Gail Rubin selfie with a Davy Crockett cut-out
Death educators with the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) and people in the funeral business with the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) came together earlier this month in San Antonio, when the two conventions coincided in time and space. It was most gratifying to meet people at both the ADEC and ICCFA conventions who told me they enjoy these occasional newsletters. (Davy Crockett was silent on that topic)
Recent posts at The Family Plot Blog report on interesting new developments spied at the ICCFA expo. These include amazing funeral vehicles, high-quality caskets for pets, urns for sports lovers, and a variety of new caskets and urns. Brad Rex, the president and CEO of Foundation Partners Group, sat down with me to discuss his vision for the funerals of the future. More posts with videos to come!
The next Albuquerque Death Cafe will be held this Saturday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. at my home. Please let me know if you plan to attend and need the address or directions.
Highlights of recent blog posts, upcoming events and a humorous quote follow. Please call me at 505.265.7215 if I can be of assistance.
Live long and prosper,
Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death®
The Family Plot Blog Highlights
Click on the titles to read the blog post. Review all posts on The Family Plot Blog or review just the Death Cartoons posted on the blog!
FGP’s Funerals of the Future – What will the funeral of the future look like? It may have a big Disney Imagineering component.
New Caskets and Urns at 2015 ICCFA Expo – At the 2015 ICCFA expo in San Antonio, I saw numerous new casket and urn choices on display. Along with new players displaying their wares, long-established companies also offered fresh products. Here’s a quick run-down of new items your faithful correspondent discovered.
Football and Basketball Urns – For the true sports fanatic, what could be better than having one’s cremated remains put to rest in a football or basketball urn?
PawsRest Pet Caskets – Pet loss products were a big category at this year’s ICCFA convention expo. Mark Brewer with PawsRest Premium Pet Caskets spoke with me about the quality wood caskets they make specifically for the burial of dogs and cats.
Executive Coach Builders Vehicles – You usually see plenty of hearses and limos on display at a funeral industry expo, and there were plenty at ICCFA this year. These vehicles from Executive Coach Builders take the concept higher – high enough to stand up straight inside the vehicle!
Upcoming Events and a Humorous Quote
Lola, the Albuquerque Death Cafe mascot
Saturday, April 25, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Albuquerque Death Cafe at Gail Rubin’s home. The objective of the Death Cafe is “To increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.” It’s all about an interesting, unstructured conversation – open and free-flowing with no specific agenda. At these events, people come together in a relaxed, confidential and safe setting to discuss death, drink tea (or your favorite beverage) and eat delicious cake or cookies. RSVP to 505.265.7215 for address and directions.
Friday, May 1 Gail will be in Las Cruces, New Mexico to present and conduct the largest Death Cafe event to date, with 300 people at New Mexico State University’s College of Health and Social Services daylong symposium on end-of-life issues. Gail will also present the film clip-illustrated talk “Doctor, How Long Do I Have?” on how to hold good doctor-patient-family conversations, in two afternoon break-out sessions. More information and registration link
Monday, May 4, noon to 1:00 p.m. Gail is interviewed by Mary Woods, host of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe’s Archbishop’s Hour on Catholic Radio. They’ll discuss Gail’s upcoming presentation on “Religion and Funeral Traditions” at OASIS of Albuquerque.
Wednesday, May 20, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. OASIS Albuquerque presentation on “Religion and Funeral Traditions.” The class is $8 plus a one-time $10 processing fee that makes you an OASIS member. The online catalog will be available May 6, and registration starts next week.
Thursday, May 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Presbyterian Hospice volunteer luncheon and presentation of “Doctor, How Long Do I Have?” on how to hold good doctor-patient-family conversations.
Friday, May 22, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Sandia Civitan meeting presentation at Le Peep Restaurant, 2125 Louisiana Blvd. NE.
Tuesday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 24 Gail presents at the summer meeting of the New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association. She will lead two workshops, “Jewish Funeral Traditions on Film” and “The Funeral Director on Film.”
“Aspire to inspire before you expire.” — From one of those anonymous emails you get from your relatives