Ask Barb - Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Centers

For over 125 years we’ve been telling stories about the lives of the great people of Indianapolis. And our success can be summed-up in three words - community, compassion and commitment.

Entries for March, 2009

Women in the funeral industry?

More and more women are enrolling in the funeral industry.  For centuries that was unheard of.  In many cultures it’s still rare and unexcepted.  Women bring a unique balance …a different dimension sor t of speak.  How do your feel about this evolution.  They are not the wife or the clerical support but the owners and operators of the firms. Is it like the medical field where we’ll become more comfortable with our own gender?  Thoughts?

How do you write a Eulogy for an unpleasant deceased?

Here are some tips I recently saw in an article called “End Note” by Calvin Sun.

Don’t lie:If you lie you will lose all credibility and sound insincere.  You could use some of the following.  …Dealing with  (decedent) often could be challenging…Working with (decedent) had its ups and downs….There was never a dull moment where (decedent) was concerned.  Learn about their whole life … they could have been a great kid!  Considered lessons learned.  If  (decedent) was impatient talk about the gift of patience.  Talk about the importance of acceptance of others.  You can always take guidance from lovely southern ladies and finish any of your statements with “Bless (decedent)’s heart;-)

Judean Deliveries

I recently read an article on cremated remains being transported to the Jordan River in Isreal.  The process is affordable and begs the question “Where do your spiritual roots take you?”  This Biblically-relevant product option takes Christians tourist back to a land they,more than likely, have no direct bond with.  Their spiritual commitment makes these burial options relevant to them.  Where would you mentally “rest in peace”?