Abbott & Hast Publications - This Month's Issue of Mortuary Management

Cover photo: The Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan) in Beijing, China. While the temple complex is popular with tourists, the surrounding park-like grounds are a place where Beijingers come for recreation. Photo by Kim Stacey

May 2012

Quite Likely the Funeral Itself…
Editorial by Ron Hast
A significant number of families are asking for simple cremation without traditional ceremonies — and often the death occurs at home. The conduct and appearance of our personnel and equipment responding to the home to transfer the body in a sense becomes the “funeral” — or last memory with the body. What we do and how becomes very significant in the minds of the observing family — and should not be compromised.
Colleague Wisdom
This month’s subject: Given the trend in many places for public newspaper obituary notices to be lengthy, timely and costly, does your firm still welcome the service of gathering information, timely placement and error liabilities — or otherwise?
Interview – Jo Sehee
By Nancy Burban
This month Nancy Burban interviews funeraJoe Sehee.
PCS to Host 36th Annual International Meet at Daytona Beach June 18-22
Everything you need to know about this year’s Professional Car Society meet in Florida.
Photographing Decedents
By Douglas O. Meyer
The long-accepted practice of making funeral or memorial service arrangements in the comfort of our arrangement offices is well instilled in most of us, but for the families served, more and more opt for making arrangements in their homes. Bringing all the necessary papers and lithographs to residences used to be cumbersome, says McDougald, but his recent purchase of a new tablet computer has made things considerably easier. He lays out the advantages of this type of device, and why you should consider one for your business.
Home or Funeral Home?
By Beacham McDougald
The long-accepted practice of making funeral or memorial service arrangements in the comfort of our arrangement offices is well instilled in most of us, but for the families served, more and more opt for making arrangements in their homes. Bringing all the necessary papers and lithographs to residences used to be cumbersome, says McDougald, but his recent purchase of a new tablet computer has made things considerably easier. He lays out the advantages of this type of device, and why you should consider one for your business.
The American Identity: Something of Infinite Value
By Robin Heppell
The beginning of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities — “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” — could certainly apply to today’s America. And the concern of our crippled economy evokes a myriad of What ifs? and What’s next? in all of us. Thus, says Brown, we should return to the passion, pride, perseverance and quintessential ethic of the American Dream.

May Funeral Monitor
Two in One
Two separate interviews, as Ron Hast sits down with Tom Johnson of Johnson Consulting Group of Phoenix, Arizona — and then John Horan, founder of Horan & McConaty Funeral Services of Denver, Colorado.
What Are You Waiting For?
Commentary by Kim Stacey
Weblogs have been around for about a decade now, and with the rise of Facebook and Twitter, blogging might now seem a bit “old school.” But keeping a business blog makes good sense, says Stacey, and she explains the reasons why.
What I Miss and What I Don’t
Commentary by Richard Callahan
While it has been some time since he last owned or managed a funeral home, working as a consultant and expert witness keeps Callahan connected to the industry, he reminds us. He does miss being hands-on, however, and reminisces about the pluses and minuses of funeral home ownership.

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The Story Behind Our Cover Photos

During casual conversations with our readers, we are occasionally asked why the scenic covers of Mortuary Management have no relationship to funeral service. Publisher Ron Hast explains that our covers are purposely chosen to be supportive of the surroundings they are often found in. “I recall visiting funeral establishment lobbies over the years where trade magazines were visible. Covers often carried lines about embalming and other issues that could be disquieting to a bereaved family. We know that many receptionists and others read trade journals during visitation hours and covers are visible to others,” Ron says. Most readers concur. The picturesque scenes are also representative of the respect and enjoyment of nature by everyone at Abbott & Hast Publications and have been the compliment of many.
Our magazines are mailed with the label on a removable protective dust cover to allow viewing of the cover photograph in its entirety. Select cover photographs may be purchased by calling (800) 453-1199.