54 THE QUEENS COURIER • MARCH 1, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
coping with death
Choose the funeral director who’s right for you
Choosing a funeral director was simple
in our grandparents’ day, when there was
usually just one funeral home in town.
In fact, it is not at all uncommon that a
local funeral home owner – or their relatives
- have provided their important services
to families in your community for
the last several years and even generations.
Today, with our mobile society and
family members living all over the
country, along with many funeral service
options available, selecting a funeral
director may take some careful thought
and planning.
However, choosing a funeral director is
similar to engaging any other professional
such as a lawyer or doctor and doesn’t
have to be - nor should it be - a daunting
task.
If your family does not already have
a local funeral director, consult with
your pastor or rabbi for recommendations.
You may also consider asking your
friends and neighbors. Have you attended
a funeral that particularly stood out to
you? Visit their funeral home website to
learn more about their services and staff .
If you’re not familiar with the funeral
homes in your area, you may wish to
make an appointment to visit one or more
of them. In this way, you can meet with
the funeral director, tour their facilities,
learn about the diff erent options available
to ensure you have a clear understanding
of the costs for services and merchandise
you may desire.
A list of member funeral homes in
your area is available at https://www.nysfda.
org/index.php/resources/find-a-funeral
home?searchzip=Albany&radius=
1&filter_catid=0&limit=10&filter_
order=distance.
From the New York State Funeral
Directors Association.
Some non-traditional ways to celebrate someone’s life
Funerals have been held since the dawn
of time to honor and remember a departed
loved one. Th ere is always a common
thread -- the importance of memorialization.
Now, however, with the Baby Boomer
generation, a new element has been added
to the traditional funeral.
Calling hours and other traditional rites
are still an important part of remembrance.
But many Baby Boomer funerals
are taking on a whole new look. Th ey
are becoming very personalized remembrances
-- refl ecting the individual and
his or her interests in life.
We know that the ancient Egyptians
buried artifacts to help the departed spirit
in the aft erlife.
Excavated tombs have yielded myriad
items including games and tools that the
spirit might want.
It is interesting to note that this practice
is popular once more as Baby Boomers
request their favorite sports equipment
such as golf clubs, tennis balls and team
jerseys be placed in the casket.
Mountain bikes and canoes have been
displayed during calling hours. Even the
casket can become a reminder of the Baby
Boomers’ interest in sports.
A New York City funeral director told
us that a departed football fan was laid to
rest in a casket featuring a Notre Dame
logo and team colors on panels and the
corner caps.
In Upstate New York, one funeral featured
a jazz band playing on the porch of
the funeral home.
Another funeral highlighted the departed’s
interest in handicapping horse races by simulating
his kitchen - complete with tip sheets
and race results broadcast from a radio.
Baby Boomers are also known for their
interest in preserving the environment.
At several sites in New York State,
as well as in other parts of the country,
“green” cemeteries and natural burial
plots are available. Th ere are no underground
vaults, no mausoleums and minimal
landscaping so the cemetery grounds
are kept in a more natural state.
Some families have asked funeral directors
to have a tree planted in memory of
the departed loved one, thus helping to
renew forest life.
Th ere are companies that blend cremated
remains with concrete to form
reef structures then place them in selected
ocean sites to form undersea “memorial
reefs.”
Th ese reefs are ecologically benefi cial
because they form a natural habitat for
undersea creatures.
Today’s funeral director is likely to be
a Baby Boomer and more than happy to
arrange a funeral for you that will be truly
memorable and a celebration of your life.
So when you start to preplan your
funeral, be sure to discuss your desires
with your family and your neighborhood
funeral director so that you, too, can have
a truly personalized funeral.
From the New York State Funeral
Directors Association