The Family Plot Blog
![[Video] Examining Embalming Fluids](https://i0.wp.com/agoodgoodbye.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1693-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1)
[Video] Examining Embalming Fluids
Colorful bottles of embalming fluids in a rainbow array are among the tools of the trade on display at every funeral director expo. In this video, Jeff Chancellor, Director of Education, Training & Research with Eckels and Company, explains some of the different conditions various embalming fluids are designed to address. Jeff Chancellor has provided embalming and restorative art training to more than 1,000 funeral homes, supply companies...
Nov. 1 Day of the Dead Talk and Reception
Dia de los Muertos Reception at the Tomé Art Gallery, Sunday, November 1, 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Come to Los Lunas for a post-Halloween celebration with pottery, art, jewelry, books and more! Dress up in costume for contest prizes. Spooky tasty snacks will be provided. Gail Rubin will present a talk about Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, at the Tomé Gallery, 2930 Highway 47 in Los Lunas, NM. Copies of her book A Good Goodbye: Funeral...
News & Notes: NFDA and TEDxABQ Adventures!
You won't believe some of the new developments observed last week at the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) convention. Blog posts about see-through caskets, skin art preservation and fun photos are already on The Family Plot Blog - stay tuned for more tales to come! It was great to meet so many new friends and reconnect with those we already know and love. At last, the official videos from TEDxABQ are now online! And this Thursday...
Clear View Caskets Offer an Eyeful
One of the most-discussed expo introductions at the NFDA convention were the see-through acrylic caskets offered by Clear View Caskets.
Preserving Tattoos for Posterity
It's estimated that 80 million Americans have tattoos, and 40 million have more than one. Tattoos are so prevalent and have such personal meanings, people are actually seeking to save the tattooed skin of their loved ones. One of the buzz-generating exhibitors at the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) convention and expo was the National Association for the Preservation of Skin Art (NAPSA). The organization launched on September 14,...
Fun Photos from the NFDA Convention & Expo
The expo at the National Funeral Directors Association convention, the largest funeral expo in the world, is colorful, unpredictable and an amazing collection of all things funereal. Here are a few fun photos from the event - blog posts on specific items of interest to come! The convention started with an opening reception on Sunday evening at the Indiana Museum. Downtown Indianapolis was flooded with Colts fans attending the big game that...
NFDA Announces Arrangement Conference Training Program
According to a new study by the Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC), the percentage of adults age 40 and older who see value in a funeral has dropped 13% over the past five years - down from 95% in 2010 to 82% in 2015. And the percentage who felt funerals were instrumental to healthy healing after a loss went from 87% in 2010 to 72% in 2015 - a drop of 15%. While a majority of people still say funeral and memorial services are...
TEDxABQ Adventure Death Cafe
TEDxABQ Adventures are events with TEDx speakers related to the talks they presented at the Main Event on September 12, 2015. The TEDx Adventure with speaker Gail Rubin is a Death Cafe at a funeral home! The event will be held on Thursday, October 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This is a great way to kick off Create a Great Funeral Day on October 30. Register here. Here's the TEDxABQ description of the event: "Talking about sex won't make you pregnant;...
Reporting News From NFDA!
Welcome to The Family Plot Blog coverage of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) annual convention and expo in Indianapolis, Indiana! Funeral directors from across the country and around the globe have converged here to learn and shop at the largest funeral expo in the world. Check out the 100-year-old hearse automobile on display in the lobby at the convention registration area. Indiana is a major center for casket manufacturing....
TEDxABQ Talk Video on End-of-Life Planning
At the TEDx Main Event in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist, gave a powerful talk to 1,500 people about end-of-life issues and the need to preplan before there's a death in the family. This video of her funny, informative and moving talk offers persuasive reasons to undertake preneed funeral planning. Gail Rubin spoke about why people avoid discussing advance medical directives, preparing wills or trusts, and doing...
November 14: ABQ Death Cafe
The next Albuquerque Death Cafe will take place on Saturday, November 14 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Gail Rubin's home. RSVP through the Meetup Group or post a note in the comment section. Click here to go to the Meetup page. The address will be provided to those who indicate they will attend. 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...
News and Notes: Going Green, TEDx Adventure and More
Last week's trip to Maryland to present at Temple Beth Ami in Rockville and the OASIS program in Montgomery Mall was a big success and the talks were very well received. After presenting Jewish Funeral Traditions on Film, one attendee recommended a very funny video related to sitting shiva - you'll find the link in blog post highlights below. The official TEDxABQ talk videos are still in the works. As soon as they're available, you'll be the...
Marketing Death Care with Dan Katz
It's a challenge selling something no one wants to buy - funeral and cremation services and cemetery plots. How do you get people to pay attention to advertising about end-of-life issues? Dan Katz, an award-winning copywriter and creative director for more than 30 years, discusses death care marketing on the latest podcast of A Good Goodbye with Gail Rubin on FuneralRadio.com. Click here to listen or download the podcast. Among the topics...
Funny Video – The i-Shiva App
Any one who has gone to a house where Jewish mourners are sitting shiva (or shivah) after a funeral know there's usually a lot of food there. Sometimes, many people with tenuous connections to the deceased come to the house. Here's a funny video that puts the two together for great comic effect. After giving my talk, Jewish Funeral Traditions on Film, at Temple Beth Ami in Rockville, Maryland, a congregant in attendance told me about this funny...
New Mexico and Death With Dignity
In this opinion column by Erin Marshall with Compassion & Choices New Mexico, she makes the case for the state Supreme Court to rule in favor of physician aid in dying. The end is important in all things — the ends of books, of movies, of relationships, of business deals — of everything. But there is one ending that no one ever wants to talk about and that’s the end of life. It is incredibly important for people who are suffering,...
Divorce, Death and Funeral Plans
This excellent advice column in the San Antonio News by Paul Premack titled During Divorce, Who Controls Funeral Plans? tackles the thorny questions of who can handle - and change - your funeral arrangements. You may be surprised at the answer. Dear Mr. Premack: My husband and I have been married for over 45 years, and he has filed for divorce. We've had many disagreements, but oddly the last straw seems to have been over funeral planning. I...
Vets, Pets, Aid in Dying and Euthanasia
According to a recent article in The Washington Post, veterinarians who euthanize pets suffer a psychological toll as they witness the emotional reactions of pet parents and put long-time patients to sleep. I couldn't help but think of physician aid in dying for those humans with terminal illnesses at end-of-life. From the article: Veterinarians face unique stressors compared with any other career, even within the medical field. It’s considered...
![[Video] Jews and Cremation Mortality Minute](https://i0.wp.com/agoodgoodbye.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Moses-and-God.jpg?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1)
[Video] Jews and Cremation Mortality Minute
We know cremation is on the rise, and traditionally, Jews have avoided cremation - but that's changing among the more liberal branches of Judaism. For a quick look at the topic of Jews and cremation, check out this Mortality Minute video, brought to you by Waldman Funeral Care in Houston, Texas - "Extraordinary Service. Compassionate Care." The transcript of the video follows below. https://youtu.be/OLayHOhIIyg This Jewish Mortality Minute is...
News and Notes: TEDx, Pros and Cons Article and More
The TEDxABQ Main Event on September 12 was exhilarating! What a thrill it was to hear so much laughter and applause from the Popejoy Hall audience of at least 1,500 people. The videos of all the remarkable TEDx speakers' presentations will be online soon -- links to be shared when ready! The Death Chicks, an online video interview series hosted by Patty Burgess and Myste Lyn, brings death out of the dark with humor. Hope you can join us...
October 16: CEU Presentation – Checking Out?
Checking Out? is an upbeat continuing education credit presentation for counselors, therapists and social workers on professional and personal planning for the inevitable - end-of-life. As fans of Monty Python know, "nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" And very few people plan to die. While humans have a 100% mortality rate, less than 30% of us do any end-of-life planning. That leaves more than 70% unprepared and devastated not IF but WHEN...
Sept. 24 Google Hangout with The Death Chicks
Making light of death helps us get conversations started so we can prepare for the inevitable. The Death Chicks, an online video interview series hosted by Patty Burgess and Myste Lyn, brings death out of the dark with humor. They say, "We're not making light of death, but we are working to make death lighter." On Thursday, September 24, Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death®, will bring a light touch to the serious subject of death on a Google...