MFDA Bulletin Minnesota Funeral Directors Association 7046 East Fish Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55311 Change Service Requested
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from all of us at MFDA!
Happy Holidays BULLETIN
PUBLISHED MONTHLY FOR THE MINNESOTA FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
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Minnesota Funeral Directors Association BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF AND OTHER CONTACTS President Michael Cudmore Cease Funeral Home Bagley, MN michaelwcudmore@yahoo.com
Secretary Jeff Hartquist Hartquist Funeral Home Luverne, MN engebretson@iw.net
Treasurer Shawn Kirby Kolden Funeral Service Le Sueur, MN shawntkirby@yahoo.com
Past President Michael Dahl Anderson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Montevideo, MN mdahl@maxminn.com
DISTRICT DIRECTORS Ashley Hoff (District 1) Hoff Funeral and Cremations Service St. Charles, MN hoff.ashleymarie@gmail.com
Dan Dahl (District 10) Dahl Funeral Home East Grand Forks, MN dahlfuneralhome@midconetwork.com
Shawn Kirby (District 2) Kolden Funeral Service Le Sueur, MN shawntkirby@yahoo.com
Chris Jacobson (District 11) Bell Brothers Funeral Home, Duluth, MN chris.jacobson@tlcofduluth.com
Jeff Hartquist (District 3) Hartquist Funeral Home Luverne, MN engebretson@iw.net Michael Dahl (District 4) Anderson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Montevideo, MN mdahl@maxminn.com Raymond Bartlett (District 5) Johnson-Haglund Funeral Home Litchfield, MN funeral@hutchtel.net District 6 & 7 – Open
POLICY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE Leif Larsen
Green-Larsen Mortuary International Falls, MN llarsen@greenlarsen.com
PAST PRESIDENT REP Norman Larsen
Green-Larsen Mortuary International Falls, MN nlarsen@greenlarsen.com
Doug R Dingmann, CFSP (District 8) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Darlyne Erickson, CAE Homes, St. Cloud, MN 763-416-0124 dougdingmann@williamsdingmann.com 952-451-8950 (cell) info@mnfuneral.org Steve Sheets, CFSP (District 9) Schoeneberger Funeral Home Perham MN sheets.steve@yahoo.com
In This Issue From the Director........................................................... 4 From the Board............................................................... 5 Why Membership Matters..............................................6 Legislative Notes............................................................. 7 Enough: Hearts of Hope Camp Recap...........................8 Your Best Year.................................................................9 Are You Brining Enough Value to the Families You Serve?................................................10 The Undertaker.............................................................. 11 2015 Convention Call for Session Presenters...............12 Book Review: Over Our Dead Bodies: Undertakers Lift the Lid.....................................................................14 It’s the Holidays–And It Will Be Okay........................ 16 In Memoriam..................................................................17 Dr. Alan Wolfelt to be Keynote Speaker at 2015 MFDA Convention.................................................18 Service of Gratitude.......................................................19 Celebrating 125 Years of MFDA................................... 20 MFDA Allied Members.................................................21 Classifieds...................................................................... 22
Calendar March 2-5, 2015, NFDA Advocacy Summit Washington, DC March 20-22, 2015, Hearts of Hope Family Grief Camp Lake Shamineau Camp near Motley, MN www.childresgriefconnection.com April 21, 2015, NFDA Certified Crematory Operator Program, Location TBD in metro area May 18-20 | MFDA’s 125th Annual Convention Earle Brown Conference Center, Brooklyn Center
Who We Are: Minnesota Funeral Director’s Association (MFDA) is the statewide resource dedicated to supporting our member’s growth professionally, ethically, and operationally.
What Is Our Mission: Our mission is to
enhance and support funeral service excellence through our programs, legislative representation and service to Minnesotans.
How Accomplish This: • Essential and enduring principles that guide our organization’s behaviors and actions • Advancing the value of funeral service consistent with the changing needs of society • Advocacy on behalf of consumers and members • Visionary leadership - trust and confidence in staff and volunteer leadership
7046 East Fish Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55311 p: (763) 416-0124 f: (763) 545-9499 e: info@mnfuneral.org www.mnfuneral.org
• Promotion of integrity; honest and ethical behavior within the funeral industry • Collaboration with others in the interest of consumers and members • Recognize the importance of education as a vehicle to enhance both public service and public image
The MFDA Bulletin is published monthly for MDFA members. Copyright ©2014 MFDA Service Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission of the publisher. Advertising opportunities are available by contacting MFDA to request an ad rate sheet. Classified ads are also available at $50 for up to 75 words. Please e-mail the ad to info@mnfuneral.org, fax or mail to the fax number or address listed above, along with the desired run time of your ad.
www.mnfuneral.org 3
Executive Director’s Report The Future Leadership of MFDA Another year coming to a close and it’s been a busy one for MFDA. I have to thank both the MFDA Staff and Board for supporting me in my role as your Executive Director. Without any of them, I would be pretty much hanging out there on my own and that’s not a happy prospect! This past year I have started focusing on leadership for myself and others. I was fortunate enough to attend a 6 session Leadership Academy hosted by the Midwest Society of Association Executives (MSAE, http://www.msae.com) and taught by Chad Weinstein of Ethical Leaders in Action (http:// www.ethinact.com). It was a diverse group of 18 individuals and we immediately became aware of our diverse experiences and perspectives on leadership. Starting out with the premise that ethical leadership consists of empowering others to improve the world, the experience made me aware of the fact that, unbeknownst to me, I have in fact been in positions of leadership. Primarily as I work with volunteer boards and members of professional associations. Organizations working towards a common goal of “improving the world” through education, legislation, communication and shared ideas in their area of their expertise. In doing so we improve both our individual and collective worlds. As a funeral service professional you are in a position of leadership in your community. You are looked up to by those you serve and are considered one of the “go-to” individuals in your area, along with the Mayor, Chief of Police, Physician, School Principal and other leaders. You are the “expert” in your community on all matters of funeral service, death, grief and memorialization and should consider yourself the leader in your field, not “just” the funeral director in town. I know many of you carry that leadership role into Kiwanis, Rotary, Lion’s, Scouting and your church to name but a few. However, have you considered who will carry on after your leadership role has ended? I was reminded recently by someone who served on a board that as leaders, we are only temporary no matter what the tenure actually is. A selfless look at what the growth and health of the people and association has been, currently is and, most importantly, what it can be is paramount to the success of the group. An involvement of every stakeholder regardless of their “station” at least to have their thoughts heard even if they are not the decision maker. If you are the decision maker, as much as you have to take care of the business at hand, you owe it to yourself and others to pay it forward to prepare the next leaders in your organization. Words like selfless, vision, empowerment, honesty, dedication and investment should be synonymous in a success plan, regardless
4 MFDA Bulletin • NOV/DEC 2014
of the business or organization you are engaged in. Whether it is a church, funeral home or police department, these qualities are often quashed by individual interests, political or monetary pressures or simple avoidance even if by “accident”. Now you know where I’m going with this. Many of you have been a part of the association for more than several years and have served on the board and/or a variety of committees. I’ve heard “I’ve been there done that, it’s someone else’s turn” from a few people and I understand. However, your past experiences could assist MFDA as it develops future leaders. Towards that end, the current MFDA Board recently held a strategic planning session and has identified areas that we will be focusing on for the near future. All of the plans will hopefully lead to increased value to you as a member and will include, but not be limited to: • Providing quality continuing education throughout the State • Developing a MFDA Leadership Academy for young professionals in funeral service • Promoting the value of funeral service to consumers • Developing future leadership for MFDA • Reaching out to related organizations (i.e. hospice, cemeteries, grief educators) • Continuing effective lobbying & advocacy I plan on continuing to work with the current leaders of MFDA to fulfill the plans that were started at the recent strategic planning session and welcome your input. I want to thank Bruce Matza with Innovations in Management (http://www. innovationsinmanagement.com) for very effectively leading myself and the board through a series of activities that lead to healthy and productive discussions on the future of MFDA. As you find your membership renewal notice in the mail, please consider what we can do to enhance the return on your investment in the future of funeral service in Minnesota. Then call me! Thank you for your support and have a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year!
Darlyne Erickson MFDA Executive Director
FROM THE BOARD
A Report from your MFDA Board By Shawn Kirby
Greetings to all of our members and friends of MFDA! I have been asked to put a few thoughts together while our president, Michael Cudmore, is under the weather. Hope you are feeling better soon Michael. Earlier this month, on December 2-4, our MFDA board gathered in Bloomington for our annual winter board meeting. Our first day was hosted by Bruce R. Matza with Innovations in Management of Woodbury, who lead our group through the strategic planning process. His company specializes in assisting companies, organizations and associations to sharpen their organizational skills and operations. His professional guidance and thoughts were shared with our board members and with many past presidents who were also in attendance. We started the day with some interesting exercises and demonstrations, followed by defining many of our strengths and prioritizing many of our goals. I found this day to be very rewarding, and I am looking forward to Bruce’s follow up thoughts and assessments with our association. Our second day of meetings we were given a report and update with Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company (FDLIC). Their company continues to develop creative concepts and products. We value the long relationship we have shared with FDLIC over the years. MFDA’s legislative committee continues to work hard and is gearing up for a new legislative season
starting in January 2015. We were also visited by the Minnesota Department of Health and the director of Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. It is always a pleasure to continue our great relationships with these professional networks. This May will be MFDA’s 125th Annual Convention at the Earle Brown Center. It will be tough to match the success of last year’s convention but we seem to exceed all expectations every year. This March 3-5, 2015, many of our board members and our executive director will be attending the NFDA Advocacy Summit in Washington DC. I look forward to attending this again, as we had a wonderful experience last year meeting our leaders at the federal level and sharing our concerns with them. This also is a great opportunity to meet with other funeral directors and associations officers from other states. It is always reassuring to know that a lot of our concerns and goals are echoed around the country. I wish a very blessed and joyous Christmas season to all of you and your families. Looking forward to serving in the months to come.
MFDA’S 125TH ANNUAL CONVENTION May 18-20, 2015
Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center
www.mnfuneral.org 5
The Ideal Member
2015 MFDA Membership Dues
I pledge that I will be an ideal member by:
Firm Membership.................................................................$420
• Investing time to help fulfill the mission
Branch Membership............................................................ $245
• Taking advantage of the opportunities and programs to better my organization and myself. • Staying informed about available resources and reading the association’s materials. • Volunteering my unique knowledge, resources and experience to the organization; and knowing when I’m too busy to be a good volunteer. • Promoting the association to others in my industry/profession, so as to expand the power of unity. • Keeping contact information current to enable the association to fully utilize my membership for the common good.
($14,000 membership cap)
Cases.....................................................................................$7.75 ($14,000 membership cap)
Individual Membership.......................................................$420 Allied Membership..............................................................$350 Emeritus Membership......................................................... $150 MFDA Firm members will be getting their membership packet in the mail. If you need a copy of the membership application please contact our office at 763-416-0124 or visit our website at www.mnfuneral.org to print application. You may also join/renew online by logging into your members only account after January 1, 2015. If you need assistance in renewing/joining online, please contact Miki at mtufto@ mnfuneral.org or 763-416-0124.
• Promoting the highest principles in the profession/industry. • Treating staff with professional respect, recognizing that paying dues does not make them my employee. • Respecting the volunteer leaders for their contributions --- even if I might not agree. • Maintaining professional, transparent, collegial relationships with fellow members. • Offering timely input on issues and public policy development, including responding to calls for action and surveys. • Supporting the grassroots advocacy efforts with my time and dollars. • Understanding and participating in elections and governance opportunities. • Ensuring that dues renewal is a part of the culture and budget of my organization. • Recognizing that the members are the association—it is not something separate from us, or a business from which we buy services—and that without our investment and participation the advancements cannot be achieved.
Minnesota Funeral Director X: ________________________________________
6 MFDA Bulletin • NOV/DEC 2014
Who We Are: Minnesota Funeral Director’s Association (MFDA) is the statewide resource dedicated to supporting our member’s growth professionally, ethically, and operationally.
What Is Our Mission: Our mission is to enhance and support funeral service excellence through our programs, legislative representation and service to Minnesotans.
How Accomplish This: Essential and enduring principles that guide our organization’s behaviors and actions • Advancing the value of funeral service consistent with the changing needs of society • Advocacy on behalf of consumers and members • Visionary leadership - trust and confidence in staff and volunteer leadership • Promotion of integrity; honest and ethical behavior within the funeral industry • Collaboration with others in the interest of consumers and members • Recognize the importance of education as a vehicle to enhance both public service and public image
LEGISLATIVE NOTES
Looking Ahead to the 2015 Minnesota Legislative Session By Judy Cook, Cook Girard Associates
The 2015 legislative session will soon be underway, beginning on Tuesday, January 6th and must conclude by May 18th. The result of the elections means there will be new leadership in the House, with Republicans taking control. They have elected Rep. Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) Speaker-designate and Rep. Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers) Majority Leader-elect, as well as all new committee chairs.
The MFDA Legislative Committee and Cook Girard Associates are working to put together our proposal for legislative changes to the statute governing mortuary science in Minnesota. As we move further into the legislative process, we may again ask that members of MFDA reach out to their legislators with support or concerns. Throughout the session we will work with you to make sure that MFDA member concerns are addressed.
MFDA is well positioned to work with the new House leadership and Chairs as well as those in the Senate, whose Chairs remain the same as last session. We have also continued our strong working relationship with the Dayton Administration and in particular, the Mortuary Science division at the Department of Health. Through MFDA’s attendance at the MDH Ad Hoc task force meetings, we are aware of some of the changes to the mortuary statute the Department will propose in the upcoming session. The Department’s official proposal will be part of Governor Dayton’s omnibus Health policy bill which is expected to be released in the first couple months of the session. MFDA members have been able to provide meaningful input to the Department throughout this process and we will continue to comment and work with the Department and legislature if there are specific proposals with which MFDA has concerns. We will remain engaged with the Department and legislators to make sure our concerns are addressed. With 26 newly elected house members and 108 incumbents, January will be a good time to reach out to your Representative with congratulations and let them know you will be contacting them about any concerns that may arise during the session. Cook Girard will send new contact information to you in January, when it becomes available. Until then, please watch for opportunities in your community to meet with local legislators and let them know they can talk to you about any issues at the legislature impacting funeral service.
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Enough By Coral Popowitz, Children’s Grief Connection Executive Director
We had twelve families at Hearts of Hope grief camp this fall. In the weeks before camp I struggled with questions of enough… will we have enough families, campers and teens, volunteers? Will we have enough food, enough supplies? Will we given enough support, resources, compassion, hope and healing to these courageous people? Are our volunteers trained enough, brave enough, playful and care-full enough? Will the activities, the space and the time be enough to help grieving families? Have I, as the leader of Children’s Grief Connection, done enough to make the 32nd Hearts of Hope camp meaningful to those who attend? The questions of enough seem to never get answers because the question of enough is a ‘glass is half full/half empty’ question. Enough questions are perspective questions. What is ever enough? Twelve families is the fewest we have ever served at Hearts of Hope camp and I worried whether I had done enough to reach out – to school social workers, to funeral directors, to Facebook friends, to recently grieving families I felt could be helped and supported – to invite them to trust us in their struggle to regain balance after the death of a loved one. And would just twelve families be enough to have a successful camp? Would we have enough people to make effective small groups? Would we have enough boys, girls, and adults to give that all important sense of finding others who have shared the same losses, to meet others on the same path of grief after the death of a parent, a spouse, a child, a grandparent or a death by suicide?
8 MFDA Bulletin • NOV/DEC 2014
I knew I had more than enough volunteers ready to share their weekend, their energy and their hearts to help make camp happen in whatever ways were needed. I knew, sadly, I would have to ‘next time’ to some as it became clear we had more volunteers than families ready to attend. I knew our bank balance was dwindling as the candles and t-shirts, the meals and the lodging bills were stacking up. I knew we would have enough for camp but would we have enough for the next camp? As the leader it’s part of my job to worry about whether there is enough…of everything. What I found was that twenty grieving campers and teens, seventeen grieving adults and thirty-six volunteers were more than enough. Enough to fill the dance floor on Friday night, to hold sharing circles that were insightful and helpful. Enough to play a rousing game of kickball and a drum circle that was powerfully unforgettable. Our volunteers, as always, brought much more than enough compassion, play and care. Enough generosity came from families and volunteers to relieved the worry of bank balances and bills. For the seventy three people who came together that weekend, who dared to dance, to drum, to do yoga, to light a candle to cry and hug, to remember and honor, we were enough. Each one of us, just being who we were, how we were, as we poured sand into a vessel of HOPE, became a community. And that answers all the question of enough.
Your Best Year By Pastor Dan Carlson , Chaplain – MN Chiefs of Police Association
IMPORTANT
CONTACTS
Another example of “Have the Talk of a Lifetime.” In August, my family got together to celebrate my Dad’s 90th birthday. Three generations of Carlson’s sat together in my sister’s back yard eating burgers, brats, salads, chips and more. We started reminiscing about the past 90 years and all of the events that have changed the world and changed our lives. Then I asked my dad, “Out of the past 90 years, what was your best year?” Dad just chuckled and avoided the question, sharing a few thoughts about his past. Since it was dad’s birthday, I didn’t push for an answer. He has lived a very full and active life, defined by two significant life events. The first was his three years as a United States Marine. He was a decorated, South Pacific combat veteran in World War II. The second was a 30 year career with the Minneapolis Fire Department as a firefighter and arson investigator. As I tried to figure out what his “best year” may have been, I can see why he didn’t have a quick answer. The sheer volume of years and life experiences was overwhelming. I asked others at the party the same question. And most everyone responded with significant enthusiasm…that they had no intention of answering my questions. The best I got was a few responses of individual life events – jobs, weddings, births, vacations (that was probably the biggest response) and other “memorable” events. So I decided to give it a shot myself. I narrowed it down to my 40th year. 1996/1997. It was a year without any family marriages, births, deaths or job changes. But it was a year of one of my biggest sand most memorable adventures. We took a family road trip that lasted six weeks, covered 8,000 miles and 28 states. The five of us lived in a 20 year old 13-foot, Scamp camper. I’ll spare you the details, but after reflecting on why number 40 sticks
out as possibly my best year, “Scamp across America” had three important components that saturated my entire year. It gave me something to hope, plan and prepare for; something Pastor Dan’s father, Peterson, at age 90 challenging to engage and participate in; and something to remember, reflect on learn from. Something to hope for something to do, something to remember. I don’t know if that formula will help you identify your best year, but I know that it will lead to some interesting conversations and reflections. I think it is an important exercise in our spiritual lives to take a closer look at ourselves. We can learn a lot about who we are when we think about our life experiences. How we decide which events are “good” and which are “bad” can be enlightening. When we look back on life, we gain perspectives that can only come with passing time. “Remembering” is an important part of learning and growing. I can’t say that the questions I asked that day were the highlight of the event, but I know I did learn some things about myself and about my dad. By the end of the party, Dad still wouldn’t give me an answer to my questions of naming his favorite year. So I asked, “Then give me your best day.” His answer was pretty quick, “My best day? Every day that I still wake up!” An oldie but a goodie and priceless. This article, previously published in the Minnesota Police Chief magazine, volume 34, #4, Fall 2014, has been reprinted with the permission of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association.
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH www.health.state.mn.us MORTUARY SCIENCE SECTION www.health.state.mn.us/divs/ hpsc/mortsci/mortsci.htm Gilbert Acevedo, Manager gilbert.acevedo@state.mn.us Mortician Investigators Marguerite Slonine, 651-201-3847 marguerite.slonine@state.mn.us Erika Fulgern, (651) 201-3848 erika.fulgern@state.mn.us Carlena Weiland, (651) 201-3828 carlena.weiland@state.mn.us Kathryn Danielson, Office Specialist 651-201-3829 kathryn.danielson@state.mn.us OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS Molly Mulcahy Crawford State Registrar Phone: (651) 201-5972 Molly.Crawford@state.mn.us www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/ osr/deathreg/index.html UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA Program of Mortuary Science mortsci@umn.edu Michael LuBrant, Ph.D. Director mpl@umn.edu Phone: (612) 624-3980 Fax: (612) 626-4163 Anatomy Bequest Program bequest@umn.edu Angie McArthur Phone: (612) 625-1111 Fax: (612) 625-1688
www.mnfuneral.org 9
Are You Bringing Enough Value to the Families You Serve? By John Harrington, FDLIC Regional Vice President of Sales
As I hear more and more about the next generation of funeral planners and how the dynamics are likely going to change, I can’t help but think this might be a little intimidating to a funeral home that has done things pretty much the same way for 20 years or more. Some big words, phrases, and ideas I’ve heard or read over the past couple of years include: “age wave”, “silver tsunami”, “generational marketing” and my favorite, “either be washed away by the wave, or change the game and ride the wave.” It can all be a little overwhelming to consider what needs to change in our industry to adapt and be ready for the next generation of funeral consumers.
clear the next generation is looking for a different kind of funeral than their parents or grandparents, but what is unclear is exactly what it is they are looking for. What we do know is consumers today across a variety of purchases are willing to pay, and even pay more, for what they perceive to be something of high value. Value and creating value is somewhat subjective, so I thought it would be helpful to clarify what would be considered VALUE CREATION when it comes to funeral service.
Going forward in order to stay relevant and provide the sought after-value families search for, funerals will need to focus on healing and the survivors as The common theme that keeps coming opposed to the means of disposition and MNisFDLIC Third Page Ad 2014 2_FDLIC 2/26/2014 Whatever 8:35 AM Page 1 provide a up VALUEResonate_One CREATION. It’s obviously the deceased. helps
to strike a harmonious chord; to evoke a
resonate
feeling of shared emotion or belief; to receive an understanding response in return.
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healing tribute will be valued over what type of merchandise is sold. And, families will want to participate more in the service as well as leave the tribute with a sense of hope, understanding, and relevance. Maybe you’re thinking, “That all makes sense, but HOW do we do this? Do we need to invest in technology and improving our website, invest in savvy marketing; perhaps even social media marketing? Do we need to alter our facilities to meet the needs of the next generation to include hospitality areas, catering services, or possibly even a concierge type service?” To varying degrees the answer to all of the above is YES. At the same time, creating more value can start by simply listening more and accommodating requests that go “outside the box” and maybe even offering “outside the box” suggestions in anticipation of the family’s needs. To start introducing more behaviors that create value, we have to think less about the transaction taking place and more about relationships being developed. We live in a world where many industries are becoming super transactional. Think about the last time you made an airline reservation. You likely purchased your ticket online, but if you did it over the phone and didn’t mind being on hold and paying even more for your ticket, you could actually speak to a real person. When you have to pay more for a product just for the privilege to speak to someone “live,” the pinnacle of transactional behavior has been reached. In contrast, becoming super relational is how we create value in funeral service for the next generation. In funeral service, we aren’t searching for ways to automate or become less personable, we are searching for ways to better connect, relate, and serve. And it doesn’t have to be complicated. Super relational simply means asking more questions of the families you serve in order to really understand what would help create a meaningful and healing tribute, helping
them solve problems, offering creative solutions, and anticipating future needs. And the key is to do so sincerely, with care, and a servant’s heart; something funeral directors already have! Here is an example of one funeral home and church creating value by going outside the box with a simple gesture to accommodate the needs of grieving family and friends. Two weeks ago, my wife and I attended the funeral of a dear friend who courageously battled breast cancer for almost two years. She left behind two young sons and a husband who many of us joked was like her third son. Our friend did absolutely everything for her family as well as for others and was one of the most selfless people I’ve ever known. Fortunately, she did take the time to plan her own funeral. In fact, she planned almost the entire thing. During the service the pastor recounted her final thought in planning the service was, “how do I make it so everyone leaves my funeral happy?” which of course brought both laughter and tears. What they came up with was to have everyone depart with some cookies and chocolates to try and cheer us up. Like I said, one of the most selfless people I’ve known. Not only thinking of everyone else while she was with us, but even after she was gone. It was such a simple thing for the funeral home and church to accommodate such a request. At the same time, it brought some healing, made us smile, gave us hope, and helped create the memorable tribute we all needed. While many changes will be necessary to meet the next generation’s demands, this story is proof you can start small and still create tremendous value for the families you serve. As you move forward, I encourage you to consider how you can start thinking less about the transaction and more about creating relationships. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from creator of thesalesblog.com and value creation expert Anthony Iannarino, “All things being equal, relationships win. All things being unequal, relationships still win.”
The Undertaker By Jerry J. Brown
How often have we heard a Funeral Director referred to as “a hero?” Not too often but maybe now its high-time that we do. I know hundreds of funeral professionals and with few exceptions; the majority qualify as “heroes”. Now, I suspect that very few of them fit the Sgt. York, Audie Murphy or John Wayne hero categories, however they are “heroes” in the eyes of our American culture. The Funeral Director serves our society in a host of profoundly quiet, sensitive and compassionate ways. Let us consider now, the “heroes” of our Life/ Death Care institution: • The care, solemnity and pure artistry of the post-death cosmetology and preparation are extraordinarily vital to the viewing process and peaceof-mind of the family members and mourners. • The Funeral Director skillfully “directs” the entire funeral ceremony with compassion, understanding and professionalism inherent within the covenant to shepherd families through the shock and pain of loss. • The funeral professional adroitly assists in the myriad details and minutiae ad nauseum of state and local politics and regulations. • The Funeral Director is aware of and responsive to church, clergy, music, ushers and pallbearers in the early planning stages.
• Psychological, emotional and physiological response and reaction among family members and mourners are closely observed by the funeral director in the event of a need for medical assistance. • Post-funeral aftercare and continued Funeral Director/Family contacts are reassuring and often necessary if additional professional medical involvement is required. • Professional symposiums, continuing education, conventions and group gatherings are designed to perpetuate and refine quality caregiving and shepherding of professional/family interaction. • Community involvement and volunteer work are the funeral professionals’ expertise. Memberships in Rotary, Knights of Columbus, Lions clubs and Chambers of Commerce typify the professionals’ local activities. • Legendary are the national, regional and local disasters where the Funeral Director is among the first to volunteer the physical assistance, staff, facility, vehicles and equipment throughout the chaos. Amid the horror of the Twin Towers attack, Oklahoma City slaughter, Fort Hood, Katrina, floods, fires, tornadoes and air disasters ad infinitum, the funeral professionals are always among the first responders. HEROES, INDEED!
Jerry Brown is a well-known funeral service columnist who once raised buffalo in Ingomar, Montana.
www.mnfuneral.org 11
2015 MFDA Convention Call for Session Presenters Dates: May 18-20, 2015 Location: Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center, MN Submission Deadline: January 16, 2015 Minnesota Chapter Funeral Directors Association Our mission is to enhance and support funeral service excellence through our programs, legislative representation and service to Minnesotans.
About MFDA Convention MFDA Convention is an annual statewide convention designed to provide education, networking and sharing of best practices in funeral service. This year’s theme, Respecting the Past…Embracing the Future focuses on continually increasing the professionalism of funeral service and enhancing qualities that characterize our calling; respect, competency, compassion, empathy and open-minded to name only a few. As a professional community it is important to challenge ourselves by raising the bar and staying relevant in today’s culture. Specifically, the convention seeks to link such ideas as public health, technical innovation, environmental protection, business ethics and customer satisfaction.
Convention Objective MFDA Convention 2015 seeks to provide key partners in all areas of the funeral service industry the opportunity to increase their knowledge base and network with others. Partners include funeral directors, suppliers, preplanning consultants, brokers, owners, aftercare coordinators and support staff. Attendees will receive the tools needed to better serve the families in our communities through outstanding training sessions, inspirational keynote speakers, educational exhibits and demonstrations, best practice sharing, and other networking activities. Our focus is to present tangible, real world information using case studies and proven methods. Session topics might include proposals that: Address the specific challenges or new innovations in funeral service; provide technical or “how-to” training sessions; present tools and strategies for Operations and Teambuilding. Examples include: Pet Funerals • Work-Life Balance • Mass Casualties • Suicide • Green Funerals • Pregnancy and Formaldehyde Privacy Issues/HIPPA Compliance • Creating life stories • alkaline hydrolysis/Bio Cremation • Sales & Marketing Community Advocacy Opportunities • Personal Safety • pre-need planning • staging events Your abstract must clearly present an intermediate or advanced level subject matter relating to one of the above topics. Connections to the overall convention theme of Respecting the Past…Embracing the Future are also encouraged in the proposal.
Session length: 50 minutes with Q&A Note: We ask that speakers refrain from speaking about prices or other issues subject to antitrust legislation. In addition, we ask that speakers refrain from overt promotion of their own companies, products or services. Visit the MFDA Website for the online session proposal form at www.mnfuneral.org or call the MFDA office.
7046 East Fish Lake Road | Maple Grove, MN 55311 | Phone: (763) 416-0124 | Fax: (763) 545-9499 | Email: info@mnfuneral.org | www.mnfuneral.org
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BOOK REVIEW
“Over Our Dead Bodies: Undertakers Lift the Lid” Book Review by Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez LLC
The End. It comes after the walking-into-thesunset shot in old movies, usually in florid script. You see it in books for children, more than for adults. It’s at the tail of short stories, tongue-in-cheek advertisements, sarcastic social media postings… and life. And then what? What happens to your mortal remains when that’s all that remains? Take a peek at “Over Our Dead Bodies” by Kenneth McKenzie and Todd Harra, and you’ll get a general idea. In your job, you basically know what to expect from day to day. Not so, if you’re an undertaker. When you care for the dead and their families, anything can happen – and McKenzie and Harra prove that well. But first – a little history. Take the label “undertaker,” for example. It initially had to do with the undertaking of proper burial but some 130 years ago, the National Funeral Directors Association officially changed the title to “funeral director.” Back then, funeral directors and cabinet makers went hand-in-hand; someone had to make the coffins, so why not someone with woodworking skills? The business was then passed down through the family, with many an undertaker getting his (or her) start as a child, sweeping the parking lot, pulling weeds, or helping out inside. But getting back to the main point: “no day is the same” for a funeral director. You can’t
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ever prepare yourself for a “Goat” to appear on someone’s last wishes. You can’t fail to be impressed at the timing of a husband and wife who die within hours of one another. You can’t remain unfazed by any coincidence, really, and you’ll never get over the death of your own mother, no matter how many mothers you’ve buried. Still, funerals aren’t “doom and gloom and death and dying and tears and crying every day, all day.” Funny things happen – like a hearse caught in a snowstorm and a funeral rescued by a beat-up pickup. Like a jazz funeral that ended with a second chorus. Like superstitions, accidental love-matches, funeral crashers, and life stories that start with a piece of furniture and go full circle.
The Authors
Todd Harra
Photo by Melissa Harra
And speaking of life, the authors say, enjoy yours to the fullest “because you too will one day be pushing daisies.” No pun intended, but my first impression of “Over Our Dead Bodies” was that it was a little stiff. There’s quite a bit off-topic in the first few pages here – extraneous info that felt like a commercial – and because of that, it seems to take awhile for authors Kenneth McKenzie and Todd Harra to get to the body of their book. Once they do, however, we’re treated to the kinds of tales we’d normally beg to hear when we’d meet an undertaker at a cocktail party, as well as personal stories and a rambling (and quite fascinating) social history of death and funerals. But fear not: this isn’t macabre stuff; it’s funny and poignant and, as you dig in, it’s very, very addicting. Once you’ve started “Over our Dead Bodies,” in fact, you’ll like it to The End.
Kenneth McKenzie
Photo by Dave Champagne
Willmar
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CHILDREN’S GRIEF CONNECTION Memorial Program Participants • Abbott Funeral Home • Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home &
Cremation Services • Anderson Funeral Home • Anderson-Mattson Funeral Home • Benson Funeral Home & Cremation Service • Bruzek Funeral Home • Daniel Funeral Home & Cremation Service • Kinder-Dennis Funeral Home • Prosch-Dennis Funeral Home • Dingmann Funeral Care
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& Cremation Service • Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel • Emblom-Brenny Funeral Services • Gieseke Funeral Chapel • Green-Larsen Mortuary • Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home • Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service • Iten Funeral Homes • Johnson-Peterson Funeral Homes • Kramer Family Funeral Home
• Lakeview Funeral Home • McNearney Funeral Home • Michaelson Funeral Home • Patton-Schad Funeral &
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For more information on how your funeral home can participate in the Children’s Grief Connection Memorial Program, please contact Executive Director Coral Popowitz at 877-226-7632 or coral@childrensgriefconnection.com
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It’s the Holidays—And It Will Be Okay By Coral Popowitz, Children’s Grief Connection Executive Director
There has been a lot written and read about how to get through the holidays when you are grieving the loss of a loved one. Suggestions and advice abound as grievers begin to steel themselves for the barrage of holiday celebrations and festivities, the happy family times…. Being thankful at Thanksgiving dinner when you have an empty seat at the table is not easy. Celebrating traditions at Christmastime that no longer include your loved one, or ringing in a New Year that holds more grief, more holidays can be a challenge. We can be overwhelmed with all the traditions, memories, celebrations that remind us of the past with our loved one and the future without them. Most grievers look toward the holiday season not just with sorrow and pain but often with dread and anxiety: “How can I celebrate? Will I bring everybody else down? Why am I expected to have “Happy Holidays”? No matter how ‘dressed up’ I get, my face shows my pain. I’m too tired to put up the tree. I can’t sing carols of ‘glad tidings and great joy’. I just want to go to bed and wait for the holidays to be over…but I have children and they have to have Thanksgiving and Christmas, don’t they? So what do I do?”
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I think we have to give ourselves permission to do things differently, to take a pass, or dive right in. I think we need to take gentle, loving care with these days of high emotion, vivid memories, day after day of things ‘to do’ or places to go. I think we need to remind ourselves that we are deeply wounded by our loss and need time, space and love to heal. Mostly I feel we need to assure ourselves, our children, our families that there is hope in the holiday season, the hope that things are going to be okay… It’s okay to change any thing or to change nothing. It’s okay to go to the party or stay home, to arrive late and leave early. It’s okay to shop in stores or shop on line, or not shop at all. It’s okay to change Christmas morning presents to Christmas Eve presents. It’s okay to go to candlelight service and okay to light your own candle at home. It’s okay to stay home for the holidays or go on a vacation. It’s okay to say ‘no’ and it’s okay to say ‘yes’. It’s okay to cry and to laugh, to remember and to honor. It’s okay to grieve and it’s okay to celebrate. Nothing may be okay now but It will be okay, maybe not today, this holiday, this year but It will be okay. Tell the kids, tell the family, it’s going to be different this year and It will be okay.
IN MEMORIAM Zane Tassler, Minnesota funeral director, age 90, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Sunday, November 09, 2014, at Lake Region Hospital.
an avid fisherman and had many fond memories of time spent at their summer home on Long Lake. He also enjoyed sketching and woodworking.
He was born May 16, 1924, to Harold and Emma (Neuenburg) Tassler in Twin Brooks, South Dakota. He attended Lamberton High School in Lamberton, graduating in 1943. Zane entered the U.S. Army July 2, 1943, serving during WWII in the European Theater (ETO) until he was discharged on April 1, 1946.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Harold and Emma and sister, Betty Anderson.
On June 8, 1946, he was united in marriage to Lois Hubert in Lamberton, MN. Zane then continued his education at Augsburg College, the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science in Milwaukee and the University of Minnesota. He was a licensed mortician for over 50 years, serving in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Zane was a member of Federated Church, VFW and American Legion. He loved the outdoors, hunting, was
He is survived by his wife, Lois Tassler of Fergus Falls; children, Jane (Robert) Bellman of Richland Center, WI, Marilyn (James) Thompson of Twin Falls, ID and Gayle (Michael) Heiden of Stillwater; grandchildren, Rob (Vanessa) Bellman, Julie (Shawn) Copple, Sara (Mychal) Gorden, Zach (Valerie) Thompson, David (Stephanie) Heiden, Joe Heiden; great-grandchildren, Sophie and Madeline Bellman, Kylie, Micah and Kinsey Copple, Ava and Zayne Gorden and Stella Thompson. Visitation was held November 14 at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls. Service was held November 15 at Federated Church in Fergus Falls. Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com
2014 Events: Tuxedos and Tiaras Doreen Devoy Hulgan and Christine Skluzacek are decked out in their tiaras at October’s Tuxedos and Tiaras event at Morrissey’s Pub in Minneapolis, benefiting the Children’s Grief Connection. Photo by Miki Tufto
www.mnfuneral.org 17
MFDA Members Only Groups Remember the old Yahoo Groups Listserv? Well it’s back! When you log-in to your MFDA Members Only profile on the home page of www.mnfuneral.org, you will see there are groups you automatically belong to, such as your District group page, committee group page (if applicable), and all members belong to the MFDA Member Listserv group. In this group, you will find forums under the topics of General Discussions, Obituaries, and Announcements. Please feel free to engage with your fellow members by posting your questions, comments and/or announcements to these forums. Any questions about these groups, or having trouble logging into your profile, contact Miki at mtufto@mnfuneral.org or 763-416-0124.
Dr. Alan Wolfelt to be Keynote Speaker at MFDA’s 125th Annual Convention, May 18-20, 2015 Author, educator, and grief counselor Dr. Alan Wolfelt is known across North America for his inspirational teaching gifts. His compassionate messages about healing in grief—based on his own personal losses as well as his experience supporting children, teens, adults, and families over the last three decades—speak not only to the intellect but to the hearts of all who hear him. Perhaps best known for his model of “companioning” versus “treating” mourners, Dr. Wolfelt is committed to helping people mourn well so they can live well and love well. Founder and Director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition, Dr. Wolfelt presents numerous educational workshops each year for hospices, hospitals, schools, universities, funeral homes, community groups, and a variety of other organizations. He also teaches the 4-day trainings described on this website in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado. Dr. Wolfelt is a popular media resource who regularly provides his expertise to many top-tier television shows, newspapers, 18 MFDA Bulletin • NOV/DEC 2014
and magazines. Recipient of the Association for Death Education and Counseling’s Death Educator Award, Dr. Wolfelt is also a faculty member of the University of Colorado Medical School’s Department of Family Medicine. A prolific author, Dr. Wolfelt is a regular contributor to several journals. We invite you to visit the Companion Bookstore at http://www.centerforloss.com to learn more about his helpful books, DVDs, audiobook, and the popular “Helping Series” brochures. Dr. Wolfelt and his wife Sue, a family physician, are parents to three children. They live in the foothills of the beautiful Rocky Mountains next door to the Center for Loss and Life Transition. “Mourning in our culture isn’t always easy. Normal thoughts and feelings connected to loss are typically seen as unnecessary and even shameful. Instead of encouraging mourners to express themselves, our culture’s unstated rules would have them avoid their hurt and ‘be strong.’ “But grief is not a disease. Instead, it is the normal, healthy process of embracing the mystery of the death of someone loved. If mourners see themselves as active participants in their healing, they will experience a renewed sense of meaning and purpose in life.”
U of M Anatomy Bequest Program Service of Gratitude Each year the faculty, staff and students of the University of Minnesota’s Academic Health Center host a service of gratitude to recognize and honor the individuals who have gifted their remains to the University for the Advancement of medical science. The service has traditionally been held in November of each year. Invitations are sent out to each primary contact person we have on record and generally delivered six weeks prior to the service. Donors are honored through music, poetry and dance pieces, selected and performed by the health science students. The service recognizes all donors who have made a gift of their remains and is not intended to honor one specific donor or be a vehicle for the return of the donor’s cremated remains. The following remarks were made by Angela McArthur at this year’s conference. Greetings. I’m Angela McArthur, the Director of the Anatomy Bequest Program and I want to thank all of you for joining us here tonight. A long time ago, as a newly licensed funeral director, I was called out to a house in the middle of the night. A death had occurred in this home, and I was given the name of the deceased, and told that his family was expecting my arrival.
It is the same sacred kind of trust, I realize all of you have bestowed up me as the Director of the Anatomy Bequest Program. It is my honor, and the honor of my kind and talented co-workers at the Anatomy Bequest Program to accept the trust you place in us. We hope to forever preserve that trust. The second thing I realized that night, was how honored I felt to be a keeper of their story. I continued to feel honored when people share the stories of their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Through my years of working at the Anatomy Bequest Program, I have heard some amazing stories. These stories of resilience, fortune, faith, love, hope, and sometimes fear and misfortune has taught me a lot about life although they are generally being told after a death. You, and the loved one you are here to honor tonight, inspire me and the rest of our staff with your stories, and your acts of quiet courage and kindness.
I want to take this opportunity to recognize my fellow Anatomy Bequest Program coworkers including Sarah Paulsen, Andy Ashton, Jake Anderson, Paul Hill, John Straub, Debbie Kortmeier and Tamara Voss as well as our student employees for their hard work, dedication and professionalism. All of us invite Cover Art by Jessalyn Weaver all of you to continue to share your stories with When I arrived at the house, I noticed a us and all of the students, faculty, and staff here snowman and a sled in the yard and I wondered tonight after the service. if the person who had died was staying with his children and grandchildren. As I entered the home, I noticed a young couple Now, I am going to introduce part one of a two part donor with a small child in their arms. I soon learned I had been called picture presentation. to care for this young boy- who had died at only 2 years old of The donors, whose photographs you are about to see, are from natural causes. all walks of life, and each corner of the State. There are some Maybe because I was so young, and maybe because he was so unfortunate souls who died too young and there are some young-1 was at loss at how to proceed. So, I just sat and talked donors who lived long and graceful lives. During their lifetimes, with his parents. We talked for a long time while they told me they were barbers, journalists, fire fighters, nurses, scientists, their story. They shared many things with me including that they homemakers, among many more occupations. They are united in knew their boy was not destined to live long even before he death as teachers. born. They shared that they had close calls with his health before The people who will learn from these teachers are those who but he always rallied back....After some time, they announced will practice their profession in every corner of the state, country that they trusted me enough to care for their child and they and world. They are the researchers who spend long hours in lovingly bundled their boy into his winter coat, snow pants, hat, their labs trying to determine the causes of disease. They are mittens, boots and scarf, one last time, and placed him in my the physical and occupational therapists who assist us in our arms and told me that they were ready. recoveries from injuries and strokes. They are the doctors and As I left that night, I realized two things. First, I realized how truly dentists that will be diagnosing and treating some of us here in honored I felt to be there for them that night, and have earned attendance today. They are the health care providers that will be their trust. As the years have passed, and I had many more delivering babies, saving lives and making people comfortable professional, educational and life experiences including the birth in their last living days. They are the funeral directors who help of my children and the death of my son, I realized that what this us honor our loved ones after death. family bestowed upon me was really a very sacred kind of trust. Service of Gratitude
Northrop Auditorium, University of Minnesota November 11, 2014
www.mnfuneral.org 19
Celebrating 125 Years of MFDA – Part 1 1-800-443-2773
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The Minnesota Funeral Directors Association celebrates our 125th anniversary in 2015. Former MFDA Executive Director Gary Larsen chronicled a lengthy history of the association for the 100th Anniversary. We will highlight his historical notes in the next few issues of the Bulletin. The State of Minnesota was founded in 1858.
The Early Days In April 1890, a group of 12 to 15 men (three or four from the Dakotas) met at the office of Leigh and Dampier, Undertakers, for an embalming clinic. Eight years earlier, progressive undertakers had already formed a national association which would become NFDA. One of the members present had been to an NFDA Convention and was duly impressed with the educational program, particularly proper embalming. It was at this meeting that the group decided to form an association. Since both North and South Dakota embalmers were present, it was called the Tri-State Funeral Directors Association. Records are scant from those days and there is no record of the exact attendance of that first meeting. Newton T. Hume of Minneapolis, a partner with William Davies in the firm Hume and Davies, was elected as the first president in 1890. Davies, who later served as President was the glue who held the group together during those first years. Other founding and pioneer members included N.F. Warner, Nic Grosse, William Dampier, George Crosby, J.A. Willerscheid, Baird Sr., John Gleason, William Grapp, M.J. Gill, John Washburn, and Martin Benson. Embalming was the topic of the day. The Tri-State members saw embalming “as a means of better serving the public, as a disease preventative measure… to (facilitate) shipment by rail (to interment sites).” Davies later credited that the success of MFDA was due to the progressive measures instituted in those early days. MFDA was first to have a paid instructor in embalming as part of regular programs; first to establish a program at a State University; and first to carry on scientific research on embalming fluids.
New • Used • Leasing • Financing
www.4HEARSE.com 20 MFDA Bulletin • NOV/DEC 2014
It was a struggle to gain interest in the first few conventions and educational programs. But it did get better and at the 1894 Convention a resolution was passed of the following goals for the association: 1. Scientific research; 2. Higher educational standards; and 3. Licensure. The group’s goals were hotly contested. George Crosby of St. Cloud controlled the controversial situation and was noted that he was the person who helped shape the early MFDA history and ensure that its goals were met. Crosby along with Davies was credited with the fantastic growth for the new association.
SPECIAL THANKS TO MFDA’S 2014 ALLIED MEMBERS
MFDA thanks those individuals who have shown their commitment to MFDA and its members by becoming Allied members. To contact a member, call the MFDA office at 763-416-0124, refer to your MFDA Directory, or visit the online MFDA Buyer’s Guide at www.mnfuneral.org.
Advance Planning Services, LLP Doug Hanrahan www.advanceps.com
Federated Insurance Brock Martinez www.fedins.com
Messenger Bob Hoaglund www.messengerstationery.com
Anatomy Bequest Program Jake Anderson, Andrew Ashton, Paul Hill, Angela McArthur, Sarah Paulsen, John Straub, Tamara Voss www.bequest.umn.edu
Firefly Gift Boxes, LLC Liz Leitch-Sell www.fireflygiftboxes.com
Midwest Medical Examiners office Angie Chalmers www.midwestmedicalexaminer.com
Answering Service for Directors Jason Bathurst www.myASD.com Anubis Specialty Services Carol Fee www.assmn.com Artco Casket Company, Inc. Al Whitmer, Steve Doscher, Wally Gelecinskyj www.artcocasket.com Asphalt Associates Brad Larson www.asphalt-associates.com
Forest Lawn Memorial Park Association Kari A. Hubbard www.forestlawnmn.com Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company John Harrington Scott Tufto www.funeraldirectorslife.com Gary L. Pearson Pre-need consultation glpearson@comcast.net Gorder Mortuary Supply James Messer www.gordersupply.com
Minnesota Lions Eye Bank Raylene Streed www.mnlionseyebank.org Northern Design Caskets Scott Haiby Northwestern Casket Co. David Koll www.nwcasket.com Peterson Law Office Bill Peterson www.petersonlawoffice.com Photo Memorials Peg Wellendorf www.photomemorialbook.com
Aurora Casket Company Roger Ruth, Andi Waterhouse www.auroraadvantage.com
Homesteaders Life Company Steve Byhre Joel Rimstad www.homesteaderslife.com
Avalon, Inc. Daniel Seman www.avalonsecurity.com
Keith M. Merrick Co., Inc. Kyle Grimes www.keithmerrick.com
Baines Professional Vehicles John Baines www.4hearse.com
Kelco Supply Alicia Carr www.kelcosupply.com
Batesville Lynn Peterson www.batesville.com
Laker Insurance Patrick Zalusky
The Purple Cross Plan Denis Nordlum www.purplecross.com
Life Story Network Jason Meyle www.Lifestorynetwork.com
United Heritage Insurance Bob Hanson
Brown-Wilbert, Inc. Dave Gavin, Christopher Brown, Andrew Brown, Bruce Bratton, Dan Garrity, Maleia Kavitz,John Schmitt, Jeff Bauer, Jerry Brown www.brown-wilbert.com Children’s Grief Connection Coral Popowitz www.childrensgriefconnection.com Cremation & Trade Services, Inc. Paul Maher Dodge Company Greg Bright www.dodgeco.com
LifeSource Organ and Tissue Donation Mike Burakowski www.life-source.org MAS Communications Mary Reeves www.mascommunications.net Medical Disposal Systems, Inc. Warren Winkelman www.mds-mn.com
Pinnacle Group Bob Michaelson, Cory Michaelson www.pinnaclegroup4u.com Pluto Legal Cheryl Vos www.plutolegal.com Shepart Dawson Grover www.shepart.com
www.unitedheritage.com University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Michael LuBrant www.mortuaryscience.umn.edu Wieser Doric Matt Wieser, Todd Weiser www.wieser-doric.com Willmar Precast Company Ron Jasperson
www.mnfuneral.org 21
CLASSIFIEDS Licensed Funeral Director/Funeral Director Intern Opportunities Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre is seeking a Minnesota licensed funeral director with 2-5 years of experience to supplement our current staff. Our modern funeral homes complement our excellent service to people we know as our friends and neighbors. We offer compensation commensurate with experience and a full benefit package. Visit us online at www.pattonschad.com. Inquiries will be kept strictly confidential. Please email your resume to: ppatton@pattonschad.com or contact Pat or Sue Patton at (320) 352-3089. Brenny Funeral Chapels, a family owned and operated business, serving Brainerd, Baxter, Crosslake, Pequot Lakes, Randall and Staples, would like to hire a dedicated, experienced funeral director immediately. Along with excellent communication, we require an energetic, motivated, dedicated, flexible individual that appreciates a small city environment. Community involvement is important. We offer competitive wages, benefits (health insurance, profit sharing, retirement plan and more), and great coworkers. Interested persons should email resume and references to Rhonda Mareck at Rhonda@ brenny.com. Michaelson Funeral Home is a family owned funeral home in southern Minnesota with three beautiful locations employing the latest technologies to enhance the opportunities our funeral directors have to serve families. We offer wage and benefit packages that are among the best in the profession and pair them with attractive schedules. Currently, Michaelson Funeral Home is accepting resumes for a mortician licensed in Minnesota eager to perform duties in all aspects of funeral service. Please submit your resume to cory@michaelsonfuneral.com or to Michaelson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 482, Owatonna, MN 55060. Visit www.michaelsonfuneral.com for more information about our firm.
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Simonet Funeral Home in historic Stillwater, Minnesota has the opportunity for a fulltime funeral director/intern to join our successful team. We are a family owned business serving 75 -120 families a year and proud members of NFDA, MFDA, WFDA, and Selected Independent Funeral Homes. Responsibilities would include all aspects of funeral service including the ability to obtain both Wisconsin and Minnesota licensure. The successful candidate must be a self-motivated person that is able to think independently and work without direct supervision. This position comes with a competitive salary based on experience, flexible schedule, generous vacation schedule, matching retirement plan, health insurance, payment of all licensing and civic membership dues in addition to several other benefits. The historic and scenic community of Stillwater, located in the eastern Twin Cities on the Saint Croix River has plenty of year around social, community and recreational activities, in addition to all that the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area has to offer. Please send resume to Jason Haley at Jason@simonetfuneralhome.com or call 612-384-5898. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential. A family owned, progressive funeral home in St. Cloud Minnesota is looking for an experienced funeral director and embalmer. Candidate must have a minimum of 2 years’ experience, be committed to providing excellent client satisfaction to every family and possess a positive attitude with the ability to work in a team environment. Company provides excellent benefits, competitive salary, 401K, ongoing training, and opportunity plans. If you are looking for an innovative funeral home, have the ability to exceed the expectations of the families you serve, and enjoy being part of successful team, please send your resume to: Williams Dingmann Funeral Home and Crematory, c/o Doug Dingmann, 1900 Veterans Drive (8th St. N), St. Cloud, MN 56303 (320) 252-2522 or dougdingmann@williamsdingmann.com
We are currently looking for a licensed funeral director to join us at Vosseteig Funeral Homes. We serve approximately 140 families per year from our five rural funeral homes. We are located in the southwest part of Wisconsin (Vernon County) with our main funeral home in Viroqua. We have four satellite facilities located in Westby, Viola, DeSoto, and Gays Mills. This position requires proficiency in embalming, restorative art, and all aspects related to funeral service. Excellent communication skills, compassion, and integrity will help define the successful candidate. Applicant needs to be detail-oriented and able to work both independently as well as in a team. 3-5 years of experience is preferred. We are looking for someone interested in a career with us, not just a job. The call schedule is every other night and every other weekend. Temporary housing is available as well as a retirement plan and contribution toward health insurance. Please send cover letter, current resume, and salary requirements to cathy@vossfh.com or mail to Vosseteig Funeral Homes P.O. Box 88 Viroqua, Wi 54665. Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels is a family-owned and operated funeral business in the Twin Cities with 16 locations that serve the Twin-Cities Metro Area. We have an immediate opening for an experienced licensed funeral director. We provide a competitive compensation package with excellent benefits including medical, dental, profit sharing, paid-time-off, and a fair work & on-call schedule. We value compassionate customer service and communication skills, and are looking for a qualified director to join the Washburn-McReavy team. Please email resume and references to: billmcreavy@washburn-mcreavy.com, or mail to Washburn McReavy Attn: Bill McReavy, Jr, 2301 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis MN 55405.
Mahn Family Funeral Home in Rochester, Pine Island, and Zumbrota Minnesota, a family-owned funeral home, has a position for a full-time Minnesota licensed funeral. Responsibilities would include all aspects of funeral service. Individual must be a self-motivated person that is able to think independently and work without direct supervision. This position comes with competitive salary based on experience, flexible schedule, paid vacation, retirement plan, health insurance and other benefits. Please send resume to: joe.mahn@mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com or call 651-388-3343. Inquiries will be kept strictly confidential. Virginia/Hibbing, Minnesota - Range Funeral Home, cooperatively owned, has an immediate opening for a full-time licensed funeral director or intern to join our team. Duties include but are not limited to removals, embalming, family arrangements, working funerals and visitations. Applicants must be able to work well on a team as well as independently. Funeral Directors are on a three person rotation.
Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes & Cremation Services is seeking a full-time licensed funeral director or intern to add to our current staff. This person will be involved with the complete duties of a funeral director from the removal to the final disposition. We offer a competitive salary and year-end bonus along with benefits such as full company paid family health and dental insurance, retirement plan, license fees, continuing education costs, vacation, several community paid benefits, and bi-annual clothing allowance. You would be joining a staff of 4 other licensed morticians. The on call schedule and the holiday schedule would be evenly rotated between all the licensed staff.
Funeral director opportunities available with Vertin Family Funeral Homes. We are looking for dedicated, professional licensees to join our progressive group of funeral homes. We currently have openings in four states: ND, WI, WY and MN. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package as well as a flexible schedule allowing for balance between work and personal life. If you are interested in visiting about possible opportunities, please email your cover letter and resume to the email below, or call to visit confidentially. For more information about Vertin Family Funeral Homes, please visit our website at www. vertin.com.
For more information on the funeral home and how it operates as a “Community owned co-operative� go to www.mvfh.org. For information on the New Ulm community, go to www.newulm.com and request a relocation guide. Please e-mail your cover letter and resume to General Manager, Bruce Savoy, at sbmv@comcast.net or mail to Bruce Savoy, C/o Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes, P. O. Box 393, New Ulm, MN 56073.
Contact: Melissa Volk, Phone: 701-640-5500, Email: melissa@vertin.com.
Please send cover letter and current resume to rangefuneralhome@msn.com, ATTN: Bryan or mail to Range Funeral Home, 911 16th St. N. PO Box 4, Virginia, MN 55792, (218)741-1481. Boulger Funeral Home Inc. has a job opening in Fargo, North Dakota. This job will become available as of January 1, 2014. We are looking for an experienced and licensed embalmer with a great work ethic and personality. The Boulger Funeral Home Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Boulger Funeral Home is a progressive firm, founded in 1897, it is in its second century of operation. We offer an excellent salary package including health, retirement, licensing, club membership and continuing education benefits. Visit www.boulgerfuneralhome.com for more information about our company. Email only: jim@boulgerfuneralhome.com.
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