3 minute read
President’s Message
By Kelly Kelly, MFDA Board President
I hope this note finds you all healthy. so deeply emotional in normal transmitting over FM radio or joining Dare I say the light is at the end of the circumstances but with the pandemic, families via Zoom? Not to mention, drive tunnel? For me, it is hard to believe we have been at this “new normal” of grief has been elevated to a whole new level for the survivors. through visitations, lining procession routes, or balloons with special 2019 Minnesota Funeral Directors Association Membership Directory providing service to our families for almost a year now. I am sure like me, many of you are welcoming the day of getting back to REALLY providing the service we all have missed so much. As Thomas Lynch wrote in his book “The Undertaking, Life Studies from the Dismal Trade”, the funeral isn’t for the dead but for the surviving. Families are used to being able to process messages filling our chapels? Maybe some of us have dug a little deeper to find ways to connect with our families a little bit more to fill the gap. We have stepped up and rolled with Sign & Return Proof To: E&M Consulting, Inc. 1107 Hazeltine Blvd, Suite #350 • Chaska, MN 55318 Fax: 1-952-448-9928 / Phone: 1-800-572-0011 MAS Communications Mary Reeves Company information shown here is for E&M accounting records only. It may not be what appears in the publication. Please contact the association directly to confirm the accuracy of your company business information. One year ago, no one could quite 465 Poplar St. their grief surrounded by an army of all the punches that came our way. Has Please respond within 5 business days imagine let alone figure out the changes Mankato, MN 56001 support by friends and additional family. the past year been tough? 100%! Do that we would be forced to make and deal with, or the extent of time the pandemic would encompass. This past year though, a lot of us have been We all know and value what we do as professionals in deathcare and we bear providing the path for families through visitations and meaningful services we all need vacations...probably so. So many times, we are the forgotten ones but I hope you all truly know your value. My hat goes off to all of my colleagues By signing below, I (advertising company) am approving my ad as is or with changes and I represent and warrant that this advertisement placed with all content, text, images, pictures and/or logos do not infringe on any other person’s copyright, trademark, rights of literary property, and intellectual property, nor do they violate the rights of privacy of, or libel other persons. I agree to indemnify and hold harmless E&M Consulting, Inc. against any claims, judgments, court costs, attorney’s fees and other expenses arising from any alleged or actual breach of this warranty. 507-387-6543 507-345-3816 marypreeves@mascommunications.net pushed out of our comfort zones and 1/4 Page that include gathering to tell stories, spread throughout the state. We have have been challenged to find new ways of reaching families that were unable Full Color hugging, fellowship over lunch, a huge part of what we still can’t do right now. adapted and persevered. I am always so humbled daily by the service we provide, *Colors in the ad are for representational purposes only and will be brighter and more exact in the final product. Also artwork and photos shown in the ad are not exact, only because our printers are limited and once printed, the quality will to gather. Have some families felt shortchanged because they were unable to celebrate the life of their loved one in a normal, natural way? Absolutely! As we all know, death creates an experience PAST With our dedication in our profession, we have overcome and provided ways to make this time a bit more bearable. Who would have thought even ten years ago we would be livestreaming funerals, be much improved. and I hold the utmost respect for all of you. Looking forward to gathering with you all, my friends, sometime soon. Warmest Regards, Kelly
