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Pastimes : Home on the range where the buffalo roam -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DOUG H who wrote (13534)	5/18/2001 5:25:20 PM
From: bonnuss_in_austin	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13572

Nah, it's okay ... hey, you're right ... I think, so far ... ...that the death care industry INDEED suits me ... or me, it, whatever. I'm intrigued and fascinated with what I'm learning. I'm in the 'pre-need,' or in industry parlance, 'community service' sales division ... right now. That's how we all start. I still think in terms of tech distribution parlance, so I would call this division 'outside sales,' okay? Versus 'inside sales.' In death care, you got yer 'pre-need' counselors, and your 'at-need' counselors. Diff: At-need 'prospects' call or walk into a funeral home because they have to ... because someone is dead. Already. A factoid: Up to 115 decisions must be made the DAY a person dies. Obviously, by someone else, unless the now-dead person 'pre-arranged' some or all of his or her final cemetery and funeral or cremation and all associated details ... marker, open/close, space, memorial .... yada, yada, yada. First and foremost, the vital statistics MUST be provided to the funeral director. Includes such info as the deceased's mother's maiden name and place of birth ... often, the surviving spouse doesn't even know their deceased's SS number off the top of the head ... particularly under such huge emotional distress ... and many, I've already seen, don't know their OWN SS numbers by memory. Reason this is important is that it is required for the Death Certificate. Which is required by life insurance companies, for example, to release the benefits to the beneficiary. In most states -- (possibly all -- I don't know this yet) -- the processing of one's Death Certificate can take a week to 90 days. Bottom line: the 'next of kin' has to pay on the spot all funeral costs. No funeral? Still many costs that must be paid to the 'funeral director.' (the mortician.) In two-thirds of the 'cases' when a married couple is involved, the husband passes away before his wife. So, if nothing has been 'prearranged,' and paid for (cash is fine/terms via typically 5-7 years in two ways), the wife, on the worst day of her life, 'goes shopping,' okay? LOL! Enough for now, 'students.' Again, I'm in the 'cheerful' part of the biz as I'm dealing with people who are still alive. ;) PS: I've got my eye on a good-looking mortician <gg> whom I met a coupla days ago at our largest park ... I asked him what 'funeral directors' do .. responsibilities ... he said: "We cry a lot." Was holding in his hands a crematoria container for an infant. He told me that. It was very small ... sterling silver with bronze (very simple) highlights, I suppose I'd say. I eventually asked him (should have been obvious, but everything is so to me right now) if the container was for one of his current families. Answer, Yes. And at that point, he excused himself to enter the restricted area of the funeral home where remains and cremains are, well, 'processed.' bia