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An Old-School Funeral Director With a Young Face
Read more: An Old-School Funeral Director With a Young FaceAmerican Funeral Director, September 2019
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Five Things
Read more: Five ThingsFive Things I’ve learned in my long career as a funeral director I was pleased to share my view of funeral service with Life. Death. Whatever., gleaned from the work I’ve done, the experiences of my colleagues, and the perspective of the thousands of families I’ve served over the years. Despite what you may read…
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Death At Christmas by Melissa Johnson Williams
Read more: Death At Christmas by Melissa Johnson WilliamsDeath never takes a holiday. At whatever time of year a death takes place, it will leave a permanent reminder in those left behind. Around any of the holidays it’s also a painful reminder of the “empty seat”. My own father’s death took place on Christmas Day. He had been sick for several days but…
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3 Myths About Green Burials: A Funeral Director’s Perspective
Read more: 3 Myths About Green Burials: A Funeral Director’s PerspectiveIn funeral parlance, ‘green burial’ may be the most hyped phrase around. References to this ‘new’ and seemingly popular type of disposition seem to be everywhere these days, particularly in the press. And since we, or a loved one, may be headed in that direction, we might have looked up the subject. Reading those stories…
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John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Read more: John Fitzgerald KennedyBy Melissa Johnson Williams Those of us who witnessed the events 56 years ago of President Kennedy’s assassination, remember it vividly. He was so much more than just our President. He was of course a husband, father, son, brother, and friend to many. He was a decorated war hero and an inspiration to generations of…
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Remembrance Day 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day
Read more: Remembrance Day 100th Anniversary of Armistice DayIN FLANDERS FIELDS In Flanders’ fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row, that mark our place: and in the sky the larks, still bravely singing, fly scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead. Short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved, and now…
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Formaldehyde
Read more: FormaldehydeBy Melissa Johnson Williams From a new study that looks at 30 years of formaldehyde studies. “We now have much greater knowledge of the distribution of endogenous and inhaled formaldehyde at the molecular level. Two such findings are of great importance: (1) every living cell contains formaldehyde and measurable formaldehyde N2-hydroxy-methyl-dG adducts; and (2) there is…
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Dia De Los Muertos
Read more: Dia De Los MuertosDia De Los Muerto, the Day of the Dead, is a formal holiday celebrated throughout regions of Mexico where it originated from October 31 – November 2 (All Saints and All Souls Day), each year. The funeral related industries throughout the world have started dropping the word “celebrate or celebration of life” to replace the…
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The Woman in The Iron Coffin
Read more: The Woman in The Iron CoffinThere have been so many stories related to the discovery of a woman in an iron coffin this week. Here is a link to one of those stories. https://www.newsweek.com/woman-iron-coffin-new-york-mummified-remains-smallpox-martha-peterson-1148869 Many have been fascinated by the fact that she was in nearly perfect condition; “She looked like she had been dead for a week, but it…
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Traditions
Read more: TraditionsThis hearse represents a bygone era. One that many people miss. Today “dissing” tradition is the thing to do. It’s old, it’s NOT cool, it’s traditional. Modern is good if that’s what you want. I myself prefer a traditional, old fashioned home style. It feels warm and comfortable. It reminds me of my parents and…