DEDICATION

To my many funeral director friends throughout the United States and Canada. It has only been through your encouragement, validation, and support that these materials have been refined to the point of maximum effectiveness for the learner. Thanks for participating in my workshops and challenging me to continue to share my thoughts and feelings about funeral service.

I like to think that funeral directors have, in part, helped me discover meaning in my life. Someone once said, “All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don’t discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.” I’d also like to think that this book will help funeral home staffs “do for others” to the best of their ability during one of life’s most difficult of times.

A.D.W.