Gail Rubin at 3 years old with her grandmas
The Thanksgiving rush is on, so I’ll keep this short. If you are headed to a gathering of several generations in your family, consider using this face time to talk about things that really matter. Get to know the family stories and the lessons learned from life experiences.
Appreciate the time you have today with everyone, as tomorrow is not promised. And let’s be thankful for the many blessings in our lives. I am thankful for you being in my life circle. Thank you for continuing to receive my messages with tips, trends and talks.
The time together at Thanksgiving is a golden opportunity to discuss those all-important things like advance directives, estate planning and thoughts on that final party, a funeral. I did a blog post yesterday on several resources to help facilitate these conversations:
- The One Slide Project from Engage With Grace helps discuss advance directives;
- The Have the Talk of a Lifetime downloadable brochure from FAMIC has questions to start talking about life experiences and values;
- A Wall Street Journal Sunday article has tips on talking about finances and family heirlooms;
- And a video of a talk I just gave on end-of-life planning for those who don’t plan to die.
There are links to all their sites and more at the post, Talking Turkey on End-of-Life Issues at Thanksgiving.
Maybe you’ll want to wait until Black Friday to talk about it rather than over the dinner table on Thursday. Please consider having these discussions with your loved ones, young and old, while you are together.
Following are links to additional blog posts I did since my last News & Notes, about interesting exhibitors at the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) convention. You might also like the post Funeral Home Marketing with a Sense of Humor, with funeral director Brad Speaks presenting the funny TV commercials his funeral home used to generate a 10% jump in pre-need planning business in 30 days.
Also, you may be interested in my latest interview on FuneralRadio.com, with Charles Picasso, founder and CEO of Passare. His company makes end-of-life planning and preparation easier for consumers and builds bridges for independent funeral home service providers to reach those consumers. More information here.
Again, thank you for being in my life. Live long and prosper!
Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death®
NFDA Expo Exhibitors
Click on the link to read the blog post and see videos for each company! You can view all of the NFDA posts and more in the Tools of the Trade category on The Family Plot Blog.
- My Gene Jewel puts DNA into jewelry
- Roberts & Downey Chapel Equipment makes furnishings for funeral homes and houses of worship
- Aley Shalechet will scatter your ashes at holy sites in Israel
- Remembrance Frame Urn/Memory Boxes keep cremated remains in a tasteful picture frame
- Hovermatt® Air Transfer System makes moving dead weight a breeze
- Grateful Glass puts cremated remains into durable glass art
- Bissell’s BigGreen Commercial sweepers clean up at the end of the NFDA expo
Upcoming Events and a Humorous Quote
Tuesday, November 25, 1:30 p.m. (today!): OASIS book group discusses A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die with author Gail Rubin, CT. Location: OASIS offices at 3301 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite 18, Albuquerque, NM (just west of Carlisle NE in the building facing the American Home Furniture store).
Wednesday, January 7, 2:00 p.m.: Gail talks to the residents of Brookdale Place at Valencia, 300 Valencia Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108.
Wednesday, January 28, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Gail Rubin and retired probate judge Merri Rudd, author of Life Planning in New Mexico, present “Estate Planning: Hollywood Myth Versus Fact” at OASIS. The cost is $8 and registration opens January 7, 2015. Location: OASIS offices at 3301 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite 18, Albuquerque, NM (just west of Carlisle NE in the building facing the American Home Furniture store).
Sunday, February 1, 2015: A Taste of Honey at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque. Gail Rubin presents on “Jews and Cremation.” More details TBA.
Next ABQ Death Cafe: Date and location TBD
“There’s nothing like a morning funeral for sharpening the appetite for lunch.” — Arthur Marshall