Two More Death Cartoons

Two More Death Cartoons

Pickles and Non Sequitur both featured death cartoons yesterday.

It’s another cemetery joke in Non Sequitur. A guy is lounging in a grave, complete with recliner, reading lamp and newspaper in hand. A woman (presumably his wife) is standing nearby saying, “Speaking of hating to spend money on things that aren’t being used, your dinner is getting cold.”

Meanwhile, over in Pickles, Grampa Earl is coughing and sniffling. His grandson says, “You’re not going to die, are you Grampa?” He replies, “Yes, but probably not today.”

The boy replies, “Good. I don’t want to be here when you die.” Grampa says, “Okay. I’ll try to schedule it when you’re out of town.”

Would we be better off knowing our own mortal deadline? It never seems to come at a convenient time.

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Grim Reaper at the Cleaners Death Cartoon

Grim Reaper at the Cleaners Death Cartoon

Today’s Bizarro has the Grim Reaper at the cleaners, stripped to his skivvies. The lady at the counter is looking over his black robes and says, “What’s with you and the bloodstains all the time?”

How can she tell blood stains on a black robe?

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Marine Memorial – The Eyes of Freedom

Marine Memorial – The Eyes of Freedom

The Eyes of Freedom – Lima Company Memorial tribute is a collection of 23 life-sized paintings of Marines from one of the hardest-hit units in Operation Iraqi Freedom. These men gave their lives while deployed in Iraq between May and August of 2005.

The panels in this traveling memorial depict 22 Marines and one Navy Corpsman from Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment, who were killed in action. Most were from Ohio, and the others came from seven different states.

The paintings were done by Ohio artist Anita Miller. She used photos to accurately depict the faces of each serviceman.

The memorial display includes pairs of boots and candles placed in front of each serviceman depicted in the life-sized paintings.

This video with Cpl. Mike Strahle (Ret.), Director of the Eyes of Freedom, was recorded at the ICCFA 2013 convention and expo in Tampa. He served with these men and was wounded. One of the medals on his uniform is the Purple Heart.

“The Eyes of Freedom is for all who have answered the call to service,” he said. “Behind each portrait we feel the hearts and spirits of the thousands of men and women who have served our country, in every branch of the armed forces.”

At every place the memorial is displayed, attendees are encouraged to put their names on a Marine Corps Flag in remembrance and solidarity.

The memorial’s appearance at the ICCFA convention and expo was sponsored by Coldspring, the leading quarrier and fabricator of natural stone and bronze manufacturing in North America, and by R+L Carriers.

For more information about The Eyes of Freedom memorial, visit www.LimaCompanyMemorial.org.

Semper Fi!

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Dear Abby on Photos at Funerals

Dear Abby on Photos at Funerals

A recent Dear Abby column dished some good funeral etiquette advice on the question of taking pictures at funerals.

DEAR ABBY: What is proper etiquette for someone who takes pictures at a funeral?

I am a recent widow who received a package from an out-of-town relative. In it were several envelopes for my family. One of them was for my sister, who lives 40 miles away. I gave my sister a call and told her it looked like it contained a stack of pictures. She said I should go ahead and open it.

Inside were photos taken at my husband’s funeral — pictures of the funeral home, inside the church, the casket, and some of me and my daughter sitting at the gravesite. Abby, it was like going to the funeral all over again! The latter were particularly disturbing.

To me, it felt like voyeurism. Why would someone take pictures of such a sad event? I hope you print this and tell me and others what your opinion is so they may heed your advice — particularly my in-laws. — GRIEVING WIDOW IN INDIANA

DEAR GRIEVING: Please accept my sympathy for the loss of your husband. I can only imagine the shock you experienced when you saw the photos. No one should take pictures at funerals without first having received permission from the immediate survivors such as the widow, widower or children.

That said, the practice is not as uncommon as you might think. After a period of time, family members have been known to find comfort in having them. Short of asking your permission, your trauma could have been avoided had the relative who sent the pictures thought to label the envelopes or include a note explaining what was inside them. That way, you wouldn’t have had to view them until you were ready — if ever — and were prepared emotionally.

My two cents: I agree with Abby – don’t take pictures without first asking permission. And in our social media world, do not post anything online without an okay first from the immediate survivors!

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Starting the Conversation on A Good Goodbye Radio

Starting the Conversation on A Good Goodbye Radio

A Good Goodbye Radio is launching Wednesday May 1, starting the conversation on end-of-life issues with Martha Hayward of The Conversation Project. This Internet radio program covers a wide range of critical information most people don’t consider until there’s a death in the family.

Why it’s important to have an end-of-life conversation:

60% of people say that making sure their family is not burdened by tough decisions is “extremely important”

56% have not communicated their end-of-life wishes

One conversation can make all the difference.

The Conversation Project is dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care. Too many people are dying in a way they wouldn’t choose, and too many of their loved ones are left feeling bereaved, guilty, and uncertain.

“It’s time to transform our culture so we shift from not talking about dying to talking about it. It’s time to share the way we want to live at the end of our lives. And it’s time to communicate about the kind of care we want and don’t want for ourselves,” says Hayward.

“We believe that the place for this to begin is at the kitchen table—not in the intensive care unit—with the people we love, before it’s too late.”

Martha Hayward joined the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in March 2011 as the Lead for Public and Patient Engagement. A cancer survivor, she is a founding board member of the non-profit Women’s Health Exchange and served on the Patient and Family Advisory Council of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Most recently, as Executive Director at The Partnership for Healthcare Excellence, Hayward brought a particular focus on, and considerable experience in, the area of patient advocacy.

Find out more about The Conversation Project and download your free conversation starter kit from their website: www.TheConversationProject.org.

A Good Goodbye Radio is presented live on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. CT / 4:00 p.m. MT / 3:00 p.m. PT on the Rock Star Radio Network. Each program is available in podcast form within 30 minutes of the live program.

Mark your calendars and call in toll-free during the live program to 866-404-6519.

Other guests scheduled for the month of May are: Erika Dillman, author of The Party of Your Life (5/8); Brian Flowers, president of the Green Burial Council (5/15); Valere Beck with MedCure.org on whole body donation (5/22); and Coleen Ellis, co-chair of the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance (5/29).

A Good Goodbye Radio is hosted and produced by Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death®. She is the author of the award-winning book A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, a Certified Funeral Celebrant, and an engaging speaker who uses funny films to help bring people to consider a topic most would rather avoid.

She brings a light touch to a serious subject and presents expert interviews on “everything you need to know before you go.” More information is available at www.AGoodGoodbye.com.

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A Simple Thank You Makes Cards Easier to Send

A Simple Thank You Makes Cards Easier to Send

Sending thank you notes is a major chore, if people do it at all. The idea of sending thank you notes after a funeral can be overwhelming to a grieving family. An interesting new product on display at the ICCFA expo that addresses this problem is A Simple Thank You.

A Simple Thank You is a digital registry that funeral homes can offer to families. It’s an iPad app that takes the place of a hand-written registry at visitations or funerals.

It makes the guest book readable, creates a database, generates mailing labels and thank you cards, and produces a memory book of event attendees and participants. All the family member has to do is put a stamp on the envelope and drop it in the mail (it might be nice if they signed the card too, but the family name will already be printed in the card).

In addition, funeral attendees can opt-in to be contacted by the funeral home about pre-need planning. So often, when people attend the funeral of a friend or family member, that’s when they are most likely to consider pre-planning for themselves.

The idea was born when Chris Gordon’s wife died a few years ago. The thought of writing thank you notes was too much for him while he grappled with grief. He has come up with an elegant solution, explained in this video.

A Simple Thank You is only available through funeral homes, so don’t hesitate to ask for it!

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Cemetery Q and A: Episode 3 of A Good Goodbye TV

Cemetery Q and A: Episode 3 of A Good Goodbye TV

Starting today, Episode Three of A Good Goodbye TV looks at cemetery questions and answers. The discussion includes what you need to know about cemetery costs and trends, memorial QR codes, mausoleums, cemeteries and cremation, and clearing up misconceptions regarding cemeteries.

The guests interviewed are Chris Keller and Vaughn Hendren, both with FRENCH Funerals and Cremations. Also featured on the program are Memory Links™ Interactive Memorials from Katzman Monument Company.

A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die is currently airing on Albuquerque’s Comcast cable system on the uPUBLIC.tv Channels 26 and 27. Each episode is scheduled as follows:

On Channel 26, the time slots (which are subject to change) are currently Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m. and Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. On Channel 27, the program airs Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. and Sundays at 9:00 a.m.Episodes will also appear on both channels in additional unscheduled repeats.

A Good Goodbye TV is an educational and entertaining 14-episode series of 30-minute programs with expert interviews on “everything you need to know before you go.”

Host Gail Rubin brings a light touch to a serious subject. Like her award-winning book, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, the television program covers information most people don’t know about until faced with a death in the family.

The first 12 programs will become a set of DVDs with three interviews per disc. A Good Goodbye TV interviews will be grouped by content:

DVD 1  Over My Dead Body: Essentials of Funeral Planning – Preneed funeral planning, cremation, cemetery Q&ADVD 2  Trending Topics: Pets, Funeral Parties and Going Green – Pet loss grief and disposition choices, life celebrations and celebrants, green burial and eco-friendly funeralsDVD 3  Death and Taxes: A Primer on Finances and Funerals – estate planning, financial planning, cost managementDVD 4  Good Grief! Save Money, Live and Die Better – Medicaid and more, advance directives, grief counseling

SPECIAL OFFER: Place your advance order for the four-DVD set at a 20% discount! The series will retail for $49.97. Place your pre-production order today for only $39.97 plus shipping. A free copy of the book A Good Goodbye will be sent right away to those who place advance orders. CLICK HERE to order.

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