Everyone should know allit funerals. It is true that this is a service no one nts to buy, and one with which few people will be cerned except at in- frequent intervals in a lifetim Consequently, there is much ignorance about funeralervice which tends to nerve as a basis for much il ormed criticism. This advertisement is. therefore, ling published to gain better public understanding olfuneral service and its religious significance

The Modern Danilian Funeral

Comparisons are odious it this does not stop the critics from trying to compal Canadian funeral cus- toms with those in other lars. They suggest Cana- dians adopt the funeral custns practiced in other countries which have little orno regard for the feel- ings of the bereaved or the rligious rites attached to the funeral.

Canadian fulleral rndcels not a perfect institu- tion. No such claim hasever een made that it is. But there is much to be salt for 2 that is not even hinted at. much less mentioneeoy-the critics. Instead, they

prefer to make fun of amoral rites practiced in

this country and give bi pay to isolated. and not al- ways completely found nstanccs in order to make their points. A.

They go beyond thelmits of good taste to cari- caturize the funeral direc as ‘profiteers of death’ as “ghollls.” suggesting the s a group they should be banished. They overlook t_ fact that there are thous- ands of funeral directors toughout the country who are leaders in their com ‘ties and highly respected by their fellow citizens. an admission would be too damaging to their casegr it to be mentioned!

Thousands of letters e_ received every year by funeral directors from berved families they have served expressing their gfitude for the serivices rendered them in the timeittheir grief. Fewer than 1

per cent of those received. a critical of the services rendered, or the costs of thriunerals concerned.

An ostentatious fulei-a’—a simple funeral—an open casket for viewing byyhe bereaved and their friends—-the closed caslet—oll these are decisions for the family, often in co lrtion with their clergy- man, to make—not th fneral director. A funeral director has an obligati t serve the public as they wish to be served as to .t.‘3)'pe of funeral, and the price they wish to pay.

Meaning of Flieral Service

Death in all its torn has been viewed with fear by man since time immcorial. Therefore, anything connected with death is ided by most people until circumstances force the:% face its realities. Some. but only a few, among c , relatives and friends are able to weather the emrhnal crisis it creates. For most it takes time to fa p to the finality of death. the acceptance of the f hat the loved one will no ' longer be part of familiaonvironment.

This is not a new co pt. Pioneer work in this field was done by Freud his “Mourning and Mel- ancholio." Even more tly Dr. Erich Lindemann. a noted psychiatrist, mat further contributions to the subject as a result or s work with bereaved sur- vivors of the tragic Coco” Grove fire in Boston some years ago. '

The major role in "

the grief of survivors is played by their spiritual’ sers. But the funeral dir- ector, no less than the I an or rabbi, has his role to play, too. The wise lected funeral director as- sumes the myriad of I ibillties in setting up the necessary arrangemenl behalf of the family. His counsel can be dependd . n to assist from the hour

ll 486-2327

70 I Street, Sumlnerslde

ROONE

Serving Families

Professional critics of funeral directors like to bolster their case with this charge that the bereaved are subjected to high pressure sales tactics when the time comes for them to arrange a funeral. Most fam- ilies who have been served by established and reput- able funeral firms know from experience that such is not the case. Instead, they have a free choice as to the kind of service they wish to selcct—earth burial, cremation or giving the body for medical research- at the price they wish to pay. Many firms offer a wide range of prices beginning as low as $200. from which families can select a complete funeral service.

The fact is that in common with many other pro- fessions and businesses. funeral directors must adhere to a strict code of ethics in the conduct of their oper- ations. Thcy must obey the laws of the various prov- inces under which they operate. They must respect all creeds, religions and customs of those they serve. They must adhere to the highest standards of moral responsibility, character and business integrity in maintaining the goodwill of the families they serve, and the respect of the communities in which they live and perform their duties.

Funeral Establishments

It would be possible for a funeral director to oper- ate his mortuary out of a tent. BUT, no family would wish to patronize such a firm.

The Canadian public demands that facilities available to them should be properly housed in ap- propriate surroundings such as the churches or syna- gogues they attend. They want convenience, comfort and dignity. In these days when living space is less spacious than it was 50 years ago, the bereaved looks to the funeral director to provide family rooms where they can greet relatives and friends who have come to pay last respects. Private chapels maintained by fun- eral firms have also been developed in response to many persons who are not related to churches. or to meet the needs of those who do not choose to schedule their services in church. However, should the family wish to receive their friends at home or have the re- ligious services conducted in the church or synagogue of their choice, this is a matter for their decision.

Funeral Prices

No one denies that more money is being spent on funerals today. But this is because the public wants to spend more. This is the case in almost every line of service or merchandising being offered to the Canadian public today. The individual determines what he is going to pend. No one else makes this decision for him.

Surveys show that funeral sales lag behind in- come increases, and behind the price increases of re- tail and service trades. They show further that oper- ating costs of funeral establishments have risen sub- stantially at the same rate as the rise in costs of other businesses.

FUNERAL SERVICE that ery Family Should Know

Funeral Service

This is another myth being foisted upon the public by the professional critics who are advocating the quick disposal of the dead without benefit of religious services. Surveys show that far from making big profits, as alleged, most firms make less than $75.00 per funeral before taxes. Few other business enter- prises enjoy such a low profit margin compared with the total amount of investment required to equip, maintain and operate a modern funeral firm.

Capital investment comes high today compared with a few years ago. The funeral coach which cost $7,500 a comparatively short while ago, today costs $16,000. Taxes. supplies, wages, repairs and all other costs of doing business have steadily increased, yet families may still buy a funeral for about the same price they could in 1943.

Profits have not increased in that period, but the cost of doing business has multiplied many times over.

Clergy Relations

Critics try to drive a cleavage between the fun- eral director and the clergyman, priest or rabbi by suggesting that the former is usurping their role as counsellors in time of grief and need, and distorting the solemn religious rite. Religious leaders who accept this thesis put forward by the critic are in the minor- ity. Experience shows there is a deep and close re- lationship which exists between clergy of all faiths and the funeral director. The latter recognizes his con- tribution is chiefly in the realm of material services for the deceased and in serving the living.

Many families arranging funeral services are found to have no church affiliation. Sometimes they ask, and sometimes it is the funeral director who makes the suggestion to put them in touch with a clergyman of their own faith.

But, no responsible funeral director would wish to assume the responsibilities of the clergyman in this important religious rite. Infiead. he works with the clergyman to help and counsel the family in all pos- sible ways. Together, they co-operate in many different ways in making the funeral A MEANINGFUL AND SIGNIFICANT RELIGIOUS RITE for the bereaved.

Thus the roles played by the clergyman and the funeral director is a. blending of the practical aspects of the service, as rendered by the latter. and the re- iigious rituals performed by the church or synagogue.

Emhalming

Much has been made of the fact that embalming is a universal practice in Canada, and as such it is not necessary. The discrediting procedure followed by the critics is simply to undermine the claims of embalm- ing, allegedly based upon considerations of hygiene and mental health. Embalming is important. particu- larly if there is to be a delay between the time of death and actual interment. Medical experts will tes- tify that embalming is a sanitary precaution not in- consistent with the rules of good health. Further. on the part of many survivors. there is a natural desire to look upon the deceased for the last time. This is not morbid curiosity. Rather. there is psychological sup- port for the idea that it helps survivors to face the reality of their loss. In presenting the embalmed body for viewing—-sometimes only in private or a family situation—the mortician must employ his skill in cos- metology. This is particularly true in instances where the deceased has suffered a violent death.

The practice of embalming is spreading and many countries. led by England, are adopting it.

THIS MESSAGE SPONSORED BY THE FOLLOWING FUNERAL DIRECTORS

Hamilton Funeral Home

Parker E. Hamilton. Director Montague 220 Murray River 70

Monoghon Funeral Home Klnkora, Phone 17

‘ PERRY'S FUNERAL HOME

24 hour ambulance service Sourls, Phone 133

GILLIS FUNERAL HOME

Eldon Operated by A. Risoon Gillis Charles W. Gillis 24 hour ambulance service

JELLEYS FUNERAL HOME

Director Douglas V. Feguson 0’I.ea.ry, Phone 166

Montague Funeral Home Montague, Dill 838-2272, 838-2482

‘the Guardian. Cliarfottetown. Tues. Dec. 81. 1963. 1

Funeral Directors

In a few short years, there will not be enough funeral directors to serve in this country. Each com- munity, big or small, needs a mortuary. Mortuaries have to be accessible to citizens—within reasonable reach. Whether a mortuary handles a large number or just a few cases each year, the differential in cost in running operations is not so great as some might think. While the average cost per case will decline with volume-—-there is a point below which they will not go.

Only in some major metropolitan centres will there be found what is apparently an over-supply of mortuaries. But, it should not be forgotten that many of these are established to serve special religious or nationality groups.

More Facts

Expensive clothing is sold to survivors to dress the person to be buried, is another of the charges made by critics of Canadian funeral customs. The truth is that more than 99.8% of the dead are buried in their own clothing. It is rate, indeed, that it is necessary to purchase special clothing to bury the deceased.

Early Canadian settlers buried their dead in a simple pine box attended by a small group of family and friends, so it has been written, in an attempt to destroy the idea of a traditional funeral service. The truth is that this may have been a frontier tradition when sometimes the dead were buried without even benefit of a pine box. But this was not true of settled sections of earlier Canadian society. Early Canadians observed some rather elaborate and expensive funeral customs, as careful research will show.

Fiunerals represent a new status symbol in Canada, It has been claimed. True—in some instances. Some people view the funeral as a means to gain new status among their neighbors and friends. Status conscious Canadians also find expression in other symbols as well as in funerals. Such situations may be to a funeral director's advantage, but they are not of his making. He is obligated to provide the type of funeral service demanded. On the other hand. there are many times when funeral directors counsel families against mak- ing unnecessary expenditures.

“Funeral directors provide and charge for all that the traffic will bear”, is a criticism which has been re- peatod so often that few people heed it. Actually, most funeral firms have been in existence for several gen- erations. Many are family owned and operated. They could not continue on a “one time” basis—-and they could not attract families. time and time again. to use their services if they charged on an “all that the traf-‘ fic will bear” basis.

Freedom of choice

It is the inalienable right of every Canadian to have freedom of choice whether it involves the election of a candidate for political office, the kind of clothes he wants to wear, the kind of schools he wants to send his children to, the kind of a wedding he wants his daughter to have. So it is when it comes to the selec- tion of a funeral. The right remains that of the in- dividual or family to purchase a funeral service of THEIR OWN CHOICE. at the price THEY WISH TO

~ PAY, from the funeral director of THEIR CHOICE.

No reputable funeral director would presume it should be otherwise.

Reputable firms urge you to select in advance of any emergency, the funeral director in whom you can have confidence. Contact him. tell him about the kind of service you desire for yourself or your fa.rnily, and the price you want to pay. He will respect your wishes and those of your loved ones. This is the wise way to handle such matters without committing yourself to paying membership fees in an organization over which you have no control or in which you are denied dis- cretion or decision.

Chisholm Funeral Home

Heath M. Chisholm. Director North Tryon, Phone 25-5

CROZIER FUNERAL HOME

CARLE'l‘0N LOT 6 PHONE 0’LEARY 36-4