Association of Women Funeral Directors

A Reprint from 2009

kim — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:08:48 +0000

In honor of our upcoming 1 year anniversary, I’m sharing a draft of an article (with some minor revisions and additions) I wrote for Mortuary Management late last year. While I’m a year older, the sentiments and perceptions remain the same! And so does the invitation…come join us! There’s power in numbers – as well as comfort and validation. We’re here for you…. The Association of Women Funeral Directors Comes into Its Own

Have You Ever Seen…

kim — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:05:51 +0000

Victorian Mourning “hair” art? It’s truly amazing. Consider these lovely pieces, from Things Gone By. This first image is from their private collection, and the owner describes it: 12 inches by 14 inches; depth is almost 2 inches; frame is shadow box style, but that I mean that the hairwork itself is recessed down into the frame. The original glass still covers the hairwork. I can’t even imagine how long it took the woman (and you know it was a woman, caught in the web of Victorian mourning seclusion practices) to create this image – all from the hair of her beloved. This second piece is wearable art. A brooch (what a fine word), described as “a beautiful Victorian mourning brooch featuring a blonde Prince of Wales feather in the center. Mourning jewelry containing blonde hair is hard to find and highly sought after. The Prince of Wales hair work feather is set upon opalene glass and is adorned with seed pearls and tiny strands of gold wire. On the back, is a locket with contains either finely woven blonde hair or fabric. This brooch has a hook on the back so that a portrait miniature or watch could be hung from it. The black enamel is in perfect condition.” Now, I’d like to share with you a modern day memorial brooch, available to your client families through Shine On Brightly. In my podcast conversation yesterday with Adrienne Crowther, the founder of this remarkable company, I learned about the commitment she shares with us – to help families honor, and remember their loved ones. The artists she works with share that commitment too; consider this elegant pendant necklace – and the similar brooch – each with the hair of the deceased clearly visible. The artist who creates these works of art is Angela Bubash, who

Monday Morning Inspiration

kim — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:57:41 +0000

From two literary women…each named Zora. The first is Zora Neale Hurston, the American folklorist, anthropologist, and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance. Of Hurston’s four novels and more than 50 published short stories, plays, and essays, she is best known for her 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Shine On…Brightly!

kim — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:59:11 +0000

When the AWFD was in its infancy (we’re a year old on August 18th), I was contacted by Adrienne Crowther, the founder and CEO of Shine On Brightly. We had an engaging conversation, and then (to be honest), I dropped the ball; got caught up in building the association. As women are, Adrienne was tenacious, contacting me again just a couple of weeks ago. We have a podcast scheduled for next week, so you can get to know her, and the wonderful memorial product options the company provides grieving families. Let me say this – there’s nothing like them. Now, Funeria is a remarkable firm too; but they focus on funerary urns and personal memorials. Shine On Brightly has an eclectic selection of memorial paintings and glass, textile arts, jewelry, and of course, urns – for pets as well as the cremated remains of a beloved human companion. So,

Funeral Home Website Design and Hosting Companies

kim — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:53:45 +0000

When I came into this field some seven years ago, there weren’t one-third as many website design/hosting companies specializing in funeral home marketing as there are today. Just for giggles, I went online, and did two Google searches. One, “funeral home website hosting companies,” and the other “funeral home website

Big Announcement from Ryan Thogmartin, of Connecting Directors!

kim — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:58:32 +0000

This is worth a second posting for today – well worth it! Read on…. Connecting Directors Launches the First Industry-Specific Social Networking Site July 21, 2010 –Zanesville, Ohio. Ryan Thogmartin, founder of Connecting Directors (www.connectingdirectors.com) is excited to be bringing full-blown social networking to the funeral industry, with the launch of CDSocial (www.cdsocial.com). “We’ve literally made history here; ours is the first industry-specific social networking site on the Internet,” and Ryan added, “it’s just one more example of my personal commitment to keep Connecting Directors on the leading

Two Inspiring Videos

kim — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:06:30 +0000

And a new woman-oriented website, It’s All About Women. Months ago I shared an essay titled “The One Flaw in Women,” and this video (released as a teaser for the site) is a nice reminder of the truth…for all my women friends this Wednesday morning. Click on this link to see the movie. One remarkable woman in our lives is Gretchen Rubin, and her most recent resolution on the Happiness Project site is worth sharing (as they all are!) If you click over to the site, you’ll see her video on the subject. The tip? Put your values into action in your everyday life. She has yet to post her Wednesday Tip of the Week…I’ll let you know what it is as soon as I can. Or, you can do as I do: bookmark the site, and return daily for a dose of happiness!

75 Ways To Be Your Healthiest Ever

kim — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:43:38 +0000

WebMD: a great resource for anybody who wants to live healthier, happier lives. Last week they had an article worth sharing…so many of our members are overworked, and distracted – for a wealth of reasons. Let’s make a commitment to one another to be happier, healthier, and more fit. Here are just some of their ‘ways’…to read more, click here to read the full article. I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately. I’ve been doing my best to get ample exercise, quiet my mind, eat well…but my body just isn’t getting more than 5 hours of sleep (and not solid sleep, either) a night. Here’s what they recommend:

4 Sleep Helpers

1000 Memories

kim — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:11:07 +0000

Ah. The online memorial genre – growing in number, expanding services…all are evidence of the shift from print obituaries to more engaging online memorials. I had the pleasure of speaking with Rudy Adler, a co-founder of 1000 Memories, perhaps the most recent entry into this field. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation, having learned a great deal about their mission, and the personalities behind the company. If you’d like to learn more, check out the TechCrunch video interview. What I liked best about this newcomer is simple: they are focusing on the positives. With the “Projects” feature, families are compelled – if that’s not too strong a word – to create life-enriching events or programs, in honor of their loved one. I like that a lot. Let’s see; if I were to create a project in memory of my mother (gone these 22 years), I’d focus on…women who face the dilemma of fulfilling their potential. Women who turn to alcohol, to numb their disappointment. But, I digress. How can you support 1000 Memories? By supporting those client families who seek to memorialize their loved ones, without cost. And in this economy, “free” takes on new meaning. So many memorial sites are fee-based; but not 1000 Memories. Check them out; their site is clean, crisp; easy-to-use; and elegant in its simplicity. Kudos to the developers. We here at AWFD stand up to applaud their efforts, to make life more meaningful, through the memorialization of those we loved so deeply.

Funerals Today Magazine

kim — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:16:51 +0000

The May/June issue arrived in my mailbox this afternoon. Perfectly timed, for a quiet afternoon’s reading! If you’re not a subscriber, you should be aware of this journal designed to educate families about funeral service. Published by our own Muneerah N. Warner, owner of The Warner Funeral Home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the magazine is doing something no other publication does – bring the power of ceremony and remembrance to the foreground. I can’t say enough about how valuable I think this journal is – and I encourage all AWFD members (and allies!) to subscribe. Make it available to your client families by having issues prominently placed in your firm. I also think giving every family a complimentary copy (with a sticker identifying your firm’s name and contact details) could be a valuable marketing strategy. I’m sure Muneerah has other ideas on how to promote funerals in this very consumer-friendly manner. Contact her at: admin@TheWarnerFuneralHome.com. Learn more about the magazine at the website dedicated to the publication: Funerals Today Mag.