When looking at today’s column I noticed that there was a lot of small tid-bits in the news about funeral service and I decided to give you readers the option of reading what you wanted to instead of having me dictate one article to you.  Here are four articles that I have commented on briefly that I believe any one of which would give you some good insight and thought on funeral service.

Sen. John McCain lets some ideas of his future funeral/memorial service public.  Included in his comments is his wish to not allow President Trump to attend his services.  Sen. Orrin Hatch comments, “That is ridiculous”.  Funeral Director Daily’s comment is that as far back as mortuary school I was always taught that “a funeral service is a service where no one is invited but everyone is welcome to attend”  What do you think?  You can read the article here.

District of Columbia cemetery uses science to fight pollution.  Water run-off from pavement is well known to carry lawn chemicals to bodies of water and cause algae growth and pollution in those bodies of water.  This historic cemetery is tearing up many of its paved roads and planting shrubs and flowers where they used to be to help with the pollution of the Anacostia River.  What Funeral Director Daily learned is the cemetery received valuable environmental tax credits that can be sold in the open market to help their financial picture.  Is this a possibility for your cemetery?  You can read more about it here.

Fixed Price Cremations.  You can read a press release from an Australian company called “Fixed Price Cremations”.  This new company plans to be a low cost provider of simple cremation and advocated spending the money you save on putting on your own celebration or memorial service. Funeral Director Daily wonders is there room for a national company with this philosophy in North America?  You can access this press release here.

Operating retorts at Fresh Pond Crematory

Take a look at Fresh Pond Crematory.  Take an inside look at the Fresh Pond Crematory of Queens, New York.  Built in the 1880’s this crematory cremated the likes of J.P. Morgan and Lou Gehrig.  It contains nearly 40,000 remains in its columbarium and still operates today.  It is believed to be the first crematory in the United States.  Funeral Director Daily wonders how they pay the property tax and upkeep bills in today’s world considering there are no more inurnments.  You can access the article here.

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