Disclaimer: The views found on this blog are mine, and not those of my employer, nor my wife.
The blog is sometimes very serious, sometimes frivolous and more often than not… somewhere in between.
Occasionally political, but never politically correct.
Borrowing a theme from another blogger, I am a funeral director who occasionally blogs about funeral service.
I have been blogging topics that are of interest to me since February, 2010 and I simply hope that others find them of interest also. I refer to this as a “Look out my window”
I used to have my CV listed here…I’m at a point now in life where it just doesn’t matter, (and you don’t care)
But, a few highlights:
This was “Larry’s Last Stand.” The last time the band played, February 20, 2016. That’s Cole next to me. He wants to be my son in law. (Update: he is scheduled to assume that role in Janary of 2018.)
Licensed Funeral Director and Cremation Specialist, former owner of several death care related businesses, retired Firefighter-EMT, Graduate of Watchung Hills Regional High School, 1978, Mount. Saint. Mary’s COLLEGE, ‘1982, Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, 1983. Weekend warrior guitar strummer. Living in Aiken, SC, raised in Warren, NJ.
Husband, Father, Christian and Patriot. (an endangered class)
A Simple, Village Undertaker 
I was searching for news about Fr. Paul Redmond and came across your weekend trip to the Mount last year. I was a student there myself in 90-94 and my father was the admissions director for many years (Larry Riordan). Do you go back to reunions?
Your blog post was a wonderful tribute to the town and the school; as my father worked there, I spent most of my years growing up going to spring and fall picnics there and attending Lincoln Phillips soccer camp in the summer. My father’s best friends were Dr. Chris Smith of the Sociology Dept and Dan Hallinan, who worked in the Finance Dept where I believed a Topper worked. I spent a summer on the grounds crew and met Mark Topper, her son, a local who was in my class but I had never met until then. It was great to meet all those guys (Sam, Kim, Jack) and then see them around campus during the school year and feel like I knew the “behind the scenes” story of the school (like knowing the production assistants on a movie set).
Thanks for your post.
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Michael,
Thank you for the two notes. Your dad, assisted by John Gill, helped me get into the Mount. Fr. Forker was a dear family friend and I was destined to attend The Mount since I was in 5th grade. Believe it or not, Chris Smith and I stay in touch and we talked just about a month ago. He was always one of my favorite profs and taught me the meaning of the word “Paradigm”…..twenty cents.
God brought him and I together a few years ago when he had his accident and I think we will always have a special bond because of that. (I will send this link to him)
I remember Dan and Sam, but have not had any contact with them since I was there. I was visiting the Mount on the weekend of Jack Topper’s retirement dinner and got to speak briefly with John Gill.
Attending The Mount was an experience I didn’t learn to appreciate until I grew older. Now, it is my most favorite place to visit. As a matter of fact, I will be there later this month on the 27th & 28th. Please give my regards to your dad and thank you for the comments. I hope to attend my 30th reunion next Spring and look forward to hearing from you and maybe meeting you….RJV
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I’m a former funeral home employee in Buffalo, NY. You have some great posts.
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Ray, I have nominated you for the Family of Bloggers Award in this post: http://davidkanigan.com/2012/10/06/1-year-and-counting/. You are under no obligation to accept. I just wanted to thank you for your followership and your friendship. Dave
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Congratulations ~ I’ve nominated you for the WP Family Award! Please stop by to pick up your award ~ Hugs to you! http://misifusa.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/a-la-familia-wp-family-awards/
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I hope you will consider submitting a story to Mortuary Management magazine…they’d be delighted to have well-written stories about any trade-related experiences or viewpoints you think readers would enjoy reading…cheers!
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I am so thankful we have connected here on WordPress, Ray. Just wanted to let you know that!
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Thank you for your follow Ray! I look forward to connecting more 🙂
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It’s always fun to find a fellow blogger from my native state of NJ. Nice to “meet” you!
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Found a news piece and immediately thought of you. http://wkbn.com/2015/06/14/funeral-homes-increasingly-using-dogs-to-comfort-mourners/ Cheers!
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I must say your blog is extremely interesting.
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Thank you.
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Nice to virtually meet you. 🙂 Thanks for the follow on my blog.
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Dittos 👍
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Here’s a bit more internet love. I’ve nominated you for an award. You can check out the details here, https://singlemomunschooling.wordpress.com/2015/11/16/sunshine-blogger-award/
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Melissa,
Thank you for this recognition and I’m sorry I didn’t acknowledge it sooner. I will comply with the request over the weekend when hopefully, I have a little extra time…..RJV
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Thanks so much for visiting my site and choosing to follow along. We’ve both been doing this blog thing for a while. So nice to meet folks that still have something to say after 5-6 years!
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Hi Ray! Thank you for visiting me over at my blog and clicking follow so I could come visit you at yours and like it so much that I’m now following you too! ❤
Diana xo
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Howdy from the deeper south! I love your blog..we have talked before – I am in need a professional advice, of sorts…can you drop me an email — annaallen73@gmail.com
Thank you!
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It’s a pleasure to meet you.
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Hi, thank you for the follow!
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And Dittos to you 👍
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Well we sure do like your thoughts and hopes. We’re gonna tag along with you and see the world through your eyes and words. Its gonna be fun.
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Thank you and we will be doing the same.
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Never met an undertaker I didn’t like.
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Thanks for following! My husband is a retired fire fighter/EMT from CT. We are practically neighbors a little ways north of you on the NC coast.
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Practically… Aiken is about four hours away… just accross the river from Augusta, GA. I wish I was closer to the coast. Thanks for following.
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So glad I read this! Take a moment to read my non-mob haiku (earlier on my page) which cover funerals, death, afterlife, being dead, what to wear to your own funeral etc. They’re from my book: It’s Your Funeral: Dead Funny Haiku. Here is an example of what time and poor taste can do:
Haiku: Wet Blanket
He lay, casketed.
The rains came. Seepage
predicted his fate:
rust in peace.
🙂 And thanks for reading my page!
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Will do.
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Good stuff and I will pay closer attention. (Some days there just isn’t enough time). Here is a story you may find interesting and be sure to take a quick look at the embedded link in the story. https://villageundertaker.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/its-a-casket-not-a-coffin/ Ray
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Thanks so much – and thanks for sharing, loved the Prometheon – so The Loved One! Waugh would certainly have included a gold casket had he thought of it! (I have to share that in 9th grade my business class project was the local undertaker :). Who knew that in the future I would visit often (but as a presider, not as Guest of Honour 🙂 ) Jan
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