Exposure to Formaldehyde Linked to Increased Risk For Cancer-Related Death

Long-term exposure to formaldehyde used for embalming increases funeral industry workers’ risk of death from myeloid leukemia, according to a new U.S. government study. Researchers in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the U.S. National Cancer Institute analyzed data on funeral industry workers who died between 1960 and 1986.

Information about the workers’ work practices and exposure to formaldehyde throughout their lifetime was collected through interviews with family members and co-workers.

The researchers found that risk rose along with the number of years someone had been involved with embalming and related formaldehyde exposure. The greatest risk was seen among those who’d been involved in embalming for more than 20 years, according to the study.

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Bring on The Kids!

I was recently at an open house for a local funeral home client of mine. The funeral home has been in business for over 75 years, but the building recently fell victim to the process of old age and needed redone. The funeral home was completely gutted and remodeled. The process took over 15 months to complete, so to celebrate their new building they had an open house for the community. What I found to be a priority when the building was remodeled may be surprising to you.

The open house was on a Saturday afternoon. My wife was working and I could not get anyone to watch my two girls so I got them all dressed up and explained to my two year how important it was for her to behave. I am sure she fully understood!! When I arrived to the funeral home I was greeted at the door by the funeral director. We have a very good business relationship, but he has never met my girls. I explained to him why I had to bring the girls and that I would leave before they got to restless. His reply caught me off guard. He said, “I am glad you brought them, they are going to have a great time.” My first thought was the only way they are going to be having a good time is if you don’t mind them running wild, screaming at the top of there lungs, and jumping on all of the furniture. I didn’t say it but man I sure was thinking it. Seeing the fear of disaster in my eyes he said, “Bring them back here, they are going to like this”. Again, not sure what to expect, I was just thinking disaster.

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UK Casket Companies Encouraged to Increase Production Due to H1N1?

The funeral industry believes the number of coffins being made could be increased by 150 per cent were more Britons to fall victim to the pandemic.

Most recent figures show there have been 142 deaths linked to the H1N1 virus in England, with an estimated 53,000 new cases in the past week week and 783 people in hospital suffering severe symptoms.

Pregnant women and NHS workers are being immunised against the disease and under-fives may soon be added to the mass vaccination programme as they are particularly vulnerable and prone to spreading it.

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Tax Planning Before Year-End

As we enter the last quarter of 2009, your thoughts and energies should be directed and focused on implementing effective financial strategies that will carryover into the up-coming year and beyond. One very important component of financial strategizing is year-end tax planning. The key to effective tax planning is that it must be completed and implemented in a timely manner. This requires planning and taking steps before the end of the tax year since, with few exceptions, steps to reduce and minimize federal and state income taxes must occur prior to the end of the tax year. Given our current difficult economic times, it is critically important that funeral directors take advantage of every opportunity that is afforded to them in order to reduce income taxes and increase cash flow. In a nutshell, this means spending time with your tax professional now. Ideally, your tax professional has your current financial information that will enable him/her to maintain a complete and comprehensive understanding of your financial position.

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Answer to a Common Funeral Myth!

I am sure you all have been asked question relating to myths people have heard about death. I found this blog post through @sunset_hill twitter stream. The post answers one of the funeral myths that is the commonly asked “Do your nails and hair keep growing after you die”? Read below for the truth!

A Tisket, a Tasket, a Manicure and Haircut in Your Casket?

You’ve always known that your hair and nails are made of dead skin cells – or if you didn’t know, you do now. Gross, I know. So it just makes sense that when you die, your skin dies too, therefore making longer hair and nails. Right? Don’t be so sure…

It is a common belief that your hair and fingernails continue to grow after death. With novels such as “All Quet on the Western Front” citing nails that “twist themselves into corkscrews and grow and grow,” you might start planning manicures and barber visits to your tombstone years down the line after you have passed.

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ConnectingDirectors.com Reviews The 2009 NFDA Convention

After every convention I attend I like to spend a little time afterwards reflecting on the experience. I try to look at the experience as both an exhibitor and also as just a normal attendee. I must say that this years NFDA convention in Boston was a huge success, not only forConnectingDirectors.com, and myself but also for the funeral directors who attended.

I thought the layout of the expo was great. There was really no bad spot on the whole floor. Attendees could easily walk the floor and not miss a booth. The venue (Boston Convention Center) was a bit smaller this year, which helped make it easier to walk the floor and not miss anything.

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CDTV – Episode #1 – A Personal Looking Inside ConnectingDirectors.com

I am very happy to announce our new weekly video podcast tentatively called Connecting Directors TV (CDTV). We are still searching for the perfect name. If you have a suggestion leave it in the comments.

In this episode Ryan gives you a looking inside his office, while explaining and discussing upcoming events and ideas for the show. Our hope is that this video podcast will help us connect with our members on a more personal leave, while also continuing to provide progressive funeral industry news and information on a whole new level.

Watch The Show Here

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Funeral Director Pleads Guilty, Could Spend Four Years In Prison

COLUMBIA — For the first time since allegations against the Warren Funeral Chapel surfaced, its owner, Harold Warren Sr., appeared in court Monday to plead guilty to the three charges filed in the indictment.

Warren, 77, faces up to four years in prison for unlawful merchandising practices and misrepresentation in connection with the sale of funeral and cremation services.

According to court documents, Warren gave cremated remains to three of his clients that were not those of their deceased relatives.

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Grave Business, Marriage… Gothic Couple Have Their Wedding Blessed… In a Cemetry

A gothic couple have become the first in the UK to have their wedding blessed in the graveyard of a cemetery.

Samantha Smyth, 25, and husband Paul Adams, 33, had originally planned to marry at the unlikely venue but realised it would mean their marriage was not legally recognised. They later decided to fulfill their dream by having a blessing in their local cemetery eight months after their ’legal wedding’ in a traditional registry office.

The blessing, which occurred at Wisbech General Cemetery on Saturday, was performed by a Spiritualist minister as 40 family and friends gathered around the disused four acre site’s ancient stone chapel.

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Burial Incidents Prompt Army Probe of Arlington Cemetery

The Army ordered an investigation Friday into operations at Arlington National Cemetery after questions about apparently improper burials.

Army Secretary John McHugh said in a statement that the service’s inspector general will look into what he said was “lost accountability” of some graves, as well as poor record-keeping and other issues at the cemetery, the nation’s best-known burial ground for its military heroes.

One was the revelation that cemetery workers inadvertently buried cremated remains at a gravesite that was already in use. According to the statement, corrective measures were taken immediately, but questions were raised about whether proper procedures were used in correcting the error.

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