The magazine for Funeral Directors in Ireland
2017 Vol.17 No.2
Introducing the new
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eacon
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BYRNE
COACHBUILDERS IRELAND
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www.byrnecoachbuilders.ie 042 9334631 info@byrnecoachbuilders.ie
www.funeraltimestradeshowireland.com
The magazine for Funeral Directors in Ireland
New Crematorium for the west...................................... 4
Colm, Jonathon and Neil get Down to Business........ 11
Contents
Finlays bid farewell to Pat............................................ 27
Editorial and Advertising contacts: Graham Brown | Ruth McQuillan Vikki Crangle | Paula Hanna Tel: (028) 3835 5060 (048) from ROI Funeral Times is owned and published by: InHouse Publications, 1 Annagh Drive, Craigavon, Co. Armagh BT63 5WF email: sales@funeraltimes.com
New Shannon Crematorium........................................... 4 IAFD News.................................................................... 10 Peter Rush obituary...................................................... 22 PEAI News..................................................................... 24 Pat retires after 50 years at Finlay............................... 27 Mary Elizabeth Dillon on finding the right qualities.32 BIE News....................................................................... 34 Iraq's most spectacular cemetery................................. 42 Tim Collison - the challenge of bruise concealment.................................................................. 46 NAFD News................................................................... 50 Padraic Cawley on appreciating the civil celebrant.... 54 Mattie Lennon - Septic tanks and Pringles!................ 58 SAIF News..................................................................... 61 Dr Bill Webster warns against Dangerous Decisions....................................................................... 66 Raise a toast for the departed....................................... 74 The Irish attitude to death............................................ 76 Classifieds...................................................................... 79
Disclaimer: Readers are urged to support the magazine’s advertisers, but the publishers cannot be held responsible for any claims made or implied in the advertisements. The publishers reserve the right to refuse advertising. Opinions expressed in this magazine by contributing writers and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contributed for inclusion in this magazine but no legal responsibility will be accepted by the publishers for loss arising from the use of published articles. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior consent. Articles and photographs for inclusion are welcomed but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for their loss or damage however caused. FuneralTimes | 3
The West of Ireland’s only crematorium will open in Shannon in May
S
hannon Crematorium is situated in a tranquil setting on the banks of the river Shannon, beside Illaunamanagh Cemetery in Shannon, Co Clare. Shannon Crematorium will be a non-denominational facility which will cremate people of all faiths and religions or none with dignity and respect. It will offer an alternative to the people of the West of Ireland to travelling long distances to Dublin or Cork to avail of cremation services. Shannon Crematorium will serve a catchment area of the counties of Clare, Limerick, Galway, Kerry and Tipperary which have a population of over 700,000 people. Construction of the first crematorium in the West of Ireland got underway in July 2016 and will be completed in May 2017. The new crematorium is one of the most environmentally friendly in the country. Europe’s leading cremation equipment suppliers, Dutch company DFW Europe have been engaged to supply and install the cremator unit and filtration system. The DFW 6000 is the most modern, highly energy efficient cremator which has the lowest carbon footprint of any competing crematoria equipment. The crematorium will comprise of a congregation space which will seat 140 people and a secondary congregation space for smaller, more intimate services which will seat 60 people. Shannon Crematorium will allow up to one hour for each service to ensure that the family have enough time to 4 | FuneralTimes
hold a personal, dignified event. Additional time can be booked if required. The type of funeral service and the manner in which it is conducted are a matter of personal choice and the crematorium has been designed to cater for people of all beliefs and faiths. Leading UK audio visual specialists, Blue AV, have been engaged to supply the music system, speakers and tribute screen. This state of the art music system will mean that any piece of music you request can be played at the service. Photographic montages can be displayed on a screen at the front of the congregation space to accompany the music if people wish to celebrate the life of the deceased through images or video. The service may also be broadcast or "webcast" via a secure internet link be it for family or friends who are unable to attend and this same facility also enables audio CD or visual DVD recordings of the service to be produced. Shannon Crematorium will offer a full range of memorials including urns, caskets and keepsakes as well as cremation art and cremation jewellery. There is a memorial columbarium wall which allows the placing of remains into niches, each with a front section which have a memorial plaque. There are also scenic memorial gardens which incorporate Hastings Cottage, a famine cottage of historical significance. Multiple market indicators suggest there will be future growth in the cremation rate in Ireland including in the West. Cremation has grown in Ireland from 11.4 per cent in
2010 to 16.9 percent in 2015. The growth in demand for cremation is also evident in the development of a new crematorium in Dardistown in north Dublin, which has recently opened, and the proposed development at Shanganagh crematorium in south Dublin. There will then be five crematoria catering for Dublin and the east coast while Shannon Crematorium is the only facility in the West. Another unique feature of Shannon Crematorium is that it is part funded through an EIIS (Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme) placement which allows investors to qualify for income tax relief if they invest in the crematorium. In talking with Funeral Times, Jim Cranwell, developer and managing director of Shannon Crematorium, has explained that the 2016 EIIS fundraising was very successful and that they are currently raising money for 2017 EIIS. Talking to Funeral Times, developer Jim Cranwell explained: “We decided to seek EIIS approval because we were approached by a number of Funeral Directors who wanted to invest and from
people outside the bereavement industry also.” “We wanted to offer anyone who wanted to invest the opportunity to do so. We have people investing because they are in the industry and can see the demand that is there for the service, other people who see it as a great investment proposition, and people who see it as a community resource that they want to be invested in.” ‘’The EIIS fundraising went very well in 2016 and there is a lot of interest in the EIIS for 2017 which we hope to close as soon as we have reached our target. We are very excited that we will be opening our doors in May and are looking forward to meeting all the people that are interested or curious about our facility at our open days on the 27th and 28th of May. Saturday the 27th of May is an open day for our EIIS investors and for Funeral Directors and Sunday the 28th for the general public.’’ For further information visit: shannoncrematorium.com, Tel: 01 6931320 or Email: jim@shannoncrematorium.com
Under construction, the new Shannon Crematorium which opens in May FuneralTimes | 5
Sandy Close Funeral Services Independent Family Funeral Director EST. 1998
WE OFFER OUR SERVICES TO FUNERAL DIRECTORS AT COMPETITIVE PRICES: EMBALMING SERVICES
Straight case Post-mortem case Cool Room (per night)
£80-00 £100-00 £20-00
BASIC ASSISTANCE
Removal, embalming, dressing and coffin preparation, provision of simple coffin and return to funeral home £600-00 (10 mile radius, £2 per mile thereafter)
VEHICLES
Hearse Hire (with driver) £150 Limo Hire (with driver) £140
REMOVAL ONLY
Removal from place of death to funeral home £50-00 (10 mile radius - £2 per mile thereafter) Please contact our office for quotes which can be tailored to suit your needs.
404-412 Shankill Road, Belfast, BT13 3AE Tel: (028) 9033 3313 146-148 Sandy Row, Belfast, BT12 5EY Tel: (028) 9031 4100 Email: info@sandyclosefuneralservices.com
6 | FuneralTimes
Sandy Close Funeral Services open second funeral home W
e at Sandy Close Funeral Services are delighted to announce the expansion of our business, with the opening of our second funeral home in Belfast, situated at 146-148 Sandy Row. From day one we have been very well received in the local community, striving to meet the high standards we set ourselves in providing a much needed service to this area of South Belfast. There is no shying away from the fact funeral directing involves competition, akin to any other industry. However the ingrained willingness to collaborate, to find solutions together, throughout the funeral industry, is an invaluable asset. Therefore, we are also pleased to now offer our services to our fellow Independent Funeral Directors. For many years we have supported our local funeral directors through the provision of staff, cars and embalming services, and, in recent times, have experienced a substantial increase in such co-operation; therefore we took the decision to extend our services and competitive prices to the rest of Northern Ireland. Sandy Close Funeral Services is based centrally in Belfast; our premises are located within a two mile radius of the Royal Hospital and NI Forensic Mortuaries. We can assist with the removal of remains from any location, North or South of the border, offering embalming services and the use of cool room facilities at highly competitive prices. We are fully equipped to offer
Sandy Close Funeral Services, Independent Family Funeral Director, established 1998 support to our fellow Independent Funeral Directors. Whether it’s an occasional hire-in or a more frequent arrangement, we can accommodate your request. We can also take care of complete funerals, supplying the vehicles, bearers and funeral director. If you require assistance or another service not mentioned, please do not hesitate to contact either of our offices: 404-412 Shankill Road, Belfast BT13 3AE - Tel: 028 9033 3313 or 146-148 Sandy Row, Belfast, BT12 5EY - Tel: 028 9031 4100, or email: info@sandyclosefuneralservices.com for further information. FuneralTimes | 7
New Ford Deacon delivery M
aher’s Funeral Directors are a long established funeral business, serving the people of Portarlington and surrounding areas for many years. “This is our fourth hearse supplied by Byrne Coachbuilders. The workmanship and attention to detail is always top notch” believes John. Maher’s new Ford Deacon will provide them with a very modern, stylish and dignified ceremonial vehicle for many years to come. Through consultations with John Maher and many other funeral directors, Byrne Coachbuilders reviewed the needs of modern day funeral directors and this resulted in the re-engineered Ford Deacon, which encompasses a full composite interior and back door. View the Ford Deacon on our website: www.byrnecoachbuilders.ie.
John Maher of Maher’s Funeral Directors, Portarlington, Co. Laois receiving his new Ford Deacon Hearse from Peadar Byrne of Byrne Coachbuilders, Coes Rd, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Tallon Mortuary y Specialists Professional, Confidential and Caring Services
School of Embalming Qualify for membership of an internationally recognised embalming qualification (BIE) at your own pace • The ‘Tallon Mortuary Specialists Sch School hooll of Embalming’ offers students and reg registered giste ered d embalmers the highest standards off so teaching and practice in a supportive ortiv ve environment, with full use of ourr training facility. • We offer both Distance Learning g and attended courses leading to o membership of the British Institute of Embalmers For further information and to discuss how this course might work for you please contact us: 8 | FuneralTimes
Glyn Tallon - 14 Academy Street, Navan, Co. Meath Tel: 086 826 8876 / Fax: 046 903 6001 Web: www.tallonmortuaryspecialists.com Email: info@tallonmortuaryspecialists.com
Byrne Coachbuilders Ireland unveil new fd Ford Deacon Hearse
Respected and valued partners of the funeral trade throughout Ireland, Byrne Coachbuilders, based in Dundalk, Co. Louth, are proud to introduce the all new fd Ford Deacon Hearse.
T
he latest state-of-the-art offering from Byrne Coachbuilders is constructed based upon a top-of-the-range Ford Mondeo Titanium Estate. Renowned for their provision of industry-leading fleets, Byrne Coachbuilders’ Managing Director, Peadar Byrne said, “It gives me great pleasure to announce the launch of our new fd hearse which will provide the industry in Ireland, UK & Europe with a reliable, stylish and cost effective ceremonial vehicle”. The Hearse, crafted to retain the sleek lines of the new Mondeo; a design asset beautifully complemented by the unique shape of the fd body, has been designed and engineered by Byrne engineers. With over 40 years experience in the coach building business, Byrne Coachbuilders have succeeded in attaining a fine balance between functionality and timeless elegance in each of their offerings to the funeral industry With leasing available, interest in the new Ford Deacon is expected to be high. The new Ford Deacon Hearse design was sculpted using the latest composite materials and is approved by Lloyds of London. As ever, innovation and ingenuity take priority at Byrne Coachbuilders, who thoroughly believe the time and resources spent engineering the new fd have resulted in a unique and striking hearse
offering the following features: • Ford Electronic Safety Systems untouched • Silent running roof rails • Double deck areas will accommodated all coffin dimensions • Mirror finish stainless steel fittings • Stainless steel rollers for greater manoeuvrability • Convex shaped glass with optional glass etched designs • Non scratch roof and door sills • Petrol or Diesel engine • Lane keeping alert • Cruise Control • Power starter button You are warmly invited to view the fd Deacon at Byrne Coachbuilders premises at Coes Road, Dundalk. Please also take some time to visit the website www.byrnecoachbuilders.ie “Our relationship with our customers throughout Ireland remains to this day our most prized asset. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have. Should you have a query, please contact us as follows: Sales Manager Joe Leech on 086 604 1227 or Managing Director Peadar Byrne on 085 101 8385.” FuneralTimes | 9
Irish Association of Funeral Directors Promoting Excellence in Funeral Service
IAFD News
Attendees at the regional meeting
IAFD Regional Meeting held in Galway T he board of the Irish Association of Funeral Directors would like to take the opportunity to thank all the funeral directors and staff who attended the Health and Safety workshop and Regional Meeting in Galway in February. This was the final opportunity to attend the Health & Safety workshops which have now been delivered across the four provinces over the past twelve months. Through these sessions we have identified the need for funeral directors to review their safety procedures and policies and have learned that many funeral directors may not have a safety statement or risk assessment. Each business in Ireland, including funeral directors, are legally obliged to complete a safety statement which details how the work carried out by the company is managed safely. The regional meeting of the IAFD was held following the health & safety workshop and contributions from the board of the IAFD included the following;
10 | FuneralTimes
IAFD President, John Foley opened the meeting and introduced the recent update from the association’s legal adviser regarding prepayment of funeral and appropriate methods of holding clients monies. Membership and Excellence Chairperson, Robert Fanagan gave an update on plans for the “Excellence Visits” which will take place at members' properties across the country in 2017. Education Chairperson, Michael Crowley introduced the plan for a new Funeral Directors education course which will be available in the autumn of 2017. See details below. Communications Chairperson, Colm Kieran demonstrated the use of the new Funeral Arrangement form which is now available for download on the “members only” section of the IAFD website. The owners of Obit.ie who provide funeral directors with a cloud based funeral organisation software gave the meeting attendees a demonstration of their product.
Irish Association of Funeral Directors Promoting Excellence in Funeral Service
IAFD News
New Education Course for Funeral Directors
A
new education programme is being developed by IAFD which will be for members only or their employees. It will have a practical focus, be funeral specific and designed to assist members improve the service they provide to clients. The new internally accredited programme will be much less time demanding for participants and the cost will be
considerably lower than the previous course. Currently it is anticipated that the details of the programme will be announced in early September and launched in October 2017. If you wish to be kept informed about developments please email your details to Joanne Cooney, Programme Co-ordinator – joanne@cooneysfuneralhome.com
IAFD members featured on Newstalk radio’s “Down to Business Show” In March a Newstalk radio show focused on the business of funeral directing which featured three members of the IAFD. The show in question was Bobby Kerr’s “Down To Business” when each week a different industry is featured in order to identify the rewards and challenges of running a business in that sector. Jonathon Stafford, Staffords Funeral Homes, Dublin, Neil Massey, Rom Massey & Sons, Dublin and Colm Kieran, spokesperson for the IAFD and Kieran Bros. Funeral Care, Cavan gave an (L-R) in the studios of Newstalk – Colm Kieran, Spokesperson insight in to the day to day of the IAFD, Bobby Kerr, Newstalk Presenter, Jonathon activities of working in the Stafford, Staffords & Neil Massey, Rom Massey & Sons funeral sector.
Joining the Board of the IAFD The IAFD would like to announce the co-option of Donal Forde, Cork and Martin Thompson, Athy to the board of directors. We wish to thank them for their willingness to become involved in the operation of the IAFD and look forward to working with them in the future FuneralTimes | 11
Irish Association of Funeral Directors Promoting Excellence in Funeral Service
IAFD News
Diary Dates 2017 Thursday 22nd June Thurles Horse & Jockey Hotel, Kilnoe, Thurles Workshop 3pm, Regional Meeting 5pm Thursday 21st September Dundalk Crown Plaza Hotel, Dundalk Workshop 2pm Regional Meeting 5pm
Why Join the IAFD? For just a little more than €1cent a day you get: • Professional Indemnity Insurance
• Code of Practice
• Membership of professional organisation recognised by the general public
• Access to IAFD Education Programme • Excellence Programme
• Unique all island network of funeral directors • Representation of members with Government, Local Authorities and Media • Funeral Directors led organisation for promoting and developing standards of funeral service
• Board of Funeral professionals available to assist Members • Dispute Resolution and Mediation • Legal Advisory Service • Links to other trade Associations
Applications for membership of IAFD: Please visit www.iafd.ie and download an Application Form. 12 | FuneralTimes
Irish Association of Funeral Directors Promoting Excellence in Funeral Service
IAFD News
John Foley (President) Jennings Funeral Directors 81 Amien Street Dublin 1 Ph: 01-8555511 Mary Cunniffe (First Vice President) Massey Bros Funeral Home Templeogue Village, Dublin 6W Mobile: 085-8010742, Ph: 014-907601 Email: mary.cunniffe@hotmail.com Gerard Clarke (Immediate Past President) Gerard Clarke & Sons Funeral Home Main Street, Balisodare, Sligo Ph: 071-9130700 Mobile: 087-2565310 Email: gerardclarkeandsons@eircom.net Edwina Fitzgerald (Hon. Secretary) Fitzgerald Funeral Directors Channel Road Rush Co. Dublin Ph: 01-8438772 Email: fitzgeraldfuneraldirectors@gmail.com Dermot McCarthy (Hon. Treasurer) McCarthy’s Funeral Home Gurrane, Banteer, Cork. Ph: 029-56044 Email: dermot@mccarthyfuneraldirectors.com
Colm Kieran (P.R.O.) Kieran Bros. Funeral Directors Kingscourt, Co. Cavan. Mobile: 087-6218740, Ph: 042-9667309 Email: colmkieran@gmail.com Michael Crowley (Chair – Education Committee – with G. Clarke) Crowley Funeral Directors Bothar Saclay, Ballincollig, Co. Cork. Phone: 021 4874777 Email: info@crowleyfuneraldirectors.ie Robert Fanagan (Chair - Membership & Excellence Committee) Fanagans 54 Aungier Street Dublin 2 Ph: 01 475 4101 Email: info@fanagans.ie Andre Thompson Thompson Funeral Directors 19 Barrack Street Waterford Co. Waterford Ph: 051-874159 Email: info@thompsonfunerals.ie
Irish Association of Funeral Directors Promoting Excellence in Funeral Service
FuneralTimes | 13
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A new delivery from Fearghas Quinn Brian McElroy and Eric McCormack from Brian McElroy Funeral Directors, Dublin take delivery ofof their new E hearses fromDirectors, Fearghascollects Quinn his of Fearghas Quinn & R. Gibney Gibneys of Class Oldcastle Funeral new hearse from Hearse Fearghas Limousines Quinn Hearse and Limousines.
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Finance designed to help your business /RRNLQJ IRU D WDLORU PDGH VROXWLRQ WR ðW WKH QHHGV RI \RXU EXVLQHVV" We can fund items ranging from; equipment, IT VMMPJL ZVS\[PVUZ YLM\YIPZOTLU[Z [V I\ZPULZZ vehicles, hearses and limousines incorporating balloon payments, where necessary. Our bespoke facilities and fast lending decisions JHU HZZPZ[ ^P[O `V\Y ÄUHUJL YLX\PYLTLU[Z HSSV^PUN `V\ to concentrate on the day to day activities that your business demands.
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Close Brothers Limited (being a UK registered private limited company and its Irish registered branch of the same name having registration number 907899), trading as (and having as registered business names) Close Brothers Asset Finance, Close Brothers Commercial Finance, Close Brothers Premium Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance and Braemar Finance, is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. UK registered address: 10 Crown Place, London, EC2A 4FT, registered at Companies House, Number 00195626. Directors: M. Morgan (UK), P. Prebensen (UK), P.S.S Macpherson (UK), A. Sainsbury (UK), S. Bishop (UK), F. Pennal M. Hook (UK) and J. Howell (UK). 20(UK), | FuneralTimes
A step-by-step guide to financing your business O
wning a funeral business today is a very different proposition to years gone by, with increased demands from multiple sources being the new normal. This has manifested itself in less time spent on your clients’ needs and more time spent managing the business. And with the technological and digital revolutions having been fully embraced by society, keeping pace with developments is almost a job in its own right. The functionality of your current pieces of office and IT equipment, refrigeration units, engraving kit or even a fleet of vehicles may have been top of the range a few years ago, but - like mobile phones - are regularly being superseded by the next upgrade. After doing your research and deciding on any upgrade of equipment, technology or vehicles that you need to keep your business at the forefront of the profession, you will then need to think carefully about funding your purchase in a way that won’t impact your cash flow or cash reserves. Sector specialists like Braemar Finance can allow you to save time by having your finance approved prior to deciding which supplier or suppliers you wish to deal with. This works well if you intend to shop around or attend a trade show, and puts you in a strong negotiating position by having your funding in place. You can then decide which supplier(s) best meet your requirements and simply state Braemar Finance as your method of funding. Step-by-step When acquiring equipment for your business through Braemar Finance, the process of funding is very straightforward, as outlined below: Step 1 • Identify the equipment you want (or the amount you need) • Contact Braemar Finance • We clarify the conversation, with a list
Gail Cormack, Northern Joe Biesty, Southern Ireland Area Manager Ireland Area Manager of the information required to submit a finance application on your behalf. Typical information required to support your application would be: (a) Personal details, e.g. date of birth, home address (b) Copy of accounts for the Business (c) Copy of Business’ bank statement for the current account (d) Statement of Assets and Liabilities (for larger proposals) (e) Financial projections and business plan (for a new start-up only) The underwriter can make an informed decision based on the information received – the more accurate the information received is, the quicker the response and the more time saved. Step 2 • A finance application is then prepared and submitted • Our experienced underwriters will assess the case on its own merit (we have no automated underwriter decisions at Braemar Finance for our asset finance) • Confirmation of the decision will come direct from your Braemar Finance contact and confirmed in writing. This FuneralTimes | 21
will be normally completed within 8 working hours from receipt of the full application. Step 3 • Braemar Finance request an invoice from your chosen supplier(s) to be sent directly to us • On receipt of the invoice we will arrange an appointment for you to sign your finance agreement • Once signed we pay your supplier and start the monthly repayment schedule. If you need assistance at any stage of the process we are here to help to ensure that the process is seamless. Braemar Finance
complies with all Central Bank Regulations and Codes of Conduct when lending to SMEs in Ireland. We can help you finance your business; contact your local area manager to discuss any finance need you may have. • Southern Ireland: Joe Biesty: T: 081 882 7893 / 086 772 7552 Email: jbiesty@braemarfinance.ie • Northern Ireland: Gail Cormack: T: 01563 852100 / 07919 598577 Email: gcormack@braemarfinance.co.uk
Tribute to Belfast funeral director, Peter Rush P
eter Rush, a valued staff member of O’Kanes Funeral Directors, Belfast, who passed away at a west Belfast cemetery following a suspected fall has been described as “one of this world’s true gentlemen”. Mr Rush, in his sixties, worked as a funeral director at O’Kanes Funeral Directors in the city having previously worked for Bass Ireland. It is understood that his body was found by two members of the public early one morning in February, however it is unclear why he was at the cemetery. Mr Rush was a keen photographer and it has been suggested that he was out taking pictures. Police are not treating his death as suspicious. Hundreds of tributes have thus far poured in for Mr Rush, originally from the Glengoland area of west Belfast, with family and friends alike expressing their shock at his sudden death.
22 | FuneralTimes
A friend described Mr Rush as “an absolute gentleman” and paid tribute to his photography skills. “He truly had a wonderful gift. And a great eye,” he wrote. Peter is survived by his wife Maureen and children Nichola, Fiona and Peter. In his role with O’Kanes Funeral Directors, Peter handled the pre-paid funerals and was a highly respected and valued member of the team. “The Directors and staff at O’Kanes Funeral Home are deeply saddened by the untimely death of their colleague and friend Peter Rush. He had a great passion for his job as a Funeral Director and always went beyond and above the call of duty to ensure that the family of the deceased and/ or a customer arranging a prepaid funeral plan would have their wishes fulfilled. He was truly dedicated to his profession and will be sorely missed by all of us.” Hugh J Dougal
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Professional Embalmers’ Association of Ireland STRENGTHENS COMMITMENTS IN 2017 PEAI is an independent association dedicated to the professional embalmers in Ireland. The association is growing stronger in practice and advancements as well as in numbers! PEAI is strengthening its commitments to the Public, the Care of the Deceased, the Association and the Government and these are reflected in the PEAI Code of Ethics. The Professional Embalmers’ Association of Ireland (PEAI) Code of Professional Conduct is designed to address the commitment of each member in five key areas: 1. Commitment to the Family - Members have a moral commitment to serve each family in a professional and caring manner, being respectful to their wishes and confidences and being honest and fair in all dealings with them. 2. Commitment to the Care of the DeceasedMembers have a moral commitment to care for each deceased person with the highest respect and dignity and to transport, prepare and shelter the remains in a professional, caring and conscientious manner. 3. Commitment to the Public- Members have a moral commitment to the public to offer their services in accordance with the highest principles of honesty, fair dealing and professionalism. 4. Commitment to the GovernmentMembers have a moral commitment to maintain strict compliance with the letter and spirit of all governmental laws and regulations that impact the deceased, the bereaved family, the embalming profession and the public health. 5. Commitment to the PEAI- Members have a moral commitment to promote, participate and support the Professional Embalmers’ Association of Ireland in its mission to help all members enhance the quality of the embalming service to families. 24 | FuneralTimes
Apart from the professional standing in being a Member, PEAI members receive extensive professional and personal benefits. • Professional standing – membership indicates a level of professionalism at par with other similar organisations. (Applicants are expected to meet certain requirements before being accepted into the Association.) • Professional advancement– access to information on the latest advancements and procedures including developments in the industry • Receive the PEAI Certificate of Membership provided that you continue to comply with the PEAI Code of Ethics • Networking opportunities – National and European based • Peer support programme • PEAI email to keep you up to date with current updates within the industry • Safety Information: Embalming Chemicals (Biocides) and Mortuary Standards • Information and Updates on Work Safety Trainings and Regulations • Opportunity to attend Trainings, Seminars and Conference at Member rates • Access to the PEAI website for updates with what’s happening within the PEAI and the industry • Access to the PEAI Facebook page • Dedicated online support and interactive website Visit our website to learn more about us. www.professionalembalmers.ie. Like us on Facebook and you can also follow us for the most current news within the funeral service sector. For enquiries, you may send an email directly to info@professionalembalmers. ie or secretary@professionalembalmers.ie. Alternatively, you can visit our website and fill in our online contact form.
Our Crematorium, Facilities and Remembrance Garden are available 7 days a week to accommodate Families and Funeral Directors (no weekend surcharge)
Memorial Memoria aall Keepsakes es We also have a large supply of urns, casks es. and keepsakes.
Lakelands Crematorium, Dublin Rd, Cavan, Co. Cavan Tel: 049 4362200 / mob: 086 2458489 email: info@LakelandsCrematorium.ie www.LakelandsCrematorium.ie
Pat retires after 50 years at Finlay
On Friday, March 10, 2017, Pat Rooney retired from Finlay following 50 years of dedicated service in the Assembly Department. A function was held at the new Finlay factory to mark Pat’s retirement and the Finlay team, along with Mr Finlay Snr (left), were present for refreshments and the presentation, by Colman Finlay (right), to Pat of an oil painting of Ardee by local artist Padraig Lynch.
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FuneralTimes | 31
Finding the right qualities... What are the qualities you would expect to find in a Civil Funeral Celebrant? If you were placing a job advertisement for a Celebrant what key attributes would you state? Mary Elizabeth Dillon of Civil Funerals Ireland was recently asked these questions and replied as follows: compassion and flexibility. Every funeral represents a bereavement, a loss, an ending regardless of the circumstances or the relationship between the deceased and those left behind. In dealing with families and helping them to organise a funeral service, Mary Elizabeth finds compassion to be the key to building up a relationship with the family and ultimately delivering the best service possible. Even if a death is anticipated, it can still come as a shock and compassion is the key to coming alongside a family and helping them to deal with the practicalities. Mary Elizabeth recalls spending over 2 and a half hours with a family, but the funeral service itself only took half an hour to arrange. The rest of the time was spent listening to the dead man’s mother as she spoke of her son, his life and her memories. She needed time to speak and remember before she was in a position to make decisions and put arrangements in place. Mary Elizabeth says, ‘Because I spent time with this lady, when it came to decisions I was in a very good place to help her and it took a very short time to get everything in place. Civil Funeral Celebrants are in the
Funeral Business, and it is a business, but what makes us unique is the compassionate approach and a willingness to spend time with people. I would hate the day to come when people are given 30 minute slots to make their arrangements. I know I will never do that. The second quality mentioned is flexibility. No two people are the same and no two services are the same either. I do not have a folder with ready made services in it, just waiting to be rolled out as funeral services arise. Although some poems and readings are very popular, Mary Elizabeth is open to any suggestion a family may have. My own tastes do not come into the equation at all, and I find especially with music anything is possible. I recently took a funeral where the opening song was by Guns ‘n’ Roses and the closing piece by Donna Taggart. I try to accommodate people’s wishes at every turn, the only limitation is the amount of time they have booked with the crematorium and it can be hard for a family to understand that they can’t have all the content they want. In spite of that, with a flexible approach it is always possible to put together a personal and meaningful ceremony. Taking a compassionate and flexible approach is the hallmark of a Civil Ceremony and ensures that increasingly into the future this type of service will become more and more popular.
Civil Funerals Ireland Simple, unique, personal funeral services
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Mary Elizabeth Dillon is available between 9am - 11pm 7 days a week Tel ROI: 0402 91273 / Mobile: 087 957 4476 Email: info@civilfuneralsireland.com
Funerals conducted throughout Ireland
• We will soon be supplying material bags for caskets /urns • Your company name can be screen printed onto the bag • If you need any more information, please give Damian a ring
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FuneralTimes | 33
BIE News Southern Ireland Division
A
fter a very busy and productive year in 2016, the Irish Division are continuing their promotion of education in embalming in 2017. The hugely successful education weekend event will take place once again on August 19th and 20th 2017 (venue to be confirmed). We hope to see even more people attend the 2017 event. We are also glad to report an increase in membership numbers and interest is coming back to our Divisional meetings. We have decided to dedicate part of these meetings to clinics, where both students and long standing members leave with something learned. The Division is looking forward to 2017 and indeed, to the future.
Cyril Gantley (Irish Division)
Chairman
Northern Ireland Division
T
he AGM of 2017 for the BIE Northern Ireland Division was held at Ravenhill Funeral Services, Belfast on Wednesday 11th January 2017. There was a good attendance of 27 people which included 8 students. The National President of the BIE, Gwen Schofield and her husband Andrew attended the meeting, thanking all members, students and guests for their attendance, and of course to Ravenhill Funeral Services for the use of their premises. There was a certificate presented to Jackie DS Leighton who has become a member of the BIE and he accepted the certificate and delivered a word of thanks to his tutor Stephen Shields and Kenny Humpries for their help and support throughout his training. The AGM was closed with the Chairman declaring all offices vacant. The 1st Quarterly Meeting was held with the election of Laurence O’Neill Jnr as divisional chairman
34 | FuneralTimes
and 2nd National Council representative. The position of Secretary was fulfilled on a temporary basis by Michael og McKiernan. The 2nd Quarterly meeting of the BIE Northern Ireland Division will be held on Wednesday 26th April 2017 at 7.30pm in Barry McBratney’s Funeral Home, Balloo South Business Park, 21Q Enterprise Road, Bangor, Co. Down BT19 7TA. At the meeting Dr Brian Herron, Consultant Neuropathologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital will be delivering a talk entitled: ‘Walk, Talk and Die’ Also on the night Mr Willie Mc Guckin of CPL Supplies will be giving a presentation on his latest range of products available. We look forward to seeing you there.
Laurence O’ Neill (Northern Ireland Division) Chairman
List of BIE Officers and appointed representatives for 2016/2017 National President: Gwen Schofield Imm. Past President: Mr Craig Caldwell (North American Division) National PRO & National General Secretary: Mrs Karen Caney FBIE White Meadow Cottage, Brailsford, Derby DE6 3DA Tel: 01332 349035(BIE) Mobile: 07786 432014 karencaney@btopenworld.com National Treasurer: Michael Liddle MBIE 10 Yew Tree Close, Silsoe MK45 4EQ Business Tel: 01582 490005 Home Tel: 01525 860117 michael@silsloe.wanadoo.co.uk Editor: Gwen Schofield MBIE 9 Seymour Walk, Meltham, Holmfirth HD9 4BP Home Tel: 01484 851994 Mobile: 07778 279100 gwen.schofield@ntlworld.com Master Fellow: Ken Morgan FBIE “Evergreens”, 36 Coley Road, Little Haywood, Stafford ST18 0UW Home Tel: 01889 881223 Business Tel: 01902 878425 Mobile: 07970 831760 k.m.morgan@virgin.net Student Liaison Officer: Timothy Cain MBIE Hillcrest, 38 Main Street, Ashby de la Launde LN4 3JG Home Tel: 01526 321396 jackie@lymn.co.uk
IRISH DIVISION Chairman Mr Cyril Gantley MBIE 336 Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12 Mobile:00353 857671582 cyril.gantley@mortuary-science.ie Vice Chairman Mr Shane Casey MBIE Gortnabinna, Ballingeary, Macroom, Co.Cork. Mobile: 00353 860744117 info@caseyfunerals.ie Secretary Susan Moran MBIE Maydown House, Aughraboura, Athy, Co.Kildare. Mobile: 00353 860619500 moransfuneralservices@gmail.com National Council Rep Mr John Hawe MBIE 12 Meadow Vale, Smith’s Road, Charleville, Co.Cork Mobile: 00353 876390087 jmhawe@eircom.net 2nd National Council Rep and Educational Rep Pamela Murphy MBIE 14 Parknasillogue Court, Enniskerry, Co.Wicklow Mobile:00353 857415421
NORTHERN IRELAND DIVISION Chairman Laurence O'Neill 98 Stewartstown Road Belfast BT11 9JP Tele: 028 90 620099 Email: oneill8210@hotmail.com Treasurer Andrew McMullan MBIE 22 High Street, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim BT53 6AQ Andrew@mcmullanfuneral.com 1st National Council Representative Ellison Sloan MBIE Telephone: 02838 336175 poots@fsni.info 2nd National Council Representative Laurence O'Neill 98 Stewartstown Road Belfast BT11 9JP Tele: 028 90 620099 Email: oneill8210@hotmail.com 1st National Educational Committee Representative Pat Harley MBIE 67 Creggan Road, Londonderry BT48 9DA Mobile: 077128 99137
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Treasurer Mrs Anna O’Reilly MBIE Church Street, Newmarket, Co.Cork Tel:02960142 annaoreilly4@hotmail.com
FuneralTimes | 35
New delivery from Fearghas Quinn Frank and John Barrett from Pepperdine Barrett Family Funeral Directors Manchester, were pleased to say when receiving theirFuneral E ClassDirectors, from Fearghas is from the fifth vehicle of R. Gibney of Gibneys of Oldcastle collectsQuinn, his new"This hearse Fearghas our fleetHearse we have had built by Fearghas Quinn Hearse & Limousines and they keep getting Quinn and Limousines. better. We’ve always been impressed by the build quality and we feel they stand out from the crowd as very stylish vehicles. We will do a lot of business with Fearghas in the future".
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Mob: 086 2544126 or Mob: 086 8205215 36 | FuneralTimes
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Through our own personal experience we received the inspiration to set up Treasured Keepsakes, to give people a wide variety of options upon a loved one’s passing should they choose to keep a lock of hair, cremated remains, a piece of jewellery, a photograph or anything that is a personal reminder of their loved one in a small keepsake, keepsake pendant or urn. Funeral directors we are currently working with have tailored our service to suit their needs. We have two options of how our service can work for you. If you wish you can buy our products from us at a wholesale price and sell them directly to your clients. Alternatively we can offer this service to your clients directly. We would hope that by recommending our service we will enhance and add value to your business at no extra cost to you.
For more information contact us or visit our website Tel: 01 825 4579 From NI: 00353 1 825 4579 info@treasuredkeepsakes.ie www.treasuredkeepsakes.ie
If you do not tell people, how will they know? It is always interesting to catch up with different funeral directors and receive their opinions on cremation and what a family will and can do with the ashes of their loved one. Over the last couple of months two such conversations have stuck in my head.
O
ne funeral director informed me that since he has placed our brochures on the table in his arranging room families are showing a lot of interest in the different options for their loved ones ashes. Many people are still unaware that they have so many options available regarding a loved ones ashes. While many expect to receive the ashes back in an urn, many are surprised to learn that ashes can be held in a piece of jewellery or held in more than one small urn so different family members can keep them. Another funeral director told me that there was no interest in our products in the part of the country he is based. When I asked him why he thought this was, his answer was “I’m not really sure, maybe it’s because they don’t know what options exist”. When I asked him if he or his colleagues personally let families know about the options available to them after they receive the ashes, he replied “No, I suppose we don’t”. He was then very shocked to hear that I have dealt with several clients whose loved ones funeral they had arranged. These particular families found Treasured Keepsakes through searching the internet and referrals by family friends who had already used our service. My point is that unless a funeral home informs a family about their options they may never know what is available to them. For some, they may find out when it is too late and they have already interred or scattered their loved ones ashes. Taking five minutes to explain the different options to them, or one minute to hand them our brochure could make a huge difference to a family at such a difficult time. If you would like to receive our brochures to display in your funeral home, or for more information on any of our products or how Treasured Keepsakes can work alongside your company please contact Liza Webster or Edward Foley on Tel: 01 8254579. From NI: 00353 1 8254579 or email:info@treasuredkeepsakes.ie or visit: www.treasuredkeepsakes.ie FuneralTimes | 39
New E Class for Hudson’s Funeral Home R. Gibney of Gibneys of Oldcastle Funeral Directors, collects his new hearse from Fearghas Helena and Chris from Hudson’s Funeral Home, Arklow take delivery of their Quinn Hearse and Hudson Limousines. new E Class hearse from Fearghas Quinn Hearse & Limousines
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www.repatriationireland.com 40 | FuneralTimes
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ts name literally translated as ‘The Valley Of Peace’, Wadi us-Salaam is an Islamic cemetery situated in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq. The vast site stretches over an incredible 1485 acres and is the final resting place for upwards of five million bodies. Unsurprisingly, this affords it a strong claim as the world’s largest graveyard. Najaf is itself one of the primary cities in Iraq, with a population in excess of 600,000. Stretching up to 10km along the valley, this city of the dead is also the only cemetery on earth where burial continues to this day after more than 1,400 years. Some rituals carried out before burial in the cemetery include the body being washed and wrapped at the cemetery, funeral prayers conducted inside the Imam Ali shrine, the A time to think deceased being carried around the shrine three times, and some Quranic verses which are recited at the cemetery. Spiritually speaking, the graveyard holds great importance in Shiite belief, the theory being that the souls of all faithful men and women, regardless of their physical burial place, shall be moved there. The site is located close to the shrine of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Shia Imam and fourth Caliph and as a result nearly all Iraq’s Shi’a muslim population request to be buried there. Wadi Al-Salam is not just for followers of the Shia school of Islam and little distinction is made between Peace at night 42 | FuneralTimes
the rich and the poor; there are also those who will pay for others who wish to be buried at the site. Bodies have been received from around the world including southeast Asia, India, Pakistan, Iran, the Gulf Arab and other Winding roads countries. With this in mind it comes as no shock that the bodies of countless Prophets, Kings, Princes and Sultans lie together in situ. Wadi Al-Salam comprises a labyrinth of graves built with baked bricks and plaster, rising at different levels. Dotted throughout the tombstones, like grains of sand on the shore, are room-sized family crypts, often topped by domes. There also exist underground burial vaults which can be accessed by ladder. A selection The army rolls of graves exist from the through 1930s and 1940s with a unique style, soaring up to 10 feet in the air with rounded tops, so as to ensure those resting would be seen before their neighbours. On a more sombre note, the Iraq war in 2003 saw soldiers of the Iraqi Militia utilise their vastly superior knowlege of the winding lanes, pathways and underground mausoleums to hide and ambush approaching enemy units. The unprecedented violence having engulfed Iraq since 2003 has led to a large expansion of the graveyard, seeing it grow by about 40%, up to three Sunset in Wadi us-Salaam square miles.
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The challenge of bruise concealment By Tim Collison CFSP
R
ecently, at a conference on embalming and restorative art, one of the presenters put up a slide showing a decedent’s hands after embalming had taken place, but prior to cosmetic application. As is often the case, the hands showed signs of a lengthy illness such as discolourations, bruising and poor fingernail and cuticle care. While the subject of this part of the presentation was caring for the fingernails of the deceased, cosmetic application was also mentioned. The ‘after’ pictures showed manicured fingernails and cuticles, as well as a cosmetic treatment which had eliminated the bruising and discolourations. Obviously, this was a much more comfortable image for those viewing the individual, so the extra effort produced the desired result. There is no doubt that corrective cosmetic application can pose some challenges. Stabilizing tissue, colour matching, and the correct extension of the cosmetic treatment, are all considerations when we decide to restore the deceased to the most natural appearance. Let’s look at the causes and treatments needed when discolourations are present in visible areas. Bruising and discolourations are due to numerous conditions, and the causes can frequently determine the best procedure for successful concealment. As an example, we frequently see discolourations on the back of the hands of the deceased. Many times these are caused by trauma occurring when an intravenous line (i.v.) has been in place for a lengthy period of time. If the individual was hospitalized for a lengthy period of 46 | FuneralTimes
Tim is Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Dodge. He is a regular presenter at the Dodge Seminars and is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Michigan.
time prior to death, the i.v. was replaced several times, and since blood thinners are generally a common part of the treatment, the i.v.’s will cause blood to escape the vein into the surrounding tissue. This causes two possible problems: the stain or bruise, as well as a potential embalming issue since the vascular system has been interrupted. If we want to ensure that bruises don’t reappear after the cosmetic treatment has been completed, one fundamental step is to make sure that the bruised tissue is preserved. Preserving the tissue stabilizes it, so additional deterioration does not cause additional changes in colour and tissue integrity. This can be accomplished by the use of a preservative pack, hypodermically injecting a preservative solution into the area, or injecting a bleaching chemical such as Basic Dryene into the area. All of these procedures can be done while the arterial injection is taking place. Out of these three alternatives, I have had the best result hypodermically injecting Basic Dryene, as it will bleach the bruised area, as well as preserve it. Looking at a different type of discolouration, such as one which has been caused by dehydration, preservation again is the first step. We often see decedents who have extensive dehydration caused by fever, medication, or end-of-life conditions. The most prominent areas of dehydration are often the mucous membranes of the lips and eyes, and it has a tendency to cause a darkening of the lip surfaces and redness in the eyelids and inner canthus. An effective first step after disinfection to restore these
areas, is to place cotton saturated with Restorative on the tissue surface prior to embalming, and allow it to stay in place for the duration of the procedure. This will help the tissue regain the lost moisture, leading to better embalming and the restoration of the natural contours of the features. If feature building is required to restore the lip contour, Firming Feature Builder will preserve the tissue and lighten the discolouration. Once the discoloured areas have been thoroughly preserved, the cosmetologist can turn their attention to determining ‘how’ to conceal the discolouration. There are several methods to choose from, which produce varying results based on the circumstances and cosmetics which are available. One point which should be apparent is that a well-stocked cosmetic selection greatly improves your chances of success. Concealing discolourations, especially dark discolourations such as hematomas, can be accomplished with most pigmented cosmetics. These would
include creams, pastes, airbrush, and paints. The challenge for mortuary cosmetologists is to conceal the discoloured area while reinstating normal complexion colour. An area of skin any size over approximately 1” will exhibit some variegation of the complexion. In other words, the area will not be one consistent colour, e.g. Suntan. If you examine the back of your own hand, you will notice various subtle shades of your complexion, and in some individuals, fairly prominent veins which in lighter complexion types are bluish in colour. If you examine your face, you will see the same varying shades of complexion, as well as warm colour areas, and in many areas of the face, shadows. Without reinstating the variegation in complexion, it is difficult for a bruise concealment to appear natural. If the cosmetologist relies on using a heavy cream cosmetic of one colour such as Natural for concealment, it will be difficult to blend other colours into the base without it becoming too thick and appearing ‘pancakeFuneralTimes | 47
like.’ Especially when concealing heavy, dark bruising, establishing a more neutral base prior to applying the complexion colour will reduce the amount of cosmetic needed to restore a natural appearance. This is true not only with brush-applied cosmetics, but also with airbrush cosmetics. Several years ago I was asked to cosmetize an individual who had severe bruising on the right side of the head (naturally), as well as a deep discoloration to his lip surfaces due to dehydration brought about by long-term refrigeration. While one side of his head was bruised, approximately 75% of his face was completely natural. The challenge was concealing the bruise while not extending heavy cosmetic over the entire face. The first part of the process was making sure the bruised area was preserved. A Webril pack, saturated with Restorative, was placed on the lip surfaces after the features had been set, and was left in place during the arterial injection. The embalming was very successful, accomplishing good overall preservation and clearing of most of the tissue. With the non-clearing of the bruised area, we concluded that the tissue was stained, since the area did embalm well. Approximately 20cc of Basic Dryene was hypodermically injected into the discoloured area, and allowed to work for several hours. The result was that a large part of the bruise bleached significantly, and more importantly, we knew that the area was well preserved and stabilized for cosmetic restoration. During the arterial injection, the lips re-formed into a normal curvature, however, they did not clear, retaining a dark brown cast. For this specific case, I decided that undercoating the discoloured areas would give me a lot of flexibility in determining how to complete the cosmetic application. There are several methods and products to use when undercoating a bruise. One method is to use a cosmetic which is close to the complexion colour of the individual, and then complete the application with toning cosmetics to reinstate natural complexion colouring. While this method is often used and can be successful, there is a tendency for the cosmetic application to end up 48 | FuneralTimes
darker than would be desired. A good rule of thumb, is that when treating smaller discolourations, such as a bruise on the face or back of the hand, your foundation or base cosmetic should be a little lighter than the surrounding skin. Complexion, and when treating a large discolouration, such as a jaundiced face, use a slightly darker shade. This rule applies as it is basically impossible to match a cosmetic exactly, and when we apply masking cosmetics over a small area, if it is slightly lighter upon completion, it will not draw attention to the area as a dark spot would. Conversely, when a large area needs to be opaquely cosmetized, such as the entire face or an entire hand, if the colour fault is slightly darker, it will not appear as artificial to the eye, as too light a complexion would. When the cosmetic treatment over a large surface is too light, it is often described as ‘pasty’ or ‘waxy’ looking. Another method of undercoating is to employ a cosmetic which is several shades lighter than the normal complexion colour. When applied in an opaque manner, the undercoating cosmetic will neutralize the discolouration, and then toning cosmetics can be applied over the base to produce natural complexion colouration. For this application, I chose to use Ivory Perma Pigment over the forehead bruise, and also applied it to the lip surfaces to completely cover the discolouration. In the next issue, I’ll discuss the cosmetic treatment, cosmetic shades to have on hand, and cosmetic extension. If you would like to be added to the mailing list for the complementary Dodge Magazine which is printed quarterly or would like to discuss any of the products mentioned in this article, please contact us on the number listed below: Shepherds Funeral Supplies, Unit 2A Royal Canal Business Park, Athlone Road, Co. Longford. Ph. 00353 43 3349702/00353 87 2486668
The National Funeral Exhibition Brought to you by the National Association of Funeral Directors Dates: Times: Location:
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NAFD News The National Funeral Exhibition 2017 Friday 9th – Sunday 11th June 2017 Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, England
One of the top three funeral events in the world - just a short hop from Ireland
T
he final touches are being put in place to make sure the National Funeral Exhibition, one of the top three funeral trade shows in the world, will be the biggest and best yet. With almost 200 exhibitors already confirmed, the show is set to be an inspiring, useful and thought-provoking showcase for the funeral profession. The National Funeral Exhibition (NFE) is a three-day trade show owned by the National Association of Funeral Directors which attracts more than 3,000 attendees. It gives the opportunity for the industry to meet, innovate, buy, sell and see which direction the industry is heading in, all set in a lively, vibrant environment. Event venue Stoneleigh Park is less than 30 minutes from Birmingham Airport, offering a swift transfer for visitors from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland using the airport’s regular, direct services
from Dublin, Shannon, Kilkenny, Cork, Kerry and Belfast. Entertainment at the show has also stepped up a gear with a musical theme set to add to the vibrant atmosphere with live performances across the three-day event. Recognising the family nature of the profession there is also a wide range of activities and entertainment for children of all ages, from toddlers to teens, on Sunday – traditionally the family day of the show. Online booking is now open for visitors. Visit www.nationalfuneralexhibition.co.uk and follow a simple online form to avoid the hassle of queuing on arrival at the show. On the website, www.nationalfuneralexhibition. co.uk, visitors can also find out more about what the show has to offer and you can also follow the NFE on Twitter: @funeral_ exhibit.
Stirling Debate marks historic moment for Scotland’s funeral profession Funeral directors from across Scotland have committed to work with the Scottish Government to introduce regulation to the sector.
M
embers of the profession made the historic pledge at a special one day conference in Stirling on Saturday 1 April. 50 | FuneralTimes
The event was attended by around 100 representatives of independent funeral directing businesses and the largest firms,
including Co-op Funeralcare and Dignity. Jointly organised by the National Association of Funeral Directors Scotland (NAFD Scotland) and the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors Scotland (SAIF Scotland), the event began with the signing of a joint agreement by the two trade associations, whose membership comprises more than 80 per cent of the funeral profession. This agreement was submitted to The Scottish Government and represents a formal commitment to work with Scottish Ministers to develop a set of Regulations that will be proportionate and appropriate and will ultimately benefit bereaved people. Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: “Regulating funeral directors businesses is an important step in ensuring that bereaved families receive the best possible care at a time when they are potentially very vulnerable. I very much welcome the commitment made by NAFD (Scotland) and SAIF (Scotland) to work with us to develop a regulatory scheme that reflects the diverse nature of the funeral profession in Scotland and ensures quality of service for the people of Scotland.” The joint agreement, which is a public document, sets out a series of guiding principles for both organisations to follow in the development of regulation. These include the need to ensure safety and public health and to work in the public interest. The document also states that its purpose “is to facilitate the contribution of all funeral directors, suppliers and those with an interest in the industry to the regulatory developments under the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016, in the public interest.” The Stirling Debate featured a panel discussion and workshops which considered potential challenges associated with regulation such as how cross border funeral directors might be affected and what should be the minimum standards of the new regime. It also considered the implications for families in the event that a funeral business was closed for breach of Government regulations. Speaking after the Stirling Debate, Mandie
Lavin, Chief Executive of the NAFD, said the funeral profession stood ready to work in a positive and transparent way in order to help The Scottish Government develop effective regulation. “The Stirling Debate was an incredibly important moment in the history of the funeral profession. Our forefathers lobbied for regulation in the 19th century but for one reason or another it didn’t happen. We’re now on the cusp of delivering a new settlement for bereaved people in Scotland which I’m sure will have a positive impact across the remainder of the UK. “Many professions resist Government regulation but not the funeral profession. I’m incredibly proud to be part of a sector that is embracing this change in such a positive way because ultimately everyone can see how, if done well, this will benefit bereaved people. Care of bereaved people is every good funeral director’s overriding goal,” Ms Lavin said. Terry Tennens, Chief Executive of SAIF, said: “This is an important step for consumer protection. While many funeral directors are members of a trade body, whether that be SAIF or the NAFD, which monitors, supports and in the rare incident expels a firm from membership for poor practice, the Scottish Government recognises the need to protect best practice and add teeth to standards of service. “We believe that together, SAIF and the NAFD can serve the bereaved and national government by collaborating at a strategic level to ensure that client service is benchmarked at excellence and service fees do not exponentially increase due to a burdensome regulatory framework – it can be a win-win.” Following the Stirling Debate, members of NAFD (Scotland) and SAIF (Scotland) are planning a similar event for autumn 2017, in order to gauge views and develop a set of information and data that will inform the development of regulation. The two associations are also working together to strengthen codes of practice and complaints procedures. FuneralTimes | 51
DWP Minister to open NAFD Conference 2017 A stellar roster of speakers sets the stage for lively debate in Brighton
W
elfare Delivery Minister Caroline Nokes MP joins the Chief Coroner and Lacy Robinson of the US equivalent of the Association, the NFDA, on the podium for what is set to be one of the NAFD's most exciting conferences to date. This year's event which takes place at the Grand Hotel in Brighton from 4-7 May 2017 will be opened on the morning of Friday 5 May by Department for Work and Pensions' Minister for Welfare Delivery Caroline Nokes MP at what is a critical time for funeral directors and bereaved families with the spotlight falling on both the Social Fund and on bereavement benefit payments. Friday, the first full day of business at Conference will then begin after the Minister’s speech, with the Annual General Meeting. As well as the normal business agenda, the meeting will include discussions and debate on regulatory developments in Scotland, local authority trading, coronial services and other pertinent and relevant issues facing members and the industry – a day not to be missed if you are interested in the future of both the funeral profession and your Association. Saturday's programme of guest speakers includes the new Chief Coroner, His Honour Judge Mark Lucraft QC, who will talk about the work of the Chief Coroner and the ways in which HM Coroners work in the public interest. On Saturday, there will also be a session entitled Tackling stress at work: A modern approach by Philip McCrea MD BHSF Occupational Health and a presentation by Lacy Robinson, Director of Member Development for the US National Funeral Directors’ Association Once again, NAFD Conference will have 52 | FuneralTimes
The Grand Hotel, Brighton
its own App which delegates can use to plan their time, engage with debates and contact other delegates. In addition to a packed and exciting business agenda, Conference also offers many opportunities to catch up with colleagues and network with corporate partners and associates at both formal and informal social events, from the traditional welcome buffet and drinks for those arriving on the Thursday night through to the annual black tie Banquet & Ball which takes place on Saturday 6 May.
HOW TO BOOK
For the first time, it is possible to book a place at Conference online. Swift and straightforward, delegates should visit: https://nafdannualconference. eventbrite.co.uk The NAFD Conference venue, the Grand Hotel, is a fantastic base from which delegates can explore Brighton. The hotel is conveniently located just 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport, one hour from central London and just a stone's throw away from the famous Lanes and Royal Pavilion. Special rates are available for delegates, please call Kirsti Tomkinson on 0121 711 1343 for further details.
Duffy delivers for Sharkey
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Let’s hear it for the civil funeral celebrant! A
civil funeral celebrant has to be all things to all people and much more besides. They lead funerals that can include anything from physical fights to families at war to malfunctioning curtains! At a recent ‘Institute of Civil Funerals’ best practice day in the UK, civil funeral celebrant members gave dramatic accounts of some of their experiences. It takes a certain type of individual to cope with the dramas and high emotions that arise and experiences seem to fall into certain categories. Firstly what you might call ‘content issues’. At the slightly less difficult end are the families where the celebrant, try as they might, simply cannot extract any information whatsoever about the
54 | FuneralTimes
person who has died in order to make the ceremony personal and ‘tell the story’ of the life that has been lived. Using their own resourcefulness, celebrants report how they track down other people who knew the person and endeavour to build a picture to portray at the funeral. In other instances content is put forward by families with wording that is simply not repeatable or else it sets out to attack another person or organisation or is so badly written to be unreadable! This is hard enough. Then we get to the category of ‘difficult family situations’ when the family is literally ‘at war’ within itself or family members detested the relative who has died. The amount of tact and diplomacy required to create a meaningful funeral ceremony in these circumstances
is unbelievable. Examples were given by members where families have actually sabotaged a funeral to ensure the ‘other’ section of the family did not get the funeral content they wished for. The poor celebrant, who is bound to do as their client instructs them, is caught right in the middle of these situations. Take this a stage further and you see the physical fights that have broken out in some funeral ceremonies led by Institute members. Special qualities are indeed required to deal with these situations. Unflustered professionalism is what is needed, along with great teamwork with chapel attendants and funeral directors. Fights aren’t the only physical issue to be dealt with however, one celebrant recounted the funeral where an ex-girlfriend of the man who had died, flung herself on the coffin and would not be moved. Drunken mourners, abusive language and heckling are far too often experienced and dealt with by the celebrant, who on occasions has had to ask mourners to leave
the funeral out of respect for the family. Then there is the isolation of the work, sitting up till all hours on the night before the funeral, composing a revised ceremony with information that a family has just sent through. It happens all the time. Taking funerals for people who are known to the celebrant is really hard too, they all find this very difficult as they have to put their own feelings under their professional hat. The other side of this difficult coin is the family that believes you can fit two hours’ worth of material, stories, poems and music into the permitted single slot at the crematorium. The art of saying a lot in a few words is a key celebrant skill! The emotional drain involved can only be imagined, especially with the ‘too soon’ deaths of babies, children and young people, the suicides and the deaths by accident or murder. Dealing with other peoples’ extreme grief and making the day of the funeral something that a family can bear is the role that we celebrants play. So all in all – let’s hear it for the civil funeral celebrant!
New delivery from Fearghas Quinn Pat Keller of from Keller’s Funeral Directors, Nenagh collects takes delivery his new Insignia hearse R. Gibney Gibneys of Oldcastle Funeral Directors, his newofhearse from Fearghas QuinnFearghas Hearse and Limousines. from Quinn Hearse & Limousines FuneralTimes | 55
Eulogica unveils new features
SEPTIC TANKS AND PRINGLES By Mattie Lennon
The only information I seemed to pick up in the last couple of months appeared to be pertaining to death in some shape or form. First I heard about the Dublin woman who, when getting her affairs in order and preparing her will, met with her funeral undertaker to talk about what type of funeral service she wanted, etc. She told him she had two final requests. First, she wanted to be cremated, and second, she wanted her ashes scattered over TK MAXX. “TK MAXX!” the astonished man said. “Why TK MAXX?” “That way, I know my daughters will visit me twice a week.” Then I was just getting over the shock of learning, from the front page of The Guardian newspaper, that part of Wicklow was being taken out of the EU when I met a west-Wicklow singer/songwriter, who wouldn’t dream of telling me a lie. He told me of how he was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man, in an isolated area in the backs of Wicklow, who had no family or friends, so the service was to be at the pauper’s end of the grave yard. Or the “poor ground” as we call it around here. Not being familiar with the area south of Roundwood the performer got lost. When he finally arrived, an hour late, he found that the funeral undertaker had already gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. He felt badly and apologised to the men for being late. He went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. He didn’t know what else to do, so he started to play. The 58 | FuneralTimes
workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. He played out his heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. He played like he’d never played before for this homeless man: “The Wicklow Mountains High”, “Sunrise on the Wicklow Hills”, “The Blackbird of Sweet Avondale”, “The Flower of Lugnaquilla” and many more lesserknown tunes from the Garden-county. As he finished with “ Among the Wicklow Hills,” the workers began to weep. They wept, the singer wept, they all wept together. When he finished he packed up his guitar and started for his car. He told me, “Though my head hung low, my heart was full. As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, ‘I never seen nothin’ like that before and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years.’” I then read of how Fredric Baur, who dreamed up the original Pringles can, was so proud of the achievement, he wanted to go to his grave with it. So when Baur died his children buried the 89-year-old’s ashes in one of his iconic cans. This prompted me to contact Stephen Power, a Limerick man, living in Kildare, who has
invented the Urn Tower. Stephen’s Urn Tower, the first of its kind in the world, becomes both the Head Stone and Niche for holding cremated remains. It comes in a variety of default sizes to hold from one to four urns. The original holding capacity can also be increased by the addition of an extension niche if required. This approach also offers more privacy to visiting family and friends. It provides for a more personalised and affordable memorial. It can be moved to another location at a later date should the need arise. It solves many issues faced by cemetery providers in dealing with the problem faced by them in the areas of remaining capacity of existing cemeteries not being sufficient to meet growing demand. Often this problem has been imposed on them where current infrastructure is inadequate to meet the changing demand. The Urn Tower increases cemetery capacity by enabling the use of existing ground previously considered unsuitable, allowing for wider selection of cemetery sites as interment is above the ground and is modular thus allowing cemeteries better to match demand with supply. A recent report found that the cost of dying has risen seven times faster than the cost of living. In Ireland, a new grave can cost from €500 to €14,000. This does not cover the extras such as opening the grave, monument fees and headstone costs and that is assuming there is space available in your graveyard of choice. Using Urn Towers affords a considerable cost saving compared to traditional graveyard burials. Cremation rates are growing by up to
20% every year. A growing population and the influx of people to cities and towns is putting pressure on graveyards. Many graveyard managers are running out of space. Cremation offers some relief on these issues. Some families scatter the ashes in places where the deceased person had some attachment however, other families would prefer to have a permanent place to visit and remember a loved one who has chosen cremation. Urn Towers offer a real solution for this very modern dilemma. Details from Stephen. Power@urntowers.com How often have you stood at the back of a church and, in the eulogy, heard the deceased described as “A bit of a character”? In this part of the world we know what that means; that the person was of unique personality, was odd or eccentric or that he was a “thunderin’ hoor.” But what would a foreigner think? I think the best definition to present to the uninitiated was supplied by the late Con Houlihan, “Someone who borrows money from you and then proceeds to bore the trousers off you.”
FuneralTimes | 59
Join the association that’s leading the way. Representing and promoting the interests of 850 independent funeral directors. SAIF is at the forefront of tackling the big industry issues that matter to you. As the united voice of independent funeral directors we have led the way in setting the highest standards of professionalism and conduct within the industry. By joining SAIF you too can demonstrate that you uphold this same commitment. For over 25 years SAIF has been promoting and protecting the interests and values of independent funeral directors. Supporting our members is at the heart of everything we do, listening, responding and engaging to secure your independent future.
Join SAIF now: visit saif.org.uk or call us on 0345 230 6777 or 01279 726 777
SAIF NEWS ... SAIF NEWS ... AGM - Saturday 25th March 2017 S
AIF 2017 Annual General Meeting and Banquet weekend started with the Friday Associates and Past Presidents Lunch where some 50 guests were welcomed by Paul Allcock and his family. The afternoon guest speaker, Gordon Reid, was well received and answered questions on his thoughts, before and after his rare illness, which crippled him just one week before his 13th birthday, how he overcame the difficulties and his climb against his challenges to become world number one wheelchair tennis champion and double Gold Paralympian. Friday evening saw some 90 guests enjoy the Murder Mystery evening, followed on the Saturday morning with over 100 members attending the Annual General Meeting. Chief Executive, Terry Tennens completed housekeeping and welcomed the delegates. National President Paul Allcock then chaired the meeting with Paul Bowley Vice President offering a minutes silence in memory of all those who had passed during the year. The AGM reports were presented followed by Jeremy West and Fellows who joined together on the stage to present the Fellowship of SAIF to Ian Sturrock, who has been an ardent supporter of SAIF since its birth.
The next generation at SAIF
Q&A at the AGM Christine Parker stood down from her role as a SAIF Executive Committee Member and subsequently also her seat on the SAIFCharter board. Alun Tucker also stood down as his role as Executive Chairman with immediate effect. The weekend also saw the first NextGen meeting where the young members of businesses were brought together with their ideas and aspirations for the future.
President Paul Bowley and partner Davina FuneralTimes | 61
SAIF and NAFD first joint conference Saturday 1st April 2017, saw the first jointly organised Conference of SAIF and the NAFD at the Sterling Court Hotel, Stirling.
T
his follows the passing into law of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 which will mean the introduction of a statutory inspector of funeral directors, regulations governing the funeral profession, and the possible licensing of funeral directors. It is a major step for the industry and could have ramifications across the whole of the UK. The regulations stemming from the Act will influence the services received by bereaved people and how the funeral profession conducts business for years to come. Having both organisations discuss the many and varied challenges that this presents will ensure that one much louder voice will be heard from our profession. SAIF Scotland President Mark Porteous opened the event at which over 100 Funeral Directors and associates attended. He then introduced the CEO’s of SAIF and NAFD, Terry Tennens and Mandie Lavin who signed a joint agreement, to show the commitment which both organisations have made to help ensure a smooth process of implementation. This was followed by NAFD past President, Paul Cuthell who gave a very clear review of the diversity within the funeral profession in Scotland, and the importance of identifying best practice, particularly for Funeral Directors on some of the remote islands. Cheryl Paris, Policy Manager for the Scottish Government, then presented an update, and advised that the new Inspector of Funerals is to be announced imminently. She also highlighted the importance of liaison between the Scottish Government, the new Inspector and the Funeral profession. Those attending were then given opportunity to ask questions of a panel consisting of Cheryl Paris, Richard 62 | FuneralTimes
Meade from Marie Curie Scotland, Alison Crake NAFD vice President and Jim Brodie from SAIF Scotland. Many areas of concern were raised from the floor, together with some very positive proposals. Finally, round table discussions were held covering various matters relating to the implementation of the Act, which were then shared with all attendees, including some of the challenges surrounding Funerals which cross the borders of Scotland and England. The event was jointly closed by SAIF immediate past President Paul Allcock and NAFD President Jeremy Field. The feedback from those attending the Conference was very positive, and the forming of the joint agreement between SAIF and NAFD and our joint relationship with the Scottish Government is vital in achieving the most appropriate outcomes for both our profession and the public we serve.
National Living Wage increase With effect from 1st April 2017 the national minimum wage will rise from £7.20 to £7.50 per hour for adults of 21 to 24 years of age. Employees aged between 18 and 20 years of age will receive £5.60 per hour and young adults under the age of 18 years will receive £4.05. For apprentices aged between 16 and 18 years of age, together with apprentices over the age of 19 years who are in their first year of apprenticeship £3.50 per hour. All other apprentices should receive the NMW at the usual rates according to their age.
A fond farewell to Linda “I would like to take this opportunity to say goodbye to readers, after 18 years as Administration Manager for SAIF I leave at the end of April. It has been a wonderful experience and I thank so many of you for your friendship, support and camaraderie over the years. I won’t deny that I will miss SAIF but it’s time for me to stand down and leave the way for someone with new ideas and enthusiasm. My role has kept me absorbed over the years. I wish you all well in your businesses and trust that you will keep the SAIF flag flying and support the Independent. Remember, its quality that counts, not quantity. Thank you one and all and goodbye”
Linda Jones
All the staff at Funeral Times would like to take this opportunity to thank Linda for all her hard work and excellent editorial over the years! Have a wonderful retirement, we will miss working with you! - Ruth, Vikki & Graham
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Eulogica 7: All about touch, tablets – and a new app More and more Funeral Directors say they wish to use tablets and other mobile devices in their work. That is no surprise, because managing funerals is not an office job. Eulogica 7 is designed to support them.
F
uneral Directors are out and about every day – driving hearses and ambulances, visiting homes and hospitals, preparing flowers and ceremonies. So it is no surprise that they are attracted – if not addicted! - to smartphones, iPads, tablets and of course laptops and notebooks which now tend to come with touch screens for easy use on the go. Few Funeral Directors these days would visit a family or arrange a funeral without carrying at least one of these devices. After 20 years of use and ongoing development, Eulogica has become the most popular software system for managing funerals in a number of countries. But until now, Eulogica has mainly been used for back-office operations. While the software has grown rich in features, and flexible enough to adopt to most types of funeral business, it has been less suited for use away from the office. Now, Eulogica 7 is changing all that! Not only is the popular Eulogica software getting a brand new and modern look, the Eulogica 7 generation is also being redesigned for the purpose of use out and about – especially on tablet computers. Of course we are preserving all of the rich flexibility you have come to expect from Eulogica. Every funeral business can still have their own Eulogica configuration, because we so strongly believe that every funeral business is unique. But every part of the software is now also being redesigned for mobile use. A new generation computing platforms like Windows 10 is becoming popular these days, not to mention trend-setting Apple products and various sleek web sites. Information workers are expecting a certain
64 | FuneralTimes
easy, minimalistic look and feel from the systems they use - be it e-mail, mobile apps, or business applications. A consistent way of operating software systems also makes learning and daily work easier. Eulogica 7 is designed to fit into this modern world with ease. We call the new design Eulogica Touch because it is not only modern looking, but also modern working. Every part of the screen is now designed for operating with your fingers - for those devices that allow it. Buttons and other elements are bigger. You
can scroll and swipe with your fingers, and you can enter data with ease using on-screen keyboards. No mouse required! Another invention in Eulogica 7 is the Start screen. Remember that big grey rectangular area which used to make up the background of the Eulogica application? We are now putting that space to better use (and it is not grey any more). Here you will find helpful elements like shortcuts, tasks, diary, and your next few funerals. In good Eulogica tradition, the Start screen can be configured with the elements that matter most for your particular business. Of course, each user can also have their own configuration. You will also find many other key improvements in Eulogica 7: Now you can open multiple lists rather than just one at a time. A new general search feature makes it easy to find just the right funeral. An upgraded reporting engine makes it possible to print or send more complex documents. A new Resource Management System allows for easy allocation of resources like staff or vehicles. The Eulogica API is getting more powerful and can now receive funeral bookings from the web, among much else. Also, (under the hood) in Eulogica 7 you will find a stronger database engine, namely Microsoft SQL Server. This ensures scalability for the largest of funeral companies, and involves a host of new capabilities – for parallel processing, encryption and policy management, mirroring and clustering, analytics and business intelligence. Eulogica 7 also comes with a sidekick – the Eulogica App, designed to bring your most relevant Eulogica data to the smaller screens of smartphones in a handy format. Initially, the Eulogica App is being designed for the two most common mobile operating systems – iOS and Android. Finally, let us not forget the long list of partners and other systems that Eulogica integrates with. Those links are getting stronger, more advanced, and ever more numerous. From florists to newspapers, from service sheets to memorial pages, from ceremony booking to electronic invoicing - Eulogica 7 helps, ensuring a smooth workflow from beginning to end.
Eulogica 7 with the Eulogica App is the biggest investment ever made by our company. Our dedicated team of software developers – now more than 10 of them – is having the time of their life creating Eulogica 7 and the Eulogica App in line with all the latest trends in computing. Totally some 30,000 working hours go into the project, which is an investment we could not have financed all by ourselves. The project is being supported by the Norwegian Research Council, an arm of the Norwegian government. Eulogica is already in use in 500 places across 5 countries. With the upgrade to Eulogica 7, this popular funeral management software now takes the step out of the office and into the hands of busy professionals. Eulogica 7 with the Eulogica App will be officially presented to the Funeral Profession in June 2017. Key benefits of Eulogica 7 • Design inspired by Windows 10, yet built on 20 years’ experience • For PC or tablet use, operation by mouse or touch • Extensive configuration possibilities for each business • New start screen for quick access to information, configurable per business and per staff member • Microsoft SQL Server database - offers scalability and advanced features for large businesses • Partner integrations for death notices, service sheets, memorial pages, flowers, ceremony bookings • Synchronisation feature, electronic invoicing and list of accounting system integrations • New Resource Management System for managing resources like staff, rooms or vehicles • Powerful API for flexible web integrations • Eulogica App for iOS and Android • Light version available for smaller businesses Eulogica Ltd - 1B Arundel Road, Chapeltown, Sheffield, S35 2RB, UK. Regus House, Block 4, Harcourt Centre, Harcourt Road, Dublin 2, IE. FuneralTimes | 65
Dr Bill Webster
Dangerous Decisions I
n some situations, hasty decisions can just add insult to injury. Teresa’s husband was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer last summer. The disease progressed quickly and Rick died in late December, leaving Teresa and their two teenagers facing a multitude of challenges. During the months of his illness, Rick and Teresa discussed many practical questions about what she should do after his death, including selling his business, the children’s future, and her own financial situation. One of the major concerns was what to do with the family cottage which had been in Rick’s family for several generations. Because he had always been the “handy man” who looked after the place, and because the future was uncertain, Rick felt strongly it would be better to put the property on the market for sale. Being in a prime location, an offer to purchase came quickly, “conditional” on the buyers selling their own home after necessary renovations were completed. Rick and Teresa signed the agreement just a few weeks before he died. Teresa would say that she was so caught up in looking after Rick and worrying about her own future, that she really didn’t give it a whole lot of consideration. But now, several months after Rick’s death, with the “conditions” met and the sale on the verge of closing, Teresa has had second thoughts about the transaction. She and her children now would like to keep the cottage that holds so many memories of
66 | FuneralTimes
family and childhood. She called her lawyer only to discover that at this point the matter is out of his hands, and the sale can only be cancelled if the purchaser is willing to withdraw from the contract. Teresa has even called the buyers themselves, and pleaded with them to “let her off the hook”… even offering to pay for the renovations that they had completed on their home. The buyers are sympathetic and feel badly about it all, but they know that they are within their rights to finalize the sale, despite the guilt they feel from her tear-filled pleadings. Teresa has talked to everyone seeking “advice”… when in fact there is no advice available except, at this point, “what will be will be.” It’s a mess! The grief of losing husband and father has been compounded and complicated by the grief of losing the cottage. The old principle of “Don’t make major decisions for at least a year” has always been the standard in bereavement situations. But increasingly it has a relevant application in life threatening situations. This may sound harsh, but perhaps Rick should not have been making this decision. After all, now that he is gone, it is the survivors who have to LIVE with the decision. Perhaps facing an uncertain future, they made “we” decisions that would have worked better as “me” decisions after the fact. It is usually good to know the dying person’s wishes and feelings. But the
uncertainty of today is always transformed by the reality of tomorrow. Perhaps it is better in these situations to make decisions or suggestions that are reversible. No-one knows what they are going to do or want, or even how they will feel until they actually find themselves IN the situation. One widower stated: “I felt the urge to act on things right away and sadly, some of my decisions turned out wrong later on down the road. Bad decisions can be made when emotions cloud your judgment, and grief is the most intense emotion I have ever experienced.” In a nutshell, people usually question their decisions because they don’t really know what they want in the first place. The cottage is not the real issue, although Teresa cannot see that right now. My concern is that she
is expending all her emotional energy on something that she feels she could still control. In her mind, is it easier to focus on something that COULD be changed, and that she feels is still within her power (e.g. I could buy my way out of the contract, or appeal to the buyers’ compassion); than to face something that she realizes is beyond her power, namely to have her husband and her old life including the cottage back. In other words, grieving people often find it emotionally easier to get upset over “things” like the cottage or the estate rather than over what is really distressing them … namely that their world has changed, and there is nothing they can do to get the old one back. We will of course continue to support Teresa as she struggles to come to terms with that sad reality.
‘Don’t make major decisions for at least a year” has always been the standard in bereavement situations
FuneralTimes | 67
A new delivery to Bandon
Robert Gabriel Funeral Director, Bandon receiving the keys of his new Ford funeral fleet from Bob Clarke of Bandon Motors, Main Ford dealer
New Mercedes for Foley’s
John Michael Foley of Foley Funeral Services, Timoleague, Cork receiving his new Mercedes Benz E220 hearsette fitted with a deck from William McGuckin of CPL Supplies. Foley’s now provide an independent freelance funeral directing, hearse hire, embalming and collection/delivery service across Cork City and County 68 | FuneralTimes
New E Class for Wards Funeral Home Padraig Ward from Wards Funeral Home,Directors, Ballybaycollects takes delivery his new E Fearghas Class hearse R. Gibney of Gibneys of Oldcastle Funeral his newof hearse from QuinnFearghas Hearse and Limousines. from Quinn Hearse & Limousines
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‘Vitabri’ - The quality choice in graveside canopies G
M Canopies have gone from strength to strength in recent years, acting as the sole distributors throughout Ireland for Vitabri Canopies, a leading European manufacturer of quality portable aluminium-framed canopies, tables and display units. Priding itself on its close ties with the funeral industry throughout Ireland, GM Canopies continue to provide multi purpose canopies for the progressive Funeral Director. The company believes that the provision of a quality shelter for bereaved relatives during inclement weather conditions is an extension of the service which those called to the funeral profession value above all else. The canopies can provide an ideal shelter outside the funeral home or wake house and at the burial. They are widely used by Funeral Directors throughout the UK and Europe who wish to offer privacy and comfort during the funeral service. Funeral Directors in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland who have purchased Vitabri canopies thus far have been impressed with the quality, versatility 72 | FuneralTimes
and adaptability of the product. The canopies are also widely used by Parish and Church Committees for a wide range of indoor and outdoor functions, including Dedication Services, Remembrance Services and Cemetery Sunday Services. Another key use is the provision of privacy when opening and closing graves or in the event of an inhumation, as well as cover when engraving, cleaning or repairing headstones. Vitabri canopies are manufactured in fourteen sizes and thirty-three colours. The company’s graphics and printing department can design and print to exact specifications. GM Canopies are the sole distributors in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland for Vitabri Canopies, tables and accessories. For further information contact: GM Canopies, 183 Tamlaght Road, Omagh, Co. Tyrone BT78 5LL Tel: 028 8224 4025 Fax: 028 8224 3338 (Rep. Of Ireland prefix 048). Email: gmcanopies@btinternet.com www.gmcanopies.com
GM Canopies
GM Canopies are the sole distributors in N. Ireland and the Republic of Ireland for Vitabri Canopies, tables and accessories. Vitabri Canopies are manufactured in fourteen sizes and thirty-three colours. Our graphics and printing department can design and print to your exact specifications. 183 Tamlaght Road, Omagh, Co. Tyrone BT78 5LL. Tel: 028 8224 4025 Fax: 028 8224 3338 (Rep. Of Ireland prefix 048). Email: gmcanopies@btinternet.com / www.gmcanopies.com FuneralTimes | 1
Raise a toast for those departed:
Funeral homes with bars! A
s the bell sounds each evening at 10 o’clock in McBride’s Irish Pub, Providence, Rhode Island, it does not signal last orders, or even beckon patrons to pay their tab, but to pay something much more valuable - their last respects. Chiara Sottile of NBC News recently covered an interesting piece on the everincreasing popularity of bars in connection with funeral homes! One example folllows the story of the Monahan funeral home. Ever since the pub’s opening in 2011, McBride’s “Last Call” tradition has been an ever-present, with the name of someone who has passed away being read aloud. Originally this started in order to honour owner Mark Russell’s father, but has progressed to allow anyone to request a toast, either in person or online via the pub’s website. This practice is affectionately known as “tears and cheers” according to Russell, 65. Conveniently, the pub is situated adjacent to Monahan Funeral Home, opened by Russell’s family in 1876 and still operated to this today. Naturally, this leaves McBride’s ideally positioned in order to welcome those wishing to honour the departed. Previous to its 2011 transformation, the pub once acted as the funeral home’s 2,400-square-foot garage, housing limos and hearses for funeral services. Recently however, Russell has noticed a gradual shift in the services requested and desired by his customers, “They’re not bound by a lot of tradition like the past generations were”. One such example is the steady increase in families choosing cremation. Mark’s family therefore made the choice to transform “an abandoned garage that was just storing a lot of junk”. Naturally, given its previous purpose, people are going to talk; “People used to say, ‘I can’t believe you used to keep the hearses in here,’ or say, ‘I think I can smell 74 | FuneralTimes
McBride’s Irish Pub, where they ring the bell for ‘Last Call’ to toast someone who has died something,' but I haven’t heard that in a while,” says Russell. Although McBrides’s Pub and Monahan Funeral Home share the same building, customers cannot use the door that connects them. Russell goes as far as to say customers often in fact choose Monahan for their funeral arrangements in part due to the very presence of the pub next door, with many attending a wake at the funeral home before heading next door for a drink. “They come to the funeral home, and they come in a little down. As long as they walk out of either the funeral home or the pub in a better place than when they walked in, then we have done a good job,” he says. The Russell family aren’t the only ones attempting to toast the dearly departed as well as change the rather dreary reputation of funeral homes. The National Funeral Directors Association has commented that it is hearing increasing reports from throughout their membership about providing food and beverages, according to Jessica Koth, NFDA public relations manager.
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Attitudes towards death remain a rare constant With our trust in some traditional institutions waning, the Irish rituals around death remain reassuringly strong in a time of accelerated change
A
nn Fitzgerald of The Independent has surmised that, in an ever-evolving and changing society, the Irish attitude and treatment towards death is a rare constant. The sequence of events is uncannily predictable. The minute the news of a death breaks, neighbours and friends alike will drop what they are doing and rally. This is especially evident in rural areas. It starts with the women, bearing sandwiches. They are followed by scones, buns, cakes, etc, and always accompanied with many cups of tea and helpings of sympathy. As Ann puts it - ‘Good people are always good people, no matter what.’ Following this, the men arrive. A lot depends also on the season. Depending on both funeral arrangements and time of year, the men may erect floodlights for the wake, throw down some gravel, tidy things up, or even open a gateway which hasn’t been used for years. Although such actions are in themselves valuable and of practical necessity, what is really being shown is a gesture of care and support for the bereaved. Virtually regardless of the circumstances or situation, some form of funeral or celebration has to be organised. The difficulty this may pose with emotions so raw cannot be understated, a fact appreciated by none more than the undertaker. However, Ann points out how, hard though it may seem to face dealing with such a practical matter, it’s something to focus on other than grief. Even should it be known that the deceased’s 76 | FuneralTimes
religious faith has lapsed, the funeral service arranged shall typically retain to a large extent the format used by the family’s prevailing religion. This religious aspect is seen to mark an important transition from one state to another. It can equally act as a sign of closure, clearly marking a physical passing, assisting those mourning the passing in accepting the change in reality. Is there ever an easy time to die? The short answer of course is, no. As the news of death spreads, unique memories begin to flood back to everyone who knew the departed, including the last time they met. A curious aspect of death is its uncompromising ability to dilute negative memories and highlight the positive. The other key aspect of a funeral is the actual celebration of a person’s life. This is of course made significantly easier should the person have lived a long, full life, dying painlessly and peacefully. Such deaths are, strange though it may sound, easier to accept and to form a celebration around, than when a younger person passes away, or a death occurrs in complicated circumstances. It never ceases to amaze when we hear of the lengths people go to in order to attend a funeral, frequently travelling across continents in order to show their respect for the deceased, or support for a family member in need. As Ann says, ‘We are a sound, warmhearted, people. Long may it last.’
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Top selling Wilcox Hearsette® for C W Mottram Funeral Services Ltd.
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Conrad has worked in the funeral industry for over 18 years. Around 9 years ago he started his own business as a funeral director, catering for the families of Audley and surrounding areas. Conrad chose a Wilcox specification Hearsette® which includes satellite navigation, Bluetooth, DAB radio, front and rear parking sensors, alloy wheels, day time running lights, roof rails, central locking and heated front and rear windscreen. The car is also fitted with a folding removable deck capable of carrying two deceased at one time. Wilcox Limousines Ltd. would like to thank Conrad for his continued custom Conrad Mottram taking delivery of his new Ford Mondeo Hearsette® from Ian Roe of Wilcox and wish him every success with his Limousines Ltd. new vehicle. Richard Gegg receiving the keys to his new vehicle
New Jaguar for Richard Gegg Funeral Service
W W
e are pleased to hand over a new Jaguar Limousine to Richard Gegg from Richard Gegg Funeral Service in Exmouth. Richard and his two sons were delighted to receive their new Jaguar 3.0 diesel hearse from Malcolm Brooks of Wilcox Limousines. Richard chose a 3 bearer option in cashew 78 | FuneralTimes
leather, which he felt made the hearse different and more practical, enabling the carrying of 3 bearers in the back. Wilcox Limousines would like to thank Richard for his valued business and wish him and his family great success with their new hearse.
FOR SALE
FUNERAL HOME & BUSINESS
Kellehers Funeral Home,
Price on
Application
Market Place, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick
Commercial/Residential Property & Business in excellent town centre location • FUNERAL PARLOUR FINISHED TO HIGH STANDARD • BARBER SHOP (WITH SITTING TENNENT) • FIRST FLOOR: 4 BEDROOM ACCOMMODATION (1 ENSUITE) • CONCRETE CEILING BETWEEN GROUND & FIRST FLOOR • PRIVATE PARKING TO REAR • SIDE ENTRANCE WITH ELECTRIC GATE • FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE DAFT.IE
Contact: Treaty Auctioneers, Newcastle West - Martin on 087 9353343
Classifieds... Classifieds... email your advert to: sales@funeraltimes.com
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
NOV 2008 MERCEDES LIMOUSINE
90-D MERCEDES HEARSE
• Petrol • 18000 miles • PSV ‘d to Jan 2018.
Price on Application
• 2Ltr W123 Automatic • 109,500 miles • Two door but can seat 4 people • In great condition • Ideal for a second hearse
€2,500 O.N.O.
For more information contact
For more information contact
T: 07740 758585
John Keogan T:087 4191101
FOR SALE MONUMENTAL SCULPTOR BUSINESS EST. 1929
• For sale as a going concern • Established 80 years
Price on Application MONUMENTAL MASONS & MEMORIALS
For more information contact: Jim Gaul on 07711 800768 or email: jimgaulandson@yahoo.co.uk 80 | FuneralTimes
Classifieds... Classifieds... email your advert to: sales@funeraltimes.com
FOR SALE 2003 BYRNE BUILT MONDEO HEARSE
Matthew L. Jones FUNERAL REPATRIATION SERVICE
• 108k miles with full service history • Hearse from new • One careful owner • Petrol 2.0 litre • Automatic • Executive model • NCT until March 2018 • Ready for work straight away
PRICE ON APPLICATION For more information contact
T: 086 368 0671
FOR SALE
Due to fleet replacement, the following vehicles are for sale:
• 2006 Chrysler Hearse and matching stretched Limousine with Intercar Modena Grilles (can be sold separately)
• 2007 Chrysler Hearse with Bentley style Grille All in good condition.
Your expression of interest can be made to: Stephen Collier, Colliers Funeral Service Ltd., Old Connaught Avenue, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Tel. +353 12720777 or at info@collierfuneralservices.com
• South Wales based • 24 Hour removal & repatriation service • Long & short distance throughout UK & Ireland • Inclusive of airports & ferry ports • B.I.E qualified embalming service • Also Hearse & Limousine hire available
Mobile: 07815 866652 Tel: 01267 236787 (24hrs) email: info@mljfs.co.uk www.matthewljonesfuneralservices.co.uk
For Sale FUNERAL BUSINESS Leinster Area
Please send enquiries to: PO Box 0417, Funeral Times 1 Annagh Drive, Carn Industrial Estate, Craigavon, Co. Armagh BT63 5WF FuneralTimes | 81
Classifieds... Classifieds... email your advert to: sales@funeraltimes.com
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
1996 FORD GRANADA GHIA HEARSE
1995 VAUXHALL OMEGA
• 2.9 V6 efi engine • Running smoothly • Interior very clean • Exterior will need a little work • No Tax or NCT • Priced accordingly
First €1200 secures
• 4 seats • Petrol • Good condition • Running well • 89,000 miles • Sale due to new purchase
Price on Application
T: 086 8262428
For more information contact: P.J. Cox on T:028 8954 1353
Frank Keogh & Sons
FOR SALE
For more information contact
Funeral Repatriation Services
Woodbrook, Bray Co.Wicklow Telephone:
ROI - 086 8440208 NI - 00353 86 8440208 82 | FuneralTimes
141 FORD MONDEO HEARSE
• 52,000 kms • Diesel • In perfect condition
Price on Application For more information contact: Robert Gabriel Funeral Director, Bandon, Co. Cork T: 087 2514210
Classifieds... Classifieds...
email your advert to: sales@funeraltimes.com
Fintan Flood & Sons
• Hearse and Driver available 24/7 • Keen Rates • Repatriation Service • Covering all areas Website: fintanfloodandsons.com Email: fintanfloodandsons@live.co.uk Contact Fintan: 07770 442113 or Peter: 07565 085659
Global repatriation at your service
A world of difference • Full repatriation services to and from Ireland and from all countries worldwide • Freight fares and tickets to all major airports in Ireland • Collection and delivery services • Legal documentation service for all Embassy and Consular regulations • Dignified and professional worldwide funeral services There’s no substitute for experience
Call +44 (0)20 8684 2324
info@rowlandbrothersinternational.com www.rowlandbrothersinternational.com
FOR SALE 2010 FORD MONDEO HEARSE
2008 MERCEDES E CLASS HEARSE
• All black, Double deck • Showroom condition • Automatic, • Diesel • Air Con • 40,000km • Fully serviced • NCT’d and taxed to 2018
• 48,000 KM • Fully serviced • NCT’d and Taxed to 2018 • All black • Automatic • Petrol • Air con • Alloys • Immaculate condition
PRICE: €29,995
PRICE: €35,000
For more information please contact:
Seán Feehily, Sligo T:087/2411114 FuneralTimes | 83
Classifieds... Classifieds... email your advert to: sales@funeraltimes.com
FOR SALE
DAVID McKEON HEARSE HIRE
1999 MERCEDES HEARSE
Sunnagh Beg, Cloone, Co. Leitrim
• Built in 2002 • 47000 miles
24 HR SERVICE
• Excellent condition
Long or short term hire Nationwide
• In everyday use
£10,000 ono
CONTACT ROI Mobile: 087-8045115 / 087-2981956 / 071-9636000
For more information contact
Sean on T: +44(0)7771 925384
PAIR OF MERCEDES LIMOUSINES (6 DOOR) • MERCEDES HEARSE AVAILABLE
• Experienced Drivers
JBFS
JBFS
• Provincewide service available For enquiries please conact James on
Mob: 077 3428 3181/Tel: 028 3884 9151 or visit: www.jamesbartonfuneralservices.co.uk or email: jamesbarton75@gmail.com
84 | FuneralTimes
JBFS
Classifieds... Classifieds... email your advert to: sales@funeraltimes.com
Bespoke Branded Bags Range of finishes and 100’s of colours available Branded Bags suitable for altar gifts, cards, etc. Orders of 250 units upwards now available ‘Precious Memories’ Generic Bags Available in 50 units Call Adrienne Peers for quotations & samples
Canfly Marketing T: (00353)87-7147027 www.canflymarketing.com info@canflymarketing.com
FOR SALE 2001 VAUXHALL OMEGA HEARSE
FOR SALE FORD SCORPIO HEARSE 1998
• 1998, one owner from new • 2.3 litre petrol • 80k miles • NCT until Sept 2017 • Good condition throughout • Byrne built hearse
PRICE ON APPLICATION For more information contact John on T: 087-6791394 or 087-2861371
PATRICK RYAN & DAUGHTER FUNERAL DIRECTORS SPECIALISING IN REPATRIATION TO ALL PARTS OF IRELAND
• 95,000 miles • 2.2 petrol • Automatic • Fearghas Quinn built • Taxed Jan 2018 • NCT Feb 2018 • Clean hearse in use • Tyres very good • Selling due to upgrade
Price €3900 Contact T: 087 9020765
TEL: 020 8567 1664 FAX: 020 8566 4795 6 South Ealing Road, London W5 4QA Email: office@pryanfunerals.com Website: PATRICK-RYAN.CO.UK COVERING LONDON AND THE HOME COUNTIES FuneralTimes | 85
Classifieds... Classifieds... email your advert to: sales@funeraltimes.com
FOR SALE
2007 VAUXHALL VECTRA FIRST CALL VEHICLE
2009 FORD GALAXY HEARSETTE 2010 VW CADDY MAXI FIRST CALL VEHICLE
PRICES ON APPLICATION For more information please contact:
T:086 2458489
CUNNINGHAM MEMORIALS
Formerly of Ormeau Road, Belfast
All types of Quality Headstones, Surrounds, Plaques, Vases and Stone Chippings. Renovations and Additional Inscriptions. A Specialty in any Cemetery. Free Estimates All Work Guaranteed
Tel/Fax: 028 9070 4404 86 | FuneralTimes
WHAT DOES YOUR
ORDER OF SERVICE SAY ABOUT YOU?
Contact Graham or Richard for further details Telephone: (028/048) 3835 5060 production@inhousepublications.com
Launching the New Wilcox Jaguar XF 3 Door Hearse
A stylish new addition to this prestigious range of funeral vehicles
6SHFLĂ€FDWLRQ The new Wilcox 3 door Jaguar XF Hearse available now. Optional glass roof, offering greater visibility and light. 2 year warranty Jaguar approved convertor British designed and built Exceptional Value For Money
www.limousines.co.uk
Head Office
+44 (0) 1753 480 600 enquiries@wilcoxlims.co.uk