The Family Plot Blog
Public Grieving Prince’s Death, Private Cremation
The outpouring of tributes and public displays of grief over the death of the rock star Prince is remarkable. Contrast this reaction with the very private and low-key cremation held for the famously reclusive Prince. When celebrities die, people mourn publicly in ways that they might not for their own family members. After hearing the news of his death, artist Sean Wells, a huge Prince fan, overnight made this meurto painting in tribute. Meurto...
Handcrafted Cremation Urns from Earthhandsfire
A gifted ceramicist with more than 40 years of experience, Kevin Blackburn first started making ceramic urns for cremated remains after his father died in 1996. "His passing got me started thinking about precious vessels and ceremonial urns, the type that could be used for funerary vessels," said Blackburn. He debuted his one-of-a-kind cremation urns at the 2014 International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) convention and...
The Amazing BodySealer
When shipping a body from one place to another, there are many concerns that need to be addressed: preventing fluid leakage, containing odors and keeping the body secure. Before the invention of the BodySealer® system, funeral directors would address these concerns by using a metal Ziegler case, which can cost a family hundreds of dollars. The BodySealer is a hermetically sealed bio-hazard containment pouch that addresses these shipment issues...
Use This Executor’s Checklist to Smooth Estate Transitions
More than 70% of adults avoid preparing for end-of-life realities. They don’t have wills or trusts, advance medical directives or pre-need funeral planning in place before there’s a death in the family. One way to convince people to make these arrangements is to examine the many responsibilities an estate executor has to carry out. An executor can be a spouse, adult child, a legally-appointed friend or relative, or a trust company named by the...
Who Decides Your Healthcare for You?
Don't have an advance medical directive dictating what kind of medical treatment you want should you not be able to speak for yourself, especially at end-of-life? Fix that this Saturday, April 16, the 10th annual Healthcare Decisions Day. It's a day to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning - that is, expressing what is important to you. You need to answer some tough questions: Want...
New Orleans Jazz Funeral Second Line Parade
The 2016 International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) opened the expo at their annual convention in New Orleans with a traditional jazz funeral procession and second line parade celebration. The event was put together by New Orleans funeral director Louis Charbonnet III, Charbonnet Family Services and Doug Gober. Enjoy this taste of New Orleans culture - and watch all the way to the end to catch the horse-drawn carriage...
Win The Big Lebowski Coffee Can Urn!
If you are a fan of the cult classic film, The Big Lebowski, you will want to know about this auction of a replica urn of the Folger's coffee can used in the film. Memento Memorials is offering this "most modestly priced receptacle" as a fundraiser for PreventCancer.org. The bidding starts on Wednesday, April 13 at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) at $180 at this page. That's not as modestly priced as a plain old coffee can, but the auction is for a...
![[Video] Talking Death and Taxes on A Good Goodbye TV](https://i0.wp.com/agoodgoodbye.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/steve-margulin.jpg?resize=197%2C197&ssl=1)
[Video] Talking Death and Taxes on A Good Goodbye TV
Even with comprehensive estate planning, a host of financial tasks await the executor of an estate. Most people will need help sorting out death and taxes. Effective financial planning helps reduce stress, minimize family conflict, and can even save money. The financial planning episode of A Good Goodbye TV, now available on The Family Plot's YouTube Channel, features an interview with Trusted Advisor Steve Margulin, CPA, CFP®. Steve Margulin...
April 13-16: ICCFA Convention and Expo
What do you get when you combine funeral directors, cemeterians, cremationists and vendors to the funeral industry in New Orleans for a convention? You get one very interesting glimpse into the workings of the death care business. April 13-16, 2016, Gail Rubin attends the annual convention and expo of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) as a trade journalist. She'll be scouting out interesting new developments,...
Start a Conversation with Your Clothing
"All men (and women) are cremated equal." It's a bold statement, one that always prompts smiles and comments when I wear this black T-shirt out in public. Before now, when people asked where they could get their own shirt, there wasn't anyplace I could direct them. Now there is, at AGoodGoodbye.com. The shirt is available in Medium, Large and Extra-Large. It’s printed on hefty cotton that will withstand many trips through the washer and dryer....
![[Video] Are You Planning to Die Without a Will?](https://i0.wp.com/agoodgoodbye.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/jim-plitz-mhk.jpg?resize=171%2C213&ssl=1)
[Video] Are You Planning to Die Without a Will?
As many as 75% of adults avoid funeral planning. And about the same percentage of adults avoid estate planning. That's bad news for the survivors of people who die without a will. This episode of A Good Goodbye TV, now available on The Family Plot Channel on YouTube, focuses on the legal and financial issues that every adult needs to address BEFORE there's a death in the family. Attorney Jim Plitz with Morris Hall, PLLC, an estate planning law...
Make March 31 “Right to Die” Day?
This day in history has two developments significant in the area of self-determination regarding medical extension of a patient's life, also known as right-to-die. On March 31, 1976, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that Karen Ann Quinlan, a young woman in a persistent vegetative state, could be disconnected from her respirator. When she was 21, Quinlan became unconscious after she consumed drugs and alcohol while on a crash diet and lapsed...
Young People Need End-of-Life Plans, Too
Today's Dear Abby column provides a sobering reminder that planning for end-of-life is not just for aging Baby Boomers and the elderly. The many decisions that must be made for an unexpected death are the same, and it's vital to have the details of your life pulled together to help guide your loved ones in a time of grief. DEAR ABBY: My 29-year-old brother died suddenly last month. It was completely unexpected. He left behind a wife and...
Explaining Alkaline Hydrolysis on A Good Goodbye Radio
The use of cremation is growing in the United States, and so is interest in alkaline hydrolysis, also called "flameless cremation," biocremation, aquamation, dissolution or resomation. It's a greener disposition alternative with a smaller carbon footprint being used by some funeral homes in selected states. The latest episode of A Good Goodbye Radio on FuneralRadio.com features an interview with Samantha "Sam" Seiber, biologist with...
Announcing the All Men Are Cremated Equal T-Shirt!
“All men (and women) are cremated equal.” makes a bold statement in white text on this black short-sleeved T-shirt.
The Newly-Dead Game at Frozen Dead Guy Days 2016
How well do you know your partner's last wishes? Could you pull together a memorial service with the information you currently know about that person? The Newly-Dead Game® at the 2016 Frozen Dead Guy Days festival in Nederland, Colorado had great interest and participation by 12 couples. Three games, scheduled at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, each had four couples participate. The Newly-Dead Game is like the...
End-of-Life Thoughts from Stephen Jenkinson
Stephen Jenkinson started his book reading event by noting there were at least six men in the audience, which was composed primarily of women. He congratulated them on coming out to hear end-of-life thoughts from a death educator who worked in the death trade. Usually, it's only women. Jenkinson, the author of Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul, has a lot to say about death and dying. In addition to reading from his book, he spoke about...
![[Video] Pet Loss Issues on A Good Goodbye TV](https://i0.wp.com/agoodgoodbye.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ann-beyke-and-friends.jpg?resize=220%2C169&ssl=1)
[Video] Pet Loss Issues on A Good Goodbye TV
Pet loss and ways to memorialize a pet are covered in this episode of A Good Goodbye TV, now available on The Family Plot Channel on YouTube. The guests interviewed are pet loss grief counselor Ann Beyke and Vaughn Hendren with Best Friends Pet Cremation Services and Best Friends Forever cemetery. This episode also features the pet loss resources available at Funeralwise.com. This site has information on euthanasia decisions, pet funerals, pet...
Appraisals and Estate Planning
Why get an appraisals. Art, jewelry, collectibles, antiques, musical instruments, and even your house can affect the overall value of an estate. Appraisals provide a snapshot in time of each item’s value. This helps estate planning attorneys to accurately structure equitable distribution of assets as dictated by the client. Appraising Art There are many forms of art: paintings made with watercolors, oil, acrylic, and mixed media; prints made by...
Here Comes The Newly-Dead Game!
The Newly-Dead Game® returns to Frozen Dead Guy Days this weekend! The contest pits up to four couples against each other in a test of how well the partners know each others' last wishes. The game will take place at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday in the Black Forest Restaurant in Nederland, Colorado. Sign up in advance at the restaurant to reserve your spot. The sponsors of The Newly-Dead Game at Frozen Dead Guy...
![[Video] A Good Goodbye TV on Life Celebrations](https://i0.wp.com/agoodgoodbye.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/AGGTVSq.jpg?resize=368%2C250&ssl=1)
[Video] A Good Goodbye TV on Life Celebrations
The fourth episode of A Good Goodbye TV, now available on The Family Plot Channel on YouTube, focuses on the life cycle event formerly known as a funeral or memorial service, now known as celebrations of life or life celebrations. The guests interviewed are Paul Layer with FRENCH Funerals & Cremations, and Samara Rivett, Certified Celebrant. The discussion includes topics such as: The steps a family takes to say goodbye to a loved one How...