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.

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

Thanking Those Who Served

Offering Support through Grief Resources

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 .

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.

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

Photo Credit: FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)

Photo Credit: FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)