“What is a nice girl like you doing in the funeral business? “ A question that Cathy Boomer is often asked. To answer the question tells the story of someone who knows what it’s like to lose close family members. It tells the story of perseverance, and it tells the story of a desire to bring more choices to the Kansas City area for funeral care.
After a trip to Australia about 8 years ago, Cathy saw a storefront in a neighborhood in Sydney that looked inviting. “With flowers in the flower boxes and an awning on the street, it looked like a store that I would want to shop in.” After returning to the States and doing some research, she discovered that the shop – Simplistic Funerals – had all of the same services that we offered here in America, but it was just packaged differently. Instead of being an intimidating environment, it looked like a place that you would be comfortable entering.
Since that life-altering experience, Cathy has become a licensed Funeral Director and opened up her own personal vision of that storefront, Signature Funerals, located at 8019 State Line Road in Kansas City, Missouri. Locally owned, Signature Funerals has created a warm and inviting place to meet with families, along with space for small visitations and services. Cathy and her experienced Funeral Care team work closely with families to determine exactly what they need, the best place for their services, what to include, etc. “More than anything, I give them permission to openly discuss options and items for the funeral that they may not have at other funeral firms in Kansas City.” Those options may range from a service location that is a very traditional church setting or it might be at the Pilgram Chapel, the Johnson County Arboretum, a local park, or perhaps even the Midland Theatre, a Kansas City landmark.
Signature Funerals believes in education and making sure you understand the process before you or a loved one has a need. “When you’re being educated about the process in the middle of the need, it is incredibly difficult. To have confidence in your decisions, it is important to know about the process, your options, and start to think about what you want to communicate to your family about your wishes,” says Cathy. These wishes might even include a green funeral.
IzzitGreen: Cathy, you talk about Green Funerals – what does that mean, and is that something that’s new here in the United States?
Cathy: I see a Green Funeral as a process that can be implemented in steps. Some might see cremation as a green funeral option with the ashes being returned to the environment – earth or water – in a number of different ways. Others that are measuring carbon footprint might see a natural burial in a woolen shroud or biodgradable casket made of natural wood, wicker or rattan as an efficient or green burial. So, whether you are selecting an urn made of salt or sand or burial in a natural setting, there are a number of green options.
IzzitGreen: It seems as though the funeral business never changes. Have there been any major innovations in the last century?
Cathy: When you look at innovation in every other industry over the last 50-100 years and compare it to the funeral industry, there has been very little change in our industry. That said, the popularity of cremation as a final option has increased to nearly 50% across the United States versus the traditional process of a visitation at the funeral home followed by a funeral at a church. While this decision is often financially based because cremation costs so much less, it inserts CHOICE back into the situation and puts the control back into the hands of the consumer. No longer is a grieving family forced into making decisions because the funeral home – who’s been in business for generations upon generations – tells them it has to be a certain way.
Across the board, buying patterns have changed as well. Whereas 50 years ago someone would go to a local family-owned hardware store, for example, now they go to Home Depot. And with clothing, instead of asking the clerk at the local dress shop to “show me all of your blue dresses,” now you browse through the racks yourself and ask questions only when needed, or you avoid it all together and simply shop online.
In the funeral care business, historically, everything has been handled and controlled by the Funeral Director, leaving consumers and families uncomfortable and unhappy with the process and the experience. Add on top of that exhaustion, overwhelming grief, and limited or no prior education about this important event and what needs to take place, it can be even further devastating.
IzzitGreen: You talk about “permission,” which is such an important concept. Can you elaborate?
Cathy: At Signature Funerals we believe that permissions are so important! Permission to make different choices based on all of the options available, and to think differently and outside the box, so to speak. A funeral is the ultimate celebration of someone’s life, and it’s important to tell their story in the manner in which it should be told. That doesn’t always mean doing things the same exact way that other family members, friends, and neighbors have done it.
For a friend or family member who has passed that was not religious, people need to understand that it’s OK to hold a service in a non-religious location, yet still have a pastor or funeral celebrant lead the service. And it’s OK to have both a visitation and service at the same location. This works especially well when there are older friends and relatives who are less mobile, and when the crowd is larger and logistics are a challenge. We held a beautiful service at a famous Kansas City landmark recently which opened a lot of eyes and hearts to what we can do and what a funeral can be.
While these are just a few mere examples, the point is that whether told through special music, poems, scripture, personal reflections, or a special location, the story deserves to be told in a manner that reflects the life of the loved one. And whatever the preferences for location and cost, there are endless choices. We encourage everyone to take time to think about those choices before the need arises, and give yourself permission to go about it your own way if that’s the way you choose.
IzzitGreen: We’re so impressed. Besides your warm and inviting location and setting, what else sets you apart from the other locally owned firms and corporate funeral companies?
Cathy: What is most important to our firm is that a valuable service to families in our community is affordable and the experience is updated to this century. From a modern setting to prices that are 30-60% less than a corporate owned funeral home, it is important to have additional choices for your funeral care. What’s most important to Signature Funerals is personal service and a comforting experience for the lives of those we touch in Kansas City.
For more information on green funeral options, funeral planning, or to contact Cathy Boomer directly, Signature Funerals can be reached in Kansas City at (816) 214-5174 and on the web at www.signaturefunerals.com.
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