Celebrate Life with One Last Party ™
July 1, 2010
One Last Party ™ is an opportunity to celebrate and honor your loved one with food, drinks, and fellowship, while tending to the emotional and relational needs of family and friends. This can take the place of the traditional visitation, or after the funeral/memorial service, and can be held in our spacious community room, or at our One Last Party™ partner, Vannelli’s by the Lake in downtown Forest Lake.
We are in the beginning stages of incorporating this unique experience in honoring and celebrating the life lived.
There will be additional information coming soon.
Seeing is believing….
June 7, 2010
” Seeing is believing,” is what I often hear when Tim is explaining the value of viewing their deceased loved one. I recently ran across the following article that describes the message that Tim & many funeral professionals pass along everyday.
Most people have heard the old saying “seeing is believing”… but many people have also lived through a life experience which gave them a deep, emotional understanding of this simple phrase. Consider what happens when a parent receives call from their child’s school saying that their child has been hurt on the school yard. They’re told that the child is ok but still they’ll spend the rest of their work day counting the minutes…waiting to see their child….because seeing is believing.
Consider what happened to our entire society when the planes flew into the twin towers on Sept 11 2001. Within minutes of hearing the news over, televisions across the country were turned on as people watched the videos over and over again. They have estimated that over 90% of American’s saw the videos the first day. Many people had the TV on all day watching the videos over and over again, trying to grasp the magnitude of the moment, trying to come to grips with the trauma…because seeing is believing.
The burning desire to See is the natural human response to any traumatic event. Seeing the event, or seeing the aftermath of the event, makes the traumatic event real. It’s already real on an intellectual level as soon as we hear about the event, but to make it real on an emotional level we must See.
Psychologists tell us that all traumatic events introduce a certain amount of chaos into our lives and that the lingering effects of chaos is what most people refer to as grief. They also tell us that the need to See is tied to our need to bring order out of chaos and in doing so to minimize the long term grief that is associated with the traumatic event.
Back in 1969, Elizabeth Kubler Ross in her book “Death and Dying” described 5 stages of grief. The 5 stages are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. These widely accepted stages are now taught in every psychology program in the country. We can try to deny the stages….but we cannot avoid them. The 5 stages are fundamental to our human nature. We move through these stages so that we can bring order to chaos and begin to accept the event. Seeing the outcome of a traumatic event is a critical component of Acceptance. In fact, without Seeing it is extremely hard to get to the point of Acceptance or ever move to the point of experiencing emotional healing.
Consider the difference between the painful death of a loved one versus the disappearance of a loved one. With a death and the reality of saying goodbye to your loved one you can eventually move through grief, reach Acceptance and on some level…heal. But with a disappearance there is no closure. You will experience grief but you will never reach Acceptance, instead you will be bogged down in Depression….sometimes you will stay there for the rest of your life.
A common point of debate in our culture today is whether or not there should be a public viewing of the body after the death of a loved one. Some people think that the viewing makes it even harder for the family. In fact, viewing the body plays an extremely important role in moving a person through the five stages of grief in a healthy way.
If someone you care about passes away you can never avoid grief you can only move through it. Seeing the remains of a loved one is an undeniable confirmation of the death. For those who are stuck in the first stage of grief (i.e, Denial) it empowers them to move forward through the grief process and to eventually heal from the loss.
Seeing the final disposition of the body is also critically important because it brings closure to the traumatic event. Whether it be the lowering of a casket into a grave or the scattering of cremated remains, it is important for everyone who had an emotional connection to the deceased to witness the final ceremony. Only by experiencing this final goodbye ceremony firsthand can we find closure and begin healing.
Some people who are preplanning their own funerals wrongly assume that they are making it easier for their family by requesting no viewing of their remains. Sadly, they are actually making it harder for their family. Allowing their body to be present is actually the last meaningful gift that they can give to their loved ones. Their soul may have departed but their earthly body will help those who remain accept the loss and begin their journey through the natural grief process towards emotional healing.
Always remember…if someone you love passes away you cannot avoid grief. Instead you should reach out to others who can help you navigate this difficult time so that you can honor their life, accept the loss and begin emotional healing.
Seeing is believing.
And believing leads to Emotional Healing…..
Posted with permission by John Callaghan
Honoring our Fallen Heroes
May 28, 2010
Arlington National Cemetery
As I read through the paper last evening, I saw the Memorial Day Sale Ads everywhere . . . and it made me think. . . “How Did Memorial Day even begin?” Here’s a quick history lesson and several great ways to observe Memorial Day.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day – a day of remembrance for those who died in our nation’s service. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan and was first observed on May 30, 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Field”, Moina Michael wrote her own poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
She conceived an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day to honor those who have died serving our nation during war. Moina was the first American to wear a poppy and sold poppies to people in her community donating the money to benefit servicemen in need. The popularity of her idea continued to spread and in 1922, the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to nationally sell artificial poppies made by disable veterans.
As the traditional meaning and observances of Memorial Day have changed, I would like to encourage everyone to observe this holiday this year by:
Attend the local Forest Lake Memorial Day Ceremony at Lakeside Park.
Visit cemeteries and place flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
Visit Veterans Memorials in Minnesota.
Fly our U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day
Participate in a “National Moment Of Remembrance” — at 3:00 PM on Memorial Day, pause and think upon the true meaning of the day.
Enjoy this holiday weekend. Commit to observing Memorial Day in several of the ways I have suggested.
Tim Tarmann,
Roberts Family Funeral Home
Roberts Family Funeral Home Recognized as “One of America’s Great Funeral Homes™”
May 25, 2010
Roberts Family Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Forest Lake, MN, has formally been accepted and is recognized as “One of America’s Great Funeral Homes™,” a national funeral service marketing campaign dedicated to improving service to families and individuals exclusively in the Forest Lake area during their time of need. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to show our uniqueness and differentiate ourselves from other area funeral homes,” said Kelly Roberts. “Exclusivity is important to us, and we’re privileged to be the first funeral homes in the state, and the only firm in the Forest Lake and surrounding area that is a member of “One of America’s Great Funeral Homes™.”
“One of America’s Great Funeral Homes™,” or AGFH, is a full-service marketing company who requires its members to operate in the public interest by the Golden Rule: Treat others as you want them to treat you. AGFH provides its affiliates with radio, TV, Web site, new media, newspaper, direct marketing, print ads and supplier coop discounts that they can pass along to the public. The company is operated as a subsidiary of Carson & Son Funeral Home, Inc. in Maquoketa, Iowa. AGFH’s owner, Don Carson, is a third-generation funeral director who discovered a need for excellent national branding of funeral homes. He created AGFH to fill this need. “I want the public to feel confident that when they select a member of AGFH, that they will have selected one of America’s best funeral homes,” said Carson.
Located at 555 Centennial Drive, SW, Roberts Family Funeral Home and Cremation Service is a family-owned funeral and cremation services provider that has been serving the families of Forest Lake and the surrounding communties for five years now. If you would like to learn more about AGFH promotional products and to receive your free preplanning guide call 651.464.4422 or visit the Roberts Family Funeral Home and Cremation Service website at www.robertsfamilyfh.com.
Mock Crash at FLHS
May 21, 2010
Tim, Kelly, & Forest Lake Police Officer Jake Ayers placing the deceased victim into the hearse.
Along with Forest Lake High School, and various public safety agencies we participated in the annual mock car crash at the High School. The dramatization of a fatal car crash involving youth and alcohol was staged, and the public safety personnel responded as though as though an actual vehicle crash happened. The message was even more real as we pulled up to the scene and removed the victim from the scene. The mock crash was conducted in conjunction with the Operation Night Cap & Safe & Sober program that are aimed at increasing public awareness and safety during a time of the year where when there are typically a great number of alcohol related accidents.
Own A Piece of History
March 31, 2010
Forest Lake Area Veterans Memorial will be located on the east end of Broadway Ave in Lakeside Memorial Park in the semi-circle of the current four flag poles. One taller flag pole will be added in the center displaying the flag of the USA. Symbolic of the POW or MIA soldier there will be a cutout silhouette of a soldier saluting near the POW/MIA flag. At the base of the eastern most flag is a kneeling soldier near the main large granite wall (about 8 by 10ft). It will have names engraved of our Forest Lake area fallen comrades. The front will also have tributes, patriotic quotes and large letters saying “Forest Lake Area Veterans Memorial” and a lower line “Lakeside Memorial Park”. Within the semi-circle, six granite pieces represent the five military Services with one extra for future needs. They will each have important history vignettes of the Services. The walk area is made of granite pavers, both small 4”by 8” and large 8”by 16”. These can be purchased with engraving to honor any relatives and friends, living or deceased, who have served our country to preserve the freedom we enjoy today. You may order your tax deductible engraved paver through Forest Lake City Hall by using the attached order form. Other donations to this project will be greatly appreciated as well.
The eastern walls are low for sitting and have red flowers reminiscent of red poppies. The four silhouettes on the ends of the walls depict Patriot Guards holding flags.
The semi-circle on the west side of the sidewalk is a proposed interactive water feature with lights to draw interest to the area and conversation about the memorials. It will either have splash pads with water gushing upward and/or water fountain jets sequenced by computer. The water flows to floor grates by the west wall and is recycled, filtered and chemically treated.
The cost of the engraved small (4’by8”) granite paver is $ 150.
The cost of the engraved large (8”by 16”) granite paver is $300. (The entire cost is tax deductible)
Make check payable to: City of Forest Lake, Veterans Memorial Fund
Mail the order form and check to:
Forest Lake City Hall
Veterans Memorial Fund
220 Lake Street North
Forest Lake, MN 55025
(651) 464-3550 Phone:
Line 1: Name of Veteran
Line 2: Rank if desired, Branch of Service (Army, Marine, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard)
Line 3: Dates of service or war era
Granite Memorial Paver
Please complete the memorial paver order form with only veterans names. Any fraudulent order form will be denied with no refund.
You can list more than one veteran as long as the names stay within the allotted maximum spaces. Example: WALTER F & LEROY W MILLER (25 spaces)
Growing Through Loss Series
March 18, 2010
The purpose of this series is to provide an opportunity for individuals to obtain information and support for a variety of loss and grief issues.
Have you experienced?
• The death of a loved one
• Divorce or separation
• Aftermath of a suicide
• Loss of job, home, health — other losses
• A loved one needing your support
Do you feel?
• In need of support
• Interested in learning more about grief
• Interested in learning ways of helping others through grief?
Place:
Faith Lutheran Church
886 N. Shore Drive
Forest Lake, MN 55025
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Registration: 6:45-7 p.m.
Large group presentation: 7-8 p.m.
Small groups: 8-9 p.m.
Schedule
Each session is complete in itself. You’re welcome to attend one or all.
April 5 — Jennifer Silvera
April 12 — Bob & Carolyn Kluk
April 19 — Rev. Paul Brown
April 26 — Linda Cherek
May 3 — Gena Doyscher
May 10 — Linda Lehmann
“Gettin Cold” for this great cause..
February 9, 2010
Being in the funeral business, I have seen many different organizations help families when their loved has a terminal illness. One that is near and dear to me is Fairview Lakes HomeCaring & Hospice, our local hospice provider serving the Forest Lake area. This wonderful organization helps by managing symptoms so that life may be lived as fully and comfortable as possible. They also provide an annual grief camp for children, just another way of how they help. Often times families do not have the resources to pay for the services needed, so therefore hospice organizations raise funds to meet patient and staff needs.
Seeing how these wonderful people at Fairview Lakes HomeCaring & Hospice care for people, I decided to jump into frosty, frigid, frozen Forest Lake on February 20th, to raise money for their organization, and many others that the Rotary Club of Forest Lake supports. TO HELP ME OUT HERE…go to my link below, any donation would be greatly appreciated…Thank you!
http://winterplunge.kintera.org/kellyroberts
P.S. If you wanna join me “Gettin Cold for this Cause” be a part of Fairview Lake HomeCaring & Hospice team by going to:
http://winterplunge.kintera.org/fvlakeshospice
Valentine’s Day Luncheon
February 4, 2010
Urns
January 28, 2010
Urns, Urns, and more Urns! All different sizes, shapes, wood, brass, glass, metal, you get the picture with cremation being as prevalent, we are inendated with companies that sell them. When we help families choose an urn for their loved one, we often try and keep the choices some what limited as it can be overwhelming to people who are grieving. If they are looking for more of a choice, of course we have 10 plus catalogs that we can provide as well. Sometimes not even an urn is chosen, we have had cookie jars, ceramic pots, families have even made their own. I did run across a company called Urns.com, yes you can buy urns on the internet. www.urns.com has a nice variety and a lot of choices, they also have a great blog, http://blog.urns.com/ where they have a wealth of information about cremation, advanced funeral planning, anything related to our industry. Whether from our catalog, the internet, or perhaps something from home, the most important detail, is that it has significance to the family we are helping.