MFDA Bulletin - Spring 2020

State Emergency Operations Center Creates Online COVID-19 Dashboard

The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) Fatality Management Branch has created an online dashboard to assist those who are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. This dashboard is available to view and interact with and will share the following information:

• Cold storage usage and capacity across Minnesota – this information is completely dependent upon Funeral Homes and Medical Examiners Offices updating their data.

• Crematory capacity across Minnesota

• Total COVID-19 cases and deaths in Minnesota

• Ventilator and ICU status broken down regionally (coming soon) – this is to assist County and State Emergency Management to prepare for surge

• Supplies status broken down by Medical Examiner Office and Funeral Home – this is for situational awareness and will help provide everyone with needs analysis and resource issues

• Facility status mapped and represented to indicate each location’s status (at capacity, near capacity, etc.)

This dashboard will be used by a large number of people to help in preparedness and response duties. The dashboard is targeted for use by Tribal, City and County Emergency Management, the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association, Local and Tribal Public Health, Funeral Directors, Minnesota Department of Health, the State Emergency Operations Center and anyone else who may be involved in fatality management planning during the COVID-19 response.

Although this may seem like a large ask, we hope that all involved will see the value in the “Fatality Management Daily Status Update” and will begin, or continue to complete the update each day. It will help this collective group out immensely.

For the planning to be most effective, it is essential that we get as updated information as we possibly can. Funeral Directors and Medical Examiners Offices have been asked to submit daily responses to update our records.

Access to the COVID-19 Fatality Management Dashboard is available through the daily report emails to funeral homes, or you can access it in the members-only MFDA Online Community on www.mnfuneral.org.

Inside: How the MFDA Online Community can be a valuable resource.

MFDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President

Chris Jacobson

Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home Ada, MN chris.jacobson@tlcofduluth.com

Treasurer

Kelly J. Kelly

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes Kasson, MN kjkell0803@yahoo.com

DISTRICT DIRECTORS

Joe Mahn (District 1)

Mahn Family Funeral and Cremation Services, Red Wing, MN jmahn62@hotmail.com

Tonya D. Borth (District 2)

Kolden Funeral Home Le Sueur, MN tonya_04@hotmail.com

Marquis Madison (District 3)

Totzke Funeral Home Fulda, MN totzke@mchsi.com

Lance Peterson (District 4/5)

Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and Cremation Service Willmar, MN lance@petersonbrothers.com

Scott Benson (District 6 & 7)

Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel, Inc. Robbinsdale, MN sbenson@delmore.com

Sara Thompson (District 8)

Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services Sauk Centre, MN sthompson@pattonschad.com

Andrew Yaggie (District 9)

Glende-Nilson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Fegus Falls, MN andrew@glendenilson.com

Tim Anderson(District 10)

Anderson Funeral Home Twin Valley, MN timanderson@arvig.net

David Huso (District 11)

Rowe Funeral Home Grand Rapids, MN husodavid@yahoo.com

Secretary

Brian Dingmann

Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services, Annandale, MN brian@dingmannfuneral.com

Past President

Dan Dahl

Dahl Funeral Home East Grand Forks, MN dan.dahl@midconetwork.com

POLICY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE

Leif Larsen Green-Larsen Mortuary International Falls, MN larsen_625@msn.com

PAST PRESIDENT REP

Ken Peterson, CFSP Johnson-Peterson Funeral Home White Bear Lake, MN petersonkb@gmail.com

STAFF

Darlyne Erickson, CAE Executive Director 763-416-0124

612-940-8169 (cell) info@mnfuneral.org

Amy Beckham (Administrative) amy@mnfuneral.org

Sue Sack (Accounting) sue@mnfuneral.org

Kathy Sheridan (Membership/Convention) kathy@mnfuneral.org

Miki Tufto (Communications/Convention) mtufto@mnfuneral.org

7046 East Fish Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55311

p: (763) 416-0124 • f: (763) 416-0124 e: info@mnfuneral.org www.mnfuneral.org

"All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we're giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That's one of the things that connects us as neighbors – in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver." - Mr. Rogers

Who We Are: Minnesota Funeral Director’s Association (MFDA) is the statewide resource dedicated to supporting our member’s growth professionally, ethically, and operationally.

What Is Our Mission: Our mission is to enhance and support funeral service excellence through our programs, legislative representation and service to Minnesotans.

How We Accomplish This:

• Essential and enduring principles that guide our organization’s behaviors and actions

• Advancing the value of funeral service consistent with the changing needs of society

• Advocacy on behalf of consumers and members

• Visionary leadership trust and confidence in staff and volunteer leadership

• Promotion of integrity; honest and ethical behavior within the funeral industry

• Collaboration with others in the interest of consumers and members

• Recognize the importance of education as a vehicle to enhance both public service and public image

Executive Director’s Report

By Darlyne Erickson. CAE

Your

association is here for you!

“Associations serve as important refuges and communities for people who want to come together for a common purpose and achieve results that are positive for our nation and the world. This is the fundamental purpose of associations, to allow different voices to be heard, to accept that there are many ways of attacking a problem, and to make our industries, our professions, and our society stronger.”

“Associations have a huge responsibility to the world. We understand that our stakeholders extend beyond just the members and volunteers we represent, to the communities in which we live and work and the far regions of the world where some innovation or standard we perpetuate helps improve someone’s quality of life.”

“The future of associations is very bright because we have the capability and strategic focus to adapt, and because no matter what the world looks like in five years, people will still have common interests and challenges to meet.”

John Graham, IV, FASAE, CAE and President and CEO of ASAE died on January 13th after serving the American Society of Association Executives since 2003. It was difficult to select which one of his statements was the most descriptive, so I will share all three because they all reflect the reason why associations exist.

The past eight weeks have proven to be astounding in both speed and nature of what we have experienced through the COVID-19 virus. As a funeral service professional, you are all-important in this fight as the true last responder and are integral in the overall scheme of things. I know it has been hard to accept the guidelines of keeping social distancing with 10 or less attendees at a funeral service. As I write this in mid-May, Gov. Walz recently extended his Executive Order to open up some businesses, but did not relax the 10 or under rule. We have received many calls and emails sharing their frustration and anxiety over this rule.

What I have learned through this process is there are many rungs to the ladder when it comes to the complexities of state government. It can certainly be confusing and disturbing. We will continue to keep everyone informed as hopefully rules are relaxed with next EOC which allows you to allow families to grieve in a way that is meaningful to them, which truly is the bottom-line in all you want to accomplish. Many changes this year around education, not only at the University of MN Mortuary Science Program, but also MFDA’s convention and District meetings. We all need to be creative and we are currently looking at many different options to support you as a member.

Continue to check-out the Online Community on the website for updates. As a member you have access to all we know. Thank you to Miki for fast-tracking this program that was approved by the MFDA Board and MFDA Service Board in 2019! At the time we knew it would be valuable, but little did we know!

The past eight weeks have proven to be astounding in both speed and nature of what we have experienced through the COVID-19 virus. As a funeral service professional, you are all-important in this fight as the true last responder and are integral in the overall scheme of things.

Want to renew your MFDA membership online?

Visit www.mnfuneral.org and sign-in to your MFDA members-only account. Need your log-in info? Call Miki at 763-416-0124 or email mtufto@mnfuneral.org

From the President

By Christopher L. Jacobson, MFDA President

Can we all just hit the restart button?

Can we all just hit the restart button? Certainly, 2020 is not beginning to be the year we expected it to be. Coronavirus outbreak. Uncertainty of how to move forward. Possibilities of losing our livelihoods. Needing to adapt to new norms daily. All of this is seriously affecting every funeral professional in not only our state, but in our nation and throughout the world.

Individuals all around our communities are grieving. It may not be the same type of grief as when someone dies, but they are grieving a loss of normalcy. Grieving lost jobs. Grieving what they thought the future would be. Grieving, though temporary, loss of close contact with family, friends, and business associates. As funeral professionals, while we are dealing with this same grief, we must stand together and continue to be a support and provide a sense of normalcy for those we serve.

When community members die, families and friends deeply appreciate gathering in remembrance. There have been many changes to the rules of how many people we can have at services. Can we even have a service? What is it going to look like in the future? As of the time this letter is being submitted, they are advised to have no more than 10 people in a room all while maintaining “social distancing”. How do they do this at such a time? When there is so much to already process, they can’t wrap their brains around coming up with the “top 10 list”, let alone having no physical contact with

one another. This is where we, as funeral directors, must step up and provide comfort.

We can do this by adapting our processes. Help them process the current regulations in place and provide ideas since traditional funerals and memorial services cannot happen right now. We can live-stream funerals, offer private viewings staggered throughout an evening, or help families plan the funeral the deceased deserves for a later date. While it isn’t always ideal or convenient, it is important to remember we are putting the health and safety of our community first while addressing the needs of others.

You have already experienced an adaptation to our regular NFDA and MFDA events. NFDA’s Advocacy Summit was cancelled due to the spread of the coronavirus, and the annual MFDA Convention (see page 7 for more information).

It’s no secret that when the coronavirus began to threaten all of us, you had a myriad of questions and concerns. Your MFDA Board and association management firm, Sapphyre Group, heard you. We advocated for you. Our lobbyist, Joe Sellwood of Cook Girard Associates, went to bat for you at the legislative level. MFDA had a stream of repeated inquiries into the Minnesota Department of Health looking for clarification and direction for our profession. It is because of MFDA and members like you, that changed the policy not allowing any sort of service

or viewing for immediate family. This is a perfect example of the importance of supporting your state association and being actively involved. I encourage you to talk to your fellow Funeral Directors who are not members of the state association and let them know how MFDA took in your concerns, advocated for you, and as a result, received answers from the Minnesota Department of Health. The state is not alone during this. NFDA stood behind you as well advocating for you at the national level and sending out frequent emails offering support.

Funeral Directors are in the front lines. You are essential workers. I want to THANK YOU for all you have done and the selflessness you have and are continuing to exhibit. When I became President of the MFDA board, I never expected to lead during a time like this. It’s been a wonderful privilege to do so. Thank you to the entire Executive Committee, the MFDA Board, Sapphyre Group, Cook Girard, Sharkey Law, and YOU, the funeral professional community, for an amazing past year working alongside some of the finest professionals in our state. While my tenure is ending during tumultuous times, I know we will make it through this together and come out stronger as a result.

Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. We are here for you.

I encourage you to talk to your fellow Funeral Directors who are not members of the state association and let them know how MFDA took in your concerns, advocated for you, and as a result, received answers from the Minnesota Department of Health.

Legislative Update

By Joe Sellwood, Cook Girard Associates

On Sunday, May 17, the Minnesota legislature adjourned the 2020 legislative session sine die.

COVID-19 brought on a number of logistical and budgetary challenges and stopped a significant number of priorities from progressing this session. The final weekend was, as usual, a busy one but outside of passing a handful of policy and consensus bills, not much was accomplished. Legislators failed to pass priorities like bonding, state contract ratification, tax relief and additional assistance for people & small businesses hurt by COVID-19. Even some of the pre-

arranged agreements hit speed bumps on the House & Senate floors as the clock wound down.

The House will meet Monday, May 18 in a ceremonial floor session to allow retiring members to give speeches - the Senate is waiting until June - but the regular session has concluded, even if the legislature’s work hasn’t. At the close of the session, Senate Majority Leader Gazelka announced that the Governor confirmed that he intends to call the legislature back into a special session on/around June 12th so they are expected to get another chance to

complete their unfinished business and work on additional responses to address COVID-19.

For the bills that were passed in the final three days of the session, the Governor has 14 days from sine die adjournment to act. Inaction by the governor in that time period would result in a “pocket veto,” and he would not need to provide a reason for the veto.

We will provide with you with a more detailed and customized session summary in the coming weeks and keep you updated as the expected June special session agenda develops.

COVID-19 brought on a number of logistical and budgetary challenges and stopped a significant number of priorities from progressing this session.

2020 MFDA Convention Cancelled

Due to concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the MFDA Board of Directors has decided to cancel plans for the association’s Convention at Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake for 2020.

The health and safety of our members, speakers, and exhibitors is of the utmost importance to us.

We could never have planned for a global crisis of this magnitude and yet we are thoughtfully adapting our plans and our resources.

MFDA is planning to host webinars for funeral directors, as well as a virtual annual meeting this year. We will include our funeral industry vendors/suppliers as part of these plans.

We will communicate via our website, social media, MFDA Online Community, and email when our webinar opportunities are available.

We are working on our 2021 Convention and will share the dates when scheduled.

MFDA General Counsel Update

By Michael Sharkey, Esq., Cousineau Van Bergen, McNee, Malone

Internal Memorandum to MFDA Members: Communicable Disease Disclosure Under HIPPA

I write to discuss a topic that has been around for almost 16 years, but which has only just now come back into the spotlight due to the COVID19 pandemic. The topic is “does a hospital or long term care facility (nursing home) or other care facility have to tell you, the funeral director, that an individual died from COVID19?” The answer is- of course- not perfectly black and white.

HIPPA rules prevent hospital and other care facilities from disclosing information about patients. However, there are exceptions to this rule. One of the exceptions is found at 45 CFR 164.512(g). “CFR” means “Code of Federal Regulations” and is a fancy way of saying “federal law.” A hospital or care facility has an obligation to protect the “PHI” (private health information) of a patient even after the patient dies. Among the exceptions to this rule are that a hospital or care facility may tell a funeral director about a communicable disease because the communicable disease impacts the funeral director or embalmer’s handling of the decedent. “Covered entity” means a hospital, nursing home, care facility, etc. The black letter law reads as follows:

45 CFR 164.512(g) Standard: Uses and disclosures about decedents.

(2) Funeral directors. A covered entity may disclose protected health information to funeral directors, consistent with applicable law, as necessary to carry out their duties with respect to the decedent. If necessary for funeral directors to carry out their duties, the covered entity may disclose the protected health information prior to, and in reasonable anticipation of, the individual’s death.

The good news for funeral service is that there is a very clear exception to HIPPA privacy disclosures for a funeral director seeking information regarding whether or not a person died of a communicable

disease. The bad news is two-fold: 1) Most hospital staff have no idea that there is a HIPPA exception for funeral directors; and 2) The rule says “may” not “shall,” so the hospital cannot be forced to make the disclosure. In other words, there is nothing preventing the hospital or other care facility from telling you, the funeral director, that the decedent was COVID19 positive (or any other communicable disease for that matter). However, there is also nothing that legally forces the hospital to do such.

Do you have a right to know? Yes, you do. Is it an enforceable right? No, it is not.

You are, of course, free to tell the hospital or care facility that you will not make the removal unless they disclose whether or not the deceased had a communicable disease. You are also free to tell the family that the hospital or care facility refuses to provide this information. Whether you choose to do such is a business/professional judgment decision that you have to make for yourself.

example- there are other communicable diseases that also have heightened handling standards). I make no comment on whether or not a COVID19 positive body should be handled with increased precautions- you can review the CDC and WHO guidelines and recommendations (which, notably, differ) and make your own decisions about that. I do know that I would want to know beforehand if an individual is COVID19 positive if for no other reason than the clean-up procedures are, per guidelines, somewhat different than standard.

As a two-state licensed funeral director for more than 20 years I am fully aware of the mantra “you treat all decedents as if they have an infectious disease.” I am also fully aware- just as I used to do myself when I would embalm- that we always use PPEs, practice universal precautions, and abide by the rules and principles of OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard. We all agree with this. However, we also all know that if an individual is known to have something like antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis that body is treated differently by the funeral home and embalming staff (this is just an

You can view the PDF with the exact language taken from the original Code of Federal Regulations and the language germane to funeral directors highlighted for your ease of reference at www.mnfuneral.org/ page/coronavirus.

I suggest you print this off (print it off in color so the highlighting comes through) and have it available to show to any hospital or care facility staff who refuse to tell you if a decedent has a communicable disease or not. Again- the problem is that while there is no legal reason why they cannot tell you a body has COVID19, there is no law that makes them tell you.

I again wish you all the best of luck in your hard work and noble endeavors at such a tough time for the Dismal Trade. Take care.

Michael D. Sharkey, Esq.

MFDA General Counsel

Direct Dial: 952-525-6990

Fax: 952-546-0628

Email: msharkey@cvmmlaw.com

Sharkey Membership Benefit Update

At the first of the year, MFDA retained Michael D. Sharkey, Licensed Funeral Director and Attorney with Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee and Malone as its General Counsel.

Mr. Sharkey’s role was to serve as a resource to the association as well as our member funeral directors as a new member benefit. Specifically, those firms who need mortuary law specific legal guidance, (often on short or even emergency notice) can spend up to 30 minutes getting answers they need. If a call will take more than 30 minutes of guidance, the member will be advised to retain Mr. Sharkey privately. Please call 952-525-6990 to reach Mr. Sharkey’s office.*

In the past two months we have found ourselves in an unprecedented situation concerning the COVID-19 virus and how it will affect funeral service going forward.

Beginning in mid-March, staff has spent many hours working with the MN Department of Health Mortuary Section, the Fatality Management Group and the State Emergency Operations Center working through a “what-if” scenario and how it will affect funeral service. At the same time, many members were contacting Mr. Sharkey for guidance on similar concerns which resulted in some duplication of efforts.

We would ask that you use the guidelines above* as they may pertain to your funeral home requiring legal services and Mr. Sharkey’s services. If you have questions regarding MFDA’s meetings with the above-mentioned partners, please contact MFDA’s office. In this time of social distancing, all MFDA staff are working from their homes. The office # 763-416-0124 is forwarded to Darlyne’s phone or text her at 612-940-8169. This member benefit is important and made possible by your membership dues and the support of the MFDA Service Corporation. We want to use these funds wisely.

Want to renew your MFDA membership online?

Mortuary Science Storage Standards Modifications

HEALTH REGULATION DIVISION, MORTUARY SCIENCE

ATTENTION

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Health Regulation Division (HRD) is temporarily modifying requirements for how funeral homes, crematories, and alkaline hydrolysis facilities may hold decedents pending final disposition.

We have modified the standards and requirements for funeral homes to allow them to hold a decedent, in cold storage or in mobile refrigeration units, for longer than six calendar days. The modification also prescribes standards for where a decedent can be held on-site, such as coolers or mobile refrigeration units, while awaiting final disposition. In addition, we are modifying the standards for a crematory or alkaline hydrolysis facility to hold a decedent for more than 24 hours.

We are modifying these standards because some providers’ storage facilities are currently full. When there are more deaths due to COVID-19, the capacity for storage will become problematic and will worsen as the death toll increases. Waiving these requirements allows providers the flexibility they need to respond to families’ needs and also safely hold decedents in alternate storage areas, if necessary.

Requirements Being Modified and Waived

Emergency Executive Order 20-32 (PDF) (https://www.leg.state.mn.us/archive/execorders/20-32.pdf) issued on April 8, 2020, allows the Commissioner of Health to temporarily delay, waive, or modify certain requirements so that providers can take necessary action to assess, identify, treat, and support Minnesotans with COVID-19 and protect those Minnesotans who are not infected.

The following Minnesota Statutes related to storage standards for state-regulated funeral homes, crematories, and alkaline hydrolysis facilities are now modified:

• Minnesota Statutes, chapter 149A, specifically:

o Section 149A.90, subd. 8

o Section 149A.91, subd. 3

o Section 149A.94, subd. 1

o Section 149A.941, subd. 15

o Section 149A.95, subd. 6

What HRD is Doing Differently

During the COVID-19 peacetime emergency order and for 60 days after termination of the order, MDH will not issue correction orders or take enforcement action for decedents held in refrigeration longer than six days, or decedents held for cremation longer than 24 hours. Funeral providers are required to complete and maintain all documentation and requirements pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 149A.

Implementation Guidance

MDH supports funeral providers and their efforts to protect public health, while providing funeral providers, families and communities the additional time needed to prepare decedents for final disposition. MDH recognizes that during the COVID-19 peacetime pandemic, it may not be feasible for funeral providers to comply with all provisions of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 149A regulating decedents before final disposition.

With the limitations on holding funerals and other services due to social distancing, and the increase in deaths due to COVID-19 pandemic, MDH issues the following guidance to assure safety during COVID19-related restrictions:

• Funeral providers are allowed to hold decedents longer than six days, in refrigeration, while awaiting final disposition.

• Funeral providers are allowed to utilize coolers or mobile cold storage refrigeration units, under their current license, to increase storage capacity.

• Crematories and alkaline hydrolysis facilities are allowed to hold decedents longer than 24 hours, provided decedents are properly stored while awaiting final disposition

You must:

• Complete removal certificates, embalming authorizations, and embalming reports as required by Minnesota Statutes, chapter 149A.

• Continue to meet the requirements for all documentation to complete cremations, including cremation authorizations, medical authorizations and a completed disposition permit as required by Minnesota Statutes, section 149A.95, subd.6.

Timeframe

Requirements for how decedents are held pending final disposition waived by Executive Order 20-32 must be reinstated no later than 60 days after the termination of the peacetime emergency declared in Executive Order 20-01.

Questions?

Contact the Mortuary Science Program at health.mortsci@state.mn.us or 651-201-3829.

Minnesota Department of Health Health Regulation Division

PO Box 64900

St. Paul, MN 55164-0900 www.health.state.mn.us

5/8/20

To obtain this information in a different format, call: 651-201-4101.

Grief Cannot Be Cancelled

By Alex Treitler, Children’s Grief Connection

Do you remember March 7? It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday in the Twin Cities, 51 degrees, but in the sun it felt more like 65. Unseasonably warm.

Outside Lola’s Lakehouse by Lake Waconia, there was a large hole in the ice and nearly 150 people waiting to jump into the freezing water. “The Frunge” is Children’s Grief Connection’s (CGC) annual fundraiser. “Not in ten years has it been this nice,” one of the guys who had wielded the ice saw the day before told me. It was a gorgeous day and all around, a big success.

After the weekend, an officemate said that she had stocked up on food and toilet paper to last a couple of weeks. I had heard about the new virus that was killing hundreds in China. There were just a few cases in the U.S.. I raised my eyebrows. Then came Wednesday and a different officemate came by my desk, “They just declared it a pandemic,” she said.

All of that sunny Saturday in early March, no-one — least of all me — seemed to be thinking of a pandemic. But by March 15, COVID19 had killed well over 3000 people in China; in the U.S., 41 people had died.

At around the same time, that second week in March, the staff and executive committee of Children’s Grief Connection decided to postpone CGC’s Hearts of Hope Family Grief Camp until mid-May. Now again, with May just weeks away, we have decided to cancel the spring camp altogether.

Children’s Grief Connection is not alone in cancelling a major event. If you are reading this, it has not escaped you that the MFDA convention is cancelled. As a result of hundreds of sporting events, conventions and other major events being cancelled across the world, Forbes magazine estimates that 76 million

people across the world have been affected. For funeral directors and all those serving families affected by the death of a family member and friend, we know the effect of postponements, cancellations and compromises. It isn’t just disappointment, it’s something larger. Grief cannot be postponed, cancelled or compromised.

This is our enormous challenge. It is, of course, a challenge to our revenue, planning and workforce. But even more, it challenges and affects us personally, our sense of empathy and our desire to serve families at one of the most critical times of their lives. This challenge has stimulated enormous creativity. We all have to find new ways to meet families in their grief and create meaningful experiences. We are encouraged to find ways to connect, have conversation, show empathy and lay the groundwork for memory and transition.

In early March, Children’s Grief Connection created the web series on our YouTube channel called “Hope at Home” (click on the link and subscribe!). It’s not a replacement for our camp, but it is a new way to connect and offer support. It is for all of us.

Children’s Grief Connection with the endorsement of MFDA is launching the “Pandemic Roundtable”, a free virtual meeting place for Funeral Directors. The Roundtable is an open forum for funeral directors and their employees to address challenges faced during the COVID 19 pandemic and discuss strategies and solutions. The Roundtable meets on Zoom, Wednesdays, May 20 - June 17, 3:00-4:00 pm. As this is an online forum, participation by funeral directors anywhere in the U.S. is encouraged. Attendance at each session is not required but preferred, participants are asked to sign on at or before 3 pm and

will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement as sensitive information may be exchanged. Please register your interest by following the link here and entering your name and email address. The Pandemic Roundtable facilitators, Julie Domogalla and Alex Treitler have over 40 years combined experience in serving funeral directors and grieving families. Julie is a Thanatologist with a degree from Marian University, a certified facilitator and has led grief support groups for many years. She now runs Under Blue Skies, LLC; a grief hermitage in Askov, MN. Alex is the Executive Director of Children’s Grief Connection. He has degrees in Divinity and Theology from Uppsala University in Sweden and Union Theological Seminary in New York. Alex served congregations in Stockholm, Sweden and was Organization Director of Spiritual Care for Augustana Care/Cassia in Minnesota. He has officiated at hundreds of funerals in Sweden and the U.S. Alex and Julie have invited as a participant and to offer the celebrant’s perspective in the group, John Marboe, who works with numerous funeral directors to provide spiritual care and funeral rituals for grieving families. John is Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A., St. Paul and Community Faculty at the U of M.

In addition to the Pandemic Roundtable, Children’s Grief Connection is also starting support groups for adults, emerging adults (18-24) and teens (14-17) during the week of May 17. Please watch the Children’s Grief Connection website for more details and to register.

To register your interest in the Pandemic Rountable, please go to www.bit.ly/PandemicRountable. If you have questions, please email Alex at alex@childrensgriefconnection.com, or call/text (651) 395-8177.

A portion of online purchase proceeds automatically go to Children’s

Donating to Children’s Grief Connection has never been easier!

1. Shop on Amazon at www.smile.amazon.com.

2. Designate Children’s Grief Connection as your beneficiary.

Grief Connection!

April 14, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

U of M Mortuary Science Update

By Michael LuBrant, Program Director

As many of you may be aware, the University recently transitioned to virtual learning in response to COVID-19. And although this situation has led to modifications in how we approach our teaching work, one constant that has not changed is our steadfast commitment to continued excellence in funeral service education.

By quickly adopting new teaching and learning strategies to our work in the context of this pandemic, our students, faculty, and staff are boldly living our mission in spite of challenging times. What follows are updates concerning our program that we hope you will find both informative and helpful.

Zoom and Canvas

By now, I suspect many of you have had some experience using Zoom, or at least have heard about Zoom and how it is being used to help keep people connected. Simply explained, Zoom is a software program that allows people to video conference with one another using their computers, a camera, and a microphone. Applied to the University setting, faculty now hold class “virtually” with their students, host “webinar” meetings, and interact with others “live” in a manner that ensures safety through social distancing.

An interesting note is that the University adopted Zoom as a communication tool last year. In fact, prior to COVID-19, many of us were already using Zoom for virtual meetings when it was either not possible or inconvenient to meet in-person. Faculty member Michael Mathews, for example, began using Zoom as a means of teaching from a distance his Microbiology, Pathology, and Chemistry coursework back in January!

Since moving all courses over to virtual learning in late March, our program

faculty have been using Zoom to meet with students during normally-scheduled class times, as well as for virtual “office hours” and other meetings. Although we miss seeing our students on campus, Zoom has proven to be a helpful tool for us to remain connected to one another. Canvas, on the other hand, is a software-based learning management platform. Each class we offer has its own Canvas site. Faculty members post course content in Canvas, including assignments, grades, and supplemental learning activities, and students can access this information at any time.

Faculty are also able to create quizzes, tests, and exams in Canvas. As part of Canvas, there is a software application called “Proctorio” which is a test proctoring tool. When a student takes a test in Canvas, their computer’s camera and microphone are used to virtually proctor (hence the name “Proctorio”) the student for the goal of ensuring the integrity and validity of the exam. Again, Professor Mathews was using these tools for some of his courses prior to the movement to virtual learning. All faculty are using Canvas and Proctorio to assess student learning in their courses.

Outreach and Community Connections

Zoom is allowing us to connect with our colleagues in their service to families affected by COVID-19. On Wednesday, April 15th, lab Teaching Specialist Trista Sharkey will present a one-hour CEU event to practitioners discussing ways of serving families who have experienced a death resulting from COVID-19. As of this writing, over 200 individuals have signed up to attend her Zoom presentation. The presentation will be recorded and offered at a future date and time for those not able to attend on the 15th. The Program offers this education free of charge as part of our outreach to the funeral service community.

Another Zoom learning event planned for April 15th is a presentation by Lacy Robinson, who as many of you know is a nationally recognized speaker on funeral arranger training. Lacy has prepared a presentation specifically for mortuary science students, entitled: You Got This! Practical Ways to Serve Families During COVID-19. This event is being co-hosted by myself and my colleague Martha Thayer, who serves as the Director of the Mortuary Science Program at Arapahoe Community College in Denver. Students from both our programs are invited to attend, with the presentation being hosted using the University’s Zoom learning tool. This is one way that we are collaborating with colleagues across the country to advance student learning in mortuary science.

And at our students’ request, we are hosting two additional Zoom seminars to take us through the end of the semester. One event will consist of a panel of practitioners talking about ways their funeral homes are serving families in the context of COVID-19. This event will also be co-hosted with Martha Thayer and will include practitioners from both Minnesota and Colorado. The final student seminar will involve a discussion of financial literacy. Our guest presenter will be our very own Tom Anderson, whose blog The Funeral Director Daily is read by hundreds of people from across the country each day. We are excited to bring these learning opportunities to our students, using technology that is relatively new to us.

Other Program Happenings

An unfortunate result of COVID-19 has been the cancellation of graduation ceremonies that were scheduled to take place this May. I have discussed with our Student Leaders how they want to proceed with graduation activities, and they requested we reschedule the

Continued on page 14…

LifeSource Update

By Susan Gunderson, LifeSource CEO

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of everyone at LifeSource I want to express my gratitude for all that you and your teams are doing to support our communities during the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. I know you and your teams are inundated with rapid changes and severe challenges, thank you in advance for taking the time to read this important message. We appreciate your continued partnership in caring for donors and families we jointly serve.

I want to assure you LifeSource is taking all proactive measures to ensure donation services continue without interruption. We are prioritizing our mission-critical work and following guidance from local and federal health agencies. Our focus remains on caring for donors and donor families, fulfilling the needs of transplant recipients, and ensuring our partners are supported through the donation process.

Tissue and eye donation is continuing at our recovery site in Minneapolis. Safeguards have been implemented to ensure the health of our team members and any guests and we are actively following infection prevention guidelines. One way we can jointly achieve this is for funeral directors to notify us in advance they are coming to pick up a decedent by calling our Donor Services Center at 1-800-247-4273. Our team will provide further instructions at that time as criteria is fluid due to recommendations from the CDC, Minnesota Department of Health, and the World Health Organizations. Additional updates on our work and key actions we are taking are described below.

• Our primary focus is our missioncritical work and our clinical operations are continuing. Our team has been proactive in preparing for this situation.

• We are screening potential donors for COVID-19. On March 13, LifeSource began testing of deceased donors in accordance with CDC testing criteria. These tests are not part of the critical supplies needed at hospitals to diagnose and treat patients.

• April was National Donate Life Month and that was a time in which we joined with our partners to advocate for donation. This year we conducted our activities virtually and shared ideas for how you could be engaged. Please reach out to Kelley Romanowski or Melinda DeVries for more information on these opportunities.

• Our offices are closed to nonessential visitors. Our team members are working as much as possible in supporting our mission of donation and our partners.

Please feel free to reference this page on our website for our COVID-19 public message: www..life-source.org/latest/ coronavirus-covid-19-update-fromlifesource/

If there is anything we can do to assist you and your colleagues at this time, please reach out to Kelley Romanowski at 612.322.4303 or Melinda Van Waus at 651.442.0056.

With Gratitude,

Susan Gunderson LifeSource Chief Executive Officer

Our focus remains on caring for donors and donor families, fulfilling the needs of transplant recipients, and ensuring our partners are supported through the donation process.

U of M Mortuary Science Update Continued

Continued from page 11…

ceremony at a future date on campus, once it is safe to do so. I will send out updates once we have more information.

On a different note, please be advised that the University has suspended all clinical rotation activities for the time being. We will be creating a virtual clinical rotation course over May Term that will meet curriculum-related

accreditation requirements for those students scheduled to graduate this year. We look forward to resuming our clinical activities and student placement at clinical sites as soon as it is safe to do so.

In closing, please know that we deeply appreciate all that you do to support our great University, the Program of Mortuary Science, and especially the

exceptional students who come to us to study mortuary science. We value all of you as program partners and supporters, and stand with you as together we work to serve the needs of the families whom we are called to serve during the most difficult times in their lives.

Sincerely,

Michael LuBrant, Program Director

Book Review: “The Invisible Leash”

by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Review by Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez, LLC

Mary Reeves

465 Poplar St.

Mankato, MN 56001

507-387-6543

507-345-3816

What can you see outside your window?

marypreeves@mascommunications.net

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Take a look: trees, cars, people, other buildings, things you can touch. And those things you can’t see? As in the new book, “The Invisible Leash” by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, you still know they’re out there, right?

It was a Friday and school was over for the week, which made all the other kids excited but Zack was sad. He just wanted to go home, although he wasn’t sure why. Jojo wasn’t there. Jojo wouldn’t be there anymore.

Jojo had been Zack’s best friend for a long time. They played games together and slept in the same room, they loved to go hiking, “and when the moon was full, they howled together as it smiled down upon them.” Life was best with Jojo, and though Mom and Dad told Zack that when the time was right, they could adopt another dog, Zack wouldn’t listen. No other dog would ever be as good as Jojo. Not. Ever. The only person who seemed to understand was Zack’s friend, Emily. She’d lost her cat, Roxie, awhile ago and she told Zack how much she cried when it happened. And then she told him “the very best news ever!”

But Emily kept talking. The Invisible Leash, she said, connects all animals to their people, from beyond to here and back. When you miss one another, she said, you’ll feel the tug on the leash. You’ll know that your pet is with you because the tug feels “like love.”

And if you’re not crying now, your soul is made of ice.

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That’s one of the odder things about “The Invisible Leash”: while the story here is a major comfort for children who’ve experienced the loss of a pet, it’s one powerfully emotional book for the adult who’s likewise lost the animal.

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It was a secret that her grandpa told her: when a pet dies, it’s still connected to you by an Invisible Leash. You can’t see it but “it’s the realest thing in the whole wide world,” Emily said. It “connects our hearts to each other. Forever.”

Zack thought that was the dumbest thing he’d ever heard! How could there be a leash that connected him to who-knowswhere when Jojo was gone? Jojo hated leashes, and he knew that Roxie was never, ever leashed.

Author Patrice Karst presents a concept that kids will eagerly (and easily) grasp, one that doesn’t feel one bit impossible for a child who’s used to worlds of pretend and imaginary beings. It helps that Zack and Emily are Every Kid, and that quiet delights are hidden-nothidden inside the artwork by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff. Those things help start the healing as you read aloud.

*Colors in the ad are for representational purposes only and will be brighter and more exact in the artwork and photos shown in the ad are not exact, only because our printers are limited and once printed, be much improved.

That is, if you can stop sobbing yourself. Yes, it’s that kind of book.

As a companion to Karst’s “The Invisible String,” this story is perhaps best for kids ages 5-9, or for an adult who needs to read it. Find “The Invisible Leash,” but see to it that you bring tissues, too.

Reflective Suggestions for Grieving Families

By Kelly Grosklags, LICSW, BCD

During this time of uncertainty, we are likely feeling more anxious and scared. Certainly, if you have recently lost a loved one it will complicate your grief even more. In this time of unprecedented events, the bereaved are entering into a time of potentially delayed and extended times of grief. Losing a loved one can be isolating enough, and now the mandated isolation guidelines force us into a new type of mourning period.

As a grief therapist, I have worked through many scenarios that demanded a more creative form of goodbyes rituals. Each circumstance was as unique as each person. I know that there is so much that is not ever in our control with death. This is especially true now. It is natural to feel cheated and angry about not being able to hold the service you desire and receive the physical support from your community. It is important to remember that delaying a service has nothing to do with the level of love you have for your beloved.

I have heard people say that they rationally understand why they cannot plan the funeral service they originally would have , yet they feel their beloved deserves more. Because these services are actually for the benefit of the living, it will be important for you to acknowledge this additional loss you may feel. It doesn’t have to be “ok” with you just because the entire world is going through this. Your loss is the most significant right now, because it has happened to you. With many states under strict guidelines for funeral services, what are your options? The important thing to remember is that a ritual to acknowledge the death is what matters and is so important. However, the magnitude of this ritual is not the central focus. What will be missing, unfortunately, is the close physical support that many rely on following a death. The services following death are geared for you, the

living. Therefore, it is important to still participate in a form of ritual that allows for an acknowledgment of the loss. It’s also “ok” if this pandemic isn’t the most difficult thing in your world right now. In grief, the pandemic a complicating factor, yet the loss and the long – term implications are likely the focus for you.

What are some ways you can foster closure during this unique time?

• Get a memory candle and light it as a family, either in person or by a Zoom, Skype, or a FaceTime call. Each family member lights a candle and says what they will miss most about the deceased and what they learned from the deceased. It is important this is not a rushed experience and that time is taken to pause between each person’s turn sharing. If you feel drawn to share what may be the thing you miss the most about them in this unprecedented time, it is perfectly acceptable. We know that no one can change the circumstances, yet we certainly are allowed to have any emotions that arise.

• Schedule family dinner with immediate family if it feels safe to do so. It will be very important to stay connected whether by phone, text, emails, Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc. For people of certain age groups there may be discomfort in using technology, therefore, a good old-fashioned phone call and letters in the mail will help immensely.

• Donate money in memory of your loved one to a nonprofit that resonates for you and resembles their passion. Create a virtual fundraiser in your beloved person’s name.

• Plant a tree in your yard to have a designated focal point of remembrance

• Have a picture of your loved one enlarged and framed with a special candle placed by the picture. Light the candle in moments of intense darkness

or in times of quiet. Talk to your person out loud. This is perfectly acceptable and can be very cathartic for many.

• Start a journal and each day designate time to write out your feelings.

• If you are on social media, some closure can be felt if we publicly announce the death. The important part is to write their name and say it as often as you can. This allows for the reality to gently settle within.

• Set a designated time as a family to read a page from a grief book together each night and discuss.

• Hold a prayer service over the phone or other methods. This may be helpful to do as a family. Many clergy are providing online services during this time. If your loved one was in a hospice program, they may have chaplains and spiritual resources available that could facilitate something private for you.

• For those that want a traditional burial, it is still an option in some states, just with a limited amount of people. This may feel like enough of a ritual for your family, and you may decide on a picnic or receptions at a later in their honor. Nothing regarding the future plans need to be confirmed now.

• With cremation, some are choosing to wait until we are through this time to organize a service and are having a small candle lighting and blessing as a family. Needing to postpone the service for a couple months also has some advantages as this is often a time when the bereaved feel people have moved on and forgotten the death and their loved one. This is an opportunity to come together as a community when typically, the numbness is subsiding, and you may be able to be more present for the actual service. This time also allows for us to be more intentional about our choices. There are benefits in having some time to make these decisions.

During the COVID-19 Crisis

What is key is that no matter when the actual “formal” service happens, those closest to the deceased create a goodbye ritual that feels right. Grief should not, nor can it be ignored because of the health crisis in this country. Grief does not care. Grief needs attention and love regardless of the current situation. Some people want to use this time to not deal with the grief. Not dealing with it now will have dire consequences later. Allowing this new reality to be acknowledged and present is important. I also want to mention that it may feel overwhelming right now to think about having some type of service now, and then a larger one later. What I suggest is to not commit to anything in the future. When later arrives, see what feels right. A family must do what feels right for them. We should not be judgmental of others or ourselves. Your Funeral Director will be an excellent person to help you process all of this. What matters is only today and what you need in this immediate time. Your Funeral Director is there to aid in your mourning process, helping it to continue while offering you some of the important support resources, within safe guidelines.

It is also important that people be creative in how they will reach out to one another who are suffering. The bereaved will need extra support in this time. Unfortunately, some could not say goodbye before the death occurred due to the strict visiting restrictions implemented at many locations. This too is a complicating factor. Let people love you in the best way they can right now.

• I have seen the love and support shared through various greeting card initiatives where people are sending the immediate family a greeting card each week until this all ends. They are consistently sharing their sympathies. This is incredible support and, in some ways, a practice I would hope to see continue long after this health crisis ends.

• I hear about people dropping off meals at the front step with disposable dishes, so everyone stays nourished, safe and healthy.

• Flowers are being sent as a gesture of love.

• Pictures of lit candles are being texted as a way of sending light to the family.

• People are receiving emails about favorite memories people have that are focused on their loved one.

• Social media is full of pictures of the deceased and loving thoughts.

People are being more intentional during this time of reaching out to support. Please keep doing so. There are some online grief groups that may be helpful to join now to connect with others who understand your emotions and can offer support, too.

Grief is very taxing on our immune system, and it is easy to not care as much about hygiene and immunity – health during grief. Now, more than ever, we need to protect our immune systems! During this pandemic it is essential to:

• Stay hydrated

• Eat something healthy when hungry

• Get fresh air and take walks if it feels right

• Sleep when you are tired ( sleep tends to be the first to get affected in grief )

• Continue to take your vitamins and supplements

• Wash your hands often

• Connect at least once a day with a close friend – cry, scream, and laugh when you feel it

• Practice meditation and/or prayer –this can boost your overall well being.

• Do yoga, gentle self-talk, or breathing with your hand over your heart to stay connected to yourself

• Listen to calm music – this can help you relax

• Find comfort in reading some calming short quotes or listening to grief books on audio

My sincere sympathies to those of you who are dealing with such a painful loss during a time where the world feels even more uncertain. Grievers become experts in living within uncertainty. Our best plan of action is to find the present moment and be in it. In grief, the “NOW” can feel very painful, so we rely on the suggestions above and our breathing to comfort us. I truly hope that you and your family will take time ( within the guidelines ) to find a safe and meaningful ritual that helps you to keep moving with your grief. We cannot go around it and we do not move on … we move with our grief… at our pace, our timeline, and our style.

When we love deeply, we grieve deeply. May each one of you find a safe place to land that brings comfort and reassurance during this uncertain time.

Kelly Grosklags, LICSW, BCD, Fellowship in Grief Counseling is the founder of “Conversations with Kelly,” an intimate forum that helps minimize grief and reduce the suffering of others. She collaborates with cancer patients, caregivers, trauma survivors and medical and funeral industry professionals to process pain and loss. Kelly is a national speaker and author of “A Comforted Heart: An oncology psychotherapist’s perspective on finding meaning and hope during illness and loss.” For more information visit www.ConversationsWithKelly.com

Mortician or Funeral Home Staff User Agreement for MR&C

May 15, 2020

Reason for update

The Office of Vital Records updated the Mortician or Funeral Home Staff User Agreement for MR&C to comply with Minnesota Department of Health guidelines. Find the updated form on the MR&C Information for Funeral Staff webpage at www.health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/deathreg/ reference.html, or in MR&C under User forms on the Home tab.

Changes

• New form name: Mortician or Funeral Home Staff User Agreement for MR&C

• New “Applicant” section (one applicant per form)

• New “Supervisor” section

o A “supervisor” is an owner, administrative assistant, mortician or other person authorized to approve users linked to the establishment

o Supervisor lists funeral establishment names and license numbers for which user is authorized to enter fact of death information

o Funeral establishment names and license numbers are required

o Supervisor authorizes applicant to enter fact of death information

• New “Form management, submission and account information” section

• OVR will only accept forms with 05/2020 in the lower right corner

To whom does this apply?

Staff new to a funeral establishment and their supervisors must use the updated user agreement to request access to MR&C.

Effective date: Immediately

Actions

• Use the new form immediately.

• Destroy old printed copies of the form.

• Delete your computer’s browsing history and refresh your shortcuts and links.

Contacts

Questions? Contact the Office of Vital Records via email at health.MRCAdmin@state.mn.us or call 651-201-5993.

Federated Insurance Companies Announce COVID-19 Client Relief Credit

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a multitude of challenges for all of us. Through all of these issues confronting us today, our recommended partner, Federated Insurance, has worked closely with their customers to help them find their way through these unprecedented times. Federated is a “Value-Add” company that provides not only some of the best insurance products designed for our industry, but also the safety and risk management support that our members need for their successful businesses. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, they have provided the latest guidelines to help our members navigate through these times. In addition, they have provided billing options to ease cash flow concerns and adjusted payroll and premium basis, where appropriate.

Today, Federated announced their COVID-19 Client Relief Credit, providing premium reductions for their customers in our industry and others throughout the country.

• Federated’s COVID-19 Client Relief Credit will provide a 15% credit based on Business Auto premium, Auto Dealer/Garage Coverage Part premium, and Businessowners Policy (BOP) premium from March 15 to June 15. Policies must be in force at the time relief credit is applied. These actions are subject to regulatory approval.

Policyholders will automatically see the COVID-19 Client Relief Credit applied in the upcoming months.

Federated was founded on the four cornerstones of equity, integrity, teamwork, and respect, and has once again shown that they are dedicated to serving the needs of the members of this organization. This is one of the reasons that your association board continues to recommend Federated Insurance. They work hard to do what is right for their customers.

If you are not currently a Federated client, now is the time to check them out. Their unique Right Report® will identify exposures and customize an insurance program specifically for your business, reflecting today’s environment and needs.

Association membership doesn’t cost, it pays!

Join the MFDA Online Community

By Miki Tufto, MFDA

In March, MFDA fast-tracked launching our MFDA Online Community (OC) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are providing access to ALL (member and non-member)

Minnesota funeral directors and funeral industry suppliers at this time.

In the MFDA OC you are automatically part of the MFDA AllUser Community and will find the following:

• You can post discussion messages and respond to discussion messages. This allows real time discussions about important topics, as well as sharing of urgent pandemic information.

• You can access links to important documents, YouTube videos, and other items in our Library.

There are two simple steps to quickly take advantage of the MFDA Online Community (OC):

1. Visit https://community.mnfuneral.org/home and click Sign In in upper right corner.

If you have logged in to the members only section of www. mnfuneral.org in the past, your same login info will give you access to the OC (usual your email address unless you created a unique username).

If you have never logged in to the members only section of www.mnfuneral.org before, please use the following credentials to login.

Username: *your email address* Password: password1

If you have any issues logging in, please email mtufto@mnfuneral.org

2. Once you’ve logged in, you can start a conversation, post a message in the Discussion group, or respond to another post.

If you have funeral director staff/co-workers that have not received an invitation, please have them email me at mtufto@mnfuneral.org with their funeral home name and I will grant them access to the OC.

You have been subscribed to the Daily Digest version of the MFDA Online Community, meaning you’ll get one email each day containing all of the previous day’s posts. If you’d like to change that to real time (you’ll get an email every time something new is posted), no emails (you can view the discussions online but won’t receive email), or unsubscribe, visit your My Profile > My Account > Email Preferences.

We know the MFDA OC will be an important platform for communication and discussion during the pandemic and beyond. Please read and be aware of our MFDA Online Community Rules & Etiquette. As always, MFDA is here for you. Feel free to reach out to any of our staff or board.

IN MEMORIAM

John M. “Jack” Hunt, age 82 of St. Anthony Village, formerly NE Mpls, went to join the Lord on February 7, 2020.

Graduate of St. Thomas Academy Class of 1955. Class of 1959 U of MN Mort Sci program. Long time parishioner of St. Charles Borromeo. Former owner of Billman-Hunt Funeral Chapel and proud member of NE Lions Club, Serra Club, Knights of Columbus, Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and Third Order Franciscan.

Preceded in death by parents, Roy F. and Harriette; brother, Richard F.

Survived by sister-in-law, Jacqueline D. Hunt; niece, Beth (Scott) Lofton, nephews, Rob (Sarah), Jeff (Kim); grand nieces and nephews, Rob Jr. (McKenzie), Matt (Kelly), Abby, A.J., David, J.C., Tommy; many loving relatives and friends.

Visitation was held February 10. Mass of Christian Burial was held February 11 at St. Charles Borromeo, 2739 Stinson Blvd NE, Mpls.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to St. Charles Knights of Columbus or the Alzheimer’s Association. Burial St. Anthony Cemetery.

James Ellsworth

Vaala, Jr., age 65, of Appleton, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 30 at the St. Cloud Hospital. He was united in marriage to Bonnie Hiepler on December 3, 1977 at Faith Lutheran Church in Madison. To this union, they were blessed with three children. He started his career with J.H. Lynner Funeral Home in Clarkfield, MN until purchasing the funeral home in Appleton, MN in May of 1979. Jim owned and operated Vaala Funeral Home from 1979 to 2015. Jim had a kind and caring soul who provided support to many families when they needed it most.

He was actively involved at Zion Lutheran Church with choir and serving on church council. He was also involved in many community groups and organizations

throughout his life. These included Appleton Chamber of Commerce, Hospital Board, LqPV School Board, Golf Club Board, Lions Club, Art Club, Swift County Concert Band, and Alcoholics Anonymous.

Jim enjoyed golfing, traveling, music, painting, and most of all spending time with his grandchildren. Jim cherished his family deeply and loved taking his grandkids on golf cart rides to the park and pool.

Jim is survived by his wife Bonnie of Appleton, MN; children Ben (Kelly) Vaala of Madison, MN, Laura (Cody) Thomson of Appleton, MN and Hannah (Tygen) Strand also of Appleton, MN; 6 grandchildren Harper and Deacon Vaala, Makia and Layton Thomson and Treysen and Baby Boy Strand. Parents Jim and Darlene Vaala of Madison, MN; siblings Jody (Tim) Longman of Madison, MN, Barb (Greg) Raymo of Worthington, MN, Bruce (Carmen) Vaala of Madison, MN and Heidi (Bryan) Clark of Madison, MN, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his fatherin-law and mother-in-law; Pete & Millie (Shelstad) Hiepler; sister-in-law, Annette Larson; his grandparents and many other aunts and uncles.

Interment will be private with a celebration of life to follow at a later date after the issue of Coronavirus has passed.

Brian Bantz, of Lakeville, Minnesota and Labelle, Florida, died Friday, April 24, 2020, at Lehigh Regional Medical Center in Lehigh Acres, FL, after a brief illness. He was 78.

Brian Douglas Bantz was born March 19, 1942 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, eldest of the three children of Douglas W. Bantz and Harriet (Dowdell) Bantz. He was baptized and confirmed at First United Methodist Church. He graduated from Central High School in Aberdeen and attended Dakota Wesleyan University and Hamline University. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in mortuary science in 1964. He

next worked in the funeral industry in St. Paul, Crookston, and Minneapolis, MN. In 1969, he became a pharmaceutical sales representative for Marion Labs (later Marion Merrell Dow) and then for Pharmacia. In addition to receiving many awards over the years, he attained the honor of the Company Salesman of the Year in 1990. After retiring from sales in 1999, he resumed his career in the funeral industry, having maintained his license through the years. He continued to practice until 2016. Brian also worked as a professional photographer and videographer, doing weddings and other events on weekends.

In 1967, Brian married Eileen Evenson in Moorhead, MN. To this union were born two sons, Kevin and Justin. They lived in Bloomington, MN, for many years.

Brian was an avid user of Macintosh computers and served as president of the Minnesota Apple Computer Users’ Group, Mini’apples. He was known to be among the first to acquire new Apple products and became personally acquainted with the founders of that company. Brian was a friend of Bill W. for 45 years. In retirement, he enjoyed RVing with friends throughout the southwest U.S. and northwest Mexico. He became a snowbird in later years and spent his winters at Grandma’s Grove RV Resort in Labelle, Florida. In recent years, he became as amateur radio operator (KEØMCV) and enjoyed meeting with and communicating with other hams throughout Florida.

Brian is survived by three sons: Kevin Bantz, of Lake Havasu City, AZ, Justin Bantz (Nicole), of Lakeville, MN, Tony Hill, of Cambridge, MA and Minneapolis; a daughter, Jodie Sorum, of Cornelius, NC; three grandchildren, Noelle, Malia, and Andrew Bantz; a great-granddaughter, Vivienne Bantz; a sister, Susan Richard, of Irvine, CA; a brother, Charles Bantz (Sandra Petronio), of Indianapolis, IN; and two nieces and a nephew, Kelli (Evan) Erickson, Benjamin Richard, and Kristen Petronio. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Paul Richard.

An interment is planned for this summer at Riverside Memorial Cemetery in Aberdeen.

I Miss You Dearest Sharon

Despite my over 60 years of working in the funeral products business, i.e. burial vaults and cremation products, I was psychologically and emotionally ill –prepared two days ago for news of the death of my beloved sister, Sharon Brown, in her Colorado home.

I often referred to Sharon as my baby sister, although she always thought of herself as ‘the boss lady.’ Through the years Sharon was both a delight and a target of my pranks but when pushcame-to-shove we would stick up for one another through thick and thin.

Sharon had the kindest and most sensitive heart imaginable. She was one who would cry for animals in distress and be there for people in need. She loved hiking in the Rocky Mountains which were virtually in her backyard. She was a loyal friend, loving sister and a continual source of Brown family unity.

Among our favorite sayings was one that said it all, “God gave us memory so we might have roses in December.”

I miss you dear Sharon.

Love,

Jerry Brown

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SPECIAL THANKS

TO MFDA’ S 2020 ALLIED MEMBERS

MFDA thanks those individuals who have shown their commitment to MFDA and its members by becoming Allied members. To contact a member, call the MFDA office at 763-416-0124, refer to your MFDA Directory, or visit the online MFDA Buyer’s Guide at www.mnfuneral.org.

Anatomy Bequest Program

Jake Anderson, Andrew Ashton, Paul Hill, Angela McArthur, Sarah Paulsen, John Straub, Tamara Voss

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Artco Casket Company, Inc.

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Assured Decontamination Service

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Baines Professional Vehicles

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www.4hearse.com

Brown-Wilbert, Inc.

Dave Gavin, Christopher Brown, Andrew Brown, Maleia Kavitz, Jeff Bauer, Jerry Brown

www.brown-wilbert.com

Children’s Grief Connection

Alex Treitler

www.childrensgriefconnection.com

Cousineau, VanBergen, McNeese and Malone

Michael Sharkey

www.cvmmlaw.com

Dodge Company

Lincoln Plain

www.dodgeco.com

Federated Insurance

Ben Cox

www.federatedinsurance.com

Forest Lawn Memorial Park Association

Kari A. Hubbard

www.forestlawnmn.com

Funeral Directors Life

John Harrington

Scott Tufto

www.funeraldirectorslife.com

Great Western Insurance Company Doug Stolt www.gwic.com

Johnson Williams Funeral Car

Todd Anderson

www.jwfuneralcars.com

Keith M. Merrick Co., Inc.

Kyle Grimes

www.keithmerrick.com

Kelco Supply

Alicia Carr

www.kelcosupply.com

Keystone Funeral Home Design Build

Russ Karasch

www.keystone.db.com

Laker Insurance

Patrick Zalusky

LifeSource Organ and Tissue Donation

Melinda DeVries

www.life-source.org

Lions Gift of Sight (Formerly Minnesota Lions Eye Bank)

Patty Stockdale www.mnlionseyebank.org

Maguire Refining, Inc.

John Maguire

www.maguireref.com

MAS Communications

Mary Reeves

www.mascommunications.net

Matthews Aurora Casket

Roger Ruth, Alexis Smith www.matw.com

Messenger

Bob Hoaglund

www.messengerstationery.com

Midwest Medical Examiners Office

Angie Chalmers

www.midwestmedicalexaminer.com

Northwestern Casket Co.

David Koll

www.nwcasket.com

Pluto Boes Legal

Callyn Bedker

www.plutolegal.com

The Purple Cross Plan

Denis Nordlum

www.purplecross.com

Scene Clean

Nate Berg

www.scenecleanmn.com

Senior Advantage Consultants

Julie and Jim Palm

www.sradvantageconsultants.com

Steinhaus Supply Services

Steven Steinhaus

Sunburst Memorials

Chris Taylor

www.sunburstmemorials.com

United Heritage Insurance

Bob Hanson

www.unitedheritage.com

University of Minnesota

Mortuary Science

Michael LuBrant

www.mortuaryscience.umn.edu

Wieser Vault

Matt Wieser, Todd Wieser

www.wieser-doric.com

Allied membership provides ways to reach Minnesota Funeral Directors. Annual Allied membership is just $360. For more information and to join, visit www.mnfuneral.org and click “Join MFDA” in the top menu.

With Funeral Directors Life’s professional Social Media Management services, you can harness the power of social media to engage with more families and make a positive impact on the community you serve. Get started today!

John Harrington | 763-607-0659

john.harrington@funeraldirectorslife.com

Scott Tufto | 952-807-6503

scott.tufto@funeraldirectorslife.com

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