MFDA BULLETIN - SUMMER 2014

SUMMER 2014

BULLETIN

PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY FOR THE MINNESOTA FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS.

MFDA’s 124th Annual Convention Recap Proud MFDA board members with NFDA Immediate Past President Bob Rosson, Jr. at MFDA’s 124th Annual Convention. Front row (L to R): District 1 Director Ashley Hoff, District 5 Director Raymond Bartlett, and NFDA Policy Board Rep Leif Larsen. Back row (L to R): District 8 Director Doug R Dingmann, Treasurer Shawn Kirby, President Michael Cudmore, Past President Michael Dahl, Secretary Jeff Hartquist, and NFDA Immediate Past President Bob Rosson, Jr. Board members not pictured: District 9 Director Steve Sheets, District 10 Director Dan Dahl, District 11 Director Chris Jacobson, and Past President Rep Norman Larsen.

Change Service Requested Minnesota Funeral Directors Association 7046 East Fish Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55311

MFDA Bulletin

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 @yahoo.com

Chris Jacobson (District 11) Atkins Northland Funeral Home Cloquet, 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 Open (District 6) Open (District 7) Doug R Dingmann, CFSP (District 8) Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Homes, St. Cloud, MN dougdingmann@williamsdingmann.com

POLICY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE Leif Larsen

Green-Larsen Mortuary International Falls, MN llarsen@greenlarsen.com

In This Issue From the Director .......................................................... 4 From the President ........................................................ 5 MFDA Annual Convention Photo Recap ..................... 6 New MFDA Website Features ..................................... 10 Children’s Grief Connection Blog .............................. 11 Legislative Notes .......................................................... 12 Circling the Wagons .................................................... 13 Passare, Inc. Company Launch ................................... 14 Federated Insurance: Managing Employment-Related Risks ......................................... 16 VA Issues Final Rule on Funeral and Burial Benefits 17 U of M Class of 2014 ..................................................... 19 In Memoriam ................................................................20 MFDA Allied Members ............................................... 21 Classifieds .....................................................................22 District Meeting Schedule ........................................... 23

Calendar Aug. 6-9 | CANA Convention Minneapolis Marriott City Center Aug. 19-21 | Summer MFDA Board Meeting Chase on the Lake, Walker, MN Oct. 9-10 | 31st Annual Forensic Science Seminar Minneapolis Boulevard Hotel, Brooklyn Center Oct. 12-15 | NFDA Convention Nashville, TN Oct. 16-17 | Preneed Insurance Class – Approval Pending Embassy Suites, Brooklyn Center

PAST PRESIDENT REP Norman Larsen

Green-Larsen Mortuary International Falls, MN nlarsen@greenlarsen.com

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Darlyne Erickson, CAE 763-416-0124 952-451-8950 (cell) info@mnfuneral.org

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

Steve Sheets, CFSP (District 9) Schoeneberger Funeral Home Perham MN sheets.steve@yahoo.com

• 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 Summer came late so let’s hope that it lasts a little longer this year, as we deserve it! I hope you have found time to spend with your family on a lake, a river, an amusement park, or just hanging out in the back yard. Personally, I’m trying to get on my bike more often or just walking around the lakes, both which make me very happy!

I want to personally thank Jeff Hartquist for stepping up as the new Secretary on the MFDA Executive Committee along with Mike Cudmore and Shawn Kirby as President and Treasurer, respectively. I hope that others will consider stepping into District roles, (e.g., president, secretary, treasurer), with the eye towards serving on the MFDA Board in the future. We need all of you to keep this association running smoothly, and do appreciate your continued support!

Post Convention…going forward! Trust me, we are not sitting on our laurels at the MFDA office once convention is done.

We do breathe a little easier and relax a bit, but keep moving on a variety of areas. Two of the ongoing projects are the new website and new membership directory. You’ll hear more about our new website on page 10. Miki Tufto has been working on both of these projects and we are excited to see both of these coming to fruition. I live by my calendar, so here is what I’ve got on the MFDA schedule.

July: NFDA Leadership Conference, July 13-16, will be held in California this year. Mike Cudmore, Shawn Kirby, Leif Larsen, Mike Dahl and myself will be joining other funeral association board members and executive directors from around the country to share and exchange information on what makes a more effective state association for funeral service. It’s always worthwhile and, bless NFDA, always held in a beautiful location. I’ll have more detail on that in the next issue of the Bulletin.

August: CANA’s International meeting will be held in Minneapolis on August 6-9 at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center. Go to http://www.cremationassociation.org.

4 MFDA Bulletin • SUMMER 2014

The MFDA Board meets face to face three times a year, August, December and May. New President Mike Cudmore has selected Walker, MN as the August 20-21 summer site and we will be meeting at Chase on the Lake to work on MFDA business. Exciting business like Bylaws, how to develop new (younger) leaders of our association, 2015 legislative agenda and changes to 149A and the overall future of MFDA. In addition to these face to face meetings, we have monthly teleconferences to keep everyone on the same page.

September: District Meetings! The schedule and locations are listed on page 23. Mark your calendars and be sure to join us. We will have OSHA training for those who still need their yearly credit, along with other business related to our industry.

October: Busy month!

31st Annual Forensic Science Seminar, October 9-10, 2014 at Minneapolis Boulevard Hotel. Go to http://www.mncmea. org for seminar information. Another opportunity to add to your CEU’s. I attended last year and was impressed with their educational line-up.

NFDA Convention, October 12-15, 2014 in Nashville. We should have a number of people from Minnesota attending and will try to gather everyone together at some point during the three days.

MFDA Two-Day Preneed Insurance Course – October 16-17, 2014 at Embassy Suites Minneapolis North. 12 hours (6 per day) of education to be pre-approved for insurance credits. http://www.regonline.com/mfdainsurance14 for registration or go to the link on http://www.mnfuneral.org

Darlyne Erickson MFDA Executive Director

FROM THE PRESIDENT

View from Up North

By Michael Cudmore

I hope everyone is enjoying this very wet summer. Next week if the rain keeps coming down I’m planning on starting to build an ark.

Our new Website is soon to be up and ready. It is amazing the information that will be available to our members and the capabilities that the website will produce. Exciting!

I feel we had a very good convention in May. It was interesting to see funeral directors renew acquaintances with classmates and old cronies and hear all the laughter. I had a classmate standing in line next to me that I hadn’t seen for 44 years. He really had changed !! I want to extend a huge thank you to the convention committee, Darlyne and her staff, and the suppliers who came to display their wares, and most of all to you for attending.

I feel membership in MFDA is more important today than ever before. If we are going to keep funeral service as we know it today we are going to have to ban together as a group to protect our livelihood and the general public from those that do not believe that funeral directors are a necessary part of our society. If your neighbors are not a member of MFDA please encourage them to join.

Summers are usually a little quieter for MFDA and the Board of Directors. We have been busy setting up our district meetings, planning for the summer board meeting on August 20-21 at Chase on The Lake at Walker, and doing normal business.

Your President, Treasurer, some board members and Darlyne will be attending the NFDA Leadership Conference in Napa, California on July 13-16.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or want to take any active part in MFDA please contact your district director, Darlyne, or myself. Have a good summer!

Michael Cudmore MFDA Board President

Our stakeholders committee members have been attending advisory board meetings with the Minnesota Department of Health with regard to the changes that will happen in regard to Statute 149a. We will keep on top of things happening.

MFDA’S 125TH ANNUAL CONVENTION May 19-20, 2015 Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center

www.mnfuneral.org 5

2014 ANNUAL CONVENTION

MFDA 124th Annual Convention

6 MFDA Bulletin • SUMMER 2014

2014 ANNUAL CONVENTION

Convention

HIGHLIGHTS There were a total of 221 attendees at this year’s convention, which actually surpasses the past two years by just a bit. For the first time in many years there were 28 Mortuary Science students who took advantage of a complimentary conference registration.

Congratulations to the following individuals for winning the “Ticket-2Win-It!” They each received a “Ben Franklin.” See, it does pay to show up!

•

Tim Mengis •

Dan Dahl •

Paige Ennen •

Ray Bartlett •

Dan Rinden •

Casey Hessman •

Jerry Brown •

Scott Torgerson

And the winner of the Grand Prize $1,000 was Brooke Sanders!

The MFDA 2015 Exhibitor Booth winner was Messenger.

www.mnfuneral.org 7

2014 ANNUAL CONVENTION

MFDA Convention, Moving Forward, Aiming High A Success! Thank You For Your Support.

8 MFDA Bulletin • SUMMER 2014

2014 ANNUAL CONVENTION

www.mnfuneral.org 9

New mnfuneral.org to Include Interactive Members Only Section Have you been to mnfuneral.org recently? If you have you’ve definitely noticed that it has an all new look! Just before MFDA’s convention in May, the new website was launched. You’ll find information about MFDA (Missions & Values, Board of Directors, Past Presidents, Governance, and Staff), as well as information for both the consumer and the funeral professional.

The next phase for the website will be the brand new members only section. The username and password you previously used on the old mnfuneral.org website is no more. In September, you will be sent your new username and temporary password via email.

MFDA members will be able to engage with each other like never before. When you log in to the members only section, a fully customizable profile waits for you.

Upload a profile photo, build a file library, or link a social network account. MFDA has created district, board, and committee groups allowing members of these categories to interact, share files, schedule meetings, and more. In your settings, you can elect to receive emails when a group event is added, a group member creates a new blog post, and more!

Blogs are not limited to just groups. As a member of MFDA, you can start your own blog from your profile.

Share your insights into the funeral profession. Share your favorite cookie recipes. It’s up to you!

Engage with other MFDA members by adding them to your Connections. This feature works much like a Facebook friend request, and you can sort your Connections into Friends, Family, and Colleagues. Set your Connections preferences to receive alerts when you receive a Connection request or your current Connections update their profiles or photos. The new mnfuneral.org allows you to collaborate as a value-added benefit of MFDA membership Employers and job seekers can take advantage of convenient features in MFDA’s Career Center. Within your profile, you can create an online resumé, attach files, and allow employers to find you. You can also perform

10 MFDA Bulletin • SUMMER 2014

a detailed search for job openings. Found the perfect job? Apply on line with your new resumé! Employers can perform advanced resumé searches based on several criteria, and posting a job opening is easier than ever. Submit a listing through the Career Center, and applicants will be able to apply directly!

In 2015, members will be able to pay dues online and schedule auto renewal. Members will also be able to register for MFDA’s 125th Annual Convention on the website.

MFDA will be working on these goals throughout 2014 in order to add value to your membership. Watch for more details in the next Bulletin on how to log-in to the member only section in September.

My Hope Is...

By Coral Popowitz, Executive Director, Children’s Grief Connection

Below is a new blog post from Children’s Grief Connection Executive Director Coral Popowitz. To follow Coral’s blog, visit childrensgriefconnection.blogspot.com.

At Hearts of Hope family grief camp our cuddly mascot teddy bear named “Hope” passes around slips of paper that say: My hope is...

Blank slips meant to be filled in with words, wishes, thoughts, feelings, hopes for what the future may bring now that someone in their life has died.

The Children’s Grief Connection blog is about hope, about living life with hope, with gratitude and kindness. It’s about people, places, things that inspire. It’s about trust, trust in the goodness of people and their ability to find hope...to know things will be okay. My hope is...these postings bring comfort, understanding, humor, joy and a little bit of healing to the hearts of all who read them.

Hope is defined at Hearts of Hope Camp as: the feeling that everything is going to be okay. Not great, maybe not even good... for awhile.

MN FDLIC Resonate_One Third Page Ad 2014 2_FDLIC 2/26/2014 8:35 AM Page 1 It’s hard to think anything will be great again now that hearts are broken by death, but being okay, having hope, that seems possible.

And so “Hope” collects the slips in her big white basket. She holds them like a penny in a wishing pool, keeping the hopes and wishes of grieving children and families safe and sacred.

Slips of hope that read: “My hope is... people can accept me the way I am, even with all my flaws.”

to strike a harmonious chord; to evoke a

resonate

Death may take away our loved one, it may change our lives in big ways we’re not sure we can cope with and in little ways we never imagined until we had to live on without them. Life is hope and the death of someone we love doesn’t have to take that from us.

an understanding response in return.

HOW CAN YOU CONNECT WITH THE NEXT GENERATION OF FUNERAL PLANNERS?

“My hope is.... to not be scared of dying.”

“My hope is...to live with happy memories of my dad.”

feeling of shared emotion or belief; to receive

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LEGISLATIVE NOTES

A Successful Session

By Judy Cook, Cook Girard Associates

The legislature adjourned on Friday, May 16 and, overall, MFDA had a successful session, which was the result of strong grassroots efforts from members, as well as our good working relationship with the Department of Health and key legislators.

There were two issues of direct concern to MFDA during the session with a positive outcome on both.

Prep Room Clarification MFDA members recently received information from the MN Department of Health about the change in statute regarding prep rooms. It is important to remember that the October 2013 court decision regarding prep rooms in funeral homes resulted in the need for this legislation to clarify the law. MFDA worked with the Department of Health on language that would make it clear prep rooms are required in funeral homes where human remains

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are present, even if the room is not intended to be used at that location. This became effective on July 1, 2014.

Funeral Home Price Lists Required on Websites (HF 1988 / SF 2197) - Last December, MFDA was contacted by Rep. Carolyn Laine who said she would be introducing legislation to require funeral homes with websites to post their price lists.

She described this as a consumer protection measure. Rep. Laine asked for our feedback and we informed her that MFDA would not be supportive of the legislation for a variety of reasons. Rep. Laine did introduce the bill, HF 1988, and there was an informational hearing in January where MFDA testified in opposition to the bill. The bill was passed to the House Commerce Committee where no hearing was held — nor any hearings in the Senate on the companion bill. The grassroots efforts by MFDA members who contacted their legislators about concerns with the bill made the difference in keeping this legislation from moving through the process. We may see this bill in the future and continued discussion with legislators will be valuable.

Mortuary Science Ad Hoc Advisory Group This Department of Health stakeholder group has met twice to discuss and review the entire mortuary statute. MFDA is represented, along with consumers and others from the funeral industry. There are plans for the group to meet every other month. The initial plan is to develop consensus on legislation to revise the statute for the 2015 legislative session as well as discuss other issues of concern to the stakeholders. The MFDA Legislative Committee will be meeting in July to identify issues and review items already under consideration by the group.

MFDA will provide an update at the District meetings.

2014 Elections The election season is in full swing with the Primary Election on August 12th leading to the November 4th. All 134 House seats are up for election as are the Constitutional Officers – Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Auditor, Secretary of State. (The MN Senate is not up this year.) This is a good time to meet with your local legislators and House candidates to talk about issues of concern to your funeral home. Please call the MFDA office if you would like information about your legislators / House candidates in your area.

Circling the Wagons

By Jerry J. Brown

As a result, surveys indicate a significant drop in group membership, civic and professional ‘belonging’ and extraneous involvement in the past ten years.

A friend of mine recently quipped, “circlethe-wagons to solve problems and to deflect today’s barbarians-at-the-gate will always win and prevail.”

Conversely, the naysayers are saying, “how do we circle-the-wagons when there’s only one wagon to circle?”

While attending MFDA’s 124th state convention, I cheerfully witnessed the absolute opposite of the, ‘go it alone’ syndrome.

Scores of Funeral Directors and Suppliers moved forward together and in unison to recognize, support, preserve, perpetuate and build upon the importance and imperatives of Minnesota Funeral Service.

Beginning with an idyllic boat ride on the mighty Mississippi Monday night and despite my life-long fear of the water, I was impressed with the atmosphere of

CONTACTS MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

There is a lingering notion in today’s society that group gatherings (e.g., civic clubs, fraternities, sororities, associations, conventions and symposiums) are losing their appeal, participation and support.

The reasons vary, but the predominate one seems to be … “given the fastmoving, frenetic, complex and ‘helterskelter’ culture of today, we don’t have the time or energy for even a modicum of active, supportive involvement. We barely have the time to handle the myriad problems and challenges that daily confront us.”

IMPORTANT

www.health.state.mn.us COMPLIANCE MONITORING DIVISION Darcy Miner, Director darcy.miner@state.mn.us MORTUARY SCIENCE SECTION www.health.state.mn.us/divs/ hpsc/mortsci/mortsci.htm

camaraderie, consideration and clarity of purpose that was prevalent throughout the cruise.

The next two days were replete with provocative programs, excellent speakers, superb product and merchandise displays and presentations. There were uplifting remembrance and memorialization moments, incomparable venue and service, gourmet prepared meals, prizes and souvenirs and how to discredit the diatribe. The program ended with the ways and means to perpetuate the image and growth of our proud profession.

Executive Director Darlyne Erickson, the officers, members and staff of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association continue to represent and preserve the quintessential core of our past, present and future with their covenants of caring.

MFDA continues to prove the power of plurality and reinforce the wisdom of “circling the wagons.”

We’ve got hundreds of ‘wagons’ to prove it!

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 OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS Heidi Granlund Acting State Registrar Phone: (651) 201-5987 Heidi.granlund@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

Jerry Brown is a well-known funeral service columnist who once raised buffalo in Ingomar, Montana.

www.mnfuneral.org 13

Passare Transforms $20B Funeral Home Market, Family Experience with Industry’s First End-of-Life Management Platform Last month Passare, Inc. announced the official launch of the company, which will transform both the way funeral homes will operate in the 21st century and the service experience for families. The industry’s first and most comprehensive Endof-Life Management Platform, Passare connects families with resources and a network of trusted service provider partners.

Elevating the family experience to unprecedented new heights, the company’s online collaboration solution uniquely enables families to virtually manage logistics and seamlessly communicate and collaborate with family members, friends, and funeral providers.

Transforming The Family Experience Passare’s End-of-Life Management Platform was designed specifically to facilitate one of the most time-consuming and stress-inducing aspects of the End-of-Life process: planning

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and managing final events and services. The company also streamlines logistics by connecting families to Passare’s network of funeral homes and complementary service providers who offer products and services ranging from flowers to guest accommodations and transportation. Providing a full range of End-of-Life resources, Passare eases the emotional, financial, and logistical burden by facilitating difficult conversations and decisions and guiding families through one of life’s most important passages.

Passare is revolutionizing the way funeral homes operate their businesses to help them remain relevant and competitive.

The company’s fast-growing network of independent funeral homes and service providers enables the highly fragmented industry to coalesce into a cohesive, vertical marketplace and drive new value-creating opportunities.

By joining Passare’s nationwide network, funeral homes can magnify their online marketing reach and connect to families who are increasingly using the Internet. Equally as important, with Passare’s End-of-Life Management Platform, funeral directors can retain their “high touch” professional service while greatly enhancing the family experience—from first call to final service to family aftercare. Enabling interactive case management and other value-added services, the solution boosts competitiveness by providing a strong point of differentiation. Accessible from any laptop, tablet, or mobile device, the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution seamlessly integrates with existing funeral home websites without the need for additional hardware or software.

“In industry after industry, we’ve seen new market entrants— from eBay to Amazon—leverage technology to change the value equation, whether by creating a new marketplace or re-inventing the customer experience,” commented Charles Picasso, founder and CEO of Passare. “Similarly, we want to help independent funeral homes position themselves for success by enabling them to enhance their business practices and transform the family experience. With Passare, they can thrive in the face of a rapidly changing competitive landscape.”

Shifting Consumer Preferences, New Competitive Realities The genesis of the company was born out of an industrycommissioned market study that revealed growing dissatisfaction with the industry’s tradition-bound practices.

Among the findings, the study showed that close to half of Americans were dissatisfied with funeral services overall. This consumer frustration largely stemmed from demographic shifts, as younger generations are increasingly relying on the Internet for researching, collaborating, and purchasing. Today’s families are also increasingly mobile and geographically dispersed, adding to the challenge of managing logistics with funeral directors and loved ones.

The US funeral and death care market is a $20 billion industry that is continuing to undergo dramatic change. Despite these changes, independent funeral homes have largely been slow to adapt to new competitive realities. Among the challenges: industry consolidation and the rapid growth of large publicly traded competitors and conglomerates as well as steadily rising cremation rates, which are driving commoditization.

of FDLIC. “In addition to offering the most comprehensive and compelling vision, we also saw a veteran team, led by a seasoned technology executive, with a proven track record and ability to execute on that vision.”

About Passare: Passare, Inc. is the industry’s first and most comprehensive Endof-Life Management Platform. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, the privately held company is leveraging technology to transform both the way funeral homes will operate in the 21st century and the service experience for families. Passare eases the emotional, financial, and logistical burden on families by guiding them through one of life’s most important passages with greater simplicity and peace of mind. For more information, please visit www.passare.com.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that our industry is undergoing dramatic change. As we’ve seen in other marketplaces, the most successful companies are the ones that have learned to adapt and evolve to better serve the needs of their consumers,” said Gary Freytag, president and CEO of Ohio-based Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum. “Passare’s game-changing End-of-Life Management Platform represents a significant step forward in the evolution of our industry. Now, independent funeral homes can greatly enhance their online marketing efforts and build even stronger relationships with a new generation of families.”

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Strong Industry Support, Growing Momentum Provides Running Start To date, Passare has secured approximately $6 million in funding, with the majority seeded organically from within the industry. Initial investors include a syndicate of highly respected independent funeral homes, in addition to the Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company (FDLIC), one of the industry’s most respected service providers and networks. Management reported strong customer momentum leading up to the official launch of the company, with more than 200 funeral home locations across the country already committed to Passare’s network.

“We decided to invest in Passare because it was evident that their disruptive solution—capable of creating tremendous value for both families and funeral homes—is the path forward to catalyze industry change,” said Kris Seale, president and CEO

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www.mnfuneral.org 15

Federated Insurance Helps You Manage Employment-Related Risks Every employer, no matter what size, is required to manage human resource issues, government regulations, and employment law changes. Any size business can be vulnerable to employment-related litigation. Employee termination, harassment, or discrimination; improper documentation processes; and a multitude of other situations can expose your organization to potential risk of a lawsuit.

Now, Federated Insurance has enhanced resources available for clients to help them address just these types of situations.

Federated is pleased to introduce the new Federated Employment Practices NetworkSM(FEPN).

Through FEPN, all clients can access: • an employee handbook builder tool • online supervisor and employee training • sample forms and policies • labor posters • monthly HR updates on frequently asked questions

Clients who carry Employment-Related Practices Liability (ERPL) coverage through Federated also receive: •

Complimentary unlimited access to independent employment law attorneys

For more information, watch this brief video, or go to Federated’s website, www.federatedinsurance.com. Your Federated Marketing Representative is also well prepared to discuss these new resources with you.

Federated Insurance understands and supports organizations like yours across the country through value-added risk management services. We are pleased that your association recommends us for your insurance needs. We encourage you to explore everything Federated has available to members.

CHILDREN’S GRIEF CONNECTION Memorial Program Participants • Abbott Funeral Home • Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home & • • • • • • • •

• Dingmann 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 •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

& 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 &

Cremation Services • Schleicher Funeral Home • Schuller Family Funeral Homes • Sturm Funeral Home • West-Kjos Funeral Home • Wright Funeral Home

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

16 MFDA Bulletin • SUMMER 2014

VA Issues Final Rule on Funeral and Burial Benefits John Fitch, NFDA Lobbyist

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) amended its regulations governing entitlement to monetary burial benefits, which include burial allowances for service-connected and non-serviceconnected deaths, a plot or interment allowance, and reimbursement of transportation expenses.

These monetary benefits are administered by VBA. As amended, these regulations establish rules to support VA’s automated payment of burial allowances to surviving spouses, conversion to flat-rate burial and plot or interment, allowances that are equal to the maximum benefit authorized by law, and priority of payment to non-spouse survivors. According to VA, the purpose of these regulations is to streamline the program and make it easier for veterans and their families to receive the right benefits and meet their expectations for quality, timeliness, and responsiveness.

The effective date of these changes is July 7, 2014 and applies to claims that were pending on or after that date.

A summary of the changes follows. Visit www.nfda.org to read the full VA Rule on funeral and burial benefits.

Types of VA Burial Benefits (Section 3.1700) Section 3.1700 of title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) defines ‘’burial’’ to describe the types of services that VA has authority to pay for as a VBA burial benefit. VA liberally defined burial as including, but not limited to, all legal methods for disposing of a deceased person’s remains. At NFDA’s suggestion, this definition would include Alkaline Hydrolysis if legal under State law.

Persons Who May Receive Burial Benefits; Priority of Payments (Section 3.1702) Under 38 CFR § 3.1601, VA accepted a claim for burial benefits from the funeral

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director, any person who used his or her funds to pay burial or funeral expenses, or the executor or administrator of the estate of the veteran. Those rules did not allow VA to automate or expedite the payment of these small, onetime benefit payments ($300-$2,000) to survivors who generally have an immediate need for supplemental financial assistance after the veteran’s death.

To facilitate efficient processing of claims, section 3.1702(a) provides to automate certain payments to surviving spouses based upon information in VA systems as a first priority and in section 3.1702(b) to establish a priority of payments for other eligible individuals. If there were no surviving spouse, child, or parent, VA would pay an executor or administrator of the veteran’s estate based upon the executor’s or administrator’s claim, or in the case of an unclaimed veteran, a

funeral service provider based upon the provider’s claim. As a result of this revised priority of payment, VA would no longer prioritize payment to funeral directors or other service providers.

NFDA’s argument to have funeral homes remain a priority for these payments was not accepted.

In addition, pursuant to the President’s direction, VA is now providing benefits to same sex spouses of Veterans whose marriage is recognized under the placeof-residency rule under 38 U.S.C. § 103(c), to determine whether a Veteran’s marriage is recognized for the purposes of VA benefits. However, 38 U.S.C. § 2302 allows for expanded eligibility to include individuals in relationships that are recognized by State law but not recognized by VA under section 103(c). Thus, VA revised its regulation to prescribe payment of burial benefits to the survivor of a legal between the deceased Veteran and the survivor, who

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do not meet the regulatory definition of “surviving spouse” in 38 CFR 3.1702(b)(1)(i). The regulation defines “legal” to mean a formal relationship between the decedent and the survivor that existed on the date of the Veteran’s death, was recognized under the law of the State in which the couple formalized the relationship, and was evidenced by the State’s issuance of documentation memorializing the relationship.

Plot or Interment Allowance for Burial in a State Veterans or Other Cemetery (Section 3.1707) Section 3.1707(c) implements 38 U.S.C. § 2303(b)(2) to provide for a plot or interment allowance for burials in other than State veterans cemeteries., which includes otherwise eligible burials in tribal cemeteries.

Also, section 3.1704 implements 38 U.S.C. § 2307, which specifically provides that payments of service-connected death burial and funeral expenses under that section are ‘’in lieu of’’ the plot or interment allowance for burial in other than a State veterans cemetery under 38 U.S.C. § 2303(b)(2).

However, as expressed in proposed section 3.1704(c)(2), VA has authority to pay the plot or interment allowance for burial in a State cemetery under 38 U.S.C. §2303(b)(1). This plot or interment allowance remains available only to individuals eligible for burial in a national cemetery under 38 U.S.C. § 2402, as specified in proposed section 3.1707(a), General

MIDWEST MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE Our board certified pathologists provide private postmortem examinations to answer questions families may have regarding the death of their loved one. If we can be of assistance to the families you serve, please contact our office:

MIDWEST MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE 14341 Rhinestone Street NW Ramsey, MN 55303

(763) 323-6400 Normal business hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Weekends and Holidays After business hours, we can be contacted through Anoka County dispatch at (763)427-1212

18 MFDA Bulletin • SUMMER 2014

eligibility, which provides that VA will pay the allowances described in that section ‘’[f]or a veteran who was eligible for burial in a national cemetery under 38 U.S.C. § 2402, but was not buried in a national cemetery or other cemetery under the jurisdiction of the U.S.’’

Burial of the Remains of a Veteran Whose Remains Are Unclaimed (Section 3.1708) Persons or entities described in section 3.1702 (b)(2), may claim entitlement to reimbursement for burial services and transportation of unclaimed veteran remains, subject to limitations under sections 3.1708 and 3.1709. To illustrate, funeral homes may request reimbursement for the provision of burial services, to include expenses for transporting the remains of unclaimed Veterans (defined in section 3.1708 as deceased Veterans with no next of kind and insufficient resources for burial and funeral expenses) for the purposes of interment in a national cemetery (as required by section 3.1709).

Transportation Expenses for Burial in a National Cemetery (Section 3.1709) The underlying statutory authority for the transportation allowance in 38 U.S.C. § 2308 limits VA’s reimbursement authority to transportation costs for burial in a national cemetery, VA is unable to expand through rulemaking reimbursement eligibility for transportation to State veterans and tribal cemeteries.

Further, reimbursement shall not exceed the cost of transportation to the national cemetery nearest the veteran’s last place of residence in which burial space is available.

Section 3.1709, which implements the statutory authority, limits reimbursement of the costs of transportation of veterans whose remains are unclaimed for the purpose of interment in a national cemetery. Section 3.1709(b) prescribes specific eligibility criteria for transportation expenses and paragraph (d) describes reimbursable transportation expenses (see restatement below). The maximum amount for reimbursement will not exceed the costs of transporting the remains to the national cemetery nearest the veteran’s last place of residence in which burial space is available. “d) Reimbursable transportation expenses. (1) VA will reimburse reasonable transportation expenses, including but not limited to the costs of shipment via common carrier (i.e., procuring permits for shipment, a shipping case, sealing of the shipping case, and applicable Federal taxes) and costs of transporting the remains to the place of burial. (2) A reasonable transportation expense is an expense that is usual and customary in the context of burial transportation, with a corresponding charge that is the usual and customary charge made to the general public for the same or similar services.”

University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science Class of 2014

2014 MFDA INSURANCE COURSE Oct. 16-17 (Approval Pending)

The Minnesota Funeral Directors Association would like to congratulate the following graduates and welcome them to funeral service.

Mackenzie Alberts Lester Prairie, MN

Peter Lind* Parkers Prairie, MN

Robert Archbold Saint Paul, MN

Stephanie Mueller Mundelein, IL

Brianna S. Beth Kenosha, WI

McKenzie Mullen-Burkart Whitehall, WI

Alex Mackenzie Blanch Prior Lake, MN

Lauren Nelson** Hancock, MN

Karen Boyle Anoka, MN

Sari Noga Parkers Prairie, MN

Chelsea Coone Champlin, MN

Stephanie Odegard Hanska, MN

Reilly Dougherty Hibbing, MN

Robert Olson Fergus Falls, MN

Elise Edwards-Toepel Richfield, MN

Jonna Slifka Cresco, IA

Jessica Hall Oneida, SD

Elizabeth Steen** Torrington, WY

Chris Hawkins Youngstown, OH

Christina Storey Grand Forks, ND

Casey Hessman Wakonda, SD

Bridget Sutherland Fargo, ND

Tyler Hoff Saint Charles, MN

Amy Trick* Eden Prairie, MN

Rose Anne Hoxmeier Stillwater, MN

Colby Voigt Rosemount, MN

Jami John Sauk Centre, MN

Adam White Lakeville, MN

Alyce LaCoursiere Minneapolis, MN *Candidate to graduate with Distinction (3.75-3.89 GPA; 60+ U of M-TC Credits) **Candidate to graduate with High Distinction (3.90 or higher GPA; 60+ U of M-TC Credits)

Embassy Suites Minneapolis North 6300 Earle Brown Dr., Brooklyn Center, MN Members: $200 / Non-Members: $225 Single Day: Members, $125 / Non-Members, $150 (Lunch included with registration) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Sessions: Ethics and Consumer Protection

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Sessions: Medical Assistance Planning and Pre-Paid and Pre-Funded Burials, Delegating Authority: When Tempted by the Power, Disability/Death Planning for Families with Minors To register please visit: www.regonline.com/MFDA2014

2014 NFDA International Convention & Expo

See you in Nashville!

Set the stage for your success in Nashville at the 2014 NFDA International Convention & Expo, October 12-15!

You won’t want to miss this year’s engaging educational sessions led by industry experts, the world’s largest funeral service expo and networking opportunities with exhibitors and funeral directors from more than 40 countries.

Register today!

www.nfda.org/nashville2014

2014_Convention_MFDA Ad.indd 1

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7/14/14 11:54 AM

IN MEMORIAM Charles Miller Bell of West Skyline Parkway passed away unexpectedly in the morning of Tuesday, February 25th.

He was the son of Thomas G. Jr. and Elinor (Spicer) Bell and great grandson of Charles Miller after whom the Miller Trunk Highway was named.

Charlie was very proud to be a sixth generation Duluthian. He was born in Duluth on December 19th, 1949, 20 seconds ahead of his twin-sister Kate.

Charlie grew up in West Duluth where he became an Eagle Scout at the age of 14. In 1964, he headed south to attend Shattuck School where he graduated high school in 1968. He graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 1972 with a degree in Political Science and then attended St. Cloud State University on the way to the University of Minnesota

School of Mortuary Science. Charlie was a partner with two of his brothers, Tom and Frank, in Bell Brothers/Jarvi-Dowd Funeral Homes until they sold both in 1998.

Through the tutelage of his father and grandfather, Charlie was fortunate to serve on many Boards and Committees throughout his life. He focused on youth, schools, senior living, and economic development most notably in the West Duluth area. Charlie was grateful to have the pleasure of serving with so many leaders who gave from their heart and helped define the soul of our community.

Charlie was also very proud of some experiences in his personal life. In 1992, at Jack Meade Gun Club, he shot on a perfect squad, where all five shooters scored a perfect 25. He once one-putted the first eight holes while playing a

round of golf with his brother Tom and twin-sister Kate at LaQuinta CC in Palm Springs, CA, birdied holes #9 & #10 in a row while playing a round of golf at Northland Country Club with his brother Frank and son Charlie, and eagled hole #9 in another round at Northland County Club while playing with his son Charlie after going into the first sand trap on the left off the tee. A less glamorous memory came from a round of golf in Denver with his three brothers, Tom, Frank, & Steve, when he hit one of the tee markers on the tee box and the ball flew backwards across the road behind them. He was also very proud to admit that his twin sister has had 7 holes-in-one and he had none.

After completing the motorcycle training course at Lake Superior College, Charlie bought his first motorcycle (a HarleyDavidson Fatboy) at the age of 62.

Aside from his three children and one grandson, there were two honors that he was particularly proud of and that was being inducted into the Shattuck School Hockey Hall of Fame and the Duluth Hall of Fame.

SAVE THE DATES… 31st Annual Forensic Science Seminar Thursday and Friday, October 9–10, 2014 Minneapolis Boulevard Hotel A two-day educational seminar on death investigation, co-sponsored by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Minnesota Coroners’ and Medical Examiners’ Association.

Note: Hard-copy brochures of the seminar are no longer being mailed to attendees. The brochure and other seminar information will be available in late summer on our website at: mncmea.org

81-002-01-14

20 MFDA Bulletin • SUMMER 2014

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents Thomas G. Jr. and Elinor Bell.

He is survived by what he referred to as the three bonuses of his life; daughter Nicole D., son Charlie M. II, and daughter Natalie E., his grandson Ian A. Lewendowski, his brothers and sisters; Thomas G. III (Micki), Frank S., Barbara B. Gundersen, Stephen P., and his twinsister Kate B. Johnson, what he has often referred to as the greatest collection of nephews and nieces who made him so proud and laugh so often, and of course his and his son’s beloved dog River.

Charlie enjoyed many famous quotes throughout his life, one in particular was “A Faith in The Power Of Resilience And Hope”, and another was a one word quote used by Sir Winston Churchill while signing his letters, where he simply wrote...”Onward”.

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.messenger@messengerllc.com

The Purple Cross Plan Denis Nordlum www.purplecross.com

Anatomy Bequest Program Angela McArthur, Tamara Voss, John Straub, Andrew Ashton, Paul Hill, Jake Anderson, Sarah Paulsen, Jason Bathurst www.bequest.umn.edu

Firefly Gift Boxes, LLC Liz Leitch-Sell www.fireflygiftboxes.com

Midwest Medical Examiners office Angie Chalmers www.midwestmedicalexaminer.com

United Heritage Insurance Bob Hanson www.unitedheritage.com

Answering Service for Directors Jason Bathurst Sales@myASD.com Anubis Specialty Services Carol Fee www.assmn.com Artco Casket Company, Inc. Al Whitmer, Steve Doscher, Wally Gelecinskyj, Roger Ruth www.artcocasket.com Asphalt Associates Brad Larson www.asphalt-associates.com Aurora Casket Company Andi Waterhouse www.auroraadvantage.com Avalon, Inc. Daniel Seman daniellseman@icloyud.com Baines Professional Vehicles John Baines www.4hearse.com Batesville Lynn Peterson www.batesville.com 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

Forest Lawn Memorial Park Association Kari A. Hubbard Kbradshaw9@yahoo.com Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company John Harrington www.funeraldirectorslife.com Gary L. Pearson Pre-need consultation glpearson@comcast.net Gorder Mortuary Supply James Messer www.gordersupply.com Homesteaders Life Company Joel Rimstad Steve Byhre www.homesteaderslife.com Keith M. Merrick Co., Inc. Kyle Grimes www.keithmerrick.com Kelco Supply Mike Bjerum www.kelcosupply.com

Minnesota Lions Eye Bank Raylene Streed www.mnlionseyebank.org Northern Design Caskets Scott Haiby Northwestern Casket Co. David Koll www.nwcasket.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

Peterson Law Office Bill Peterson www.petersonlawoffice.com Photo Memorials Peg Wellendorf www.photomemorialbook.com Pinnacle Group Bob Michaelson, Cory Michaelson www.pinnaclegroup4u.com Pluto Legal Cheryl Vos www.plutolegal.com Shepart Dawson Grover www.shepart.com

Laker Insurance Patrick Zalusky Life Story Network Jason Meyle www.Lifestorynetwork.com LifeSource Organ and Tissue Donation Mike Burakowski www.life-source.org MAS Communications Mary Reeves www.mascommunications.net Medical Disposal Systems, Inc. Gary Langdom www.mds-mn.com

Dodge Company Gregg Bright www.dodgeco.com

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CLASSIFIEDS Licensed Funeral Director/Funeral Director Intern Opportunities 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.

Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home of Hastings, MN is looking for a licensed funeral director at our firm. Prospective employee would become an integral part of our family owned funeral home in a historic river town in the southeast metro area. You would share all aspects of providing quality and personal funeral services to families including sharing on call schedule with two other licensed directors, arrangements, funerals and visitations. Excellent compensation, health plan, 401(k), profit sharing, vacation are all offered with this position. We are looking for someone who wants to be a part of our funeral home into the future. If you are that person, contact Steve Smidt at caturiasmidtfh@earthlink.net or send resume to Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home, 201 7th St. E., Hastings, MN 55033. (6/25/14) Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service, a family owned and operated funeral home in Little Falls, MN, with branches in Pierz, MN and Royalton, MN, has an immediate opening for a licensed funeral director with at least one year experience. Salary and benefits based on experience. For more information please contact Doyle Hofer or Trent Iverson at 320-632-4393

22 MFDA Bulletin • SUMMER 2014

Fullerton Funeral Home in Northern Iowa will have an opening for a licensed funeral director or apprentice beginning in June 2014. If the person qualifies, they may obtain a Minnesota license, and an insurance license.

The person will be working a two personrotating schedule with another licensed funeral director. Apartments are available if needed, along with vacation and health insurance. Salary and other benefits will be discussed at the interview.

Resumes or CV’s may be sent to Jim at Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 2nd ST. SE, Mason City, Iowa 50401, or contact the funeral home at 1-800-547-4038. You may also contact Jim Fullerton at James@Fullertonfh.com.

Funeral Director Wanted Sturm Funeral Home’s is seeking a licensed funeral director or intern to serve in one of our locations in Southern Minnesota. Director will be a location manager involved with all aspects of funeral service and will share an on-call schedule with five other directors.

Applicant should have experience with excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills and have a passion for helping friends and neighbors within the community. Must have or be able to obtain a MN Morticians License. We offer a generous full benefit package.

Learn more at www.sturmfh.com or contact Jay Van Sickle at 507-794-5221 or e-mail vansickle4@mediacombb.net.

Johnson Funeral Service, a family owned and operated funeral business in Northwest Minnesota, is seeking a licensed funeral director or intern to be involved in all aspects of funeral service. We offer competitive salary, benefits and a three director rotation with every third week off.

Visit www.johnsonfuneralservice.com to find out more about us. If interested, please send resume to info@johnsonfuneralservice.com or call Eric or Erling Johnson at 218-681-4331.

Methven Taylor Funeral and Cremation Care is a progressive, family-owned firm serving the Northeast Minneapolis suburbs and the Brainerd Lakes Area. We are a fastpaced, team oriented, and quality based funeral home. Our six locations serve 350 families annually, along with a high quality trade service, and coroner transportation, with the highest level of service and regard to every detail. This is your opportunity to become an essential member of an organization with exceptionally talented personnel committed to people and personalized service that sets us apart from our competition. We are in search of a Funeral Director/Embalmer Licensed or Intern who is capable of offering compassionate and attentive care to families from the time of the first call until the service is complete.

Proficiency with computers and smart phone operations a must. Schedule would be, one night per week on call, every 3rd Thursday, and every 3rd weekend on call please send your resume, cover letter and salary requirements to: Methven-Taylor Funeral and Cremation Care, ATTN: Mr. Kelly Taylor, 850 East Main St, Anoka, MN 55303 Or email to: ktaylor@methven-taylor.com O’Halloran and Murphy Funeral Homes is in search of a licensed funeral director to engage in all funeral director duties; experience preferred. Offer competitive compensation package, health, dental, 401k, profit sharing. Serving locations in St. Paul, Roseville, Woodbury, and Elk River. We look forward to you joining our family funeral home team. Fax resumes to 651-702-0294, or email to mohalloran@ohalloranmurphy.com.

Contact Michael O’Halloran.

Mark your Calendars!

District Meetings

Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes & Cremation Services is seeking a full time licensed mortician 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. We have five locations in south central Minnesota with our main office being in New Ulm, a beautiful clean city of around 15,000 residents. 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. 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.

Schuller Family Funeral Homes has an immediate opening for a full-time licensed funeral director or intern to join our firm.

Centrally located in the heart of MN, our family-owned funeral homes serve the surrounding communities of Wadena, Verndale and Bertha. The successful applicant will participate in all aspects of funeral operations. The position is offered with a competitive wage compensation package and housing availability. Applicants must either be licensed or qualified to obtain their license according to the guidelines of the State of Minnesota. Interested applicants should contact Joseph Schuller at directors@schullerfamilyfh.com

St. Cloud family owned funeral home is looking for a dedicated funeral service intern or newly licensee to become a professional member of its staff. This entry level position will share on-call duties with other funeral directors. It will involve all aspects of funeral service. We offer a friendly working environment with the opportunity for personal growth. Wages include a salary guarantee with hourly overtime. Excellent health, dental, life, profit sharing, paid vacation and sick leave. Please send resume to: Paul Daniel, Daniel Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1222, St. Cloud, MN. 56302.

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 nd 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. Contact: Melissa Volk, Phone: 701-640-5500, Email: melissa@vertin.com 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.

DISTRICT 1 Thursday, Sept. 11 Hoff Celebration of Life Center 480 Service Drive, Winona DISTRICT 2 Wednesday, Sept. 10 Loose Moose Saloon & Conference Center 119 Front St., Mankato DISTRICT 3 Tuesday, Sept. 9 Key Largo on Lake Shetek 29 Valhalla Drive, Slayton DISTRICT 4 & 5 Wednesday, Sept. 17 The Oaks at Eagle Creek 1000 26th Avenue NE, Willmar DISTRICT 6 & 7 Monday, Sept. 15 Ramada Plaza 1330 Industrial Blvd., Minneapolis DISTRICT 8 Tuesday, Sept. 16 Best Western Kelly Inn 100 4th Avenue South, St. Cloud DISTRICT 9 Thursday, Sept. 25 Detroit Lakes Holiday Inn Hwy 10 East, Detroit Lakes DISTRICT 10 Wednesday, Sept. 24 Fireside Grill Hwy 2, Bagley DISTRICT 11 Tuesday, Oct. 21 Blackwoods Convention Center Cloquet

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.

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