Memorial Day, 2021

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Fort Snelling National Cemetery’s Memorial Rifle Squad firing rifles at a Memorial Day Ceremony. Photo credit: MPR Photo/Tim Nelson

Many evenings during the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s I would gather the people attending a visitation, seat them and ready the podium microphone for VFW or American Legion rituals. It was the era of the World War II veterans, and as the years passed, the numbers of them have continued to dwindle.

Large in number, with uniforms crisp and salutes sharp, the St. Louis Park VFW Ritual Team would come forward to honor their fallen comrade. Faith Hamilton would always be there to sing “Sleep Soldier Boy, Sleep on.” The final snap came from Marv, short in stature and a giant in protocol, his salute remained the sharpest until the day of his own ritual.

The Charles Knaeble VFW Post of Crystal and the Golden Valley American Legion had rituals for the men as well as for the Auxiliary women. The ladies, dressed in blue uniforms with matching pill box hats and red, white, and blue scarfs, would listen as the Chaplain of the Day read the prayers. On cue, they would walk forward and place a flower on the casket.

They lived the common experience of the “Greatest War”, knowing that their generation saved the world from ruthless tyranny. They came home to a great welcome, rebuilt our economy, and raised the baby boomers. Their VFW and American Legion Halls became the place to share their common experiences. Membership swelled and ritual and parade teams were abundant. As they aged, graveside military honors were their way to say good-bye.

My dad served as a Chief Pharmacist’s Mate in World War II. He was stationed in Hawaii and assisted in surgical wards and other duties at a naval hospital. He was never in harm’s way. All through the years that I worked for him, he strictly told me not to have military honors at his funeral, stating “honors are reserved for the ones who put their life on the line every day.”

The next wars were quite different. Both Korea and Viet Nam ended without victory decisions. My generation lived through the Viet Nam war. During my high school years, we watched intently as the birthday draft dates were called. Those who served came home to a very different welcome as compared to their fathers. Membership in the American Legion has not been the automatic decision of the previous generation.

The way we honor our dead has undergone great change in the last portion of the 20th century and the first 20 years of this one. Celebrations and open house style outdoor gatherings have grown in popularity, and while there are still many religious funerals, there are less graveside services that immediately follow.

There is an interesting trend that funeral directors have watched evolve; the desire for survivors to be assured that their loved ones receive the military honors they deserve. You may be amid siblings who cannot agree whether dad should have formal church services or a picnic, but if you need to build common ground, establish the desire for military honors and work backwards. When the military honors are performed, you can hear a pin drop. Everyone is attentive.

As we begin to serve families who have waited for the lifting of COVID restrictions, the schedule for honors at Ft. Snelling is delayed by many weeks. Families are willing to wait for the Ft. Snelling Memorial Ritual Team. The squad is strictly volunteer and unique to Ft. Snelling. The team has been in existence now about 25 years and has endured the loss of their own members who served. Strong in number and very disciplined, they perform throughout the day regardless of the weather. They have gained quite the reputation for quality and service, having been featured by newspapers, local television stations and on national programs.

The military branches also provide two-to-three-member ritual teams who will come to private cemeteries to provide military honors for their veterans. While they do not fire the rifle volleys, they fold the flag, play taps, and present the flag to the next of kin. When the procession arrives, the honor team is waiting to receive their fallen comrade with a salute.

The Anoka County Viet Nam Veteran’s Ritual Team is a group of veterans who have dedicated themselves to honoring their fellow veterans with ritual and an explanation of how military honors came to be, and what each symbol stands for. Families appreciate knowing why the armed forces pay respect to each veteran who has served.

The American and VFW posts throughout the Twin Cities continue to serve their members and veterans with military honors as well. Many posts have combined facilities and ritual teams enabling them to provide the quality graveside services that have long been a part of their service and history.

The United States has witnessed great political division and strife in recent years. It is comforting to see all people come together to honor those who risked their lives for our freedoms to continue. Perhaps it is the common bond that could lead to our nation’s healing.

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Embracing Community

October 7, 2025

Embracing Community Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood? Like the Sesame Street song has crooned for 56 years, the mail delivery people, coffee shop baristas and hardware store proprietors are all people that you meet when you’re walking down the street each day! At Gearty-Delmore, we, too, are the people in your neighborhood. With its headquarters on West Broadway in Robbinsdale, our funeral chapel has quietly reigned over the busy street for 70 years. We also have a neighborhood presence on Vicksburg Lane in Plymouth and Wooddale Avenue in St. Louis Park. Family-owned and operated for nearly 100 years by the Davis, Gearty and Delmore families, respectively, we are here to serve you – and the community. A Commitment to Compassion At the heart of our practice are the dedicated funeral directors who demonstrate unwavering compassion and empathy every day. They manage funeral arrangements, of course, but their work also involves consoling grieving families, offering a caring presence, and ensuring that all the details are handled with respect. A true vocation, our funeral directors are consummate professionals who also have a deep-seated commitment to serving people during their most vulnerable moments. Education and Support An important aspect of our work is in educating people about end-of-life planning, grief support and funeral traditions. Every year, at our chapels as well as local churches and/or community centers, Funeral Director and Preplanning Specialist Jessi Rinne hosts seminars designed to empower people to make informed decisions about end-of-life planning. Environmental Responsibility As in all industries, a growing awareness about environmental responsibility and sustainability has increased in recent years. Recognizing this trend, we worked with the Catholic Cemeteries of Minneapolis and St. Paul to begin creating natural burial sections within its cemeteries. While this is still an emerging area, we are proud to have taken these proactive steps to help families interested in more eco-friendly burial options. Community Engagement Businesses that act as strong corporate citizens are important to the people in your neighborhood. From monetary sponsorships and donations to volunteer hours, our organization and funeral directors have given back to the community in countless meaningful ways. Local boards and chambers have benefitted from owner Dan Delmore’s leadership and strategic thinking skills. Several of our funeral directors have served on Robbinsdale’s Whiz Bang Committees over the years. Our team members have mentored robotics teams and coached youth hockey, softball and baseball teams across the Twin Cities. And the number of volunteer hours racked up by the team at their churches and children’s schools also add up to engaged citizenship! Caring for the Poor In the Catholic Church, "burying the dead" is considered a corporal work of mercy, which is an act of respect and charity for the deceased. Burying or entombing the deceased’s body or cremated remains is a way to show reverence for those who have passed away. Gearty-Delmore has a long-standing practice of ensuring a dignified end-of-life commemoration for the poor among us. At these times, our directors, along with other caring members of the community, give of our time and resources to ensure a proper burial for a member of our society whose death might otherwise go unnoticed. A Lasting Impact We believe that our legacy lies not only in the funeral services we provide but also in the positive impact we are leaving on our communities. Whether through acts of kindness, educational outreach, or environmental stewardship, we are proud of the commitment we’ve made that goes well beyond our professional obligations. It’s all about showing up. Which reminds us: we had a great time when we showed up at the 2025 Robbinsdale Meet and Greet earlier this fall. After all, we are the people in your neighborhood!

All Creatures Great and Small

March 13, 2025

Most of us enjoy a bit of variety in our workdays. For me, one of the things I have always enjoyed about funeral service is that we never know what is coming next. On any given day, we might move from directing a high-profile funeral complete with news crews and hundreds of mourners to handling arrangements for someone with little or no family and the potential for no one to grieve their passing. I hold a firm belief that all creatures – great and small – deserve the dignity of a pause to commemorate their lives by surrounding them with earthly affection for a heavenly sendoff. Whether serving a prominent family, a lonely soul, or somewhere in between, our funeral directors are called upon day after day to bring respect, compassion and caring to every person that we serve. The variety in a funeral director’s day is set into motion the moment they step into the building each morning. From the first exchange over the phone, they begin prioritizing actions, lending a listening ear and understanding family dynamics. Of course, there are many details that must be coordinated between the family, our funeral directors, and our business partners, making funeral directors very good multi-taskers. Another important part of their work is in keeping personal information to themselves and protecting privacy, while also bringing dignity to every death experience, regardless of status. Every spring, for many years, I’ve spoken to the U of M’s Mortuary Science students about the importance of burying the poor as a corporal work of mercy. Understanding that they will be called upon to carry out this act of kindness is likely something to which the students haven’t given a lot of thought. To help bring this idea to light, I share stories from my own experience, including the story of Cordelia and Junious, a rather unlikely friendship between a well-to-do local woman and her neighbor, a mentally disabled gentleman. Cordelia and Junious’ friendship story is one of the strongest demonstrations of acts of kindness in action that I have ever experienced! Their story not only demonstrates the point being made, it also warms my heart (and those of the students) year after year! A previous blog telling the story of Cordelia and Junious can be found here: https://www.gearty-delmore.com/junious-cordelia-and-the-corporal-works-of-mercy Variety in the workday? Absolutely. Circumstances that vary widely from death call to death call, yes, indeed. The ability to provide care, compassion and respectfulness to all? Most definitely. We serve all creatures – great and small – with that same dignity.

Grief and the holidays

December 5, 2024

Making it through "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

The Ultimate Thank You

By Dan Delmore • October 31, 2024

Thanking Those Who Served

Grief Support

By Gearty-Delmore • September 17, 2024

Offering Support through Grief Resources

Preplanning: A Day in the Life of Our Preplanning Specialist

May 17, 2024

As Jessi Rinne hops in the car for her morning commute, she thinks about the full workday ahead. She knows she will swing into immediate action upon arrival and that her day will be busy – and varied. And she also knows it will be rewarding. Her destination? Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapels, where she has helped people with advance funeral planning for more than 20 years. Jessi’s thoughts turn to those she will help in person, over the phone, and via email today. And as she does, she thinks about some of the people she has recently helped as well. Joe and Teresa have partnered throughout their 50+ year marriage on life’s plans and purchases. Now, they would like to plan their final arrangements together. Baby boomers Mike and Kelly are spending time preparing for retirement. Single mother Mary worked hard to keep her kids safe and secure and is once again looking out for them as she considers her end-of-life choices. Bill and Jane, an aging couple with an adult dependent child, know they will face some difficult decisions ahead. Curt, who has been battling cancer for several years, is feeling ready to outline his wishes in advance. And siblings Christine and Todd, who have just helped their mom with their dad’s funeral services, are now interested in helping her with her own advance funeral planning. Jessi knows that no matter the situation, though it may seem daunting to think about, the benefits of preplanning funeral arrangements are both practically and emotionally abundant. Emotionally, advance planning relieves your loved ones of the burden of making difficult decisions during a time of grief and mourning. And it helps to ensure that your preferences and values are aligned. Practically, advance planning allows you to financially prepare for your funeral expenses. Setting aside funds for funeral expenses can alleviate financial strain on your family members. As she pulls into the funeral chapel parking lot, Jessi dons her preplanning cap. She feels good knowing that the conversations she will have today are important ones. She hopes that with her help, folks will gain some peace of mind, having taken care of this important aspect of life. And she trusts that those she is helping can then focus on living fully in the present. Learn more about advance funeral planning here https://www.gearty-delmore.com/planning-ahead/planning-ahead .

Leaving a Natural Legacy

By Gearty-Delmore • April 5, 2024

In recent years, one of the emerging ways to honor loved ones is through natural burial. At its core, the purpose of natural burial is to allow the body to return quickly and naturally to the elements of the earth and to begin the regeneration of new life. While natural burial is not exactly today’s status quo, it’s easy to see how it is becoming more of interest to those who have a keen interest in helping to preserve our planet and in giving back. At Gearty-Delmore, we are here to navigate end-of-life commemorations, in whatever form those tributes might look like.

FEMA Benefits Present New Opportunities

By Gearty-Delmore • April 28, 2021

Photo Credit: FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)

DELMORE: A Family History

By Gearty-Delmore • March 10, 2021

Photo Credit: FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)

A Return to the Earth: Natural Burial

By Gearty-Delmore • February 10, 2021

I was summoned to Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul about two years ago to meet with a terminal woman who wanted to complete her own funeral arrangements. While not a typical request, I would say I meet a few times each year with a person facing the end of their days on earth. The small-framed woman was very much at peace that her life was drawing to a close. She had thought things through clearly and knew what she wanted, to be bathed, wrapped in a shroud, and be buried without embalming with her parents and grandparents in the family plot in southern Minnesota. She was asking for natural burial and wanted to be buried as simply as possible. She had many questions about the process, and I will try to answer them to give some insight about natural burial.