Issue 1 2014

The magazine for Funeral Directors in Ireland

2014 Vol.14 No.1

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The magazine for Funeral Directors in Ireland

New premises for Co. Down funeral director.............8

IAFD President, Henry Black............... 26

Dazzling products from Paris 2013.................. 80

Contents New premises for Co. Down

funeral director.....................................................8 FSNI caring for their community......................11 Spot the faces from Trade Show 2013..............12 BIE News............................................................ 18 IAFD News........................................................ 26 Tea with the dead by Mattie Lennon.............. 42 Curtis Coffins at the Trade Show...............................13

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 website: www.funeraltmes.com

SAIF News..........................................................45 PEAI News . .......................................................57 Gus Nichols prepares to mark 200 year anniversary........................................ 62 NAFD News....................................................... 66 Dr Bill Webster...................................................74 Jennifer Muldowney reports from Funeraire Paris 2013 ....................................... 80 Willowfield competition winner....................... 81 Classifieds.......................................................... 88

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

Introducing the Irish Funeral Accounts Bureau Working together to bring about an amicable resolution to an already very sensitive situation.

A

t present in Ireland some Funeral Directors are experiencing slow payments or no payments at all once the service has been completed. This creates several problems for them. Funeral Directors are responsible for the day to day needs of running their business and whilst tracking customers is important, it is not as urgent as the daily needs of their business and the bereaved families that need their support.

The solution was created...

The Irish Funeral Accounts Bureau (IFAB) was setup in November 2013 and is Ireland’s only dedicated professional debt recovery service for the Funeral Profession in Ireland.

We have developed an unrivalled, tailor made debt recovery process developed specifically for the Funeral Profession. It is a debt recovery service that has customer care at its core and all cases are handled in a tactful and professional manner befitting the clients whom we are working on behalf of.

We have evolved our recovery methods and documentation to ensure your customer understands that you are serious about the recovery of your debt. We don’t offer a ‘bully boy’ recovery service and never will – our experience has proven time and time again that a professional approach is the most effective for recovering a debt.

Why choose IFAB as your debt recovery partner?

• Ireland’s only dedicated debt recovery service for the Funeral Profession • Invaluable knowledge and experience in all types of debt recovery • Customer Service team trained to the highest of standards • Professional Indemnity Insurance up to €1.3m on any one claim • Registered with the Data Protection Commissioner • 100% Irish owned and operated

• No hidden fees or charges The recovery of an unpaid funeral account can be a sensitive, complex and challenging task. However IFAB’s experienced and motivated team employs intelligent proactive solutions whilst combining a strict ‘Treat Customers Fairly’ policy with maximum connectivity means we can achieve maximum results without ever compromising your reputation.

Our Customer Service team is professionally trained to the highest of standards and understands the unique approach necessary when working with our clients and their customers.

Our strict ‘Treat Customers Fairly’ policy means we achieve maximum results for our clients without compromising their reputation.

Just some of the services IFAB offer are: Multiple Letter Campaigns Telephone Campaigns Dispute Resolution Payment Plan Negotiation Payment Plan Management/Collection Absconder Tracing Full Litigation Service Consultancy For more information contact Briain O’Riordan: T: 021 206 7750 E: info@ifab.ie FuneralTimes | 5

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New funeral premises opens in Ballynahinch

One of the oldest family-run businesses in Ballynahinch, Co Down, Douglas Funeral Directors, has officially opened new, purpose-built funeral premises on the town’s Dromore Road.

T

he project represents a £0.5 million investment by partners Bill and Anne Reid, who took over the running of the business in 1991.

The new premises, which have been built on the site of a former filling station, were designed by local architect Robert Semple and include a 150 seat funeral church, three private viewing rooms, office suites and a large reception area. The latest technology has also been incorporated to provide an internet live feed and archive facility, which allows those unable to attend a funeral service to view it live online or at a later time convenient for them.

Speaking to an audience of 170 guests at the launch, Bill Reid said: “It was our aim from the outset to provide a

8 | FuneralTimes

Douglas, Bill and Anne Reid with Billy Douglas unveiling the Opening Plaque in memory of his late wife Rita Douglas M.B.E.

Spacious reception area facility for the whole of the community and I hope we have been successful in making the offering non-denominational. The loss of a loved one is always a difficult time and it was important that we created something to meet all needs in terms of respect, dignity and privacy.�

The building was officially opened by Billy Douglas, the son of Hugh Robinson Douglas, who established Douglas Funeral Directors in Ballynahinch in 1926.

Following the establishment of the business, Billy Douglas worked alongside his father from the age of 14 and is now in his 90th year. His brother Leslie was also involved in the business until he emigrated to Australia in 1981. Bill Reid, Billy’s nephew, and his wife Anne took over in 1991.

The arrangement room

Campbell and Evelyn Thompson, Jeane and Ronnie Thompson (Funeral Directors) Anne and Bill Reid (Douglas Funeral Directors)

The men from Douglas Funeral Directors FuneralTimes | 9

Caring for people is at the heart of our approach Funeral Services Northern Ireland Ltd. The largest funeral business on the island of Ireland continues to expand; if you are interested in joining us in 2014, please write in complete confidence to: General Manager

Funeral Services Northern Ireland Ltd., 300 Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 1HF

Antrim

Dungannon

Ballyclare

Dunmurry

Bangor

Holywood

Belfast

Larne

Bairds Funeral Service Bairds Funeral Service John Gray & Co. James Brown & Sons Lisburn Road

Newtownards Road Upper Newtownards Road

Holmes of Dungannon Elwood & Brown John Gray & Co. Mulhollands of Larne

Londonderry Adair & Neely

Houston & Williamson

Newtownabbey

Carrickfergus

Glengormley

Crumlin Road

Browns Houston & Williamson

Mulhollands of Carrickfergus

Whiteabbey

Coleraine

H Wade & Son

Doggarts of Newtownards

Donaghadee

Portadown

Shields of Donaghadee

Newtownards

Poots of Portadown

freephone: 0808 100 1314

email: mail@fsni.info www.fsni.info Est

1905

Funeral Services Northern Ireland Ltd - A company registered in England No. 03983186.

1 Angel Square, Manchester, M60 0AG. VAT registered 403 3146 04.

Part of Co-operative Group Limited.

Beverley Brown discusses 'Amy and Tom' book with Gina McAlinden and daughter, Jodie

Caring for our community C

By Beverley Brown, General Manager FSNI

aring is at the heart of the quality of the entries everything we do at received this year. As a caring Funeral Services Northern organisation we see this Ireland (FSNI) and it is competition as an opportunity important to us to be able for people to express their to offer support to our local grief in a positive and thought communities. During 2013 provoking way during what we offered such support in can be a very difficult time. many ways from fundraising Many entrants chose to for local charities, launching submit poetry that honoured a book designed to help those they cared about.

Ross Thompson, winner of the children understand death Last year also saw us annual FSNI Poetry Competition and running awards. running our Carers Awards We launched Amy and Tom, a children’s for the second time. The aim of this initiative book entitled, ‘Someone has died suddenly’. is to celebrate carers across Northern Ireland Regularly, we meet families who are struggling whose efforts in providing care to other people to help children cope with the sudden are particularly exceptional and deserving of bereavement of a loved one. As an organisation recognition. with nineteen funeral homes across Northern We were overwhelmed by the number of Ireland, we were pleased to provide such entries and the lengths some people go to a fantastic resource for children who are when caring for others. It can be a selfless suddenly bereaved in our local communities. task which is why we consider these awards FSNI acknowledged poets from across to be so important in thanking carers in all Northern Ireland during the second annual communities for the help they give others.

Funeral Services Northern Ireland National Funeral Services Northern Ireland Ltd Poetry Competition. We were inspired by part of The Co-operative Group.

FuneralTimes | 11

Faces in the crowd If you weren’t at the Funeral Times Trade Show Ireland 2013 which took place at Citywest Conference Centre, Saggart, County Dublin on 1st and 2nd October you missed a treat!

Plan to attend the 2015 Trade Show which will be held at the same venue on 29th and 30th September, 2015.

Funeral directors from all 32 counties and beyond attended the show and enjoyed the stands, the seminar programme and the entertainment. See if you can spot some familiar faces in the crowd!

Catherine Alexander of Funeral Times with Gerry McDermott, Wreath Manufacturer from Roscommon

David, Catherine and Jonathan McKraney of McKraney Funeral Directors, Buncrana, Co. Donegal

Peter Eastwood, Crumlin, Co. Antrim with William McGuckin of CPL Funeral Supplies 12 | FuneralTimes

Chris and Ryan Sheals pictured with Ian Smith and Brendan Ritchie, funeral directors from Portaferry

John Sheahan of Sheahan’s Funeral Home, Dunlaoghaire takes a break at the Duffy Coachbodies stand

Peter Sandor and David Gleeson of Celtic Coffins with Peter Keohane, Keohane’s Funeral Directors, Cork

Jerry O’Mahony of O’Mahony’s Funeral Directors, Enniskeen, Edmund van den Maagdenberg of Rappold and Donal Forde of Forde’s Funeral Homes Ltd., Cork City

Thomas Corcoran of DJ MacNeice with Seamus Gallagher, Funeral Director, Drumkeerin, Co. Leitrim and Padraig Burke, Funeral Director, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim

Declan Healy of Healy Funeral Directors, Mayo along with Sean McLoughlin, an embalmer, also from Mayo

Brendan Costigan of Costigan Memorials and Killian Smith, Ronayne Funeral Directors, Fermoy, Co. Cork pictured filling out their competition entries with Joan Duff of Curtis Coffins

James Mulligan of Peter Mulligan & Son Funeral Directors, Co. Monaghan alongside Jay Coleman of RIP.ie and Frank Kearney of Kearney Funeral Directors, County Galway

Aidan Clarke of Funeral Director Solutions with Brendan Hughes, Funeral Director from Co. Monaghan and Michael Magee, Magees Funeral Service, Dundalk

John McEntaggart, Celia Dowd and Karen Cottrell of JOH Holdings Ltd.

Brendan and Gerard Brown of PJ Brown, Belfast alonside Peter Eastwood, Funeral Director from Crumlin, County Antrim FuneralTimes | 13

Anne McGloin and Patsy McGloin from Cliffoney, County Sligo

Rob Adams of Omega Services with his Motorbike Hearse

Olivia and Paddy Tierney, Funeral Directors from Roscrea, Co. Tipperary

Brendan and Kevin Carroll of Carroll’s Funeral Directors, Allenwood alongside Paedar Byrne of Byrne Coachbuilders Ireland

Phillipe and Patricia Dubresson from EEP pictured with Margaret Davis and Glynn Tallon of Tallon Mortuary Specialists

Michael Crowley, Crowley Funeral Directors, Ballincollig, Co. Cork with Stephen Collier of Pharopack

Robert Timmons with Richard McKimm of InHouse Publications/Funeral Times

14 | FuneralTimes

Patrick McGrellis, Funeral Director from Feeny with Tomas O’Cadhain of Forget-Them-Not

Joe and Hazel Noone from Spirit Memorials, Limerick & Galway

Ciaran Fitzpatrick from Seamus Fitzsimmons Funeral Directors, Downpatrick, Co. Down with Carl Walker of Lyn Oakes

Michael Morning, Morning Grave Products with Brian Laide, Corrigans Funeral Directors, Castleblaney admire Damien Smith’s vintage hearse

Jerry O’Mahonny, Gerry McDermott and Donal Forde

Maisie and Mary Elizabeth Dillon of Civil Funerals Ireland

Carolyn McGarvey, Mark Hughes and Yvonne Doyle from Independent News & Media

Pat McCarthy with Des and Claire McWey, Kildare

FuneralTimes | 15

Liza Webster, Ger O’Sullivan, Kate Hamilton, Edward Foley and Joanne Callan

David McKeon of David McKeon Hearse Hire pictured with his family, Una, Evelyn and Michael McKeon, funeral directors from Cloone, Co. Leitrim

Edelweiss Fernandez-Ga, Kemi Adenekan and Michael Clarke of DJ MacNeice

Nigel Giles and Colin Eccleshall of Esposti Ltd.

Ronnie McQuoid and Ciaran Fitzpatrick of Fitzsimmons Funeral Directors, Downpatrick, Co. Down

Fiona Greenwood of Rowland Brothers International with Gerry Gaule of Celtic Commemorations

Alan Slater, NAFD, Steve Rowland, Rowland Brothers International and Barry Floyd of Golden Leaves Ltd.

16 || FuneralTimes 16 FuneralTimes

Martin Boyle, Colin McAteer and Niall Deacon of Green Coffins Ireland

John Bennett of Bennett’s Funeral Directors, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland

Barry Spearman of New Age Memorials with Louise Curry of Southgate International (Earth to Heaven)

Eamon Cassidy and Geert Triest from Funeral Supplies Donegal

David Wright and Natalia Vincic, from Eulogica Ltd. with Sara Lindberg and Nick Stokes of Adstate.

Paedar Byrne of Byrne Coachbuilders Ireland

Martin McGowan with Stephen Stoops of J. Stoops & Sons Funeral Directors, Co. Armagh

Conor MacCarrick of Funeral Times and Edelweiss Ga from Death Care Academy FuneralTimes | | 17 17 FuneralTimes

BIE News AGM Meeting T

he Irish Division held its AGM meeting at Osprey Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare. The new division officers and representatives were appointed and the first Quarterly meeting was opened.

Certificates were presented to Fiona Harborne, Pamela Murphy and Cyril Gantley by Aidan Walsh, Chairperson. We wish them all the very best success in their careers.

Ann Shepherd presented the Sheila Dix Perpetual cup to Pamela Murphy, student from the Bernie Mack (Dublin school of Embalming) who received the highest mark in her practical examination. Ann also presented last years winner, Derek McCabe, with a replica cup. Congratulations to both on this great achievement.

This year sees the formation of a new educational committee, it is our wish to work with the North of Ireland division and

Irish Divison AGM attendance 18 | FuneralTimes

have educational sessions open to members of both divisions, the date to be confirmed soon.

National council representative John Hawe will attend national council meeting at Anubis House, Knowle and will report back at our next meeting and we express gratitude to John for once again holding this role.

Barbara Fowley who made enormous effort on the Funeral Times Trade Show in Citywest was presented with a gift as a token of appreciation from the members.

This meeting again was most enjoyable.

Many views were shared and there was great input by all who attended. We encourage all members to attend our next meeting.

I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Henry Black of Cobh, Co. Cork on his appointment as President of the Irish Association of Funeral Directors.

New appointments

Cyril Gantly receives his certificate from Aidan Derek McCabe 2013 Sheila Dix Cup winner receives his replica cup to keep from Ann Shepherd

Fiona Harborne receiving her certificate

L to R Bernie Mack Tutor, Pamela Murphy and Ann Shepherd

Pamela Murphy receives the Sheila Dix Cup from Ann Shepherd for achieving the highest marks in her exams

Pamela Murphy receiving her certificate FuneralTimes | 19

Note date for calendar Notice Of 2nd Quarterly meeting on the 23rd March 2014 at 2.00pm in the Osprey Hotel, Naas, Co, Kildare.

Conference and Annual General Meeting for BIE is to be held at the Marriott Hotel, Heathrow, Windsor on the Weekend of 25th - 27th April, 2014.

If there are any members who wish to contact me with any difficulty they can e-mail to aidanwalsh05@eircom.net, and I will do my best to assist.

Do not hesitate to contact me.

Irish Divison newly elected Secretary Barbara Fowley

List of BIE Officers and appointed representatives for 2013/2014 National President: Scott Grigsby R.A. Adams Ltd 117 High Street, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 7QA Mobile: 01268 743102 Imm. Past President: Phil Hoggarth Mobile: 07900 162477 philhoggarth@aol.com 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

20 | FuneralTimes

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

Vice Chairperson and National Council Representative: Mr John Hawe MBIE 12 Meadow Vale, Smith’s Road, Charleville, Co. Cork Home Tel: 00353 6389280 Mobile: 087 6390087 jmhawe@eircom.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

National Education Representative: Glyn Tallon Mortuary Specialist 14 Academy Street Navan Co Meath Tel:046 9029134 Mobile: 086 826 8876

Irish Division National Council Rep & Secretary: Ms Barbara Fowley MBIE Mobile: 086 191 1022 Chairperson: Aidan Walsh Cappoquin, Co. Waterford Mobile: 00353 87 2847831

Treasurer: Mrs A O’Reilly MBIE Church Street, Newmarket, Co. Cork Telephone: 029 60142 annaoreilly4@hotmail.com Past Chairman: Mr Ger O’Sullivan MBIE Mobile: 086 021 5075

jb1

Pair of Mercedes Limousines (6 door) • Mercedes Hearse Available Experienced Drivers • Provincewide service available Northern Transfers is our new removal service available to Funeral Directors across N.I. and R.O.I. For enquiries please conact: James on Mob: 077 3428 3181/Tel: 028 3884 9151 Web: www.jamesbartonfuneralservices.co.uk • Email: jamesbarton75@gmail.com

FuneralTimes | 21

• Jesus and Lady of Knock: 65cm high (approx. 25,5’’), weight approx. 13-15kg • Virgin Mary and Padre Pio: 62cm high (approx. 24,5’’), weight approx. 13-15kg • Small Virgin Mary and Saint Anthony: 40cm high (approx. 16’’), weight approx. 5kg

FISCHER’S GRANITE: 10 Old Rectory Meadows, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland BT80 9YG.

Tel: +44 (0)28 867 64 299 / Mobile +44 (0) 787 2067 369

Specialist importers of granite for the trade Fischer’s Granite are leading wholesale suppliers of granite and stone to the trade, offering a huge selection of high quality pieces tailored to the memorial industry. They have developed an excellent reputation in the industry specialising in memorials, surrounds, headstones and ornamentals.

F

ischer’s Granite was started in 2007 by Mr Torben Fischer as a wholesaler of granite specialising in monumental products.

“Our products are imported from all around the world and the business has gone from strength to strength”, says Torben.

The company has built up a large client base consisting of funeral directors and monumental masons and offer a range of granite monumental products including standard headstones and bases, kerbs and posts, bibles, flower vases, lanterns etc., all in a range of different colours of granite.

Fischer's Granite also offer a specialised monumental design service, “Where a customer requires something unique, we can design it, provide CAD drawings and import it fairly quickly”, says Torben.

Lesley Donaghy with Torben Fischer He adds, “We have recently extended our range to include a selection of religious statues which are solid marble resin. For these statues we commissioned our own moulds made in China, so have sole rights on them and are able to offer these statues at a very competitive price! These statues can be used on a grave, grotto, church etc. and have been designed to withstand our weather conditions”.

Mrs Isobel Fischer and Lesley Donaghy (Torbens step daughter), are now working in the family run business.

Please visit their website on www.fischersgranite.co.uk or telephone Torben's mobile 07872 067369

FuneralTimes | 23

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IAFD News Dear Colleagues, I

wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year. I am honoured to have been bestowed with the IAFD Presidential Chain and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, the membership, for allowing me to hold this prestigious office.

I look forward to the year ahead and the challenges it will bring. I am comforted to know I have my fellow board members to rely on. This is an opportunity for me to thank Joanne for her sterling work throughout her year and congratulate her on hosting a very successful AGM and Dinner in Wexford.

I would also like to welcome Mr Dermot McCarthy to the Board and I have no doubt his contribution will benefit the IAFD and its members immensely.

The Board and I have already begun work on the various tasks and obligations that lie ahead.

Throughout my term I will endeavour to keep you all updated via e-shots and various other communications.

In my acceptance speech I mentioned one topic in particular and I would like to expand on this now. I want to encourage members to host “open days” in their funeral homes, invite the general public to come and talk to you in a relaxed and open manner. Alternatively you could host information evenings. Too often funeral directors and funeral service is being critisied in the media – more often than not this is because of a lack of knowledge by the general public regarding funeral service. We

all hear comments, “I never realised before exactly what it is a funeral director does”.

Maybe it’s time for us as funeral directors to try and educate those we serve in our own areas. I would welcome any thoughts you have on this topic, please contact me to discuss this further.

I wish you all well for the year ahead and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at our regional meetings.

Kind regards,

Henry

Dates for your Diary 2014 27th February, 2014, Regional Meeting, Clonmel 24th April 2014, Regional Meeting, Dublin (Louie Fitzgerald) 25th September 2014, Regional Meeting, Galway 16th October 2014, Open Meeting Killarney 22nd November 2014, AGM Cobh, Cork.

26 | FuneralTimes

IAFD News

Attention for all Funeral Directors Secretary of IAFD Re Conor Brady Skreen, Co. Sligo - died 2nd November 2013 Recently I had a family friend whose son died suddenly in Las Vegas, aged 24 years, while visiting friends for the weekend. It was dreadful news for the family. He was a keen sportsman and had got employment with Irish Dairy Board in Washington last March. I am also secretary of my own football club and was contacted two days after Conor had died, by Damian Ruddy from the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust in Newry.

So what is the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust?

Last June Kevin Bell from Newry, aged 26 years, was killed in a road accident in New York and the people in Newry set up a fundraiser to bring Kevin home to his family and on one night they raised £42,000. When the funeral was over, Kevin’s parents, Collie & Eithne, decided they would set up a trust with the money raised in memory of Kevin to help other families affected by similar circumstances and it would be called the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

The fund presently is at £120,000 with on-going fundraisers. Damien Ruddy informed me that the Repatriation Trust would be made available to bring Conor Brady home to his family, so having discussed this with the family they decided to have family flowers only and donations in lieu of flowers would go to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. We have so far collected €7,600 euro and his football club in Washington has raised $3,000.

The reason I am giving this information is to let funeral directors know this fund is available to those families whose loved ones die abroad and have no travel insurance. It will cover the repatriation costs back into the country.

Collie & Eithne Bell are amazing people as well as being trustees, this fund is for the 32 counties of Ireland Damian Ruddy - trustee with The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Newry can be contacted on: (ROI) 00447851424934

(NI) 07851424934

email: damianruddy@yahoo.co.uk

FuneralTimes | 27

IAFD News Education Seminar AGM 2013 I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended The IAFD AGM, Annual Dinner Dance and education seminar in Wexford. “On the night of the Dinner, fund raising took place for New Ross Search and Rescue, I am delighted to say that we collected €1,520.80. On behalf of Henry and the Board, I would like to say a very Big Thank You to all those present for their very generous donations”. I truly was overwhelmed by the support shown by our members. I would like to take a moment to talk about our education seminar – Todd Van Beck was truly amazing.

He entertained those present with tales of his

upbringing and educating us on his connection to Avoca but more importantly he was completely honest and open with his advice and his experiences in funeral service.

He very generously gave all attendees mountains of knowledge to take home. I can safely say after listening to Todd, he has reignited my own passion and spark for funeral service. We are currently in communication with Todd to get him back to Ireland to present his well renowned “Quality Service Seminar”, places will be limited so anyone interested please contact me to book your place.

Kind regards, Joanne Cooney

THE FAMILY SATISFACTION SURVEY - LEARN WHAT YOUR FAMILIES REALLY THINK OF YOU

BY TODD W. VAN BECK Part 1 of 2

I

f you are in the business of providing electricity to users of electricity you don’t have to worry much about the picayune details of customer satisfaction as long as you get everybody the electricity they need and want.

Of course when the ice storm comes through the electric company probably has to worry a little, but if it takes two hours or two days to reestablish the power it is probably a safe bet that your electric customers are not going to switch electric companies if they get miffed about the power interruption or even a mistake on their power bill.

Add to this that it is mighty rare for people to get emotionally involved with the product and services of the electric company for when you plug in your vacuum cleaner and it works people don’t have any personal relationship

28 | FuneralTimes

with the electricity that makes the thing work.

In fact in my own life I have basically gone for years without ever speaking to a single, solitary soul who works for the electric company, despite the fact that I use the product continuously twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Because of the foregoing facts, most electric companies, actually all of them I have ever dealt with don’t care much, or need to care (regardless of their soapy advertisements), about making sure I am satisfied. In fact on the rare occasion I have had to call the electric company the representative appears to have graduated magna cum laude from the mean and rude university, and they certainly don’t appear to care how satisfied I am with their services.

IAFD News BUT IT IS A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT WITH FUNERALS – RIGHT? Simply stated mistakes on funerals can be disastrous, people do get emotionally involved IN A BIG WAY – sometimes as deeply emotionally involved as at any other time in their entire lives, and usually people deal one-on-one with funeral directors eye-to eye whenever they need our services.

The family satisfaction survey has the power to provide you with some potentially important information, but the price you might well pay for acquiring that valuable information could well be a bruised ago. In reality no service sector in the world relies so heavily on keeping customers satisfied for their continued success as does the funeral profession.

As a funeral director you very much do care, and very much need to care, to know how well your families are satisfied with your services.

Therefore, if you are a funeral professional and cemeterian it is extremely valuable and reasonable to ask “What can I do to gauge how well satisfied my families really are?”

Certainly one way to gauge how well you are serving families is just to wait daily until the newspaper arrives and see if you have lost any families to the other funeral home down the street. I always thought that was pretty good evidence that a particular family might not be that satisfied with our services if I knew I had clearly lost the call. However, when such events as the lost call would happen we would all get together and have a staff meeting and at the end of the meeting we universally concluded that this particular family were really “kooks.”

We even convinced ourselves that we were better off not getting these types of families.

Looking back I guess that was a pretty effective way of determining whether they liked us better than anyone else they could have chosen. I mean we used it for literally decades, but there are two significant drawbacks to using that old “read the obituary for the lost call” method of gauging the satisfaction of a family:

Drawback #1: It will typically take not just days or months but years, many years sometimes to get this kind of obituary feedback. Remember most American families need the services of a funeral director approximately every 10 -12 years. So this information is extremely slow in coming to us.

Drawback #2: You still won’t have any specific information as to why they called the other funeral home – literally none at all – that can help you to improve, and coping with the dreaded lost call by having a staff meeting where the group psychology convinces everybody that the funeral home is perfect, that no mistakes are ever made at our place and that the family is the “kook” is utterly a waste of time, worse it is meaningless and for me it is even humiliating to admit that such things even happened in a funeral home – but happen it did! In the end by using the lost call obituary method all you will know is that somebody who was in a decision making capacity did not like you better than the guy or gal down the street.

When we lose a call just think of all the years that can easily go by with us thinking “all is well”, and then we read in the evening paper that we lost a call in the same family we previously served and that over a decade of time we still have no tangible information as to why. Why did they call someone else?

This unanswered question has to be one of the greatest psychological banes on a funeral directors psyche and brushing it off that the lost families were “kooks” or “weird” accomplishes nothing and in reality makes things even worse. It drove me to distraction when it happened, and in my heart of hearts I knew the family was not a bunch of “kooks.”

TIME LAG The time lag between the funeral service and feedback is crucial for accurate timely information to be acquired. It is much different in say a dry cleaners shop.

For seventeen years I took my dry cleaning to the same dry cleaning shop in Cincinnati.

FuneralTimes | 29

IAFD News I would drop my laundry off, and then pick it up, pay my bill, and everything was quite satisfactory. Every time I picked up my cleaning there was a satisfaction survey included with the completed laundry. I never filled out the survey – there was no reason too – I was satisfied.

However one sunny morning I took my biweekly laundry drop off to the same cleaners but today there was a new person behind the counter. When I walked in she looked up at me and sighed. I did not pay any attention to her.

I plopped down my bundle and stood there waiting for the new person to log me in. She did nothing and just sighed again.

After a somewhat long pregnant pause this person looked at me and said, “We are really swamped today, I can’t accept your order, we are just too busy.” I said to her “Are you saying you want me to take my business somewhere else?” Incredulously this person said “Yes.” I was flabbergasted. I picked up my bundle and marched out, however I stopped to pick up a satisfaction survey before I left.

I did take my laundry somewhere else, but that evening I filled out the survey. It took five days for the owner of the dry cleaners to call me. He was in every way a total gentleman.

He apologized again and again assured me the person in question had been fired, and offered to give me a month of free cleaning if I would just give him a second chance. I suspect even my meager dry cleaning payment which now was going someplace else affected his cash flow and for just that reason alone caught his attention.

I knew he had my satisfaction survey in his hands when he was talking to me. That impressed me. Also with the completed satisfaction survey he possessed the necessary information to contact me and have a meaningful conversation.

In the end I went back to this dry cleaner, because he won me back over with the satisfaction survey.

It was clear from our conversation that 30 | FuneralTimes

whatever that new person was doing to me was also irritating other dry cleaning customers and that was certainly something that the satisfaction survey brought directly to the dry cleaner's attention and hence he was in an excellent position to stop the bleeding and get the situation fixed as soon as possible.

Of course had this happened in a funeral home that is still using the old obituary method of identifying unsatisfied families, ten years or more can easily go by before the funeral home even realizes that this or that family has gone elsewhere, and also in the meantime the funeral home just might have lost a whole whale of a load of families besides which until the lost call obituary shows up will be totally unknown information to the funeral home management.

As funeral professionals we ought to very much want some way to cut down that feedback lag time from a decade or more to a week.

Let’s look at our second drawback. Even if a family does have need for your services only a week after the first death and it turns out they chose a different firm, all you still really know is that you lost the call. You still won’t know the why. The “why” is crucial to our continued success in family satisfaction.

The way to solve both drawbacks, the extreme lag time and the lack of specific information, is to implement the family satisfaction survey which we will be addressing in the next edition of Funeral Times.

THE GLARING ISSUE OF “THE SECOND CHANCE” IN FUNERAL SERVICE I gave the dry cleaner a second chance. He started cleaning my clothes again. Good for him. I have seen surgeons who leave instruments inside a person get a second chance to do the operation right. I have seen wedding planners get chance after chance with the same people to do their weddings over and over again because everybody gets divorced and remarried again and again, great for the dry

IAFD News cleaner, the surgeon, and the wedding planner.

The power of the second chance is limitless.

No matter how a person cuts the cards, slices the pie, or analyses the analysis – there are no second chances in funeral service – they do not exist.

I have never once encountered a family that was dissatisfied with how the funeral service was implemented and said to the funeral director “Now, now, now don’t you worry, we understand that you are basically an incompetent, and you know what – we are going to let you do Dad’s funeral over and over again until you finally get it right.”

Most every other vocation possesses the opportunity, the possibility or the second chance – but NOT funeral service.

I keep the haunting phrase “No second chances” in the back of my mind whenever I still conduct a funeral. No second chances ought to haunt every funeral director on the earth.

Hence for just this glaring reason the family satisfaction survey is basically a must. It is our insurance that if we act on information and act quickly we might salvage a situation that without action, attention, and generosity will truly be a lost cause, and no funeral home, no matter what size, can afford in these times to see the number of lost families increase.

SURVEY’S – GOD WHAT A NUSAINCE Here is a confession. I receive dozens of surveys in a month. Survey’s on the phone, in the mail, on the internet, in the malls, they are everywhere. The one’s I get in the mail I usually toss out, the one’s I get on the internet I check my computers settings, the survey takers in the mall I treat like Ebenezer Scrooge would and just walk by.

Most survey’s I ignore. However some get tossed after I have read them within a minute or two, but when I am connected emotionally to the experience the survey is referring to I actually fill the information in and return it to the appropriate person.

This is what I did with the dry cleaner.

I was not in grief over the experience, the emotion I felt was pure anger at the new dry cleaning person, and emotions are usually great motivators for people to do something. I remember when a buddy of mine got divorced the emotion he felt when the judge stamped the seal of approval on the divorce papers was pure unadulterated joy and jubilation. He was so thrilled at getting rid of his wife that he held a block party that very evening. There was a mock funeral and a burial service was conducted for his former spouse. I went, it was great fun. I filled the dry cleaners survey out simply because of my emotional connection to the event.

It is my thought that seldom in life is there a more emotional and dramatic event to take place in the human experience than that of a funeral. Funerals and emotions go hand in hand, and for this reason family satisfaction surveys actually possess much more importance coming from the funeral home than possibly anywhere else where services have been rendered.

I have discovered that most families, happy or not, when and if the opportunity presents itself take the family satisfaction survey from a funeral home seriously and try hard to respond accurately and honestly – even if the report is not favourable. However, it is precisely the unfavourable reports that we need and need desperately so we can act. A happy contented family usually does not cause a funeral director many sleepless nights.

THE HARMFUL SURVEY Interestingly the attractiveness and simplicity of a survey actually affects the success of that survey.

Family satisfaction surveys should do nothing to harm your reputation. If possible you want the survey to impress the family, be attractive to them, and in so doing actually improve your reputation – even before the survey is completed and even if they do not fill it out and send it back..

As the old medical nostrum advices everybody FuneralTimes | 31

IAFD News

in the medical profession ‘Primum non nocere” – “First, do no harm.”

The overall goal of the family satisfaction survey is that first and foremost it does NOT create harm. Additional goals might be: • Get all recipients of your survey to turn into respondents.

• To get all the respondents to respond accurately and completely.

• To enhance your reputation and do no harm.

• AND TO ACQUIRE VALUABLE INFORMATION YOU CAN USE TO IMPROVE YOUR SERVICES TO YOUR FAMILIES. How can a survey and cover letters do any harm? To start with the survey and cover letter possesses the effect of showing your clients that you have little or no respect for them. It is bad enough when an unknown company sends you a survey that is impersonal and 32 | FuneralTimes

obviously intended for random members of the general public, but when a funeral home that just buried or cremated your loved one sends you such an impersonal survey that can be especially disappointing. Also pretending that the actual survey comes from someplace other than the funeral home is ridiculous – remember all funeral service is ultimately local – the family called you – they related to you – it is from you that the survey should come, not some anonymous marketing company in a town five thousand miles away.

As mentioned before, protecting your stellar reputation is the first and foremost goal in using the family satisfaction survey. To that end I would suggest that you take two steps which are not taken, in my experience, by most senders of surveys. Both of them involve personalizing each and every survey, which might well be time consuming, but in the end are worth every second of effort.

IAFD News PERSONALIZATION Throughout my career our profession has had buzz words. When I started out the buzz word was “memory picture,” then “grief counselor,” then “preneed counselor” then “family counselor” most recently “green burials” and “personalization.”

Personalization commands a tremendous amount of time and energy. All the professional journals are packed full of endless information and suggestions on creating personalized funeral service. All good stuff to be sure.

Anything that WOW’s or helps a family always gets this old undertakers vote.

Concerning the family satisfaction survey I believe we ought to perfectly personalize each cover letter and survey for the intended recipient. This type of personalization means that each recipient’s version of these documents ought to perfectly match that recipient’s circumstances.

For example, the cover letter should look like it was typed up specifically for that particular recipient rather than for anyone at all who happened to use your firm for a funeral. How many times have you received a cover letter that looks something like this?

Dear Van Beck Household: You have been selected, Mr. or

Mrs. Van Beck as a finalist in our Pre-Need Free Monument sweepstakes!!! Just commit to a ten-year time-share group monument purchase for a lovely marble “I” bench in nearby Whispering Glades Cemetery, and we’ll enter your name.

DEAR Van Beck

IN A LOTTERY

HELD…

The change in type face and the uneven spacing and lines make it obvious the sender doesn’t know you from a hole in the wall, and while that sort of impression might by OK for a mass mailer it is not OK for you, a professional funeral director who just served a family you supposedly liked and cared about on a personal

level, and with whom you want to maintain a great reputation. The second point concerning personalization reflects an attitude of careful, close attention to what the family did and experienced with your funeral home.

For instance most all funeral home family satisfaction surveys have questions or a question concerning the casket selection room.

However today not all families will have used that particular room, they might have selected their casket from a computer programme, or a photo book or not purchased a casket at all.

For those families that did not actually use the casket selection room the question on the survey is pointless.

If they used the computer programme in selecting a casket then personalize their individualized survey by referring a question to the actual experience they had instead of assuming that they will know that the casket selection room and the casket computer programme are basically the same – because in truth they are not. Personalizing the survey in such an individualized fashion makes the experience for the family much more personal and less generic. We want to make the recipient know that we cared enough to take the time to get this survey just right for them.

With the computer personalization in this individualized fashion is a breeze. If Mrs. Smith and her family did not use your motor equipment with a few keystrokes you can easily remove the section about motor equipment off the survey.

These simple suggestions I believe can actually further enhance your reputation and thus increase the likelihood that the family will choose you again next time the need arises and that they will say nice things about you in the meantime.

The second part of Todd Van Beck’s article will appear in the next edition of Funeral Times, including his sample Satisfaction Survey.

For sample letters and surveys please contact Joanne Cooney on joanne@cooneysfuneralhome.com FuneralTimes | 33

IAFD News SAMPLE COVER LETTER (Full Name) (Street Address) (City), (State) (Zip Code) Dear (First Name),

(Date)

No one knows better than you how hard it is to endure the loss of a loved one, and we are honoured that you chose us to help you through this difficult time. It is our hope that from the first moment you contacted us you were treated with the highest degree of professional care and courtesy and that the funeral service we arranged for (Deceased) was conducted in exactly the way you wanted.

(Alternate first paragraph) You placed great trust in us when you chose us to help you with the arrangements following (Deceased’s) death, and we thank you sincerely for that trust. It is our hope that from the first moment you contacted us you were treated with the highest degree of professional care and courtesy and that the funeral service was conducted in exactly the way you wanted.

Actually, (Name of client), we would like to do more than just hope that our services were to your satisfaction, and the only way for us to know is to come right out and ask you, “How did we do?”

You can help us by answering the few simple questions on the enclosed sheet and returning it to us, at your convenience, in the enclosed, stamped envelope. Your opinions are important to us, so please feel free to express those opinions no matter whether they are positive, negative, or neutral. Your answers and any comments you wish to include will show us how we can better meet the needs of the families we are privileged to serve.

Many thanks for your help, (Name of client). If you have any questions or wish to discuss any of these matters, please do call or stop by or we would be happy to come your way. If any other members of your family would like a copy of this form, just let me know and I will gladly send one immediately. We want to serve the community of (City) as well as possible, and with your assistance we hope to continue to improve that service.

Sincerely yours, Funeral Director (who served the family – not necessarily the owner of manager)

34 | FuneralTimes

IAFD News Henry Black (President) Henry Black Funeral Directors Springbank, Rushbrooke, Cobh Phone: 021 4811630 Mobile: 087 – 2544106 Michael Crowley (Vice President) Crowley Funeral Directors Bothar Saclay, Ballincollig, Co. Cork.

Phone: 021 4874777 Email: info@crowleyfuneraldirectors.ie

Graham Gleasure (acting PRO) The Gleasure Funeral Home Matt Talbot Road, Tralee Ph; 0667123079 fax; 066 7123193 Mobile: 086-2581443 Email: graham@gleasures.ie James Brown (Education Committee - Chair) Funeral Services Northern Ireland Ltd 300 Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 1HF Email: jb@james-brown.info

Gerard Clarke (Hon. Secretary) Gerard Clarke & Sons Funeral Home Main Street, Balisodare, Sligo Ph: 071 – 9130700 Mobile: 087-2565310 Email: gerardclarkeandsons@eircom.net

John O’Donoghue John O’Donoghue & Sons, Funeral Directors 60a Kickham Street, Clonmel Ph: 052 – 6121809 Mobile: 086-2595658 Email: jaodonoghue@eircom.net

John Foley (Hon. Treasurer) Jennings Funeral Directors 81 Amien Street Dublin 1 Ph: 01- 8555511

Dermot McCarthy McCarthy’s Funeral Home Gurrane, Banteer, Cork.

Ph: 029-56044 Email: dermot@mccarthy-auctioneer.com

Joanne Cooney (Immediate Past President) 4 Robert Street, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Ph: 051 421416 Mobile 087 8180676 Email: joanne@cooneysfuneralhome.com Colman Finlay (Membership Officer) Tierney Street, Ardee, Co. Louth Ph: 041-6853603 Email: colman.finlay@finlaygrp.com

www.iafd.ie FuneralTimes | 35

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Website launch for Creative Binding Solutions www.condolencebooks.ie Damian Flynn at Creative Binding Solutions is delighted to announce the launch of his new website www.condolencebooks.ie.

“Following on from the great response we had at the Funeral Times Trade Show, it seemed like the perfect time to do this. For potential customers our product range is just a click away which is very useful when it’s time to re-order stock. We find that customers need books quickly and we can guarantee books delivered within 2 weeks”.

We’ve built up a large customer base by designing books based on our customers requirements. We’ve also benefitted by allowing our customers to buy in smaller quantities at a great price. Typically 100 books would cost €600 inc. vat & delivery (€495 exc. Vat). This includes gold or silver foiling your company name on the front and printing your company details inside the front cover. Books also have a padded cover, brass or silver corners and a ribbon as standard.

We also provide bags and mass card holders. “We discovered that bags are increasing in popularity. Our bags are unique in that

Damian Flynn, at the Funeral Times Trade Show 2013

they are foiled in gold or silver”. These can also be bought in smaller quantities and cost €300 inc. vat, delivery and artwork. (€240 exc. Vat) The Funeral Times Trade Show was great for us in many ways. Most importantly, it gave us the opportunity to meet customers, old and new, face to face. Indeed the new website will be the perfect platform to keep all of our customers updated on our latest new products and special offers.

For further information, contact Damian Flynn, Creative Binding Solutions Ltd. Unit 9 Canal Walk, Parkwest, D12.

Ph/ Fax: (01) 625 1924 Mobile: (087) 986 1352 Email: info@creativebinder.com Web: www.condolencebooks.ie

FuneralTimes | 37

: : :

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

Thank you ...

Liza and Edward of Treasured Keepsakes would like to thank funeral directors and their colleagues for their kindness and understanding since the sad death of their sister Clare who passed away on New Years Eve. “Your patience and kind wishes where much appreciated” said Liza.

OBITUARY

Niall Loughran The funeral industry in Co. Tyrone and beyond was shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Niall Loughran just before Christmas.

N

iall was an undertaker in Cookstown and his death at just 27 is a tragedy for his family and friends.

Rev Fr Gerard Tremer, said, “I’m devastated to hear of the death of this young man. Niall was heavily involved

in the Saint Vincent De Paul Society here in town. Niall was a local undertaker.

He was a kind, warm, hospitable person.

He was a very generous person with his time and energy and extremely well liked throughout the area.”

FuneralTimes | 41

By Mattie Lennon

Tea with the dead

Y

ou are an embalmer. It’s a Monday morning. You have just embalmed a corpse, dressed it in its finery ready for the funeral parlour. Having discarded your rubber gloves, put away the fluid and syringes, you turn into the little adjoining kitchen for a well earned cup of tea. You have a habit of asking rhetorical questions of the corpses. (I suppose that is the only kind of question you can address to a dead person!)

You ask “Would you like a cup of tea?” Not surprisingly there is no reply. You then ask, ”How many sugars?” When the answer is “Two” you turn around to see that the corpse has left the slab and is sitting at the table. This is repeated, with a different corpse each day of that week. How would you react? This happened to Frank Finnegan an easy going middleaged embalmer in Ballyconneely, Conemara, Co. Galway.

Still with me? You don’t believe me?

Well the whole thing is a series of five seven-minute animated films which were the brainchild of the brilliant team at Wiggleywoo Film Company.

One corpse, Patricia, is 66 years old and grew up in Donnybrook Cottages. She tells the story of her adoption in 1947 and relives memories of her happy childhood growing up in Dublin. Then, she tells of finally making contact with her biological mother in 1993. Her story is a perfect example of the tone of the entire series, a charming snapshot of Irish life as experienced by Patricia. Mixing humour with tragedy and juxtaposing tender moments with harsh honesty.

Another corpse “interviewed” grew up in Dun Laoire, married Tommy who worked on the ships, they got engaged when she was 19. They had 6 children but they had some interesting things happen along the way, like most Irish people, Ann tells her story the only way an Irish person can.

And a male who got up off the slab told a story of growing up in Wicklow, working on the buses and being 42 | FuneralTimes

the victim of loneliness until everything changed leading to a happy ending.

Producer Susan Broe told me, ”The scripts will be 95% transcribed from interviews we’ve done with the public. We will advertise for people to send in their stories and we’ll choose the most appropriate.

We’ll set up interviews and record the chosen stories.

The interviews will not be scripted at all and the interviewer will say the minimum possible, a la Michael Parkinson.”

Tea with the Dead’s creative intentions is to show how the landscape, culture and attitudes of Ireland and its people has changed over the last seven decades, and at the same time concentrate on the one constant that is ever present, the ability of the people of Ireland to connect, move and uplift through the art of storytelling.

As Susan says, “Tea With the Dead won’t just be Frank sitting across from the deceased having a chat.

We will be transported back in time as the deceased reminisce about the past. For instance, when the deceased is talking about walking on the pier with her husband, a sea gull will land on the table.

The next shot will be Frank and the deceased sitting at the table on the pier watching the deceased as her younger self. Then with a simple ‘click’ of a teaspoon against a tea cup, we will be instantly back in the kitchen.”

Frank Kelly, of “Father Jack” and “Ballykilferret” fame will play the lead character, embalmer, Frank Finnegan.

The other voice recording artists will be from the public, who, more likely than not have never been

recorded professionally before. So it’s important that the atmosphere for the voice recordings are really relaxed so the interviewees are themselves and their genuine personality comes through.

The entire show will be a working week in Frank Finnegan’s life with each episode corresponding to a different day. Frank meets 4 deceased clients from Monday to Thursday and so has 4 different conversations.

On Friday the opening sequence will be different, the shots will be the same but Frank and the deceased won’t be there. Eventually Frank comes in.

He pours himself two cups of tea. Frank looks at both cups. On screen we hear, “Hurry yourself up, Frank”.

Frank’s wife is sitting at the table. Frank and his wife have a wonderful conversation. The theme of Tea With the Dead is primarily how Frank Finnegan deals with the death of his wife. Each chat he has is simply Frank projecting his grief by imagining conversations with the dead. The show acts like a therapy for him.

Susan says, “It’s important that we get a balance of humour and tragedy, something that is inherently Irish. Irish people are known for their unique, exceptional storytelling. This will be the heart of the show.”

Tea With the Dead will be shown on national television later in the year. Watch this space and go to www.wiggleywoo.com.

Pearson Repatriation Service (UK) A small independent family run company offering a fast and reliable service 24 hours a day.

As part of our service to you, we can if desired:

• Repatriate the deceased from the UK • Provide a coffin and interior • Provide embalming services

Tel: 01484 844289

Proprietor Clive J Pearson LMBIFD. DIP.FD. MBIE Manchester Road, Marsden, Huddersfield BD7 6EY Telephone: 01484 844289 FuneralTimes | 43

always supportive

promoting and protecting the future of the independent funeral director

visit us online at www.saif.org.uk for more support

SAIF exists solely to support independent funeral directors throughout the UK, by delivering experienced advice, a powerful lobbying voice, up-to-the-minute information and a superb range of member benefits.

In an increasingly competitive climate SAIF helps you keep an edge by offering: • • • • • •

High value member benefits, services and support Easy access to first class training Recognised member standards for your client’s reassurance Great networking opportunities An experienced and dedicated team National visibility on the SAIF website

Ring us now on 0845 230 6777 and ask for a membership application pack

Enjoy the freedom of our great support team The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors, SAIF Business Centre, 3 Bullfields, Sawbridgeworth, Herts CM21 9DB

SAIF news ... SAIF news ...

D

uring 2013 SAIF improved and launched new benefits giving Independents even more reason to be in membership and these, together with the many discounted services already on offer, can actually negate membership fee.

EaziApps: Affordable custom built mobile apps

Interflora: Free interflora subscription plus 20% commission.

SAIF Helpline:

Offering 24/7 advice and support, plus insurance based assistance

SAIFInsure Breakdown: Loss of use for Limousines, Hearses and Ambulances up to 75 days, with a ÂŁ50,000 loss limit SAIFStone:

Insurance cover for your clients for a very small premium

Streamline:

Discounted services for credit card users

The Fuel Card People:

Enhanced services with discounted fuel at supermarket and motorway petrol pumps.

Windsor Telecom:

Call statistics, tracking services plus lots more offers available.

With all these benefits and more, SAIF are confident going into 2014 that this will be the year to join a proactive and thriving association.

Celebrations this year include the 20th anniversary for SAIFInsure. If your insurance premium is due, why not give SAIFInsure a call and receive a competitive quote. What have you got to lose?

SAIF 25th Anniversary SAIF also celebrate its 25th anniversary in September when we hope many of our Irish friends will join us to celebrate this momentous milestone. So please join us at the dinner dance on Saturday 25th September 2014 at the Radisson Blu, Stansted, Essex. Contact SAIF Business Centre for more information.

Before that, we have of course, the Annual Banquet weekend 14th – 16th March at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Convention Centre, where all members are invited to attend. These events prove to be a highlight of the social calendar and we hope to welcome as many members as possible.

FuneralTimes | 45

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DJ MacNeice 2014 A Fresher Outlook

W

ith 2013 behind us, we are now looking toward another year with high hopes of good business and friendship with our business partners, loyal customers and future clients.

This new year we recommit ourselves to delivering the highest standard and quality of products, honesty and reliability in service, as well as sharing our passion in innovation and expertise in funeral care and service.

The DJ MacNeice office and warehouse will continue to operate from the usual address, 37A Barrow Road, Dublin Industrial Estate, Dublin 11. Our standard funeral products such as soft furnishings, condolence books, trollies, grass mat, grave spikes, vinyls, nitrile gloves, coffin furnishings and handles, urns and many more are still available to our customers.

Our innovative universal loader features heavy duty hydraulic lifts operated by a rechargeable battery. We also offer you a high end design and finish cardboard coffin which is fully recyclable but looks just like any finely finished oak coffin.

Our removal shell, which is exclusive to DJ MacNeice, is made of fibre glass and is cleverly designed for its purpose. This is available upon order.

DJ MacNeice in conjunction with its sister 48 | FuneralTimes

company Deathcare Academy of Ireland, provides funeral directors and embalmers basic and specialised training courses specific to the funeral service sector. Among the courses available are the Embalming Course which is designed for entry into professional practice and professional association; Upskilling Course for experienced embalmers who have not yet gained formal study and qualification in professional embalming practice; Advance Certificate in Reconstruction and Cosmetics; Health and Safety Courses specific to the funeral service sector such as Manual Handling, Safe Handling of Chemicals and Advance Certificate in Grave Care; Funeral Professional Psychology ‘Grief and Your Work’ is aimed to help any person working in the funeral sector understand the whole aspect of the grieving process and how it affects themselves.

We are now offering customers several options in reaching us and we have made placing orders and enquiries a lot easier for everyone. You may choose to ring our friendly expert advisors in the DJ MacNeice office, contact our dedicated sales representative for personal call, orders and deliveries or at your convenience browse our products online through our products catalogue in www.djmacneice.com

The New Horizon for 2014 H

orizon Funeral Planning is offering a simple and secure solution to funeral service providers’ ever increasing dilemma of bad accounts which carries over from one year to another.

Horizon funeral plans are developed by experts in the funeral sector and by licensed financial advisors and underwriters. That is why our plans reflect the important aspects of the funeral business while capturing the needs and wishes of clients. Horizon Funeral Planning offers you a unique plan which offers a wide range of flexibility for both you and your clients. Our plan is designed to be your own ‘In-House’ or ‘IntraCompany’ Plan.

We understand the fact that funeral directors are not salesmen and that care must always come before commerce for professional funeral providers. That is why this plan is not being ‘sold’. The funeral director is allowed to carry out the normal funeral arrangement with the prospective client whereby the client will determine the services he/she desires and the funeral director is there to facilitate and guide the prospective client regarding the practicalities and importance of the services available.

Unique Features of Horizon Plan

* Clients Needs Based This means that the client only gets the services they want or require. * No Frozen Funeral Costs Both the client and the funeral service provider are given the flexibility to adjust the costs of the funeral which is ultimately based on the services the client requires. You will be given a chance to include or omit fast rising costs of cemetery fees. * Easy Payment Scheme The plan offers a range of options for the client and the funeral service provider- from one-time single payment to monthly installments and also flexible installment amounts which may be weekly, monthly or annually endorsed to the funeral service provider. This means that there is no lapsation of policies!

* No Extra Paperwork Horizon will provide you with all the paperwork you will need. All you need to do is to carry out your funeral arranging task as normal and we will take care of the rest. Other plans management system will also be provided to you in order to help keep your records tidy.

For licensing and other information, contact us at 09622752 or 09675290.

Deathcare Academy Courses for 2014

W

e are pleased to inform all interested individuals that we will be running the following courses in 2014: 1. Embalming Course 2. Up-skilling Course – for existing and experienced Embalmers 3. Funeral Professional Psychology – ‘Grief and Your Work’ 4. Advanced Certificate in Mortuary Cosmetology – Traditional Cosmetics and Airbrushing 5. Restorative Art and Cosmetics 6. Manual Handling Specific to the Funeral Industry 7. Safe Handling of Chemicals – Specific to the Funeral Home 8. Universal Precautions 9. Decision Driver Training Programme 10. Advanced Certificate in Grave Care 11. Funeral Traditions in Ireland – ‘The Past and Future of Funeral Care’ Our Health & Safety courses are developed specifically for the funeral service sector and comply with the HSA health & safety requirements. They are developed and delivered by experienced and approved health and safety instructors.

For more information contact us at 09675290 or email info@deathcareacademy.ie FuneralTimes | 49

THE SURELIFT REMOVAL AMBULANCE Extremely popular with funeral directors, the Coleman Milne Surelift is an advanced removal vehicle system which can be installed in a variety of vehicles including the Renault Trafic, Mercedes Vito, Peugeot Expert, Ford Transit, VW T5 Transporter and Vauxhall Vivaro. Safe, quiet and hygienic, the Surelift embodies the quality and reliability you expect from Coleman Milne.

Upper deck capable of 300kg load • Power-slide option for lower deck • Designed for safety and ease of use Minimises manual handling • Optional deck fixings offer security

Coleman Milne Area Sales Managers Scotland & Northern Ireland : John Haggerty Tel: 07860 586850 Northern England : Graham Clow Tel: 07860 380450 Central England : Kevin Heath Tel: 07860 243067 Southern England : Peter Potter Tel: 07702 069899

Coleman Milne, Wigan Road, Westhoughton,Bolton, Lancashire, BL5 2EE

COLEMAN MILNE REMOVAL VEHICLES THE MONDEO ESTATE REMOVAL VEHICLE Our class leading removal vehicle featuring specialist decks in high-quality veneer, double folding seats with 60/40 split for dignified access to rear seats, as well as a generous capacity to accommodate coffins larger than six feet or a Ferno type 24 stretcher.

QUALITY, STYLE, RELIABILITY

THE GALAXY REMOVAL VEHICLE The first choice removal vehicle for funeral directors who require versatility.

Available with a permanent deck or a fully removable “Z” folding deck allowing the option for a driver plus 6 passengers in addition to everyday removal duties.

DESIGNED TO BE VERSATILE

Leading the way in funeral vehicles A member of the Woodall Nicholson Group of Companies www.coleman-milne.co.uk facebook.com/colemanmilne twitter.com/colemanmilne

Tel: 01942 815600 Fax: 01942 815115 Email: cmsales@woodall-nicholson.co.uk

Coleman Milne handovers D

aniel Robinson & Sons have been serving the communities of Essex since 1892. Over the years they have taken delivery of over 20 Coleman Milne ceremonial vehicles and removal vehicles across their eight sites.

The vehicles, a mixture of Mercedes and Ford, are part of a rolling replacement which ensures that the Robinson fleet is always up to date.

This latest delivery of a new Ford Dorchester and Cardinal Classic for the Harlow branch continues the fleet replacement initiative installed by Gary Neill, Managing Director. Gary commented “This upgrade to our fleet is part of a continued programme to ensure we offer only the very best vehicles and service to our clients”.

Derek Oakley Branch Manager at Harlow taking delivery of their new Ford Dorchester Limousine and Cardinal Classic Hearse

Steven Stewart (left) with Craig Halley (Steven’s Nephew)

Steven Stewart Funeral Directors take delivery of a new Coleman Milne vehicle Steven Stewart Funeral Directors have been serving the communities of Fife since 2009.

The family owned and run business have recently taken delivery of their first Coleman Milne vehicle. A new Mondeo Estate Removal Vehicle in solid black with removable deck. Steven Stewart said “We are thrilled with the vehicle and were more than impressed with the service we received at Coleman Milne. We look forward to dealing with them again soon”.

52 | FuneralTimes

Keeping vehicles in service I

n their ongoing quest to provide the very best in customer service and aftercare, Coleman Milne have launched their UK Customer Service Vehicle in a bid to limit vehicle down time and keep customers vehicles on the road – the first in the industry to do so.

The face behind the wheel is Steve Knowles who is no stranger to the company with his previous employment as Electrical Engineer within the Mellor Coachcraft branch of the Woodall Nicholson group. His previous experience as Repair Engineer, Windscreen Fitter and Auto Electrician furnishes him with the vital knowledge demanded by the role.

The new position is purely field based and the service vehicle is fully equipped to provide complete on-site repairs. Steve will

Steve Knowles liaise daily with in-house Warranty Manager Jon Holt-Weaver.

Jon commented, “As a leading manufacturer we know how vital it is to our customers to keep their vehicles in service. We have always offered the very best in customer aftercare and the new field service technician will help us to continue this in 2014 and beyond”.

Coleman Milne fleet No.8 for Eaves Funeral Service Ltd. E

aves Funeral Service Ltd has proudly served West Cumbria for over 50 years with their enviable tradition of high standards of care, service and attention to detail. With this in mind, Philip Eaves chose a new Coleman Milne Ford MK11 fleet to further enhance the quality of service they offer.

The new MK11 Cardinal hearse adds to the two matching Dorchester MK11 Limousines delivered earlier in the month. This is the third Coleman Milne fleet they have ordered in distinctive Tanzanite Blue with luxurious Warm Charcoal Leather and their eighth Coleman Milne fleet overall.

Philip Eaves, son of founder William Eaves and Director Mike Jolly chose the 2.0L MK11 Fords for their spacious interior, economical EcoBoost engine and the Coleman Milne build quality.

Mike said “Since we bought our first fleet of

Philip Eaves (Right) and Director Mike Jolly (Left) outside the Whitehaven premises of Eaves Funeral Service Ltd. funeral vehicles in 1982, we have only ever bought from Coleman Milne. We have been continually impressed by the vehicle quality and comments from our clients reaffirm that. Our new fleet takes passenger comfort to the next level, with plenty of space and a quiet smooth ride from the impressive 2.0 EcoBoost engine.”

FuneralTimes | 53

Introducing a new, modern and innovative plan from Golden Leaves

A more attractive proposition • • • • • • •

A unique plan providing high payouts on maturity High indexation applied annually to the plans No marketing levy to the F/D Totally transparent pricing Fastest cover of any FMP 50+ funeral plan Only 50+ plan to provide a rebate on any overpayment Better value for you and your clients To have these plans assigned to your funeral business or to enquire about offering these plans to your families contact us on 0800 85 44 48 or email: info@goldenleaves.com

Come and meet us at the FUNERAL TIMES TRADE SHOW, DUBLIN 1st & 2nd October 2013 Proud to be supporting

FPA

In partnership with National Association

N.A.P.F.P

For Pre-Paid Funeral Plans

FUNERAL PLANNING AUTHORITY REGISTERED

The FROM50 funeral plan, a better pre paid proposition for you and your families? We believe so...

E

very funeral director will be acutely aware of the concept of Funeral Planning, why it is important for not only future business growth but also for the benefit of the families served by that business. So why should you waste your time reading about this all new pre paid product?

The FROM50 funeral plan is different to ANY other plan available to the general public because it provides a range of benefits, both to the Funeral Director and the plan holder that are not available from any other pre paid product in the United Kingdom. It is unique, groundbreaking and this is why you should take the time to look at this product with a fresh pair of eyes and make your own informed decision.

The FROM50 funeral plan was devised by Golden Leaves to be the first of its kind!

It was designed to allow an individual who wanted a funeral plan to select one and pay for it like a life insurance.

With zero deposit upfront and low monthly payments that will never increase during their lifetime, ever. But unlike all funeral insurances, it allows the purchaser to specify the funeral service required and to concrete the costs relevant to today’s prices. It is cheaper than other over50’s products on the marketplace too with regards to the monthly premiums, which makes it massively better value for the same services and covers the purchaser on average 1.5 years faster than the competition. It sounds almost too good to be true doesn’t it!

Well, add to that the fact that if you pay more in to the plan than the plan pays out and your next of kin or estate will be eligible for a rebate of some if not all of the overpayment amount and you will see what all the fuss is about.

For your Funeral Director business, unlike all insurances – you can actually offer this product to your families for a healthy commission that doesn’t affect the final payout to you at need.

The plan is indexed to rise at 3.25% every year and the disbursement contribution of £1000, is precisely that, a contribution – so any risk with regards to third party expenses is mitigated. It is cheaper than other 50+ plans, yet the Funeral director will receive a higher payout on maturity than we believe is provided by anyone else.

If you would like to talk to us about offering this groundbreaking plan to the families and communities you serve – call us on freephone 800 85 44 48 and ask for details - or enquire online on www.from50funeralplans.com

FuneralTimes | 55

56 | FuneralTimes

PEAI donates aid to Typhoon Haiyan victims T

he Philippines suffered a massive destruction last November 8th when Typhoon Haiyan poured all its rage on the central Philippines.

Typhoon Haiyan is recorded as one of the most powerful storms to make landfall and caused catastrophic damage.

The impact of the storm surge has been tremendous - more than 5,000 people have lost their lives, over 27,000 were injured, almost 2,000 people were reported missing and an estimated 800,000 were displaced after Typhoon Haiyan left a wake of utter destruction.

The Professional Embalmers’ Association of Ireland together with the Deathcare Academy of Ireland in partnership with local volunteers in the Philippines have identified communities in the remote villages around the town of Dumarao in Capiz Province who have not received any form of support from the local or national government nor from any other agencies. The residents of Barangay Dacuton, Barangay Sibariwan and Barangay Aglanot, including two primary schools and one secondary school, were the recipients of the donations.

The local residents have been pleading for help in constructing temporary shelters for their families. Local schools are struggling with their classes since the storm had completely ruined the school’s gymnasium and ruined the galvanized iron roofing of the buildings. ‘Our students want to come to school but we do not have any place to hold the classes because the roofs were blown away by the storm. We have divided the students into two groups composing of different grades or year levels.

Then we ask each group to come only every other day in order to accommodate all of them.’ explained one of the school staff of Dacuton Elementary School.

The residents were hoping to get tents, nails and other materials which they can use to build temporary shelters.

Our partner organisation, Tactical Response Unit Region VI (TRACERS) gathered 40 members and volunteers who formed five teams who went out to the schools and helped build temporary roofs for the school buildings.

Tents, nails and wires were distributed to the families of the three recipient villages.

Bags of food, clothing and blankets were also distributed. The students in Dacuton were very happy and grateful to receive their packs of copy papers, notebooks and pens.

The volunteers and the recipients were in awe of the unsolicited help that they received from the most ‘unlikely’ donors. This only shows that as professionals serving in the funeral sector, our capacity to help is not limited to the work we perform on the deceased but instead we have an enormous gift in sharing with those who are living.

To view our video documentary of the Philippines Appeal Fund, please type in the link on your internet browser or visit our website www.professionalembalmers.ie/ category/news. http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=1IbuSRr8LLs&feature=youtu.be Visit us at www.professionalembalmers.ie FuneralTimes | 57

New Duffy delivery to Bennetts Funeral Directors, Essex Ms. Jane Bennett , Managing Director, Bennetts Funeral Directors, Brentwood, Essex takes delivery of a new Duffy 5 Door Hearse and 6 Door Limousine from Gerard Duffy of Duffy Coachbodies. The purchase of Mercedes based vehicles from Duffy marks a major break with tradition as Bennetts have used Rolls Royce Hearses and Limousines for the past 50 years. While their aging fleet of Phantom VI Hearses and Limousines were very prestigious, they felt that they needed to offer a more modern alternative to their clients. Having looked at all the alternatives available the Duffy Mercedes based vehicles were chosen because of their superior design and styling coupled with their high build quality, reliability and attention to detail. Duffy Coachbodies wish Bennetts every success with the launch of their new fleet in Brentwood.

Duffy delivery of facelift model to Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset Mr. Richard Marsh, Managing Director, Burnham Funeral Services Ltd., Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset is pictured taking delivery of a new Duffy 5 Door Hearse and 6 Door Limousine from Gerard Duffy of Duffy Coachbodies.

While both vehicles are based on the latest facelift W 212 Mercedes E Class, Richard is the first Duffy customer to opt for the contemporary E Class front styling in place of the more traditional Mercedes Chrome front grille.

Duffy Coachbodies would like to thank Burnham Funeral Services for their support and wish them every success in the future.

58 | FuneralTimes

Duffy Coachbodies launch new removal ambulance

D

uffy Coachbodies have recently added a new removal ambulance based on the Mercedes Vito to their range of funeral vehicles.

This ambulance comes with an electrically operated rise and fall upper deck allowing the ambulance to accommodate up to four coffins or stretchers. It also comes equipped with an innovative stretcher loading system to assist in the easy loading of stretchers to both the

upper and lower decks. The combination of the rise and fall deck and the stretcher loading system make this vehicle suitable for single handed operation.

A number of interior finishes, lighting options and deck layouts are available and, as with all their vehicles, Duffy Coachbodies are happy, where possible, to incorporate the requirements of the individual funeral director.

FuneralTimes | 59

Tallon Mortuary Specialists School of Embalming

Qualify for membership of an internationally recognised embalming qualification (BIE) at your own pace The ‘Tallon Mortuary Specialists School of Embalming’ offers both Distance Learning and attended courses leading to membership of the British Institute of Embalmers The ‘Tallon Mortuary Specialists School of Embalming’ offer students and registered embalmers the highest standards of teaching and practice in a supportive environment, with full use of our training facility.

For further information and to discuss how this course might work for you contact:

Glyn Tallon - 14 Academy Street, Navan, Co. Meath Mobile: 086 826 8876 Web: www.tallonmortuaryspecialists.com Email: info@tallonmortuaryspecialists.com

The Value of Embalming, Reconstruction, Viewing and Visitation of the Deceased

By Glyn Tallon

D

eath is a certainty we all can be sure of and the loss of a loved one is inevitable, sometimes, sadly, sooner rather than later. In general, it is rarely discussed and is frequently unprepared for. Death can be sudden, expected or unexpected.

The grief process cannot be bypassed or avoided. Each stage of grief, i.e., denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance have no specific timeframe and can be revisited at any moment.

The value of embalming, reconstruction, viewing and visitation of a deceased loved one should, in essence, never be open to question.

They maintain the dignity and respect of the deceased and help the family enter and embrace the grief process with positivity, clothing them with pleasant, lasting memories of their loved one.

How a person dies will impact the grief process significantly and will influence the perception of how a loved one looks. We must never lose sight of the fact that things have changed and through continued research and education, improvement in communication skills, support, counseling and professional and reconstructive embalming skills, the situation can be made more tolerable and help to reduce the pain of loss. This may make it easier for those left behind, assisting them during the transition through grief and into long-term acceptance.

Through touch, viewing and time spent with the remains of a loved one, a relative will be satisfied that death has actually occurred,

‘seeing is believing’, if you will, as otherwise they may be left wondering and in the stage of denial, perhaps living daily waiting for their loved one to walk through the door.

We as funeral service professionals need to be diligent in maintaining our high standards and opening our minds to the ever-changing circumstances we are faced with in helping to meet the needs of the people we are called upon to serve.

FuneralTimes | 61

Celebrating 200 years in the business Gus Nichols comments on the funeral industry J & C Nichols celebrates its 200th birthday this year. Along with a very diligent cousin of mine, retired librarian Paula Howard, we have been working on a book to mark the occasion. We aim to record a family and business history, set in Dublin. I consider it a type of school history project, akin to a scrapbook with an upgrade, but Paula, who has no experience of funeral service, sees the book as having a wider audience than those who we just hand it to on the night. We will see on Bloomsday, June 16th this year, when we plan to launch the book, in The Dining Hall of Trinity College, our near neighbours.

P

aula has traced the family back to 1777, in Coleshill in Warwickshire. We were originally a Quaker family, and the provider of posting horses. Joseph Nichols saw an opportunity to move to Dublin, just after the Act of Union, where he started a posting horse business from a number of recently vacated stables in Merrion Square area of the city. It was not until the advent of the railways in the late 1840’s that Nichols diversified into the provision of horse-drawn hearses, and later as undertakers proper. Paula has traced the family and business story in great detail, up until 1933. This date marked the death of my greatgrandfather, Charles Edward Nichols. The business was taken over by my grandfather, Richard Joseph Nichols, and I take up the story from there, including the time of my father Edward – he died in 1996, and my time from then until 2014. It includes my grandfathers’ first-hand account of witnessing the Clanwilliam Massacre of the Easter Rising 1916, and

62 | FuneralTimes

his renovation of the Sheares Brothers vault in St Michan’s Church in 1941. The Sheares Brothers, from Cork, were executed for their part in the 1798 rebellion.

I had an idea in the back of my mind to get a big canvas banner and drape it across the front of the office ‘Celebrating 200 years of Service …’ but I was wisely persuaded that this would look tacky. Anyway, the word ‘celebration’ would send out all the wrong signals. Through the efforts of my colleague John Bolger and a very able collection of skilled contractors, we managed to completely renovate the Nichols office in Lombard street in less than 4 weeks.

The result is a startling improvement, and it complements all the other work done earlier on the façade of the building. We plan to use the two small garden areas in the front as a remembrance area in the heart of the city, and to recognize our ‘mention’ in Ulysses by James Joyce.

With the generous help of Alan Massey in

Mount Jerome, we have managed to locate many of the old Nichols graves, including that of Joseph Nichols, the founder, and we plan to restore the headstones and to add a plaque to commemorate their role in the business, through the generations. I am delighted that Stephen Bracken, one of the very best stonemasons in the country has provided his expertise to help with this. He has designed a series of plaques, using slate rather than an polished granite or limestone, and these will look distinctive and unique.

We hope to sell the book and any profits raised will go to one of the local charities in the Dublin 2 area.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to offer best wishes to Henry Black and his team at IAFD for the upcoming year, as I do all those who give of their time to represent the service, away from their busy work commitments.

German trade show news I

have just received notification of the next FIAT-IFTA Convention, to be held in Dusseldorf at the end of May this year. It is to coincide with the large German funeral trade show (usually run every 4 years) and the event will be hosted by the German trade association. It is hard to believe that our convention held in Dublin was almost two years ago. For those interested in attending, have a look at the FIAT-IFTA website www.thanos.org. There are links through this website to the trade show as well.

For those with any passing interest in FIAT-IFTA and what is happening internationally in funeral service, I do know that the 2015 meeting will be taking place in Milan.

This will coincide with the World Expo which Milan is hosting throughout 2015. This would be a unique opportunity to visit a great city putting on a great event, and benefit from the access FIAT-IFTA gives to it members, when in Italy.

The incoming President of Dusseldorf, Germany, location FIAT-IFTA (to be of the 2014 German funeral installed in Dustrade show seldorf ), will be Mr Marc Poirier from Montreal.

Marc heads up a very prestigious Canadian funeral company, Magnus Poirier Inc, and I have little doubt that Marc will be a positive force for the FIAT-IFTA, and also host a great event in Montreal in 2016.

FuneralTimes | 63

Taking the message of Civil Funerals around the county M

ary Elizabeth Dillon of Civil Funerals Ireland has been clocking up the mileage recently. Since the Funeral Times Trade Show in October there has been a surge in interest in Civil Funerals.

Mary Elizabeth notes that, ‘I spoke to so many undertakers during the two days in Citywest but constraints of time meant that many conversations were all too brief ’. Since October she has had contacts from around the country and has received several invitations to go out and visit funeral homes and sit down and have a proper chat with the undertakers. With the benefit of time it has been possible to lay out in detail exactly how a Civil Funeral works and what is required of the undertaker.

Many undertakers have been surprised to find that little is required of them outside of the usual services they provide. Mary Elizabeth is a veteran of many services and is more than happy to come on board to look after the family and all the details of the service. A service can be quiet and dignified or can have an air of celebration about it. ‘It’s all about giving the people what they want and what is appropriate and fitting for the deceased,’ to quote Mary Elizabeth.

‘Travelling the country and seeing the undertakers in their own premises has been an enlightening experience,’ says Mary Eliza-

beth. ‘It is marvellous to see the increase in activity in the field of Civil Funerals’. Up to now most Civil Funerals have taken place in cities, often associated with the crematorium, but Mary Elizabeth feels a change is coming and it is only a matter of time before country funerals start to reflect the trend. Many undertakers are realising that this trend is coming and are preparing their premises and staff so as to be able to provide an equally high standard to Civil Funerals as they do presently for traditional funerals.

Mary Elizabeth is more than willing to come out and visit any premises and have a chat with anyone who wants to know more or to prepare for a Civil Funeral. ‘Please give me a ring and we can arrange a visit for any convenient time,’ says Mary Elizabeth. I expect she will be busy.

Finally, Mary Elizabeth relayed a short story about one of her visits down the country. It was a considerable distance from her home in Co Wexford and she told the undertaker that she would need accommodation, could he recommend a local B & B perhaps?

‘Ah, not at all, he said, there’s a grand quiet room at the back of the funeral home, I could throw a camp bed in there for you, sure you would be grand!’ Mary Elizabeth declined his kind offer and checked in down the road with a wry smile on her face.

Civil Funerals Ireland Simple, unique, personal funeral services

• An alternative to the traditional • Celebrating Life • Reflecting the wishes and beliefs of the deceased and their loved ones • Provides an opportunity to pay a fitting tribute • Any suitable venue can be used

Mary Elizabeth Dillon is available between 9am - 11pm 7 days a week Tel ROI: 053 938 9089 / Mobile: 087 957 4476 Email: info@civilfuneralsireland.com 64 | FuneralTimes

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www.rowlandbrothersinternational.com FuneralTimes | 65

NAFD News NAFD records record number of new members in 2013

T

he NAFD continues to be the largest and most influential voice of the funeral profession, campaigning on behalf of members large and small – and securing benefits which save members thousands of pounds in the running of their business and are unmatched by any other trade association in the sector.

For example, the NAFD is the only trade association in the sector that offers £5m professional indemnity cover for each member company. For the majority of our members, this benefit is worth more than the cost of their membership subscription on its own.

For example, if purchased individually by a

firm with a turnover of £250,000 this level of indemnity cover would cost around £1,800.

Other benefits of NAFD membership include enhanced legal expenses cover, saving members at least £700; the NAFD Energy Club – saving money on business energy bills; £100,000 Employment Claims Indemnity Insurance, £100,000 Health & Safety Prosecutions insurance and £75,000 HMRC Investigations Insurance; and a new PR support helpline and handbook.

As a result of these benefits, and the NAFD’s hard work on behalf of members, the Association has attracted a record number of new members in the past year.

NAFD raises key issues within the European Parliament and European Commission

T

he NAFD European Liaison Group returned to Brussels in November 2013 to meet with Members of the European Parliament and the European Commission.

The Group has made a number of visits to Brussels, since being formed in 2007, and its effectiveness has continued to grow during this period.

The aim of the Group is to identify problems with existing European legislation and seek changes, as well as providing an early warning mechanism to prevent the introduction of legislation which could impact adversely on UK funeral directors

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and the bereaved. The group met with both MEPs and senior officials including Chris Davies MEP who has tabled a number of questions on the use of formaldehyde for embalming and takes a keen interest in this issue.

The meeting enabled the Group to update Mr Davies on developments with the Biocides Directive. He offered to provide assistance in the event that the use of formaldehyde for embalming in the EU was threatened by the Directive.

At a meeting with two senior officials in the Internal Market and Services Unit of the

European Commission the NAFD raised concerns about lacquer coatings on coffins used in repatriations to the UK and how they can cause danger to crematoria staff due to flashback. As a result new, compliant coffins were needed in the event of cremation.

Also discussed, during a meeting with Michael Cashman MEP, was progress of an initiative on the adoption of measures concerning the repatriation of mortal remains and the role that formaldehyde

plays in embalming and the need to remove repatriation anomalies across the EU, during a meeting with Julie Girling MEP. NAFD Chief Executive Alan Slater said of the visit, “the NAFD has developed strong links with MEPs across all parties and the key Parliamentary Committees of relevance to the funeral profession. We are also now known to European Commission officials responsible for the Internal Market and Services.”

Green forms and the release of bodies - NAFD campaign update

T

hrough the Association’s ongoing campaigning work in all four UK parliaments and Assemblies, the NAFD has earned a respected voice amongst those in political power. Recently the NAFD was able to use this influence to raise the concerns of members regarding the release of bodies from hospitals.

An important debate was held in Westminster on this subject at the end of 2013 which examined NHS procedures for releasing bodies from hospitals.

The debate was instigated by Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North, after one of her constituents reported that a body had been released to a funeral director who had yet to be appointed and without the necessary documentation.

During the debate, the guidelines that govern the release of bodies were discussed including the use of the Green Form. Of particular interest were the comments by the Health Minister, Norman Lamb MP: “The green form is one of the pieces of documentation required to allow a funeral to proceed and is often passed from the

family to the funeral director. However, it is not a legal requirement for an individual to produce a green form in order to collect the body from the hospital. In practice, many hospitals appear to treat the green form as the key documentation for body release. I understand that hospitals do that to confirm that the death is not a coroner’s case. Potentially, up until the green form is issued, a registrar could refer a death to the coroner because new information relating to the death has come to light and the registrar finds themselves under a duty to report the death to the coroner. The other reason for some hospitals insisting on seeing the green form is, understandably, for reassurance that the body is being released to the right person.”

This was the first time that a Minister had publicly stated that it is not a legal requirement for an individual to produce a Green Form in order to collect the body from a hospital. The Minister went on to highlight the concerns raised by the NAFD on behalf of its members over the delays now being experienced when collecting bodies.

FuneralTimes | 67

NAFD News Burial fee rises discussed in Westminster

T

he tone of the debate around the cost of a funeral is shifting with increasing emphasis being placed on the impact that significant rises in disbursements, particularly those levied by local authorities, are having on the cost of dying.

The matter has gathered pace in the last month with not only the announcement by Suffolk Coastal of a 60% rise in burial fees, but also publication of new research by the University of Bath’s Institute for Policy Research into the Cost of Dying.

The NAFD has made consistently strong representations to the media on the subject, to ensure there is greater understanding of the impact that these non-discretionary charges have on the cost of a funeral.

Alan Slater, Chief Executive Officer of the NAFD has been quoted as saying: “The National Association of Funeral Directors is aware of numerous examples from across the country of local authorities making double digit price rises to their burial and cremation charges or otherwise seeking to increase revenue from bereaved families. For example, in addition to the 64% increase in burial plot fees in 2014 by Suffolk Coastal District Council, the London Borough of Lambeth increased their cremation fee by 38% in 2013. There has been a 25% increase at Sefton Council in the North West in the past year and there is currently a proposed 15% increase in Dudley, West Midlands. Coventry is implementing a 22% increase in April 2014 and Shrewsbury an 18% one. These are just a few examples.

“It is also common practice to at least double the fee if a person from out of the area wishes to be buried in a particular local authority, for example to be close to family members. Examples include Winchester City Council, which also doubles the fee for residents who have lived in a residential home for more than 6 months that is not localauthority run, whilst South Derbyshire Council trebles the fee.

“In addition, new rules allow local authorities to

68 | FuneralTimes

sell memorials direct to the public in competition with Monumental Masons in their communities and the London Borough of Greenwich has introduced a £73 charge simply to make any changes to a burial service (such as coffin size) - a fee that is payable by the family.

“The NAFD is concerned that, in an attempt to fill gaps in their budget, councils are levying excessive fees on local people when they are at their most vulnerable. We have raised this issue with parliamentarians and have called upon the Secretary of State for Local Communities to take this issue as seriously as he is local councils' approach to increasing revenue from parking fines.”

The cause has also been taken up by Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Funerals and Bereavement, Lorely Burt MP, who tabled the following question in Westminster: Burial: Fees and Charges 20 Jan 2014 Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of recent changes in burial fees charged by local authorities. (902050) Brandon Lewis: My Department does not collect data on the changes in burial fees charged by local authorities.

Fees and burial charges vary substantially.

Research in 2000-01 found a range from £6 to £4,000 for burial rights in a double grave.

The last Administration told councils to hike up town hall charges and fees. We disagree—councils should not be hammering families with stealth taxes. While local authorities have the power to cover their costs on burial plots, the loss of a loved one should never be an opportunity for profit.

As the Voice of the Profession and an inclusive organisation, the NAFD will continue to campaign on this subject on behalf of - not only members – but the whole of the funeral profession and the families in their care; as well as pressing for reforms to the Social Fund funeral payments system and process.

Professional Funeral Arrangers ‘Pass-Out’ at First Ceremony M

ore than sixty NAFD members from across the UK have achieved an excellent level of commitment and dedication to their profession through the successful attainment of the National Association of Funeral Directors Diploma in Funeral Arranging and Administration.

The NAFD has joined forces in a new partnership with Birmingham City University (BCU) in the delivery of the qualification. This is the first time that the university has endorsed an external qualification and has involved the development of a pioneering quality endorsement badge for the NAFD's Diploma qualifications.

This is an exciting development that helps further establish the NAFD's qualification framework and diplomas as benchmark programmes for the industry.

Professor Martin Reynolds of the Business School at Birmingham City University commented: "I have been working closely with the NAFD over the last year. We have reviewed the NAFD's approach to its learning and development activity including the design, delivery and assessment of its Diploma qualifications and, I have to a say, we have been seriously impressed by the quality of the qualifications and associated infrastructure in place.”

He continued: “We have benchmarked the NAFD's practice with that of our own University and, in agreeing to endorse the NAFD's qualifications; we are saying they are of the highest quality and standards and are equivalent to a university programme."

Alan Slater MBE, Chief Executive of the NAFD commented: “The NAFD is committed

to supporting high standards in the funeral profession. We are proud to say we provide students and employers with access to externallyendorsed funeral service qualifications that confidently stand up to the scrutiny of national standards of teaching, learning and assessment.

He continued: “The NAFD helps to assist with skills development required by individuals working in the funeral sector to deal with the challenges experienced day-in and day-out helping to make the experience of the bereaved the best it can possibly be given the circumstances they have found themselves in.”

Graduate Claire Barrington of Barringtons Funeral Service, Liverpool commented at the recent graduation ceremony at BCU: “Funeral directing is a hugely rewarding career and our business is growing and growing. There is much more to the role than I previously thought which studying for the Diploma in Funeral Arranging and Administration helped me to understand. The course is really well put together and changes how you approach day to day challenges.”

John Adams, Perry and Phillips Funeral Directors, Shropshire said: “I am now the fourth generation of the family to conduct funerals at Perry and Phillips. I lost my mum at a young age and it has definitely influenced my commitment to the profession - as I know it has my father. I am determined to be the best funeral director I can be and the NAFD Diploma has helped to tie my practical experience together with the theory.

There are also a range of other qualifications available from NAFD and information is available from www.nafd.org.uk.

“Funeral directing is a hugely rewarding career and our business is growing and growing.

There is much more to the role than I previously thought which studying for the Diploma in Funeral Arranging and Administration helped me to understand. The course is really well put together and changes how you approach day to day challenges.”

FuneralTimes | 69

National Association of Funeral Directors Just another trade association?

think again.

We are listened to The largest funeral sector trade association, representing almost 3,700 funeral homes 80% of UK funeral directors. Our size gives us a respected voice at the highest levels of Government.

We are influential We campaign hard on issues that could affect the sector and are as focused on the needs of our 2,000 small, independent member firms as on those of our larger members.

We’re independent Independent of any single funding body or organisation, we work hard to balance the views and needs of all our members, irrespective of size.

We promote high standards The NAFD Code of practice is client-facing and a guarantee of quality of service.

We are the voice of the profession We bring the funeral service industry together to speak with one voice in the media, to Government and to the general public, your clients.

The Best benefits package in the industry, By far Including ÂŁ5million professional indemnity cover for each member company; a suite of free business helplines and collective buying power, saving our members thousands of pounds every year.

We have an eye on the future We keep members abreast of changes likely to affect their business, creating progressive partnerships which also open up opportunities for them.

We are the association for the funeral sector.

We care about our members, become one today.

If you would like to know more about how we can support your business or would like to join the NAFD, visit our website www.nafd.org.uk or call Su on

0121 711 1343 Ext 20 national association of funeral directors The voice of the profession 618 Warwick Road, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 1AA Tel: 0121 711 1343 email: info@nafd.org.uk

Visit our award winning website at

www.nafd.org

70 | FuneralTimes

When families want to make a statement

I

t doesn’t happen every day, but from time to time every funeral director meets a family who want a send off for their loved one which is just a little bit different.

Those who attended the Funeral Times Trade Show Ireland 2013 in Citywest will have seen the amazing trike hearse which sat in the reception area and caused so much comment.

Everyone witnessed the quality of design and construction and Omega Services have been delighted with the number of enquiries both at and since the show. “We always knew that funeral directors would have to see the trike and hearse before they could recommend it to their families”, said Rob, “This is something for any family who want to make a statement, not just for motorcyclists”.

Omega also offer a superb Black Tractor and hearse which will appeal to the farming community and again has been designed and constructed to the highest standard. Either vehicle is transported in a large enclosed trailer, so that they always arrive clean and ready to make their mark in a dignified way.

For the month of February Omega are offering a special promotional price of £350 + VAT for Belfast funerals (normally £500 + VAT) and will work with funeral directors across Ireland - please call for a price.

Funeral directors who are interested in using either of the vehicles, or who would like to discuss costs and arrangements, should contact Cathie or Robert at Omega Services on T: 07704 513775 / 07889 037999 or 028 4483 1898 or from ROI: +0044 7704 513775 / +0044 7889 037999 or 048 4483 1898 or email: omegaservices_120@hotmail.co.uk

Omega Services

Trike & Hearse or Tractor & Hearse hire for the funeral trade throughout Ireland Contact Cathie or Robert T: 07704 513775 / 07889 037999 or 028 4483 1898 omegaservices_120@hotmail.co.uk

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Please visit our website for full service, products and accessories available www.thedirectorscut.ie

72 | FuneralTimes

A fresh set of eyes K

yle Brothers Funeral Directors of Kelso in the Scottish Borders have been using Eulogica for three years now. Back in 2011 David Irvine told us that the Eulogica system had “revolutionised the business”. Two years on, Eulogica’s Nick Stokes returned to Roxburghshire to offer some additional configuration, and some training to David’s niece Lizzie, who has now joined the team.

“I was immediately impressed with how comprehensive the system is,” Lizzie told us.

“It really does record every piece of information we need! It’s also very simple to use, and I was able to pick up the basics straight away.”

Nick and Lizzie initially went through some training on the funeral administration side of the software. As they looked at the various screens, Lizzie asked if certain changes were possible, to make the data recorded more relevant to Kyle Brothers’ current requirements. The suggestions were discussed, and then the system tailored to suit.

“The beauty of the Eulogica concept is that not only can the system be tailored when first installed,” says Nick, “but at any point in its life.

Many ideas are identified during initial analysis sessions, but of course there are unusual occurrences and other ideas that only come to you after using the software for a few months, or even years. We are always available to make these changes, be it ten days or ten years after installation!”

David Irvine says “It was great to have a fresh set of eyes looking at the way we do things, and the fact that the ideas and suggestions raised could be immediately built into our Eulogica system was fantastic.”

FuneralTimes | 73

Dr Bill Webster

The need to be motivated I

n the sixties, The Beatles had a popular hit entitled, “All you need is Love.” I hate to say it, especially as a proud product of that generation, but John Lennon may not have been absolutely right in his premise.

We all have needs. Our most basic ones are physiological, such as food, air, clothing, shelter and the necessities of life. Once those physical needs are relatively satisfied, the individual’s need for safety dominates behaviour. And, yes, the Beatles were correct that one of our greatest human needs is for love, a sense of belonging and acceptance among our social groups. We all have a need to feel respected, to have self-esteem and self-respect, and a desire to be accepted and valued by others. To gain this, we often engage in a profession or hobby which brings recognition, and which gives a sense of contribution or value.

But what motivates human behaviour?

If you think about it, many behaviours are motivated by our desires to have these basic needs met. Motivation is rooted in our needs. Consider the desperation of the poor or unemployed person who steals some food in order to feed a family. Ponder the needs of someone who breaks into a vacant building to escape the bitter cold or stormy conditions. Or the person who would do anything to please a parent, spouse or employer in order to feel accepted … as witnessed in children who cling to abusive parents, or the compliant employee who feels used by the system but does it anyway. All these situa-

74 | FuneralTimes

tions represent needs which have motivated the resultant behaviours.

In the 1940’s, a psychologist named Abraham Maslow set out to understand what motivates people, stating that “our actions are motivated to achieve certain needs.” He suggested that people are primarily motivated to fulfill their basic needs, and after one need is fulfilled we move on to other, more advanced needs. While some research has shown some support for Maslow’s concepts, most examination has not substantiated the idea of a universal needs hierarchy. And so like most theories, it is imperfect … but I think we can still learn something from it.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, as it is best known, is most often displayed as a 5 level pyramid. The four lower levels are considered deficiency needs, while the top level is considered growth needs. Starting from the bottom up, the first four levels are considered deprivation needs (“D-needs”) inasmuch as their lack of satisfaction causes a deficiency that motivates people to meet these needs.

• Physiological – The lowest level on the hierarchy are our basic physical requirements including the need for food, air, water, sex, sleep, warmth and other factors leading towards stability. Once these lower-level needs have been met, people can move on to the next level of needs, which are for safety and security.

• Safety – The second level includes security of environment, employment, resources,

health, and property. These may include health and personal well-being concerns, financial security, and the need for some sort of a safety net, real or perceived, against accidents, illness or other threats and the potentially adverse impact that they would have on our happiness and comfort. During emergencies, safety needs such as health and security rise to the forefront. While many of these initial needs often tend to be satisfied for many, they usually become predominant when unmet, and deficiencies can impact the individual’s ability to move on to forming and maintaining emotionally significant relationships.

• Belongingness – Once these two initial levels are met, and as people progress up the pyramid, needs become increasingly psychological and social. Belongingness needs, such as obtaining love, intimate relationships or close friendships, and family become important.

• Esteem – Further up the pyramid, esteem needs, include the need for confidence, recognition from others, feelings of accomplishment and achievement, and the need for respect and self-esteem take priority.

• Self-actualization – The highest level is self-actualization, or self-fulfillment. This, unlike the previous four deficiency needs, is referred to as a growth need. Like other psychologists of the day, Maslow defined self-actualization as a process of growing and developing as a person in order to achieve our individual potential. Behaviour in this case is not driven or motivated by deficiencies but rather “one’s desire for personal growth and the need to become all the things that a person is capable of becoming,” which includes morality, creativity, and problem solving.

Our need for self-actualization is best summed up in the quote, “What a person can be, they must be.” (I have changed the quote slightly to be more gender sensitive!)

This statement refers what a person’s full potential is and our need to realize that possibility. In other words, it is the desire to accomplish everything one can and become the most that one can be.

One of the key characteristics of self-actualized people is that they tend to view the

The funeral director, like every human being, has needs world with a continual sense of appreciation, wonder and awe. Even simple experiences continue to be a source of inspiration and pleasure. These peak experiences, or moments of intense joy, and wonder, lead us to feel inspired, strengthened, renewed or transformed. Peak experiences include: (a) Experiencing life like a child, with full absorption and concentration. (b) Trying new things instead of sticking to safe paths. (c) Listening to your own feelings in evaluating experiences instead of the voice of tradition, authority or the majority. (d) Being honest, and avoiding pretense (‘game playing’) (e) Being prepared to be unpopular if your views do not coincide with those of the majority. (f ) Taking responsibility and working hard.

Sadly, our deficiencies often blind us to these experiences, and can lead to depression, disillusionment and despair.

So much for psychology 101!

But, you may be asking, how does all this apply to the funeral director, and to the grieving people they serve? This article begins a series on “Understanding the Needs of the Grieving Person” which I trust will be insightful. But first, how and what can we in the funeral profession learn from Abraham Maslow? So let’s ask ourselves the question: What are the needs of the Funeral Director?

The funeral director, like every human being, has needs. We all need to ensure the basic necessities of life for ourselves and our loved ones. We all need a sense of safety… how many health and safety talks have you sat through? But we also have to safeguard our future and that of our business. And which of us would not like to think that we have the respect if not the affection of the people we work with and those we serve.

FuneralTimes | 75

These are all good things. But remember that they are, after all, “deficiency needs.”

I am inviting us all to take another look and see what really motivates us. Are we motivated by deficiency needs or by growth needs? That is a hard question, and all of us have to find our own answer in our own hearts. Remember, there is nothing wrong with deficiency needs, but the invitation is for us to rise above and beyond them.

Are we motivated by our needs, or by the needs of those we serve? Most sales are based on “meeting a need”. I fully understand that there are many needs in play in every sale or service. There is the need of the person who requires the product or the service. There is also the need of the person whose living depends on making that sale.

When both needs are met we call that a “win-win” situation.

The problem begins when the needs of one party are met at the expense of the other.

While I am a firm believer in the importance of the funeral services around the time of death, the needs of the provider should not

76 | FuneralTimes

outweigh the needs of the recipient.

Take another look, personally, as a business, or as members of a local or national trade and ask, “what need has motivated that action?” What is the motivation behind many of the activities we engage in? Whose needs are we really trying to meet? It is a constant challenge to me as a counsellor to examine my own motivations for doing what I do. Is it to meet my own needs for making a living, for recognition or for acceptance; or can I say that my motivations are inspired by the needs of the grieving people I serve?

Well, no-one is completely altruistic, of course. Life is always a balance. But it is when we feel more secure that our deficiency needs are being met (and many of our needs ARE deficiency needs, so be careful!) that we will move on to higher needs.

Our need to do should not outweigh our necessity to be. Our need to get and our need to give flow out of each other. So, onward and upward!

Follow Dr Bill’s Daily Inspirational Thought on Twitter @drbillwebster

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FuneralTimes | 77

New Insignia from Fearghas Quinn Andy from Buchan’s Funeral Service, Fraserburgh with his new Insignia from Fearghas Quinn Hearse and Limousine

78 | FuneralTimes

Irish coffin company delivering top European product at competitive prices

C

eltic Coffins Ltd. is an Irish-registered business with warehousing based in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The company holds a large product range in stock and deals directly with European manufacturers to ensure swift delivery of products including coffins, urns, grave markers and accessories.

“Our suppliers have been trading for 25 years.

We guarantee the highest quality of products in Europe. Our suppliers are a well established name within the western European market.

They are the leading suppliers in the English, German, Italian and Benelux markets.”

The firm's website, www.celticcoffins.ie carries a superb downloadable brochure with the full range of products. It includes a detailed description of the materials used, coffin dimensions and characteristics.

Celtic Coffins aim is to provide long-term high quality service at very competitive prices.

The company is dedicated to providing high quality products and pride themselves on customer care. “We aspire to build long-lasting relationships with all our customers.”

Celtic Coffins Ltd. will provide you with an opportunity to provide your clients with high quality and competitive prices at this very difficult time in their lives.

Celtic Coffins Ltd. 28 The Granary, Harbour Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Phone: +353 (0)90 642 5022 Web: www.celticcoffins.ie Email: celticcoffins@gmail.com

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We provide a long-term, high quality service at very coMpetitive prices Peter Mob: 087 960 7521 David Mob: 087 665 2905 / Phone: +353 (0)90 642 5022 Jackie Carron (Donegal Distributor) Mob: 087 973 4000/ Tel: +353 (0)74 973 4000

FuneralTimes | 79

Funeraire Paris 2013 Jennifer Muldowney reports from Funeraire Paris and finds that it is the Italians who stole the show with their innovative new products.

I

attended the Funeraire Paris 2013 - Salon International De L’Art Funeraire this year and my was I unblown away. Mediocre at best unfortunately. This show claims international status but from the beginning (signing in) I had issues with language. Even my Leaving Cert French couldn’t help me here. This did not bode well for the show. I found that 80% of the exhibitors were French, of whom a large part did not speak any English and thus it was difficult to find out exactly why anyone should choose them above their competitors.

For some reasoning I seemed mostly drawn to Italian exhibitors, completely coincidental, or maybe innovation is in Italy! When I visit these shows, I like to find something that catches my eye, something new, something colourful, different - something that stands out. For me the Italians had it in bags.

There was beautiful urns from Milan, a far cry from any I had seen before, from Amuela, Milano (Amuela.it). There was the stunning Rotastyle from Presezzo, Italy whose exhibition was far from shy. It screamed glamour, luxury, and money. A beautiful display area with a few cute parting gifts for visitors to their exhibit, they definitely packed a punch in my eyes. Lastly on the Italian front there was PastBook (PastBook.com), an innovative new approach to social media, online photos and the funeral industry, I think this one is a much needed service. It offers undertakers a reasonable cut of the takings without robbing the consumer. They began with parties and weddings and have now moved into funerals. A smart move in my opinion and if any funeral directors are

80 | FuneralTimes

out there, getting in touch with these guys will be their next move if they are smart. A step up from the wedding album or the condolence book and a business to watch!

Other businesses to note: ParlAmore which can incorporate the button or buttons of loved ones into a ring or broach which is a step up from a mourning pin. There was also a fabulous Eco coffin creator. Fantastic images. Check her out on www.cercueilsen-carton.com. Bling hit the coffin makers with Globale RC putting crystals into their coffins - dazzling even the most discerning customer.

Finally there was Jewel Concepts in the form of Fingerprint jewellery and portrait jewellery. The first you may know about, the second perhaps not. These guys, I spoke with Cess Janssen in particular, know how to personalise jewellery. From still births to burials and cremations, they have it covered.

The portrait jewellery is where they take an image of someone’s profile (from a picture) and they use that profile shape to create a unique pendent. It has the shape of a vase but upon closer inspection you can see the silhouette of the face.

Ashes can be inserted into the pendent also.

All in all Paris was not where it’s at in terms of innovation, but definitely worth a visit for networking and some hidden gems.

Willowfield competition continues to be a success A

huge congratulations to Mrs. Nina Stephenson from Ravenhill Crescent, Belfast for winning a £100 Tesco Voucher when she purchased a Pre-paid Funeral Plan from Willowfield Private Funeral Home on the Woodstock Road.

The competition ran in the local press and on Facebook.

Due to the competition’s continuing success, the funeral home will be offering another chance to win a £100 Tesco Voucher to customers who pur- Directors Elaine Barr & Stephen Love presenting Mrs. chase a Pre-paid Funeral Plan. Stephenson with the £100 Tesco voucher

Step In Time Carriages Nationwide service

We are committed to providing a compassionate, courteous and professional service that you can trust Elegant and dignified horse-drawn hearses provided

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Email: stepintimecarriages@eircom.net Web: www.carriagehire.ie FuneralTimes | 81

Unique Coachbuilders launch facelift Volvo Hearse & Limousine Family run coachbuilders Wilcox Limousines have begun to deliver their first orders of the much anticipated facelift models of the Volvo V70 Hearse and S80 Limousine.

F

ounded in 1948 Wilcox have held the exclusive UK concessionaire contract for over 10 years with the Swedish firm, supplying both the funeral trade and the executive industry with custom made Volvo Hearses and Limousines.

Starting from £89,950 the Volvo Hearse is based on the popular V70 model and the Limousine on the flagship S80 saloon. Both models offer fantastic value for money and feature a number of detail changes which increase their already high specification.

The most obvious design update is to headlights and bonnet; washer nozzles are removed from the bonnet, the front grille radar is painted black, and there are chrome grille surrounds with a larger Volvo badge. The rear of the models also shows subtle styling modifications. Overall both models have a more modern, rounded look.

High quality interior updates for both models include some improved materials and stylish modifications such as the addition of the V40’s full-colour digital instrument cluster.

Models with an automatic gearbox can be equipped with shift paddles on the steering wheel for the first time, too, so long as the optional three-spoke steering wheel is specified.

A seven-inch touchscreen offers internet access with voice commands for music app Spotify, as well as 3D navigation. Fuel consumption has been improved, with engines being tweaked for better fuel economy and

82 | FuneralTimes

CO2 performance. The Volvo Hearse and Limousine are one of the largest on the market, offering an electric rise and fall deck on the hearse and the limousine offers plenty of leg and head room.

“2013 produced record sales for our Hearse and Limousine Volvos so we are extremely excited to launch the updated models into the UK. Volvo has always been recognised to be one of the safest and most reliable vehicles, however they now compete against the best with their modern styling and latest technology.”

Paul Wilcox, CEO, Wilcox Limousines For more information, testimonials and videos on how the vehicles are hand crafted please visit www.limousines.co.uk

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Are you thinking of selling your funeral business?

Dignity would like to talk to you if you are thinking of selling your business.

We are the country’s largest provider of funeral related services. We have been quoted on the London Stock Exchange since 2004 with considerable success. We have cash immediately available without recourse to third parties.

The decision to sell your business is a huge one. Something you will only do once.

So why choose Dignity?

1. We are funeral people. It’s all we do. We are obsessive about the standard of service we offer the families we serve and over 98% of them say they would recommend us to family or friends.

2. You will deal directly with a main board director who has complete authority to agree all terms. In other words you will be dealing principal to principal.

The result is a quick and simple transaction.

3. We have acquired more family funeral businesses in the UK in the last ten years than anyone else. A significant number have been very well known businesses and we will be glad to give you references so that you can talk to people who have dealt with us. Hopefully they will tell you that we are straightforward to deal with, and keep our promises.

4. We have a national presence and are able to acquire businesses in nearly all parts of the UK. Please call Andrew Davies, Operations Director or Mike McCollum, Chief Executive.

Between us we have over 45 years of funeral experience and will be delighted to deal with you in the strictest confidence without any obligation.

Please contact in confidence: Mike McCollum, Chief Executive or Andrew Davies, Operations Director Dignity plc Plantsbrook House 94 The Parade Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B72 1PH Tel: 0121 354 1557 mike.mccollum@dignityuk.co.uk andrew.davies@dignityuk.co.uk FuneralTimes | 85

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Manufacturers to the Funeral Trade Soft Goods

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We manufacture and supply: Coffin and Casket Linings, Side Sheets, Shrouds, Coffin Pads, Casket Pads, Lid Liners, Mountings.

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Funeral Services

• 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 Tel: 07815 866652/01267 236787 (24hrs) email: info@mljfs.co.uk www.matthewljonesfuneralservices.co.uk

Classifieds... Classifieds... email your advert to: sales@funeraltimes.com

2007 Mercedes hearse E240 • 64,000 miles • In excellent condition • Duffy Built • 5 door • Double Deck Price: €53,000

2004 Vauxhall Omega hearse • Taxed and tested • Full service history • 40,000 miles (Quinn built) 1997 Vauxhall Omega Limousine • Taxed and tested • Service history • Very low mileage • 32,000 (Wilcox built) £15,995 for both

Contact Paul on: Tel: +353 (0)87 9171683

Telephone: 028 3026 6785 07753 615914 DAVID McKEON HEARSE HIRE Sunnagh Beg, Cloone, Co. Leitrim

2010 Ford Mondeo Hearse • Newly built by Byrne • Ready for work • Available for sale or hire Contact: Byrne coachbuilders

042 9334631

24 HR SERVICE Long or short term hire Nationwide CONTACT ROI Mobile: 087-8045115 / 087-2981956 / 071-9636000 FuneralTimes | 89

Classifieds... Classifieds... email your advert to: sales@funeraltimes.com for sale 1996 Ford Scorpio hearse

FOR SALE 2000 mercedes e240 6 door limousine • Good condition • 80k on clock • €1150 ono

Contact: Hugh Byrne on 086 8938800

• PSV & Taxed until October • 2 owners from new • 47,000 miles • Built by Coleman Milne • This vehicle is in top condition and has been well maintained • Fully Serviced

CONTACT Trevor at logan’s funeral services, ahoghill, co. Antrim Tel. 028 2587 1443 or 07711 874779

Frank Keogh & Sons Funeral Repatriation Services

church pews for sale

Telephone:

Solid, seasoned mahogany, excellent condition, very comfortable, varying lengths, typically 2.6m, any quantity.

ONLY A FEW REMAINING

ROI - 086 8440208 NI - 00353 86 8440208

Contact Ernest McKeown: 028 2564 2673

Woodbrook, Bray Co.Wicklow

90 | FuneralTimes

Classifieds... Classifieds... email your advert to: sales@funeraltimes.com Absolute The NEW, cost sealing way of effective & hygienic for the providing storage hygienic storage Deceased ! of the deceased.

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PATRICK RYAN & DAUGHTER FUNERAL DIRECTORS SPECIALISING IN REPATRIATION TO ALL PARTS OF IRELAND

TEL: 0208 567 1664 FAX: 0208 566 4795 6 South Ealing Road, London W5 4QA

For further information contact: Stephen Collier + 353 (0)1 281 4114

Email: patrick.ryan@virgin.net Website: PATRICK-RYAN.CO.UK COVERING LONDON AND THE HOME COUNTIES

World novelty!

pharopack-­‐bio Now also fulfills the requirements of the Strasbourg Agreement from 1973

Make Repatriation easy and cheap!

2007 Vauxhall Vectra, Quinn built, mot'd, immaculate condition, €21,500

What does your

Order of Service say about you?

our promise to you is simple

Email: john@healys.ie

we will answer your calls 7 days a week 52 weeks a year we will deliver on time - every time

Tel: 00353 9784111 Mobile: 00353 876259911

Contact Graham or Richard for further details Telephone: (048) 3835 5060 Email: sales@funeraltimes.com FuneralTimes | 91

Hearse & Limousines Tel: 028/048 2582 2525 Fax: 028/048 2582 2299

New Hearses and limousines available on Mondeo, Insignia and E-Class base vehicles All hearses are * Individual Vehicle approval * tested Coach work carried out on new and used vehicles First call hearse (on any vehicle) available in 14 days Range of second hand hearses from 1999-2011

13 Garvaghy Road, Portglenone, County Antrim BT44 8EF

Email: fearghas@fearghasquinn.com or visit our website for more information ** Feel free to call us, with no obligation. Rest assured we will not pester you with phone calls or unsolicited visits **

www.fearghasquinn.com