Take a walk down memorial lane

Drew Edwards,
General Manager,
Sunset Funeral Homes

Have you ever taken the time to walk around your cemetery grounds and really look at the memorials? You would be amazed at the difference between the older markers and the markers designed in the last 10 years.

The older memorials are simpler with just a name, dates and a generic emblem. It is hard to tell much about the person or the life they lived. But, today's memorials, and even those 10 years old, makes me feel as if I knew the person, their beliefs and their passions. I am truly amazed at how much of a difference color and photos really make. There is less focus on the death and so much more focus on the life lived.

It is our job as professionals in the death care industry to make sure that all of the families we serve understand their memorialization options. I truly believe that every memorial should tell a story. I encourage you to be a resource for families. Educate yourself about the newest memorialization options. Go to conventions, read industry publications and ask for more ideas. Every life's story is worth telling. 



This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

Make today the last day for outdated order forms

This outdated phone still works,
but a current model can do so
much more.

By Julia Sullivan

When is the last time you visited the Trigard Memorials website to download the current versions of our order forms? A year? Several years? Never?

Using outdated order forms puts you at a major disadvantage. While your staff may be used to the old forms, familiarity doesn't make them the best tools for the job. My old flip phone worked just fine when I traded it in, but I still let it go. I wanted to be able to do more with my phone, so it was time to get a current model. The same goes for the order forms - but there's no cost or hassle!

Each year we update the order forms with you in mind. We make information easier to find and options easier to understand. We never make a change if it won't significantly enhance your ordering experience.

But if you're still using outdated forms, it's like you're using an old flip phone. Technically it might work, but it would be so much easier if you used the current model.

Make today the day you delete all of the outdated versions of our order forms that you've been hanging on to. Download the current versions and start enjoying the new features.

This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

Be a successful communicator

Sheryl Baumeister,
Human Resources Manager

As your business grows, communication within your organization becomes a crucial component to your success. No matter the size of your company, you need everyone to be motivated and well informed about your business and your products.

There are many different ways to keep in touch with employees, but one way we do it at Trigard Memorials is by sending out a weekly employee newsletter. It has become an effective tool to highlight employee accomplishments, new products, human resource announcements and even to celebrate employee birthdays.

I encourage you to explore different communication strategies to help your employees stay informed. Keeping them connected generates pride for your business and unites your staff.


This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

Help families invest in their loved one's memories

Ryan Snyder,
Plant Manager

Being the father of three boys has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. As the boys were growing up, they always wanted to buy me presents for my birthday or Father's Day. But, of all the gifts I have received over the years, the hand-made ones meant the most. I knew the overall investment of their time and thoughtfulness was greater than something bought from a store, and I knew the gifts came straight from the heart.

Much like a hand-made gift, bronze memorials are an investment of a family's love. A family invests their time and thoughtfulness by designing a memorial that showcases their loved one's life and passions. The memorial they create will be a true representation of the life lived.

At Trigard Memorials, we finish each memorial by hand. Just like hand-made presents from my sons, hand-finishing is our way of honoring the memory of the family's loved one. 

This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

Super heroes gather together to celebrate a child's life

Donna Walthall-Darby,
Chief Financial Officer

Being a part of the funeral industry, we get to hear some amazing stories of how families celebrate the lives of their loved ones.

A family held a beautiful and heartfelt service for their young child at a local funeral home my family owns. In honor of his love for super heroes, the parents asked everyone to wear their favorite super hero t-shirt to the visitation. I was amazed at how many people participated and paid tribute to this young boy. It was a small thing, but it made a huge impact on the celebration.

The parents are in the process of designing a memorial that reflects their child's personality. Watching all of this happen reminds me how lucky I am to be part of an industry that truly cares for the families they serve.

What have you done to offer unique personalization and help families heal? Email us at marketing@trigard.com. We'll share our favorite stories in another newsletter.


This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.