New Wednesday afternoon keynote session will bring together end-of-life care providers

Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) today announced that Dr. Thomas Long, Thomas Lynch and Bryan Dodge will serve as keynote speakers for the 2013 International Convention & Expo. The NFDA Convention will take place October 20-23 in Austin, Texas.

Dr. Thomas Long and Thomas Lynch, The Good Funeral (Opening General Session, Monday, October 21, 9:45 a.m.)

After years of writing and speaking together on the subject of death, theology professor Dr. Thomas Long and funeral director and writer Thomas Lynch have co-authored a book that will make its debut at the NFDA Convention. The book, The Good Funeral – Death, Grief and the Community of Care, seeks to inform and inspire a new generation on the religious, culture and social importance of serving the living by caring for the dead.

Bryan Dodge, Building a Better You (General Session, Wednesday, October 23, noon)

Bryan Dodge will open attendees’ minds and hearts to help them focus on the most essential aspects of life – reaching their full potential with their family and as funeral directors. Dodge’s stairstep method will help them achieve excellence in all facets of their life. His humorous, life-changing stories will move attendees to take charge of their own personal growth and help them better serve families.

Dr. Thomas Long and Thomas Lynch, Coming Together to Serve the Dying, Dead and Bereaved (Special Engagement, Wednesday, October 23, 2 p.m.)

Long and Lynch will return for a special presentation to convention attendees and local hospice professionals and clergy. Together they will examine how society deals with dying and death and discuss strategies that hospice workers, clergy and funeral directors can use to better serve the dying, the dead and the bereaved.