Table of Contents - Connecticut Funeral Directors Association

ssociate
A
the
CFDA
Est. 1889
Publication of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, Inc.
Table of Contents
Volume 47 • No. 3
2015 CFDA Calendar
Page 3
CFDA Summer Meeting • Members
Awarded for Years of Service and Years of Licensing
Page 4
Operating 2015 CFDA Family
Support Services Scholarship
Winners
July 12-15
NFDA Leadership Conference, Orlando, FL
Page 5
“Time to Stop and Smell the Roses”
by CFDA Executive Director
John F. Cascio
December 3 127th CFDA Annual Meeting,
Crowne Plaza, Cromwell, CT
Page 6
What does our Personal and
Industry Best Look Like? by Howard K. Hill, cfsp, cpc,
2015 CFDA President
Page 7
More from the Summer Meeting
Page 9
Facebook Accounts After Death
Page 10
The Power of Mentors
May/June 2015
Volume 47 • No. 3
September 21 CFDA Annual Golf Tournament
Wethersfield Country Club
October 18-21NFDA Annual Convention,
Indianapolis, IN
CFDA Title 19 Trust Brochure
is Now Available in Spanish
This article is based on the work of
Susan Metros (Ohio State University)
and Catherine Yang (EDUCAUSE).
— From the Texas Director
Page 12
CFDA Update
Page 14
2015 CFD-PAC Contributions
Page 16
CFDA Members Donated to
Covenant to Care for Children
Update on Membership Directory
Page 18
Bits & Pieces • News You Might
Be Able to Use
Page 22
Tips of the Day
So You Want to Buy a Vacation
Home . . .
by Timothy Bourdon, President
TJB Financial Services, Inc.
Pages 25-26More Photos from Summer Meeting
Order through CFDA
50 @ $105.53
100 @ 140.43
200 @ $217.80
250 @ $257.25
the Associate
CFDA Mission Statement
To advance the profession of funeral service
in Connecticut through Public Awareness,
Education, Advocacy and High Ethical
Standards.
June 4th Summer Meeting at Water’s Edge Resort
CFDA Members Honored for Individual and Firm Years of Service.
Publication of the Connecticut
Funeral Directors Association, Inc.
364 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield, CT 06109
John F. Cascio, editor, executive director
phone (860) 721-0234
Noelle Frechette, administrative assistant
fax (860) 257-3617
Beverly Matthews, graphic design, production, photography
website: www.ctfda.org
member services, bjmdesign1@cox.net
email: connfda@aol.com
2015 CFDA Officers
President Howard K. Hill, cfsp, cpc
Howard K. Hill Funeral Services
New Haven, Hartford, CT
Phone
(203) 624-4477
howard@hkhfuneralservices.com
Vice President Erin V. Hastings, cfsp
Beecher & Bennett, Inc.
Hamden, CT
Phone
(203) 288-0800
erin@beecherandbennett.com
Treasurer Matthew R. Adzima
Adzima Funeral Home, Inc.
Stratford, CT
Phone
(203) 375-2200
adzimafuneralhome@snet.net
Secretary Philip M. Pietras
Pietras Funeral Homes
Rockville, Tolland, Coventry, CT
Phone
(860) 875-0703
pietrasfhs@att.net
Past President Stephen M. King, cfsp
Mystic Funeral Home
Mystic, CT
Phone
(860) 536-2888
stephen@mysticfuneralhome.com
Policy Board Representative
William R. Molloy, cfsp
Molloy Funeral Home
West Hartford, CT
Phone
(860) 232-1322
rmolloy@molloyfuneralhome.com
Executive Committee
Robert L. Muccino, cpc
Funk Funeral Home
Bristol, CT
Phone
(860) 583-4107
bob.muccino@carriageservices.com
East Haven Memorial Funeral Home
50 Years of Service, East Haven, CT
David Brennan
Rebecca C. Lautenslager
Shaughnessey-Banks Funeral Home
Fairfield, CT 06824
Phone
(203) 225-1031
rlautenslager@sbcglobal.net
Dorothy E. Hutchins
25 Years of Licensing,
Morton’s Mortuary, Bridgeport, CT
John “Jay” C. Carmon, Jr. cpc
Carmon Funeral Homes
Windsor, CT 06095-0006
Phone
(860) 688-2200
jaycarmon@carmonfh.com
Edward J. Sheehy, Jr., cfsp
Riverview Funeral Home
Shelton, CT 06484
Phone
(203) 924-6800
ed.sheehy@riverviewfh.com
Holmes Funeral Home, 90 Years of Service,
Richard Holmes, 35 Years of Licensing
Manchester, CT
Mark Ennis, 30 Years of Licensing,
T. Robert Whiton, 65 Years of Licensing
Thomas L. Neilan & Sons
New London & Niantic, CT
John J. Ferry & Sons
125 Years of Service, Meriden, CT
Patrick, Daniel, and Thomas Ferry
Mark Celentano, 25 Years of Licensing,
with William Celentano, Jr.
The Celentano Funeral Home, New Haven, CT
Robert L. Morton, cpc (Alternate)
Morton’s Mortuary, Inc.
Bridgeport, CT
Phone
(203) 576-0326
robert@mortonsmortuary.com
CFDA Support Team Call CFDA Office for contact information
Lobbyist
Michael Dugan
Capitol Consulting, LLC
Legal Counsel
John P. McHugh, Esq.
Cranmore, Fitzgerald & Meaney
2
Media and Public Relations
Laura Soll Public Relations, LLC
Trust Advisors
Victor Chigas, Chris Chigas or V.J. Chigas
Access Financial Group/ITS
State Board of Examiners for Embalmers &
Funeral Directors:
Darrell L. McClam, Embalmer, Chairperson
Gerald Bosak, Jr., Embalmer
Frank W. Carmon, IV, Embalmer
Agnes M. Pier (Public Member)
More honorees and photos on pages 7, 16, 25 and 26.
May/June 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
3
2015 CFDA Family Support Services
Scholarship Winners
Naterkuor
Adjoka-Nartey
Middletown, CT
Middlesex County
Middlesex Community
College
Social Work
Ledyard, CT
New London
County
University of
Connecticut
Biology/Pre-Dental
Carly
Brunelle
Brandon
Pfeifer
University of Hartford
Radiologic Technology
Brigham Young
University
Exercise Science
Orthopedic Surgeon
Alexandra
Caselli
Lucy
Roberge
Lincoln College
of New England
Mortuary Science
University of
Saint Joseph
Nursing
Bridget
Forte
Cori
Swanhart
Southern Connecticut
State University
Nursing
Saint Anselm
College
Nursing
Plainville, CT
Hartford County
Woodbury, CT
Litchfield County
Wolcott, CT
New Haven County
4
Haley
Hinton
Plainfield, CT
Windham County
Willington, CT
Tolland County
New Fairfield, CT
Fairfield County
The Associate
Time to Stop and Smell the Roses . . .
by John F. Cascio, Executive Director CFDA
CFDA kicked-off the Summer Season in great
fashion on June 4th at our Annual Summer
Meeting held at the Water’s Edge Resort.
CFDA President Howard Hill declared it a casual day and I for one enjoyed seeing my friends and colleagues
leave the coat and tie at home. It can be
a long hot day at the beach dressed-forsuccess when we are doing our best to
enjoy the warm breezes on the Sunset
Patio and later dance until we collapsed.
We were once again treated to the
fantastic music of the talented Rahsaan
Langley Project who had us singing
along, jumping and a conga line that
included nearly every soul in the room.
I want to congratulate all of the members who were recognized for their Years
of Service and Years of Licensing. A big
shout out to T. Robert Whiton who celebrated 65 Years of Licensing.
It was both enlightening and heart
wrenching to hear from David Wheeler and Pastor Kathy on their journey
following the tragedy at Sandy Hook.
David’s emotional account of the power of his faith and the support given by
his pastor and funeral directors, Shawn
Smith and Matt Bailey, was truly inspiring. It was good to hear that what we do
makes a difference.
In the spirit of being a good neighbor I am proud to report that Covenant
to Care for Children representatives
Shonya Harrison and Catherine Haugh
were greatly appreciative of our boxes
and boxes of donated school supplies
and toiletries.
May/June 2015
There will be lots of
opinions and concerns on
the results of the legislative decision to reduce the
Indigent Fund Level for
funerals. For now we just
have to give this a waitand-see attitude. Lobbyist
Mike Dugan was at the capitol until the
wee hours of the morning. We appreciate his diligence on all matters concerning CFDA in Hartford.
So, the Triple Crown was won by
American Pharoah, LeBron James is in
a tough fight with Stephen Curry, the
Sox and the Yanks are in the midst of
it, the Travelers Golf Championship is
here, and who isn’t looking forward to
watching the Hartford Yard Goats play
in the yet-to-be built Dunkin’ Donuts
Stadium. It surely sounds like summer
to me.
As I do every June I encourage you
not to let another summer go by without enjoying your family and friends.
Every day the news of the world is grim
and most often down-right frightening.
While we do what we can to make this
a better place to live, we need to take
time to smell the roses. And “BTW” that
rose on the front cover? Beverly took the
photo in my back yard. There is a lot to
be said for puttering around in the dirt
in your own backyard.
Wishing you all a peaceful Summer.
— John
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
5
A Message from the President
What does our Personal and Industry Best
Look Like?
Summer Meeting • June 4th • Water’s Edge
OSHA Seminar
presented by Richard Best
by Howard K. Hill, cfsp, cpc, 2015 CFDA President
Funeral Services: Industry Value
Institutional effectiveness and overall business success is
fostered by:
• Strategic Leadership Performance
• Quality Improvement Processes that involve every aspect
of your business
• Industry Partnerships that broaden the value of your
services.
As individual institutions, our goal is to provide
stellar services to the families we serve regardless of the industry challenges we face. Funeral
home/funeral home combined with crematories
revenue is estimated to grow to $17.2 billion in
2019. Revenue has grown 2.6% per year over the
past five years. (U.S. National Center for Health
Statistics-Vital Statistics of the United States; National Vital Statistics Reports; U.S. Census Bureau)
We must capture this moment to reframe how
we do business. Corporately we can build on industry standards by creating and sustaining stakeholder engagement that is measurable and productive. Partnerships increase
our Performance, Image, & Exposure (P.I.E.), through the sharing of best
practices and resources. We must continue to invest in the future of education
through support of annual fundraisers like our annual golf tournament and
scholarship dinners. Collectively, we need to build stronger relationships with
casket companies, educational institutions, funeral supply firms and the Embalmers Board and other potential partners that we come in contact with. I am
proud of the work we are doing in our regional meetings and look forward to
the strategic work that will take place in the coming months through a “real”
effort to work together. Thank you for your continued support of these initiatives. As an industry, we are stronger together than we are independently.
6
The Associate
CFDA Suppliers Host Cocktail Reception
Access Financial Group/ITS
American Academy McAllister Institute
Aurora Casket Company, LLC
Batesville Casket Company
Connecticut Casket Company, LLC
Connecticut Funeral Supply/Bass-Mollett
Connecticut Valley Crematory
The Dodge Company
Embalmers Supply Company
Elm–Cap Wilbert
Elm–Cap Signet Supply
Federated Insurance
Liberty Casket Company
Matthews International Corporation
Mooney - Keehley
M. Solomon Casket Company
North East Casket Company
Norwalk Vault Company
Rocky Hill Vault Company
TJB Financial Services, Inc.
Whitmore Group, Ltd.
Thank You for your Generous Donations!
May/June 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
7
Facebook
Accounts
After
Death
A recent survey by the PEW Research Center found that 71% of all internet users
are on Facebook. As the most popular social media site, Facebook allows us to share
our random thoughts, photos of the kids and grandkids (and the beach vacation!),
and connect with classmates and long-distance relatives.
Over the last few years, Facebook has grown
into a natural place that people go to share an
obituary of a friend or relative, post photos of
someone who has died, and share their favorite
memories of that person.
Facebook has followed these trends and updated their policies to be more sensitive and respectful to grieving family and friends. When
someone dies, a family member or close friend
can notify Facebook to report the death and ask
that the account be memorialized.
The name of the individual, date
of death and a link to the obituary
or a copy of the death certificate is
required to make such a request.
A memorialized account provides friends and family a place to
share photos and memories after a
person has passed away. Facebook
will first add the word “remembering” next to the name of the deceased.
The Benefits of A Memorialized
Account Includes:
• Provides a place for friends to share memories on the memorialized Timeline
• The content the person shared – like photos and thoughts – stay on Facebook and remain visible to the audience it was shared with
• Privacy is preserved: no one can log onto
a memorialized account, but can see what was
previously there
May/June 2015
Alternatively, a Facebook user may choose to
have their account permanently deleted when
they pass away. Prior to death, the user can indicate such in their settings, and, once a family
member or close friends “report” the death to
Facebook, the account would be permanently
deleted.
Group Pages
If an individual’s page is deleted, friends and
family members may choose to
create a Facebook “group” instead to offer the opportunity
to share memories of their loved
one. Telling stories about someone who has died is a big piece
of grieving, and can be done in
a private or closed Facebook
group. This is especially helpful
for those who were unable to attend the funeral services, and for those who are
feeling particularly emotional in the days and
weeks leading up to the first anniversary of the
death.
Facebook has also fine-tuned their settings to
remove deceased users from their “People You
May Know” posts. The stories of the families
and friends who have been negatively impacted
by a “Wish Sammy a happy birthday” reminder
months after “Sammy” died will never happen
again.
To learn move about these tools to share with
the families you serve, visit bit.ly/fbMemorializedAccts.
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
9
The Power of Mentors
Everybody needs a mentor — students, doctors, farmers, lawyers, mothers, fathers,
presidents, actors, musicians . . . even funeral directors. But when you ask most people if they’re willing to be a mentor or find a mentor, most often the response is that
they have no idea how to do it or what is involved.
So here’s a brief “Mentor 101” for those interested in being mentored or who want
to mentor a just-starting-out professional.
Mentoring is a professional activity, a trusted relationship and a meaningful commitment.
The origins of mentoring can be traced back
to ancient Greece as a technique to impart to
young men important social, spiritual and personal values. In the Deep South, young ladies
were sent to “finishing schools,” but in fact,
they were sent to be mentored in the social
graces.
Mentoring as we know it today is loosely
modeled on the historical veteran craftsman/
apprentice relationship, where young people
learned a trade by shadowing the master artisan.
In the mid-‘70s, corporate America redefined
mentoring as a career development strategy.
Mentoring relationships range from loose,
informal kinships where a mentee learns by
observation and example, to structured, formal
agreements between expert and novices where
each develops professionally through the twoway transfer of experience and perspective.
Whether the relationship is formal or informal, the goal of mentoring is to provide career
advice as well as professional and personal enrichment. For this reason, we define a mentoring relationship as helping and supporting
people to “manage their own learning so they
can maximize their professional development,
improve their performance and become the
professional and the person they want to be.”
Few organizations—mortuary colleges to
corporate funeral home owners and independent firms—dedicate the time and resources
required to offer formal mentoring programs
to their students/employees. While popular
books on leadership typically include achapter
on mentoring, you cannot learn to be a mentor or mentee by reading a book or following
cookie-cutter leadership advice. One size does
not fit all.
Why? Because every mentee has different
strengths, and every mentor has different skills
and experiences.
10
Set Clear Goals
An essential first step in a successful mentoring relationship is for both the mentor and
mentee to identify, define and honestly articulate their common and individual goals and
motives:
1. Does the mentor want to eventually
delegate a portion of his or her job responsibilities to the mentee?
2. Is the mentor secretly developing a succession plan?
3. Does the mentee envision mastering
their “craft” or transitioning away from handson work to build management and leadership
skills?
4. Is the mentee planning to use the mentoring experience to progress within the organization or to seek employment elsewhere?
5. Are both looking to give back to the organization and make the work environment a
better place for all?
6. Is mentoring a stepping stone to personal and professional growth?
Once the mentor and mentee have shared
their goals for the relationship, the following
should be used as a guide:
Strive for mutual benefits – The relationship should be defined from the beginning
as mutually beneficial. Each participant has
committed to the relationship by choice. Each
should openly share his or her goals for the
relationship and work collaboratively to help
achieve them.
Agree on confidentiality – Confidentiality
is a critical component in building trust between the participants. Without a mutually understood ability to speak freely as the situation
warrants, the relationship is unlikely to reach
its full potential.
Commit to honesty – The participants
should be willing to candidly share what they
expect to gain from the relationship and their
The Associate
vision for getting there. They should be prepared to offer frank feedback as appropriate,
even if the feedback is critical.
Listen and learn – Mutual benefits and honesty can only be achieved when both members
feel their viewpoints are heard and respected.
Mentors, especially, need to remember that the
relationship is not primarily about them. Mentees should not be intimidated or made to feel
their views are not valued.
Build a working partnership – Consider
structuring a working partnership that includes
project consultation or active collaborations
rooted in the common ground of shared professional goals. These collaborations can lead
to discoveries about each participant’s preferred
working style, daily obligations and professional aspirations.
Lead by example – Actions create the most
lasting impression.
Be flexible – It might help for a mentoring
relationship to have defined goals, but the process may be as important, or more so, then the
goals.
Types of Mentors
At the beginning of a career, a mentor skilled
in a certain skill set may be appropriate. As organizational roles evolve into more supervisory
capacities, mentors who can provide more career-related, organizational, political and managerial skills development can be beneficial. In
the later part of a career, retirement and succession planning guidance may become more
important.
Long time employees also might benefit
from what Jack Welch, former CEO of General
Electric, called “reverse mentoring” – partnering with someone from a younger generation
to share expertise, update skills and gain a fresh
perspective.
Different mentoring relationships generate a
whole host of mentor types and styles:
The wise leader is someone who through
seniority within the organization has reached
the top of his or her career and is worthy of
and willing to impart knowledge and wisdom
to others in the organization. While most of
their mentoring relationships are formally arranged, wise leaders have been known to take
on protégés in informal apprenticeships.
The life coach is a professional mentor,
May/June 2015
often in the organization’s human resources
division or an outside consultant. Staff looking
to change jobs or careers often hire life coaches
outside the work environment to evaluate their
performance, prepare for new career opportunities, or simply set and achieve personal goals.
These relationships tend to be short term with
a targeted and prioritized set of objectives.
The teacher could be working with current
or past students to build their professional talents and skills, or someone who assumes the
“honorary” role of teach – promoting learning
and growth by imparting knowledge, debating
ideas or recommending resources.
Peer mentors participate in informal relationships in which colleagues or friends pair
up to help each other grow within an organization. They might team up to gain professional development experience, share networking
contacts or simply support each other’s career
path choices.
The close buddy/confidante is someone to
use as a sounding board. It is helpful in both
healthy and dysfunctional work environments
to have a confidante with whom to bat ideas
around, air frustrations, request reality checks
and seek advice.
The do-it-yourself mentor takes the form of
books, manuals, articles, checklists, software,
websites, etc., that provide proven formulas
or step-by-step advice on how to grow professionally. While not a substitute for the real
thing, some of these popular resources are useful in helping an employee map a career path
and/or lay a foundation for future mentoring
relationships.
The inner mentor is the internal voice that
calls upon your intuition to glean and mold life
experiences into a personalized leadership philosophy. This nontraditional self-mentoring
approach takes into account past experiences,
current competencies and future potential.
The process of mentoring yourself is difficult
– it takes concentration, self-reflection and the
ability to trust your own instincts.
This article is based on the work of Susan
Metros (Ohio State University) and Catherine
Yang (EDUCAUSE).
— From the Texas Director
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
11
CFDAUpdate...
OCME Announces Changes in CORE Billing System
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is pleased to announce that all administrative management support services will
be returning to the 11 Shuttle Road facility
starting July 1, 2015.
This action includes returning to the State
of Connecticut’s Human Resource and Financial Management system (CORE).
Part of the restoration includes returning
to CORE’s billing system which now features an opportunity to have your monthly
cremation billing E-mailed directed to you
(instead of receiving a bill in the mail).
If you are interested in having your cremation bill E-mailed to you, please initiate
an e-mail to Mrs. Aida Kristo, Fiscal/Administrative Officer at Kristo@ocme.org
with the name/location of your funeral service(s), contact name(s) and phone number(s) together with the e-mail address(s)
you want the “E-bill” sent to.
If you have any questions regarding this
new service, please contact Mrs. Kristo at
860-679-4217.
Additional Information from
Dr. James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner
Thanks for passing along the new changes at the OCME to your members. As
you are aware, Tom Baziak is back with
us temporarily to help us transition back
to a stand-alone agency which we could
not have done without him. But we also
have a new head administrator, Dwayne
Gordon. He is doing a bang-up job
with re-starting the business office and a
1000 other things. If you or any of the
FDs have any problems or concerns, do
not hesitate to contact me or Dwayne
Gordon.
Post Session Summary of Indigent Funeral Fund
by Michael Dugan, Capitol Consulting, LLC, CFDA Lobbyist
After a marathon all night session on the final day of the 2015 legislature, the House and
Senate approved a 341 page, $40 billion state
budget which raises revenue by $1.5 billion
over the next two years according to the Office of Fiscal Analysis. The General Assembly
will be back in Special Session before July 1st
because they did not have time to adopt the
traditional budget implementation bills, which
provides direction on how individual line items
are to be spent.
Of interest to CFDA is the line item that
provides funding for indigent funeral expenses. Under current law if an individual is determined to be indigent they receive $1,800
from the state. In February, Governor Malloy
proposed cutting this amount to $1,000. At
an Appropriation Committee public hearing
CFDA testified in opposition to this proposed
12
cut. Following the hearing the committee voted to restore the funds to $1,800. During the
final days of the legislative session, in budget
negotiations between the General Assembly
and the Malloy Administration a compromise
was reached to split the difference between the
two budget proposals. In legislation to be taken up during the Special Session to implement
the budget a proposal will likely be approved
setting the new indigent funds level at $1,400.
In anticipation of the legislature acting on
this proposal, CFDA will lobby legislative leaders and the Malloy Administration to increase
contributions by family, friends and organizations from the current $2,800 to $3,200. By
increasing the family and friends contribution
by $400 it will help mitigate the cut to the indigent line item.
The Associate
May/June 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
13
UUUUUUU 2015
CFD-PAC
O V
H
Treat Yourself as You Treat Your Families
You offer your families your in-depth knowledge and
support in finding out what best suits their individual needs.
At TJB Financial Services, Inc.,
we also believe that our
clients’ needs come first.
Our Goal: To help you feel comfortable
seeking help with your financial goals,
and to assist you in a knowledgeable,
courteous, and professional manner.
ur oice in artford
and Washington
It Only Works If Everyone Participates
John C. Carmon
Howard K. Hill
Morton L. Weinstein
R. Thomas Abbate (S)
Kent E. Carlson
Howard M. Holmes
Carl J. Miller, III
Philip & Jessica Pietras
Gold Club, Contributions of $500 to $750
Timothy M. Cook
Robert R. Fournier, Jr.
Richard P. Holmes
David T. Warren
Silver Club, Contributions of $250 to $499
Gerald S. Baxter, Sr.
JoAnn Brennan
Ronald & Leena Charron
Christopher J. Duhaime
John P. Klarman
David W. MacDonald
Richard J. Miller
William R. Molloy
Christopher E. Ryan, Sr.
George F. Sullivan, III
Bronze Club, Contributions of $50 to $249
Glenn Blumenstein
Timothy J. Bourdon (S)
B. Patrick Callahan
John F. Cascio
Clement L. DeLucia Robert C. Havens (S)
Joseph R. Introvigne, Sr. Kevin M. Lesko
Lissa Lovetere-Stone
James A. Mengacci
Nicole I. Paquette
Brian K. Romanowski
Edward
J.
Sheehy,
Jr.
Total as of June 2015 - $9,125.00
The CFD-PAC helps us keep members of the General Assembly who support our state interests in office.
Virtually every other professional group in the country is trying to do the same thing, and their interests may be
very different than ours.
Associations and corporations are prohibited by law from making state campaign contributions.
All CFDA contributions to political campaigns are derived exclusively from personal CFD PAC
contributions.
Contributions to the CFD PAC are used to support candidates running for the State Senate and House of Representatives.
Together, we send these important messages to the State of Connecticut:
• CFDA is sustained by a politically aware and active membership base.
• We hold our elected officials accountable for their actions.
• We are active participants in the election process.
• We appreciate the great volunteers who serve on the Legislative and PAC Committees.
• We thank our lobbyist, attorney and staff for all their hard work and efforts.
All contributions are voluntary and are not a condition for CFDA membership. The amounts listed are merely
guidelines. You may contribute more or less without concern of reprisal.
Note: State Election Committee regulations prohibit CFD-PAC from accepting contributions from your funeral
firm. Personal Checks only, made payable to CFD-PAC are acceptable.
(S) indicates suppliers
14
The Associate
TJB Financial Services, Inc. and the CFDA
We are proud to be the Preferred Provider of Financial Services
to the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association and its Members.
Please let us know how we may assist you
and the families you serve.
Tim Bourdon and Bob Havens were awarded the Five Star Professional Wealth
ManagersSM Award for 2014. They are both multi-year recipients.
Based on 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria including:
minimum of 5 years as an active credentialed financial professional,
favorable regulatory and complaint history, fulfillment of firm’s internal
review, accepts new clients, client retention rates, client assets administered, number of client
households, education and professional designations. The award is not indicative of the wealth
managers’ future performance.
For more information please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.
Approximately 14% of the award candidates in Connecticut were named 2014 Five Star
Wealth Managers.
Main Office: 9 School Street, Suite 6, P.O. Box 1020, East Granby, CT 06026
www.TJBFinc.com • (860) 844-0300 • Toll Free: 1-877-573-2226
Branch Offices: 18 Main Street, Ellington, CT 06029
110 Washington Avenue, North Haven, CT 06473 • (203) 936-7125
Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth
Financial Network, member FINRA/SiPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.
Fixed insurance products and services offered through TJB Financial Services, Inc.
are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth.
May/June 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
15
Summer Meeting • June 4th • Water’s Edge
CFDA Members donated toiletries
and/or school supplies for the
Covenant to Care for Children
Backpack Challenge
Everything from toothbrushes to crayons were
delivered for this non-profit organization that
helped 13,000 Connecticut boys and girls last
year “who are neglected, abused and/or impoverished.”
CFDA President Howard Hill and Executive
Director John Cascio were joined at the drop-off
table by Catherine Haugh, Program Coordinator for Covenant to Care for Children.
Updates & Changes to the CFDA Membership Directory
If you have printed your copy of the 2015 CFDA Membership Directory
heer are some changes that have been reported since the last update.
If you have additions, changes, omissions, or updates, please call or let us know by sending them to the CFDA office via email at connfda@aol.com attn: Beverly Matthews,
Member Services.
Tiana M. Cardone - add to Holmes FH - email - tianamcardone@gmail.com
Paul Cichon - Potter FH - no longer there
Emilie P. Duhaime - add to Funk Funeral Home
Philip Fama - DellaVecchia FH - corrected email - philf@dellavecchiafh.com
John W. Ford - Alderson Ford FH - new email - john@fordfh.com
Daniel Honan - Honan Funeral Home - new email - dth714@aol.com
Martin Karpel - D’Esopo Funeral Chapel - new email - marty@desopo.com
Dawn Maiorano - Maiorano FH - new email - addiva11@aol.com
Robert Mastropietro - moved to Cornell Memorial
Patricia A. Moody - Cummings Gagne FH - corrected email - fpsconnor@aol.com
Elizabeth Pappas - no longer at Cody-White FH
Ronald J. Stempion - Smith Russo & Stempien FH
- new email - sstempien@stempienfuneralhome.com
New Supplier:
Cooperative Funeral Fund
74 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT 06443
Ph (203) 245-3660
Fax (203 245-0825
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In Memoriam
Help Wanted
David A. DeBisschop
June 9, 2015
Munson-Lovetere Funeral Homes
Woodbury & Southbury, CT
Lincoln College of New England in Southington,
CT is seeking applications for both full-time
and adjunct faculty position in the ABFSE accredited
Mortuary Science Program. Applicants are required to
be a licensed embalmer in the State of Connecticut, or
can be licensed in CT. Rank and salary are negotiable
and commensurate with experience. Preferred:
Master’s Degree in related field, teaching experience.
For more information or to apply,
please contact Doreen Carron 860-628-4751, Ext.
40925 dcarron@lincolncollegene.edu
Help Wanted
We are looking for a newly licensed funeral
director to work part time/full time.
Seeking a compassionate, hard working
and dedicated funeral director.
Please send resume to
kristen.hosterman90@gmail.com
Mark Mannix
mark@cffinc.com
www.cffinc.com
The Associate
May/June 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
17
Bits & Pieces
News You Might Be Able to Use
Final Rule on Reimbursement of Costs for Caskets
and Urns of Indigent Veterans Being Interred in a VA
Cemetery
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the Final Rule on the reimbursement
of caskets and urns used for the interment or
inurnment of the remains of indigent veterans
in a VA cemetery. In order to qualify for reimbursement, all of the following must be met:
• Only Veterans who died on or after January 10, 2014 and whose remains are interred or inurned in a national VA cemetery are eligible.
• Any casket that is metal and any urn are eligible for reimbursement, but the amount
to be reimbursed will be the average price
of a 20-gauge casket and the average price
of a plastic urn. In 2015 the maximum reimbursement will be $1,967 for a casket
and $172 an urn.
• An individual or business may submit an
application, but all directors of the VA
cemetery must inspect all caskets and
urns to make sure it matches the description listed on the invoice.
• A VA Form 40-10088 must be submitted
with the following supporting documentation for reimbursement to an individual
or business: a certificate showing there are
no funds available to purchase the casket
or urn must be presented and paperwork
showing that a next-of-kin cannot be located or the next-of-kin is unwilling or
unable to pay the costs associated with a
proper burial for the deceased veteran.
Funeral homes that have provided a casket
or urn to a veteran that died and was interred
or inurned in a VA cemetery after January 10,
2014, and have not been paid, can still apply
for a reimbursement.
Source: NFDA Scott Gilligan
Tips for Getting Families to Pre-Plan Their Funeral
The Families that pre-plan their funerals, allow funeral directors to truly understand what
is important to them and what they want at
their funeral without all the stress that comes
with post-death planning. Rochelle Rietow, FuneralOne, has come up with seven of the best
tips for getting families to pre-plan:
• Let them know this is their chance to put
in writing their end-of-life wishes.
• Pre-planning allows families to highlight
memories and hobbies for others to see.
• Families that plan ahead, also take the
pressure off other family members to make
the right decision when they are grieving.
• By planning ahead, families can begin saving and pay for their funeral in advance
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and not leave others with the burden of
paying for a funeral.
• When families pre-plan, they lock in the
cost of their funeral at the time of planning, even if the costs go up prior to their
death.
• Let families, who plan ahead, know that
they can make changes and additions to
their pre-planning arrangements anytime
they want.
• Be sure to let families know that all of their
wishes will be carried out and that others
cannot change what has been agreed upon
between family and the funeral home.
Source: CD Funeral News, April 22, 2015
The Associate
May/June 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
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Federated Insurance Issues
New Mission Statement
“As a mutual insurance company, we believe
our value is measured by the success of our
clients. It’s our business to protect yours.”
The result of much contemplation and reflection, this mission statement clearly defines
our company’s purpose and answers the question: Why does Federated exist? The answer
is: to enhance the success of our clients. Our
value as an organization is directly tied to the
success or failure of our clients: your members.
Moving forward, this mission statement
will serve as a moral compass for all Federated
employees and all corporate decision making.
As we continue to serve the evolving insurance
and risk management needs of your members,
we will do so with an eye on our overriding
mission: to help these businesses thrive.
Federated Insurance CEO, Jeff Fetters
stated in a letter to CFDA, “We here at Federated Insurance look forward to fulfilling our
mission during every interaction with you and
your members,”
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The Associate
May/June 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
Tips of the Day
Presented by Timothy Bourdon,
President, TJB Financial Services, Inc.
So You Want to Buy a Vacation Home . . .
As the weather warms up, many people are thinking about summer plans—and possibly dreaming
of buying a vacation home. Although the idea of having a permanent “home away from home” may
sound appealing, purchasing a vacation property isn’t something to be entered into lightly. If you’re
considering this major commitment, here are some important questions to ask yourself.
What’s your budget?
The process of buying a second home generally starts with the financials. In addition to the cost of
the property itself, you need to consider other expenses such as:
• Property taxes
• Insurance
• Repairs and maintenance, landscaping, and utilities
Timothy J. Bourdon
If you’d need to take out a second mortgage to finance the purchase, you’ll have to decide if getting
further into debt makes sense. Do your due diligence to see if you’re a candidate for a second mortgage, including reviewing your debt-to-income ratio (lenders look for a number below 36 percent)
and your current credit score.
How will you use the property?
A key factor in the financial calculation is whether you’ll use the home solely as your personal
vacation residence, turn it into a rental property, or some combination of the two. Many people use
rental income from a second home to offset the mortgage until the property is paid off. If you rent
out the home for fewer than 15 nights per year, you can keep the income without reporting it to the
IRS. If you rent it out more than that, you must report the rental income, but you also qualify to
claim certain deductions.
How much you get to deduct depends on how you divide your personal time at the property and
the rental time. If you spend 14 nights per year at the home, or more than 10 percent of the number
of nights it is rented out, whichever is longer, the IRS considers the home a personal residence, and
you can write off typical rental expenses against your rental income.
Robert C. Havens
Who will manage the property?
If renting the vacation house is part of your plan, it’s important to consider who will take responsibility for:
• Overseeing the property for you (including cleaning, repairs, and the like)
• Coordinating with renters
• Assessing the local rental market to price the property accordingly (too high may lead to
vacancies; too low won’t maximize your investment)
If you live a considerable distance away from the second home, hiring a local property manager is
an expense that can’t be overlooked.
What kind of insurance will you need?
Insurance is a necessary protection for any piece of property, and vacation homes can present
additional risks. There are many options to choose from, so it’s important to do your research. Some
insurers may offer a second-home endorsement to your primary residence coverage instead of selling
you another stand-alone policy, which may be a more affordable choice.
TBJ Financial
Services, Inc.
“The Preferred
Provider of
Financial Services
for The CFDA
and its Members”
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Additional insurance considerations include:
• Location: Aside from a spectacular view, be sure to consider points like neighborhood crime
rate, natural dangers common in the area (flood, hurricane risk), and the history and state of
the property itself.
• Amount and type of liability coverage: Whether the house will be vacant for extended periods or
rented by many tenants over the course of the year, it’s imperative to ensure that you have sufficient coverage and to adjust it over time if necessary.
(Continued on page 23)
The Associate
TJB - Tips of the Day, Continued
How easy would it be to sell?
Eventually, if you decide to sell the property, you’ll want to be sure you can make a profit. Popular
vacation areas tend to have higher property appreciation rates, but location isn’t everything. You should plan
to invest in upgrades and maintenance along the way to maximize the return on your investment.
Making a wise choice
Buying a vacation house can be an exciting accomplishment (and possibly a great investment), but it
requires serious consideration, especially from a financial standpoint. Ensuring that you have the means to
comfortably purchase a second home—and recognizing the additional expenses that come along with it—is
key to making a smart decision that your family will enjoy for years to come.
This material has been provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute either tax or legal advice. Although we
go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a tax preparer, professional tax advisor,
or lawyer.
IRS CIRCULAR 230 DISCLOSURE:
To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including
any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code,
or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.
For IARs: Timothy Bourdon is a financial advisor located at TJB Financial Services, Inc. 9 School Street, Suite 6, East Granby, CT 06026. He
offers securities and advisory services as an Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a
Registered Investment Adviser. He can be reached at (860) 844-0300 or at tbourdon@tjbfinc.com.
For Registered Representatives: Robert Havens is a financial consultant located at TJB Financial Services, Inc. 9 School Street, Suite 6, East Granby, CT 06026. He offers securities as a Registered Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC. He can be reached
at 860-844-0300 or at rhavens@tjbfinc.com.
© 2015 Commonwealth Financial Network®
TJB Financial Services, Inc. 9 School Street, Suite 6, P.O. Box 1020, East Granby, CT 06026
www.TJBFinc.com (860)844-0300 Toll Free: (877) 572-2226
Branches: 18 Main Street, Ellington, CT 06029 and 110 Washington Avenue, North Haven, CT 06473 (203) 936-7125
Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network,
Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Rev.10/14
May/June 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
23
Summer Meeting • June 4th • Water’s Edge
Also honored for Years of Service and Years of Licensing:
West Haven Funeral Home
50 Years of Service
West Haven, CT
Christopher J. Duhaime, cfsp, cpc
27 Years of Licensing
Emilie P. Duhaime
34 Years of Licensing
Ronald F. Duhaime
45 Years of Licensing
Funk Funeral Home, Bristol, CT
Funk Funeral Home
150 Years of Service
Bristol, CT
In 2013 Ed Sheehy from
Riverview Funeral Home
celebrated 25 Years of
Licensing. It seems that a
commorative photo was
never taken and we want
to be certain that Ed gets
recognized for all his Years of
Licensing and his contribution
to CFDA.
Keynote Speakers were
David Wheeler and The Rev.
Kathleen E. Adams-Shepherd.
David’s son Ben was one of the
26 children killed at Sandy Hook
Elementary School in 2012. He
and Rev. Kathy spoke about their
relationships with Funeral Directors Shawn Smith and Matthew
Bailey during their heartbreaking
journey.
There was dancing all evening to
the amazing music of The Rahsaan
Langley Project.
Members and guests danced in a
circle, in a conga line and at one
point everyone was jumping on
cue.
It’s good to see our colleagues
enjoying a night out with friends!
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The Associate
May/June 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
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Summer Meeting • June 4th • Water’s Edge
There was dining and dancing and a great day at the Shore was enjoyed by all.
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The Associate
May/June 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
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