Funerals/Expert Profile

Expertise

I can answer any questions about funerals,embalming, cremation, green burial, home funerals, burial on your own land, scattering of cremated remains and any other death related questions you may have.

Experience in the area

I have worked in the death care industry since 1977, owning my own funeral home since 1990. I worked as an EMT at a funeral home based ambulance service for 6 years gain much experience there. When I opened my funeral home, my goal was to provide honest, straightforward, significant and affordable services to the families who called upon me for my services. Since Sept. 2008, I have served as a member of the Oregon State Mortuary & Cemetery Board, which regulates the operation of mortuarys and cemeteries in Oregon. I have been a regular attendee and speaker at various funeral related seminars over the years and am a frequent contributor to "Mortuary Management" magazine. I was one of the first funeral directors in Oregon to offer "Green" or "Natural" burial services and to offer assistance to families who wish to take care of their own family members at home. I also have vast experience in the repatriation of a deceased to their country of origin.

Organizations

Oregon Funeral Directors Association, International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association, Cremation Association of America, Funeral Ethics Association Natural End Funeral Services - Charter Member.

Publications

Mortuary Management Funeral Monitor Funeral Service Insider

Education/Credentials

Attended the University of Oregon Associates of Science Degree - Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, Oregon

Awards and Honors

Top 10 Eye Enucleators in Oregon. Nationally Board Certified Funeral Director/Embalmer Honored in "Funeral Monitor", Aug. 2007 for my business practices.

Past/Present Clients

Since 1990, I have served over 10,000 families, requesting the gamute of services ranging from the simplest to the most elaborate. Servicing christian, jewish, muslim, buddhist, hindu and humanists, along with families from every continent in the world.

What do you like about this subject?

The changes are coming very fast in the death care field. People are choosing simpler modes of disposition, new methods of disposition are being developed and so many new products to personalize the service.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

I always hope to learn something new everyday, hopefully to make me a better Funeral Director and a better person.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Embalming is not necessary in most cases when the family has selected arrangements that do not include viewing of the body for more then a few hours.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

There seems to a correlation between unethical behavior at a funeral home or cemetery and their ownership being a large corporation.