Back in Black - I'm a Funeral Director, again.

In July 2007, The Escrow, Title Insurance and Settlement Services business I was employed with began to feel the effects of these economic times.  The staff was reduced from over 25 to 7, until May of 2010, when that number became six.

Unemployed for the first time of my adult life, then employment drama ensued. I got a job, couldn’t start the job, then I would interview four times with one employer, only to be notified they did away with the position.  It became easier for my wife to find new employment and as such, our roles reversed and I became a self-proclaimed “Man among Moms” during the summer of 2010.

And it’s been wonderful.  June 2010 to July 2011 has been the worst time for me professionally and the best time for me personally.  Over the past year I was able to love my family deeper than ever before.  I was Mr. Mom, and damn proud of that title.  I grew more in that year than the 39 previous ones.  I got back on the path towards healing and recovery. I actually got to see change and growth up close–and it changed me.

Recently, I accepted a new job that reverts back to my formal education and training.  Many of you don’t know that I’m a licensed Mortician/Funeral Director.  My new job is leading a funeral pre-need sales team for the third largest funeral provider in the state of Utah, Serenicare Funeral Home.  I won’t be doing the Mortician duties that I once did, however with my funeral education and insurance knowledge I will be advising and educating individuals and families on the benefits of prearranging funerals and pre-funding them with an insurance vehicle, thus avoiding any/all increase in funeral expenses when the need comes.  I’ll have to travel “in the field” a whole lot more, but absence makes the heart grow fonder.

In short, it’s going to be amazing.  I do miss Jen and our kids; however this really is what I’m supposed to do.  I don’t just know it’s right, I feel it’s right.

Advanced Funeral Planning - Stepping Stones - September

You know what itʹs like to lose someone you love. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the death, you may have experienced intense grief, remorse, guilt, and regrets over things left unsaid and undone. If the service was not planned ahead, you may have had all of these emotions compounded by anxiety, worry, and doubt as to what your loved one would have wanted and how your family was going to pay for the funeral. Donʹt leave your closest loved ones in doubt.  I am here to help you plan ahead for your own or a loved oneʹs services. Itʹs time to seize the day so that those you love the most donʹt have to waste a minute in worry and doubt. Simply contact me and make an appointment for a free funeral planning consultation.

My monthly newsletter entitled "Stepping Stones" is a collection of short stories and poetry benefiting individuals and families currently going through the grieving process.

The September issue is available here.

-Mark Heiner
435-680-5073
SereniCare Funeral Home

driving in STG

quick lesson on how to get a sunburned knee while driving in STG

The Significance of the Funeral Ritual

If you are like most people, you don't think much about funerals until you have to go to one.  Funerals then become very significant occasions to honor a lost loved one.  Especially if we've lost someone very close, funerals help us to transition from our lives before the death to our lives following the death.

This also is a time when a support system may be established so our friends and extended family can show their love and concern in tangible ways.

The Viewing

A viewing or visitation is a gathering of friends and family before the funeral service, often in the presence of the deceased's body.  Some family members may be tempted to discard the idea of a viewing saying, "We want to remember her as she was."  However, spending time with the body doesn't have the power to alter or take away our memories.  In fact, grief experts explain that a viewing, if it is possible to have one, can help us acknowledge the reality of the death, and this is a very important step on the road to healing.  While it is ultimately a personal choice, a viewing or visitation could become one of the most significant events in a mourner's grief recovery process.

The Funeral Service

A good funeral is one that truly reflects the unique personality of the person who has died.  Friends and family have the opportunity to remember and honor the life of their loved one in special ways.  They might share a eulogy, a song, a memory, or a letter written by the deceased.  Funerals give us a time to face our grief and emotion so that we can begin to heal.

The Procession

The procession takes place after the funeral service as mourners make their way to the burial site for the committal service.  It is a symbol of our mutual support of one another and a public honoring of the deceased.  This is a ritual that can be a touching moment as those who love and care for you travel alongside you.  Sometimes rituals speak louder than words.

The Committal Service

The committal or graveside service is a final opportunity to say our goodbyes.  Usually a speaker shares a few parting thoughts.

The Gathering

After the committal service, there is usually an informal gathering where friends and family can continue to share memories and express their condolences after the loss.  A meal usually accompanies this time that can become a time of gratitude and thankfulness for a life that was well-lived.  Slide shows, personal anecdotes, and memorabilia are often shared, and usually the family emerges from the funeral ritual with a sense of hopefulness and a knowledge that life continues to unfold, even in the face of death.

SereniCare Funeral Home
Mark Heiner
435-680-5073