemphasize the impact of the virus-induced disease in Thailand, which has deployed a number of extremely stringent security and containment measures.
NORTH CAROLINA FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
919-876-7886 * 800-616-2332 * FAX: 919-876-5382
http://www.ncfda.org
E-LINE DATE: April 7, 2003
NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Funeral Sales Tax: For several years NCFDA has supported legislation to
seek changes in the sales tax on funerals. Having learned of continued
legislative interest in the topic, the NCFDA Board of Directors voted to
support an effort to reduce the sales tax on funerals. On March 25, 2003,
House Bill 0677 was filed by Representative John M. Rayfield (R) of Belmont,
NC and Rep. Howard Hunter (D) (funeral director) of Murfreesboro. The
intent of House Bill 0677 is to increase the NC Sales Tax Exemption from the
current $1,500 to $2,500. If the bill passes, an effective date of July 1,
2003 is proposed. We believe it is interesting to note the bill has a total
of 51 sponsors (14 democrats and 37 republicans). If you know any of the
following sponsors of HB 0677, we hope you might thank them for their
support or better yet, meet them at the NCFDA Legislation Reception on
Monday, April 14, from 5:30 - 7:00 PM at the NC Museum of History in
Raleigh, NC. Sponsors are: Representatives: Rayfield, Adams, B. Allen,
Barbee, Barnhart, Blackwood, Blust, Bowie, Culp, Cunningham, Daughtridge,
Daughtry, Eddins, Farmer-Butterfield, Gillespie, Gulley, Hilton, Howard,
Hunter, Jeffus, L. Johnson, Jones, LaRoque, Lewis, McAllister, McCombs,
McGee, McHenry, McMahan, Miller, Mitchell, Moore, Parmon, Preston, Ray,
Rhodes, Ross, Sauls, Setzer, Sexton, Stam, Starnes, Stiller, Wainwright,
Walend, Walker, K. Williams, C. Wilson, G. Wilson and Womble.
Eliminate State Board Elections: NCFDA has learned House Bill 0859 will be
introduced this evening, Monday, April 7, 2003. The title of the bill is
3An act to eliminate statewide voting to elect members of the Board of
Mortuary Science and to establish a new process whereby members are
appointed to serve on the board2 (Nine member board: seven appointed by
the Governor, one by the Speaker of the House and one by the President pro
Tempore of the Senate. Of the nine members the Governor may appoint four
from NCFDA and three from the Funeral Directors and Morticians Association
of NC. The bill sponsor is Representative Alma Adams(D) of Greensboro.
Members will recall the introduction of similar legislation from last year.
More later on this matter
State Board Introduces Proposed Changes: The NC Board of Mortuary Science
proposed legislation has been introduced as companion bills in the House and
Senate (HB 700 and SB 550). Members have previously received notice of the
proposed changes. You may review the entire bill by going the state board
web site www.ncbms.org. NCFDA will follow the legislation and keep you
informed.
NCFDA Educational Conference and Exposition: The Annual Convention will be
next week, April 13 - 15, 2003, at the Sheraton Imperial in Research
Triangle Park, NC. For a complete list of events as well as a list of
exhibitors, visit the NCFDA web site at www.ncfda.org, Section 3FORMS.2
In a message dated 4/2/2003 11:47:17 AM, Mike Flynn in Masssachusetts writes:
Brookline couple's deaths called murder-suicide Former restaurateur had Parkinson's disease
Once the picture of elegance greeting customers at Cafe Budapest, her upper-crust Boston restaurant, in recent years Livia Hedda Rev-Kury had fallen ill, and spent most of her days bed-ridden, her body ravaged by Parkinson's disease.
Monday morning, Rev-Kury, 79, was found dead in her Brookline home alongside her husband, George Kury, 75, an assistant state medical examiner, and yesterday authorities said it appeared Kury had strangled his wife, then killed himself, ending two lives that had passed through concentration camps, medical schools, and Boston's high society.
William R. Keating, the Norfolk district attorney, said officials were still waiting for results of toxicology tests, which could take several weeks, to determine how Kury killed himself.
Kury left behind a note that, ''while not explicit, is not inconsistent with Kury having caused his wife's death,'' according to a statement issued by Keating's office yesterday. The office would not elaborate.
The couple, both immigrants from Hungary who still had tattoos on their wrists from Holocaust camps, were found in their Longwood Avenue home after friends became concerned about their well-being, authorities said.
There were no signs of forced entry and no obvious signs of violence.
The couple had at least one child, Charles, who could not be reached yesterday.
Recent records show that, despite his age, Kury apparently had no intention of retiring from his post as a medical examiner working out of Cape Cod. Last month, he notified the state Board of Registration in Medicine that he wanted to renew his medical license for another two years, records show.
Like her husband, Rev-Kury, who was better known by her middle name Hedda, was also a pathologist, but had let her medical license lapse in 2001, records show. Rev-Kury was a 1951 graduate of the University of Budapest Medical School; Kury graduated from there three years later.
Dr. Edward McDonough, from the Connecticut medical examiner's office, traveled to Boston yesterday to perform autopsies on the couple, as is policy when the deceased is an employee of the state medical examiner's office.
Officials in the office declined to comment yesterday. ''It's a very difficult time for a lot of his co-workers here,'' said John Cronin, the office's chief administrative officer. Kury had worked as a pathologist for the state since 1993, handling cases mostly in Worcester and Barnstable counties.
''He was a very kind and good person, and I always loved working with him,'' said Melissa Christie, who used to work with Kury in the medical examiner's office.
''He wasn't involved in the political agenda of that office. He enjoyed his work, and he was good at it. He was very thorough.''
Christie said she was told by another medical examiner that the Cape office where Kury worked had been closed just last week. He was to be reassigned to the Boston office on Monday.
Kury talked little about his life growing up in Hungary, but Christie said she knew that he had a substantial scar on his chest, the result of being shot, either while being held captive or trying to escape.
At the now-defunct Cafe Budapest in the basement of the Copley Square Hotel, Rev-Kury would stand in the evenings at the foot of the red carpeted stairs leading to the restaurant, greeting customers in a long gown, long white gloves, and sparkling jewelry. On her wrist was a green tattoo: A-16540.
Despite the hard work involved with running a restaurant, she delighted in the job, and it also had a distinct advantage: ''My husband likes the restaurant conventions better than the medical ones,'' she once said in an interview.
She would often practice medicine for a few hours out of her Peabody office, then slip over to the restaurant, where she would order provisions over the phone, saying in her accented voice: ''I want an order. Romaine lettuce, one case. Large onions, one case.''
A close friend and colleague of Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, the discoverer of vitamin C, Rev-Kury took over the restaurant from her sister, Edith, when she died in 1988. It closed three years ago.
Department of Labor Proposes Revisions to Overtime Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROPOSES REVISIONS TO OVERTIME REGULATIONS
On March 31, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published proposed regulations that would revise the tests used to determine who is an executive, professional or administrative employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and, therefore, exempt from its minimum wage and overtime requirements.
NFDA is reviewing the proposal for application to licensed funeral directors and embalmers and will submit appropriate comments to DOL prior to the June 27 deadline.
For years, NFDA has asked the DOL to classify licensed funeral directors and embalmers as professionals, exempt from the law. This would allow them to receive salaries, bonuses and other financial benefits that nonexempt employees cannot receive under current law and regulations. It would also allow them to receive compensatory time instead of overtime pay.
Two federal circuit court decisions support the position of NFDA that a licensed funeral director is a professional employee under the FLSA. NFDA met with officials from the Wage and Hour Division of DOL last fall to resolve the issue regulatorily and urged the Department to extend the court decisions to all licensed funeral directors.
At its March 24th meeting in Washington, DC, the NFDA Policy Board reaffirmed its position on this issue and NFDA continues to work both with DOL and Congress. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced S. 292 in February. It amends the FLSA to specifically exempt licensed funeral directors and embalmers from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the FLSA.
In a message dated 4/1/2003 6:04:32 PM, Fred in Massachusetts writes:
Funeral Director Barred From Working
Deschene-Costa Has License Pulled
POSTED: 7:53 a.m. EST April 1, 2003
FALL RIVER, Mass. -- A Fall River funeral director is no longer allowed to work in Massachusetts.
The state says Rachel Deschene-Costa violated regulations by failing to account for money entrusted to her and for practicing as a funeral home director for three years with an expired license.
In an agreement with the state, Deschene-Costa surrendered her license permanently as director of the L.O. Paradis Funeral Home.
She cannot operate as a funeral home director anywhere in the state and agrees she will not try to re-instate her license.
The Attorney General's Ooffice says it will work with customers to make sure they get compensated for contracts the home can no longer complete.
But, for now, the attorney general reports that there are no pending criminal charges against her.
Rachel M. Deschene-Costa, funeral director of the L.O. Paradis Funeral Home in Fall River, has entered into a permanent surrender agreement with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. Deschene-Costa has agreed to permanently surrender her license to operate as a funeral director in the Commonwealth effective and has agreed she will not attempt to apply for reinstatement of the license.
MORE
MASS FUNERAL BOARD REPORTS
http://www.state.ma.us/reg/boards/em/press.htm
Funeral Home Director Surrenders License
Deschene-Costa violated Board regulations by failing to account for pre-need funeral monies entrusted to her, failing to produce adequate documentation of pre-need contracts and services, and practicing as a funeral director for three years while her license was expired.
"Deschene-Costa's license was surrendered to prevent her from cheating any additional consumers," said Anne Collins, Director of the Division of Professional Licensure.
The Board has been cooperating with the Attorney General's office to ensure that consumers who had pre-need contracts with L.O. Paradis are adequately compensated.
This case was investigated by Paul Taylor, Investigator and prosecuted by Pasqua Scibelli, Prosecuting Counsel of the Division of Professional Licensure.
The Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, one of 29 boards of registration of the Division of Professional Licensure, maintains licenses for 2,620 embalmers and funeral directors. The Board seeks to ensure that persons and establishments licensed to provide funeral services comply with regulations designed to promote public health and protection of consumers. Consumers can find out whether a funeral director is properly licensed or has a history of professional misconduct by visiting www.mass.gov/reg and selecting the "check a license" option.
To: MFDA Members
From: Richard C. Dewhirst, CFSP/CPC President - MFDA
Date: March 31, 2003
Subject: City of Boston - Death Records
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Due to the staffing shortages in the Registry Division, death records will not be issued for 3 days until the City of Boston Health Department sends them to the City Registrar. They indicate that this will give them time to properly register and index these records.
This requirement will only be waived in the case of a body leaving the country.
Effective immediately, no walk in records will be processed while the funeral director waits at the counter.
If the funeral director wishes to come in and leave the order, the registrar will call them when they are done and they can be picked up.
Please advise your staff of these changes.
If you have any questions or comments please refer them to:
Judith McCarthy
City of Boston Registrar
Phone: 617-635-4185
In a message dated 3/31/2003 3:45:02 PM, davelanelane@netscape.net writes:
CORTRIM HARDWOOD PARTS COMPANY ACQUIRED BY AURORA
Aurora, Indiana - The owners of Aurora Casket Company have purchased the assets of Cortrim Hardwood Parts Company of Bristol, Tennessee.
"The acquisition of Cortrim reflects our commitment to provide family-owned funeral homes with an unmatched selection of top-quality hardwood caskets," says Bill Barrott, President of Aurora Casket Company. "Considering its reputation for unsurpassed quality and service, Cortrim is a perfect fit to the Aurora family. We are confident that funeral directors and the families they serve will benefit from this addition to the Aurora product line."
Cortrim joins the Aurora family of businesses that includes Aurora Casket Company, Clarksburg Casket Company and cremation product supplier, Meierjohan-Wengler. In addition to its funeral service division, Cortrim is a distinguished supplier of hardwood parts to the nation's furniture manufacturing industry.
Founded in 1916 by George M. Spiegle, Cortrim is recognized within the funeral service industry as one of the premier suppliers of finely crafted hardwood caskets, casket parts and cremation urns. Additionally, Cortrim is a leading manufacturer of orthodox and children's caskets. The C. Stoler line of Orthodox caskets is a hallmark of the quality products produced by Cortrim. The company employs approximately 50 wood craftsmen and managers at its 150,000 square foot Bristol manufacturing facility that also provides hardwood parts to the furniture construction industry. No immediate production or facility changes are planned as a result of the acquisition.
Headquartered in Aurora, Ind., Aurora Casket Company is the leading manufacturer of high-quality hardwood caskets in the United States. Since its inception in 1890, Aurora has grown to be the largest family-owned supplier of caskets, cremations urns, management services and support products to funeral homes across the United States. In addition to its Clarksburg, W.Va. hardwood manufacturing facility, Aurora operates two manufacturing plants in southeast Indiana that specialize exclusively in the production of steel caskets. Aurora's urn manufacturing plant is located in suburban Cincinnati, Ohio.
In a message dated 3/26/2003 7:43:37 AM, Walter & Barbara in Tennessee writes:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2885663.stm
Evidence of earliest human burial
By Paul Rincon
Scientists claim they have found the oldest evidence of human creativity: a 350,000-year-old pink stone axe.
The handaxe, which was discovered at an archaeological site in northern Spain, may represent the first funeral rite by human beings.
It suggests humans were capable of symbolic thought at a far earlier date than previously thought.
Spanish researchers found the axe among the fossilised bones of 27 ancient humans that were clumped together at the bottom of a 14-metre- (45 feet) deep pit inside a network of limestone caves at Atapuerca, near Burgos.
It is the only man-made implement found in the pit.
It may confirm the team's belief that other humans deposited bodies in the pit deliberately.
Professor Eudald Carbonell, of the Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona, Spain, and a key member of the team that unearthed the axe, was jubilant about the find.
"It's a great discovery. This is an interpretation, but in my opinion and the opinion of my team, the axe could be the first evidence of ritual behaviour and symbolism in a human species," Professor Carbonell said.
HUMAN FAMILY TREE
Scientists are trying to piece together the species relationships
"We conclude it could be from a funeral rite," he added.
The axe is skilfully crafted from quartzite rock, which is abundant in the region.
Handaxes of this type are usually used for butchering animal carcasses for their meat. But the researchers claim the striking colour is crucial to its importance.
"It's a very special colour," said Juan Luis Arsuaga, director of the Atapuerca excavation. "They would have needed to search it out. I think this colour had some significance for [these humans]," he added.
The human remains belong to the species Homo heidelbergensis , which dominated Europe around 600,000-200,000 years ago and is thought to have given rise to both the Neanderthals and modern humans ( Homo sapiens ).
But some researchers, such as Peter Andrews, of the Natural History Museum in London, have proposed that the skeletons were lying elsewhere in the caves and sludged into the pit by a mudflow.
Abstract thinking
"I'm cautious about its significance," said Professor Chris Stringer, also of the Natural History Museum. "The association of the handaxe and the skeletons in this pit of bones is a very interesting one," adding that it was possible there was some sort of symbolic association.
"But one has to put some caution into [this announcement] because it has been suggested that this is a secondary deposit and therefore could be accidental," he noted.
WALKING WITH CAVEMEN
New discoveries are revealing just how sophisticated some of our ancestors were and how much further back in time that complexity of behaviour existed - much earlier than we thought
But Arsuaga thinks it unlikely that so many human remains could have appeared in the pit in the absence of bones from other animals.
Previously, the earliest funeral rituals were thought to be associated with Neanderthal remains dated 100,000 years ago. But some researchers dispute the significance of these sites, preferring to believe that abstract thinking began around 50,000 years ago in modern humans.
Arsuaga and his colleagues found the handaxe in 1998, but decided to search for other stone tools in the pit before announcing the find. They have found none so far.
In a message dated 3/25/2003 4:14:05 PM, Dennis C McGee Jr. in Riverside New Jersey writes:
Forget the Funeral
By:
Dennis C. McGee, Jr., CFSP
Over the last 8 years I have spent countless hours studying the human anatomy, rubrics of various religions and how to conduct funerals prescribed by their traditions and histories. I have learned how to console those in their darkest hour and how to restore to, "a natural lifelike presentation." The second half of the aforementioned time, I have with all of my training, tried my best to apply the knowledge that I have gained and be a good funeral director. I have only been a licensed funeral director for 4 years and a certified funeral practitioner for one; with the latest; cutting edge education, limited experience, commitment, the passion for excellence and a relentless drive to assist families in their darkest hour while continuously improving the current state of "funeral service." I ask our industry's funeral directors to forget the funeral!
With what inspires you the funeral director, the drive to effectively help families cope with loss, creativity and all of the many resources available, Create a unique and highly individual experience that is meaningful for those left to grieve. One that is so personal and relevant that each who participates in the experience feels that it was tailored to be representative of their specific relationship with who has died. This experience will summate the story of a life that had been lived and provide a means to showcase a legacy left for future generations to embrace. Each family is and will be different from the previous. Each time someone dies it is a unique and individual moment. An experience that showcases a life which has just come to an end should also be just as unique and individual. As information is collected, interpret what is important to those who wish to celebrate life. Employ those details within the experience such as what kinds of things did they enjoy? Who did they love and respect? What kinds of things did they learn and teach others during their lifetime? What made them laugh? Use those moments to memorialize and create an empowering, personalized tribute. Think outside of the box, even though in this business there are many of them.
I, single-handedly, challenge our industry's funeral directors to become meaningful experience arrangers an orchestrator or builder, someone who is limitless in developing ways to say good-bye to those whom we love in a very special way. I encourage those arrangers to Develop experiences that invite participants to interactively take part in the funeral by engaging all of the five senses in order to share and express the unique character of the person who has died. Do not be restricted by the traditions of funeral service that have lead us to where we stand today but allow our rich history to be part of the experiences and how to arrange them. Assisting families in creating personalized, meaningful funeral experiences that exceed their expectations as to what a funeral was, is or should be will legitimize the value and importance of funerals in today's society.
Historically, funeral service, as we know it today, began as a way to return civil war casualties from the battlefield home to their families for proper burial. Embalming allowed us to have our dead present for funeral rituals and ceremonies. Funerals evolved and shaped into events that allowed families, friends and communities to openly express grief console each other during their time of bereavement and most importantly to provide the opportunity to say good-bye. Today the funeral service has evolved and been shaped and molded into an all inclusive experience. It is more than just embalming a body to allow its presence at the funeral, as in the civil war, more than just combinations of rituals, ceremonies and disposition as in funeral services' yesteryear. Today's funeral experiences need to be personal, meaningful tributes that tells a definitive story of who the person was, summate the achievements, share the special memories and showcase the legacy that those we love have left us to cherish. I encourage you, the funeral director, to embrace this ideology and become an arranger of unique and meaningful funeral experiences that families will remember and treasure for all time.
In a message dated 4/29/2003 8:16:53 AM, staff@ncfda.org writes:
NORTH CAROLINA FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
919-876-7886 * 800-616-2332 * FAX: 919-876-5382
http://www.ncfda.org
E-LINE DATE: April 29, 2003
Kinna Gordon Pennington
Kinna Gordon Pennington, 43, daughter of O. C. Pennington, Jr., Senior
Funeral Director with Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Raleigh, died on Sunday,
April 27, 2003. She had suffered many years with Parkinson1s Disease.
Graveside services will be held at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, April 30, in
Oakwaood Cemetery in Raleigh.
Those wishing to do so may make contributions in Kinna Pennington1s memory
to the Wake County SPCA, 219B Garner Business Court, Garner, NC 27529 or
Duke University for Parkinson1s Research, 512 South Mangum Street, Suite
400, Durham, NC 27701.
In a message dated 4/29/2003 8:47:44 AM, staff@ncfda.org writes:
NORTH CAROLINA FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
919-876-7886 * 800-616-2332 * FAX: 919-876-5382
http://www.ncfda.org
E-LINE DATE: April 29, 2003
William T. Pickard, Sr.
William T. (Tommy) Pickard, Sr., 74, died Monday morning, April 28, 2003 at
his home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday at the First
Baptist Church in Sanford. Burial will follow in Buffalo Cemetery.
Mr. Pickard was the long time owner of Rogers-Pickard Funeral Home. He
began his career with the funeral home in 1945.
Mr. Pickard was very active in religious and civic matters. He was a former
District Director of NCFDA and a member of the National Funeral Directors
Association.
Surviving are his wife, LaFay S. Pickard, one son, William T. Pickard, Jr.
and wife Dawn of Sanford; two daughters, Karen P. Antis of Wilmington and
Gaye P. Galyon and husband Jim of Greensboro; two step-daughters, Michelle
D. Iavarone of Florida and Sydney D. Swann of Sanford; one step-son Phillip
DeLorie of Florida; one sister Carolyn P. Rosser of Raleigh; one brother D.
Eugene Pickard of Greensboro. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 PM Tuesday evening at the
First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the First Baptist Church
Building Fund, 202 Summit Drive, Sanford, NC 27330 or, to Community Home
Care and Hospice, 1514 S. Horner Blvd., Sanford, NC27330.
Hi John, Just an update on the funeral directors fathers funeral. Thanks so much
Ed Mazur
Thomas J. O'Brien, Jr.
1918 - 2003
Easthampton, MA - Thomas J. O'Brien Jr. 84 of Pleasant St. died 29 April 2003 in Cooley-Dickinson Hospital Northampton, MA. Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin 12 November 1918 he was the son of the late Thomas J. and Mary (Kenny) O'Brien, Sr.
A retired carpenter for the former T.E. Mackos Construction Company of Easthampton, MA, He was also involved in the operation of Boucher Funeral Home with his wife, they retired in 1985. He was an Army Air Corp Veteran of WW II serving with the 81st airdrome Squadron. He was a member of the American Legion Dalton LaVallee Post 224 and the VFW Patrick F. McCarthy Post 3422 both of Easthampton. He was also and Auxiliary Police Officer for Easthampton with many years of service. A member and past Grad Knight of Easthampton K of C Council 1116 and a member of the K of C 4th degree Archbishop Williams Assembly.
He was a communicant of Notre Dame Church, he is survived by his wife of 59 years Jeannette (Boucher) O'Brien. 2 sons Funeral Director Thomas J. O'Brien III and Martin O'Brien of Easthampton a daughter Mary Ann Anderson of Walton, KY 3 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Military funeral Monday, May 5, 2003 at 9:30 AM at the Boucher-O'Brien Funeral Home 7 Pleasant St. Easthampton, MA 01027 followed by a Con-Celebrated Liturgy of Christian Burial in Notre Dame Church 35 Pleasant St. at 10:30 AM. Burial in Brookside Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday May 4, 2003 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM.
For those who prefer memorial donations may be made to Notre Dame Church Memorial Fund 35 Pleasant St. Easthampton, MA 01027 or to Jericho House P.O. Box 1039 Holyoke, MA 01041
Thomas J. O'Brien Jr. of Easthampton, MA father of funeral director Thomas J. O'Brien III and past president of the Western MA Indpendant Funeral Directors Association died Tuesday April 29, 2003 in Cooley-Dickinson Hospital Northampton, MA Wake Sunday May 4, 2003 2-4 & 7-9 PM at Boucher - O'Brien Funeral Home 7 Pleasant St. Easthampton, MA Funeral Monday May 5, 2003 at 9:30 AM from the funeral home with a 10:30 AM concelebrated Liturgy of Christian Buiral in Notre Dame Church 35 Pleasant St Easthampton at 10:30 AM. Burial in Brookside Cemetery. For those who wish donations may be made to N.D. Church Memorial Fund or to Jericho House P.O. Box 1039 Holyoke, MA 01041
In a message dated 4/2/2003 1:48:50 PM, staff@ncfda.org writes:
James Alfred Badger
James Alfred Badger, 81, of Jefferson, former owner and manager of Badger
Funeral Home in West Jefferson, died Tuesday, April 1, 2003 at Mercy
Hospital in Charlotte.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 3, 2003, from 1:00 - 3:00
pm and from 6:00 - 9:00 pm at Badger Funeral Home. The funeral service will
be Friday, April 4, 2003, at 2:00 PM at Fletcher Baptist Church in
Jefferson. Burial will follow in Ashelawn Memorial Gardens with military
rites.
Memorials may be given to Ashe Memorial Hospital Foundation, 200 Hospital
Avenue, Jefferson, NC 28640.
Mr. Badger is survived by: his wife, Erma Hart Badger; one son, Michael
Badger of Jefferson; three daughters: Rebecca Houck of North Wilkesboro,
Lois Miller and Jennifer Holman, both of Wilkesboro.
In a message dated 4/23/2003 6:42:27 PM, Mike Flynn in Massachusetts writes:
JCAM apologizes for betting pool
By Jessica Ullian / Staff Writer Tuesday, April 22, 2003
The Newton-based Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts intended to have only a little "fun" when it invited members to participate in a betting pool last week. But it soon realized it had committed a grave error. The organization, which is headquartered in Newton Centre, sent out a fax to local funeral directors Tuesday, April 15, with the heading "JCAM'$ Lucky 7 Pool." The letter urged recipients to place bets on the date of JCAM's 7,000th funeral.
"With 104 to go, we thought it would be fun to have a Lucky 7 pool," the fax read. "You choose the date you think will be our 7000th funeral and indicate it on the attached form."
The entry fee was $10, the deadline was April 25, and the rules stipulated that half the winnings would be donated to a charity of the winner's choice.
But later that day JCAM sent out another fax to its members, apologizing for the letter and describing it as "insensitive" and "an error in judgment."
"Its intent was to acknowledge the stressful nature of all of our jobs," the statement read. "In retrospect, it clearly was a mistake."
When contacted by the TAB, JCAM declined further comment beyond their written statement.
Only some Newton funeral homes were invited to participate in the pool; Mark Conroy of Blackington Conroy and Hayes in West Newton said that he had not received the fax, as did Arthur Magni of the Andrew J. Magni Funeral Home in Nonantum.
Brezniak Rodman Funeral Directors in West Newton, a member of JCAM, did receive the fax, but declined to comment on it.
However, James Albert, the funeral director at Torf Funeral Service in Chelsea, said he had never before seen anything like this contest in the bereavement industry.
"I have never seen anybody try to make a pool, or a bet, or capitalize on anybody's death," he said. "Just think if your mother was the 7,000th person to be buried. How would you feel that somebody's making money off of it?"
Albert said that everyone he had spoken to was upset about the contest, but added that he had never had any conflict with JCAM in the past.
"We always had a good relationship with them, but the only time we really deal with them is if somebody dies," he said.
In a message dated 4/29/2003 1:57:28 PM, Fred in Colorado writes:
I know this may be a far out request, but I am a writer from the USA, Longview, Texas to be exact. As a day job, I am a pharmacist who has raised two sons who became funeral directors. I am very proud of my boys and what they do. As a result of my trying to upgrade the image of how people perceive funeral directors, I have been given a contract to write a book on the subject. What I am looking for is stories about funeral directors. The title of the book hasn't been decided yet but it will probably be something like Undertaker Tales or the like. I need cute, sad, unbelievable, and heart warming stories, or maybe even spooky ones, of things that really happened. Can any of you or a member of your staff help me with some stories? They can even be practical jokes pulled on other workers as long as they don't downgrade the profession...old pictures of horse drawn hearses, pictures of inscriptions on headstones, anything cute and enlightening about the profession.
Thanks Wayne Bethard, 3205 Restview, Longview, Texas 75605 phone 903-759-0146. Email uwbethard@aol.com
In a message dated 4/29/2003 1:36:16 PM, chris@theoutlookgroup.com writes:
Franklin,OH. Mr. Charles W. Anderson, CEO and President, The Outlook
Group, Inc., America's fastest growing independently owned and operated
funeral prearrangement marketing company, was honored recently at the Warren
County, Ohio United Way Annual Meeting as the Agency Volunteer of the Year.
Anderson was nominated by Abilities First for the services and selfless
hours he has given to their organization over the past 9 years serving on
their board of directors where his suggestion and leadership started the
Touchdowns for Kids program and most recently, Moments Remembered.
The 2003 football season will be the 9th year for the Touchdowns program
which has grown from 3 high school football teams and 1 sponsor to 13 area
schools and 30 sponsors. Anderson saw the idea of drying flowers to make
memorial floral tributes to family and friends of loved ones at Fitzgerald &
Associates in Rockford, Illinois and Moments Remembered was launched in 2002
at Abilities First.
"He is a valuable asset not only to our organization but also to the
Franklin & Springboro communities," said Tom Wheeler, executive director of
Abilities First which is a non-profit agency providing services to children
and adults with disabilities in Middletown & Franklin, Ohio.
Through his leadership and continued support, young adults with disabilities
have found successful, meaningful employment and many families can display
beautiful wreaths as a lasting tribute.
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In a message dated 4/2/2003 11:31:47 AM, Chris in Florida writes:
Dear Sirs,
Thought you might find this interesting. All with PERMISSION from Batesville!!!!!
http://americanmemorialcenters.com
Wonder if there is anything other than just an information center for American Memorial Centers.
American Memorial Centers does not actually have a "funeral home" only rents from Boyd's and other chapels and churches.
Really just a front for their Batesville casket account so they can sell caskets online.
Wonder if the Boyd Family Funeral Home in Hollywood Florida has something to do with it? Hmmm Interesting stuff!
If you really want to stop this stuff Batesville need's to do away with "bill to ship to" Simple enough, but will they do it?
If not, just ALWAYS REFUSE to make that phone call on the "bill to ship to"!!!
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In a message dated 4/10/2003 11:54:35 AM, Anonymous writes:
Thanks John. I'm still working morning and night at the shuttle recovery and as soon as I'm able I'll fill you in on what goes on.
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In a message dated 4/10/2003 8:22:05 AM, Anonymous writes:
A Funeral Home in Virginia recently shipped the wrong body
to a funeral home in Illinois. The mistake was discovered when the family
arrived to view their loved one.
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In a message dated 4/30/2003 8:55:33 AM, PNSbeachbum writes:
John,
I think our greatest "realistic" hope for any kind of fair wage and hour practices would come through a National Union of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. The NFDA is nothing more than a place for "owners" to control the industry. Talk about the "good O'l boy system.
I am 42 years old, have build two successful funeral home operations. I had sold them both dating back to 1991 and 1993 respectively. I had in the two years following this, learned cemetery sales management and operations. I was so fed up with the back stabbing, small minded mentality of the industry, that frankly, I stopped practicing.
A man with my abilities and experience cannot find work because of the low level competency of management in this business, that owners and managers alike, are to afraid of people who are organized and forward thinking.
I'd like very much to help you spearhead "any" type of organized leadership for the hard working men and women who work countless, unpaid hours. I have free air travel and remain in retirement, please let me know if I can be of service.
All the best,
D J B
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In a message dated 4/30/2003 5:23:11 AM, Mark in Florida writes:
Several men are in the locker room of a golf club.
A cell phone on a
bench rings and a man engages the hands free speaker-function and
begins to talk.
Everyone else in the room stops to listen.
MAN: "Hello"
WOMAN: "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"
MAN: "Yes"
WOMAN: "I am at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat.
It's only $1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?"
MAN: "Sure, ...go ahead if you like it that much."
WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new 2003
models. I saw one I really liked."
MAN: "How much?"
WOMAN: "$60,000"
MAN: "OK, but for that price I want it with all the options."
WOMAN: "Great! Oh, and one more thing...the house we wanted last year
is back on the market. They're asking $950,000."
MAN: "Well, then go ahead and give them an offer, but just offer
$900,000."
WOMAN: "OK. I'll see you later! I love you!"
MAN: "Bye, I love you, too."
The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are looking at him
in astonishment. Then he asks: "Anyone know who this phone belongs
to?"
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Got any Hot News for us. Issues that involve funeral service, in your community, it in, Everything you see here was send in by someone just like you. If there is a newspaper article in your area, send the link and we can all learn from it, even if it is your opinion we all learn from one another. Any HOT NEWS OR SCUTTLEBUTT WILL BE POSTED IN THE READER'S WRITE BACK SECTION.
Send your story or issue to FSPA just click here --->Lowellma@aol.com
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You are welcome, to write us with your comments, suggestions, complaints and especially stories about funeral service. Please remember only FSPA members will have information posted in the weekly update, it's easy click here ---> Mailto:Lowellma@aol.com Your participation is appreciated and essential.
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FUNERAL SERVICE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION does not share membership info with anyone, no one will be given your information with out your permission or a court order.
To Join the Funeral Service Professional Association you must derive some of your income from the funeral industry, students and retirees from the funeral profession are welcome as well, please e-mail the following information.
If you skip answering one of the seven questions, you are wasting your time, the standards are the same for everyone, FSPA is open to everyone in funeral service, we are all equals here no exceptions, FSPA will not tell anyone who you are unless you request your identity be disclosed, FSPA is only open to any type of Funeral Service Professional, or Funeral Service Affiliate such as: Funeral Association employees, Mortuary School Students, Funeral Service product providers and Funeral Service Media.
Accountants will tell you FSPA is a write off ! Please check with your accountant. If s/he approves Go get yourself a nice laptop and possibly write off your hardware as well as AOL or other Internet service charge as an expense, the more your participate in FSPA the more proof you have.
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To make life easier on me
First and foremost, Send your info or story in to FSPA.
2nd Please put on the top line your name and location, like "John from Massachusetts writes :"
3rd please address the subject line put:
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Because e-mail can be altered electronically, the integrity of this communication cannot be guaranteed. Any of the items you read here, you are free to reuse, understand, the postings are just that, the items are for the most part cut and pasted from E-mail, others FAXed and of course from funeral publications and other media. What you see here is never checked, if you do decide to republish or quote any thing FSPA puts out, check it out, please do not name the individual who sent the article without their permission. If you see fit to use any information from FSPA please give us credit. Ages ago a state association news letter posted a quote using the senders name, she was not a happy camper nor was her company, please use caution in the future. We appreciate your understanding and we need your support.
Consider these steps for your life.
1. Work like you don't need the money.
2. Love like you've never been hurt.
3. Dance like you do when nobody's watching.
C YA
John
BOTTOM LINE: WE ALL WORK FOR THE BETTERMENT OF FUNERAL SERVICE PROFESSION AND THE DEATH CARE INDUSTRY THE CONSUMERS WE SERVE AND THE PROFESSIONALS WE WORK WITH. IF YOU SEE ANYTHING WRONG, IF SOMETHING HERE REALLY OFFENDS YOU, LET'S WORK TOGETHER. PLEASE NOTIFY FSPA IMMEDIATELY, YOU CAN E-MAIL TO lowellma@aol.com Or call FSPA in the United States Voice 978-458-6816 Fax 978-459-0115 or the old fashioned way through the mail at FSPA c/o 14 Highland Street Lowell, Massachusetts 01852-3399 USA
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