Aurora Casket, the largest privately held casket manufacturer in the U.S., and Tributes.com, the online resource for local and national obituary news, announced today a strategic partnership to enhance Aurora’s new website solution for funeral homes with Tributes advanced multi-media obituary technology. Aurora’s new WebConnect Marketing System helps funeral homes reach out to families in new ways while reinforcing the firm’s brand identity. With the integrated Tributes, families can preserve the meaningful stories of their loved one’s lives with unlimited text, photos, video, music and more.

The Tributes platform also offers enhanced obituary searching capabilities and the opportunity to register for obituary email alerts on the funeral home website as well as national distribution of all obituaries and tributes on Tributes.com. With the Tributes integration, Aurora WebConnect users will be featured in the Tributes.com Funeral Home Finder as Tributes preferred partners – promoting their funeral home identity and driving traffic back to their site.

To read the rest of the release visit: http://bit.ly/brIwp

Did you see this article in the LA Times about unclaimed bodies?? If not you should check it out http://bit.ly/fsS2r

Not to spoil the whole thing for you but the article is talking about the increase in unclaimed bodies at the County Morgue and examines what could be the cause of the increase, and then goes farther to talk about the funeral industry and how the economy is causing people to in a sense short-change funerals. So I recognize that the article serves two purposes; the first being to call attention to the increase in costs incurred by the city when bodies remain unclaimed and in a financial downturn spending money on dead people is one of the last things the city needs to do, and second, how funeral homes are getting by and what they can do to help families who are in financial hardship due to the economy.

An increase in unclaimed bodies is just a sign of the times. When people have more access to cash they are willing to spend a few hundred bucks here and there on things that they normally wouldn’t, or items they didn’t budget for. When times are tough, my distant second cousin Jacob can chill on the shelf at the morgue for a few months until I can scrape together some cash to get him and spread him in the lawn. In good times I would fly to pick him up that day, get a nice urn, and throw a service of some sort. The economic causes for this will not always be as intense as they are now and so at some point in the future there should be some relief, but will the baby boomers cause these numbers to go even higher not because of the money but because of the increased death rate?

Funeral homes are getting by in this economy. Many report families spending substantially less per funeral but still getting by. I mean who else is going to handle a dead body for you. The funeral home business will always be there and a profitable model will always exist. That model is changing though and forcing funeral homes to be more creative with their service offerings and operate on slimmer margins. Eventually all industries level out and astronomical prices and profits come back down to earth where the real people hang out. This is bad news for the funeral home because now more than ever people are really paying attention to what they are spending money on and what they are getting for it.

Casey Gustus
Sr. Director, Marketing
Tributes.com

• Frank McCourt, 78 (1930 – 2009): By HILLEL ITALIE – AP National Writer NEW YORK – Frank McCourt, the beloved rac.. http://bit.ly/KGXYf #
• Sue Burns, 58 (1950 – 2009): SAN FRANCISCO – By JANIE McCAULEY Sue Burns, a part owner of the San Francisco Gian.. http://bit.ly/3J69ys #
• Celebrity Death Gordon Waller, 64 (1945 – 2009): LEDYARD, Conn. — Gordon Waller of the Brit.. http://bit.ly/27M0fq #
• Celebrity Death Leszek Kolakowski, 81 (1927 – 2009): By VANESSA GERA, Associated Press Writer WAR.. http://bit.ly/gkLPT #
• Celebrity Death Ed Rudolph (2009): BOULDER, Wyo. – Ed Rudolph, a three-time Olympic speedskater, .. http://bit.ly/CDfvc #
• Celebrity Death Clarence "Curly Bear" Wagner (2009): HELENA, Mont. – Clarence "Curly Bear" Wagner.. http://bit.ly/2kDMh #
• RT @deadtreemedia: How to Search Obituaries and Death Notices in Old Newspapers – http://xr.com/ovo #
• More families considering the home burial alternative – http://bit.ly/1xqkLD #
• Celebrity Death Gidget the Chihuahua (2009): Handlers say Gidget the Chihuahua, whose Taco Bell c.. http://bit.ly/Yw2U0 #
• Celebrity Death Scott Kurtis (2009): SEDAN, Kan. – The 38-year-old son of journalist and televisi.. http://bit.ly/GYE1H #
• Celebrity Death Ruben Trejo (2009): SPOKANE, Wash. – Ruben Trejo, a noted Mexican-American artist.. http://bit.ly/kPsus #
• Celebrity Death Maurice Grimaud (2009): PARIS — Maurice Grimaud, who as Paris police chief .. http://bit.ly/JUTKM #
• Celebrity Death John Dawson, 64 (1945 – 2009): John "Marmaduke" Dawson, a longtime Grateful Dead .. http://bit.ly/qfd9U #
• Celebrity Death Dr. Howard Engle (2009): MIAMI – Dr. Howard Engle, the Miami Beach pediatrician w.. http://bit.ly/1ga7T1 #
• Celebrity Death E. Lynn Harris (2009): By JOSH L. DICKEY, AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES — .. http://bit.ly/K5CyS #
• Celebrity Death Harry Patch (1898 – 2009): By JILL LAWLESS – Associated Press Writer LONDON Harry.. http://bit.ly/rFpXv #
• Celebrity Death Walter Cronkite, 92 (1916 – 2009): By FRAZIER MOORE – AP Television Writer NEW YO.. http://bit.ly/1n0EQx #
• Celebrity Death Yasmin Ahmad (2009): By SEAN YOONG – Associated Press Writer KUALA LUMPUR, Malays.. http://bit.ly/19WeBm #

• Donald Warner Henderson (2009): SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic Donald Warner Henderson, credited with keeping.. http://bit.ly/2bflD #
• Tributes, Inc. today announced that is has closed a round of funding adding another $1.2 million to its first round. http://bit.ly/1561sC #
• RT @billhardin: Tributes.com(TM) Adds $1.2M in Second Round, Totals $5.4M: Such arrangements allow Tributes to lever.. http://bit.ly/ZKJ66 #
• Amin al-Hafez, 97 (1911 – 2009): BEIRUT — Former Lebanese Prime Minister Amin al-Hafez, who served a turbulent .. http://bit.ly/Ths0y #
• Arturo Gatti, 37 (1972 – 2009): By BRADLEY BROOKS of The Associated Press RIO DE JANEIRO — Police investig.. http://bit.ly/5j99i #
• Robert Louis-Dreyfus, 63 (1946 – 2009): The following article courtesy of The Wall Street Journal By MAX COLCHES.. http://bit.ly/nM2mf #
• Sir Edward Downes (1924 – 2009): LONDON – He spent his life conducting world-renowned orchestras, but was almost.. http://bit.ly/5mAKy #
• Sam Church, 72 (1936 – 2009): BRISTOL, Va.

  Sam Church, former leader of the United Mine Workers of America, d.. http://bit.ly/UOABb #

• Wiles Hallock (2009): WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Former Pacific-10 commissioner Wiles Hallock, who oversaw the leagu.. http://bit.ly/ZBAwi #
• Nikola Stanchev, 78 (1930 – 2009): SOFIA, Bulgaria – Nikola Stanchev, the wrestler who became Bulgaria's first O.. http://bit.ly/56KQm #
• Seddon Bennington (2009): The chief executive of New Zealand's national museum was found dead Wednesday by searc.. http://bit.ly/tw9qe #
• RT @tweetmeme ConnectingDirectors.com – Networking the Funeral Industry http://digg.com/u18K2p #
• Earl Haig (2009): By ROBERT BARR, Associated Press Writer LONDON — Earl Haig, who developed his gift for p.. http://bit.ly/kq38d #
• Jean Sprain Wilson (2009): ROCKVILLE, Md. – Jean Sprain Wilson, a pioneering female journalist whose interview s.. http://bit.ly/ZyHSh #
• Michael Klenfner (2009): NEW YORK – Michael Klenfner, a former Atlantic Records music executive who helped trans.. http://bit.ly/pXXIZ #
• Nelson Munsey, 61 (1948 – 2009): SAN DIEGO – Nelson Munsey, who played six seasons for the Baltimore Colts in th.. http://bit.ly/knWQM #
• @gr888lady It really was so bad. Walked out of there feeling very dirty and not in a good way #
• Julius Shulman, 98 (1910 – 2009): Colleagues say famed architectural photographer Julius Shulman has died at his.. http://bit.ly/iqehi #
• Cal Olson (2009): FARGO, N.D. – Cal Olson, a former managing editor, photographer and a member of The Forum team.. http://bit.ly/QwvCq #
• Judi Ann Mason, 54 (1955 – 2009): LOS ANGELES – Judi Ann Mason, who wrote for the TV sitcom "Good Times" and oth.. http://bit.ly/XWtus #
• Pat Brady (2009): RENO, Nev. – Pat Brady, whose booming punts for the Nevada Wolf Pack and Pittsburgh Steelers r.. http://bit.ly/454oF #
• Hart McNee (2009): NEW ORLEANS — Hart McNee, the raspy-voiced bass flutist and baritone saxophonist and a longt.. http://bit.ly/WYNMd #
• Meir Amit (2009): (AP) Meir Amit, a former general who headed Israel's famed Mossad intelligence agency, died Fr.. http://bit.ly/14WWZN #
• Tributes helps broadcast sites compete for obits | New Media Hub – http://bit.ly/sIH7G #
• Walter Cronkite, 92 (1916 – 2009): NEW YORK – Walter Cronkite, the premier TV anchorman of the networks' golden .. http://bit.ly/Dz9Z1 #
• Walter Cronkite, 92 (1916 – 2009): Walter Cronkite, the premier TV anchorman of the networks' golden age who rep.. http://bit.ly/1n0EQx #
• Beverly Louise Roberts, 95 (1914 – 2009): A relative says Beverly Roberts, who co-starred with Humphrey Bogart i.. http://bit.ly/lICal #

How cool is this??!!  A Facebook page whose only purpose is to notify you when a celebrity dies.  You don’t have to deal with annoying emails and you’re always in the know.  When you become a fan it just updates your news feed when someone passes.  A-MAZING!

I got an email today from a colleague of a CBS Morning Show clip of a woman talking about the loss of her nephew Brian Bradshaw who was killed by an IED in Afghanistan.  Brian died the same day as Michael Jackson and as you can imagine, Brian’s story was eclipsed by the news of Michael Jackson and the other celebrities we lost that week; Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon, Billy Mays and Steve McNair.

As sad and unfortunate as the news is of Brian Bradshaw, a kid just 24 yrs old serving his country, it is not surprising that news of his death was lost in the shuffle of the other national media events of that day or week.  I say that not because it was such a crazy week of celebrity deaths, but because for months and now years the American people have become numb to the fact that not only do we have hundreds of thousands of troops over seas but in the last 6 months we have lost 73 servicemen and women in Afghanistan and 96 in Iraq; a soldier a day.  Its tough to put into perspective and we often forget about it because the news is tired of reporting every day that we lost another American and frankly I think that Americans are tired of hearing about it.

So what can we do to support our the families of our fallen troops?  Tons of things.  At a very basic level we can start with showing that we haven’t forgotten about our soldiers and that the country does still care about the sacrifices that they and their families have made for us.  One of the proudest moments for a soldier is to have a stranger walk up them and thank them for all they do and will do.  For their families, it is to see the respect, appreciation and love that others have for their loved one as a proud member of the US military.

Casey Gustus

Tributes.com

• Jackson's Casket – The Promethean – http://bit.ly/AQ3JQ #
• As you are watching the Michael Jackson Memorial Service please take a moment to share your memories on his Tribute. http://bit.ly/4hMRJ #
• Robert Taylor, Jr. (2009): BRYN MAWR, Pa. — Robert Taylor Jr., former publisher of the Philadelphia Bullet.. http://bit.ly/t1sSF #
• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-05:
  Billy Mays, the pitchman whose boisterous hawking of Orange Glo, OxiClea.. http://bit.ly/39bOJb #
• Become a fan of Tributes.com/National/News ; latest Celebrity Death News delivered right to your FB News Feed – http://bit.ly/30sUXX #
• LifeStories Newsletter for June: A Monthly National Obituary Review Celebrating the Lives of Extraordinary People http://bit.ly/1ahgZ9 #
• John A. Keel, 79 (1930 – 2009): NEW YORK – John A. Keel, author of "The Mothman Prophecies," died Friday. He was.. http://bit.ly/2ek5l #
• Littleton Mitchell (2009): DELAWARE CITY, Del. – Littleton Mitchell, a Delaware civil rights activist, died Mond.. http://bit.ly/19FGh7 #
• Oscar G. Mayer (2009): MADISON, Wis. – Oscar G. Mayer, retired chairman of the Wisconsin-based meat processing c.. http://bit.ly/uwXqZ #
• Okla. couple arrested for digging up dead girl – http://bit.ly/3VQIHr #
• Jose Sobrino (2009): NEW YORK – Spanish-born journalist Jose Sobrino Dieguez has died at his Manhattan home. He .. http://bit.ly/4EOjy7 #
• Sharon Sharp (2009): CHICAGO – Former Illinois and California lotteries director Sharon Sharp is dead at age 69… http://bit.ly/W4E0H #
• Harry J. Gray (2009): HARTFORD, Conn. – Harry J. Gray, the retired United Technologies Corp. chief executive who.. http://bit.ly/KXwEw #
• John Bachar (1957 – 2009): MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. – John Bachar, a noted rock climber, has died. He was 51.

  .. http://bit.ly/Db03B #

• Whats up with that????? – http://bit.ly/zsWo9 #
• Steve McNair, 36 (1973 – 2009): NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dozens of Steve McNair fans donned Tennessee Titans gea.. http://bit.ly/Aa5C8 #
• Jen-Kai Liu (2009): LOS ANGELES – Jen-Kai Liu, the MVP of Southern California's 1988 NCAA volleyball championshi.. http://bit.ly/SYBxM #
• Robert Short, 76 (1932 – 2009): LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Robert Short, the author and theologian who wrote "The Gospe.. http://bit.ly/3zZja8 #
• William Reedy (2009): MILFORD, Mich. – William Reedy, a bar owner convicted of drunken driving in a crash that k.. http://bit.ly/o8vVH #
• John McDonald (2009): IOWA CITY, Iowa – John McDonald, a former mayor of Iowa City, died Wednesday. He was 65.
  .. http://bit.ly/17kQvp #
• Kenn Varner talks about Cypress Lawn and the Michael Jackson Service | Funeral Gurus | http://bit.ly/Nj9Mj #
• RT @tweetmeme ConnectingDirectors.com – Networking the Funeral Industry http://u.mavrev.com/ka53 #
• Tributes.com LifeStories for July – http://bit.ly/1ahgZ9 #
• Waldo McBurney, 106 (1902 – 2009): QUINTER, Kan. – Waldo McBurney, who was named America's oldest worker and gai.. http://bit.ly/hmW6B #
• Allen Sharp (1932 – 2009): FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Allen Sharp, a U.S. District judge appointed by President Nixon in.. http://bit.ly/8TrMQ #
• Paul Hemphill (2009): Atlanta – Atlanta writer Paul Hemphill, who chronicled the blue-collar South with his memo.. http://bit.ly/KCeVA #

When you are constantly around death because of your profession or have a few personal experiences with people close to you in close succession do you think you become desensitized by it all?

Unfortunately or fortunately, I haven’t decided yet, my job with Tributes.com has me talking about death and funerals all the time and in a very causal way.  Talking about death doesn’t even phase me anymore; it has even started to bleed into my off-work hours.  I’ve actually won ‘prizes’ from people I met at a bar because I knew that you can rent caskets and they swore that was impossible.   When people die I don’t think to myself, wow that is really too bad, I think about how do we get a tribute up for them.  I know that I am slowly becoming oblivious to the emotions surrounding a death.  I can walk into a funeral home, and have, and not thought at all about the families that come in and out of there every day.  I immediately start thinking about the business behind it.  Funeral directors probably do the same.  Desensitized?  Absolutely.

Casey Gustus

Tributes.com

• Billy Mays, the pitchman whose boisterous hawking of Orange Glo, OxiClean, etc. made him a pop-culture icon, has died. http://bit.ly/99K8p #
• Billy Mays: TV pitchman found dead at home – http://bit.ly/12RjwR #
• Tributes.com president on the celebrity death rumors that are being spread – http://bit.ly/dw0T5 #

Interesting information came my way about the amount of newspapers that have shut down in the US since January of 2008.  I didn’t realize that they started closing right as the recession hit at the end of 2007.  Check it out.

• Rocky Mountain News (Denver)
• Seattle Post Intelligencer
• Tucson Citizen
• Baltimore Examiner
• Kentucky Post
• Cincinnati Post
• King County Journal (Seattle)
• Albuquerque Tribune

Major newspapers operating under bankruptcy protection:

• Los Angeles Times
• Chicago Tribune
• Minneapolis Star Tribune
• Newport News Daily Press and Virginia Gazette
• Baltimore Sun
• Orlando Sentinel
• Sun Sentinel (Miami)
• Hartford Courant

Wall Street Journal list of 10 most endangered newspapers

• The Philadelphia Daily News
• The Minneapolis Star Tribune
• The Miami Herald
• The Detroit News
• The Boston Globe
• The San Francisco Chronicle
• The Chicago Sun-Times
• The New York Daily News
• The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
• The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Detroit Free Press home delivery cut to 3 days per week

Hopewell News moves from daily to twice weekly

21,000 newspaper jobs at 67 papers eliminated

Circulation down at all major papers:

• Average national newspaper circulation down 15% since October 2007
• Richmond Times Dispatch down 10% in last six months
• New York Post down 21% in six months

Only 43% of Americans say losing local newspaper would hurt their community “a lot.”

Only 33% say they would miss reading the local newspaper if it stopped publication.

Television stations and news website is particular must be sites must be thrilled!

Casey Gustus

Sr. Director, Marketing

Tributes.com