themortegirls

Heartwarming Farewell: Horse and Carriage Funeral

I recently served a family at my funeral home, Jurek-Park Slope, who rented a horse and carriage for their mother’s funeral. It was the first time in all my years in business that one of my families requested this special touch. The woman’s daughter told me that her mom had always wanted this unique tribute,…
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Understanding Poor Information Choices in State Associations

This week, an Ohio funeral director made the news for all the wrong reasons. He plans to obtain a liquor license so that he may serve mourners in the funeral home. He said he wants to be able to “provide guests with a livelier vibe if that’s the way they want to celebrate their loved…
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The Spritz Cookie Recipe

The pink granite monument of Naomi Miller-Dawson in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery is topped by what appears to be an open cookbook. There, etched across two stone pages, is her prized recipe for Spritz cookies, preserved for future generations.
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Dressing as a Female Funeral Director: Finding Style

Images of colorful outfits, vibrant patterns, and trendy accessories come to mind when most people think of fashion. However, fashion tells a different story for those of us in funeral service. The attire of a female funeral director often revolves around black suits and white blouses, embodying both professionalism and respect for the families we…
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Why Funerals Matter

Loss is a profound human experience that can never be fully comprehended until it is felt firsthand. Having navigated the turbulent waters of grief ourselves, we understand that funerals hold a unique significance in the lives of those left behind. They serve not merely as rituals or expenses but as important cultural and emotional events…
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Halloween Season Begins

The Halloween season has officially arrived, bringing with it the crisp air of autumn. And as it does every year, the quaint town of Tarrytown, nestled in the heart of Westchester County, New York, transforms into a spooky wonderland of Halloween attractions. Known for its rich history, Tarrytown has a connection to the legend of…
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Debunking 10 Common Myths About Embalming

“Embalming is an ancient process involving the removal of blood from a body and replacing it with embalming fluid. This method preserves the body for open-casket visitations and helps families bid farewell to their loved ones. It also slows decomposition and enhances the deceased’s natural appearance during the funeral. Typically performed by licensed funeral directors/embalmers,…
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Insights from a Life in Funeral Service: Five Lessons Learned Along the Way

With over four decades of experience as funeral directors, we have gained invaluable insights from the bereaved families we have had the honor to serve. These experiences have underscored the significance of funerals: the importance of attentive listening, the profound impact of rituals, and a deep respect for diverse mourning customs. We share these lessons…
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Misconceptions About Funeral Services: Cremation, Green Burials, and More in New York State

Some ads and a few funeral directors might lead you to think otherwise, but funeral directors do not specialize in any specific service. We handle everything—whether it’s burial, cremation, entombment, or green burial. Just this week, a colleague of ours got a call from a family who’d been referred to him. They were considering a…
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The Myth of Running Out of Cemetery Space

One of the prevailing myths is that we, as a country, are running out of cemetery space. While some of the cemeteries that were established in the 19th century may be short of space (although there are still graves available), that is definitely not the case on Long Island. I was happy to be able…
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