Welcome to the hundred-and-fourteenth edition of Morticians’ Monday Morning Mashup, 4M #114, where we’ll serve up bite-sized, easily-digestible nuggets of the deathcare news you need to crush conversations in the week ahead. Bon appetit!
This newsletter is powered by MemoryShare, a funeral livestreaming platform that you can set up in 30 seconds or less.
Columbaria art
Cemeterians, if you’re looking for yet another way to support your community and give them another reason to visit, consider following the lead of Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis. Last year, the historic cemetery commissioned a local artist, Martha Kelly, to design three stone columbaria inspired by the trees and sculpture on the grounds. The cemetery recently held a “celebration of public art” to introduce Kelly’s creations, complete with an orchestra and refreshments.
More death + art
Blending sacred spaces for the dead with art meant for the enjoyment of the living isn’t just an American idea. Several columbariums in South Korea have also become full-fledged galleries, offering stunning sculptures, paintings, and photographs from noted artists and artisans. Fixed pieces and revolving exhibitions are attracting not only those visiting their loved ones, but members of the general public as well to memorial parks in Seocho-gu and Gimhae. In addition to art, these parks also hold orchestral performances, offer classes and tours to educate adults and children about death, and include cafes for coffee and tea.
Talk about a multitasking vehicle …
We’re all amazed by the things these new-fangled cars can do these days, but this Tesla feature may just take the cake. Apparently, Tesla’s collision avoidance system can detect ghosts! Several people have taken to Reddit and TikTok to demonstrate the supernatural feature. They video their vehicles’ dashboard display while driving through a cemetery, noting the figures representing “people” that popped up on the screen while simultaneously showing no actual person in that position outside the car. Maybe all those TV paranormal investigators need to add a ghost-detecting Tesla to their equipment collection.
Say goodbye to Facebook
If you’re using Facebook for live streaming, does this sound familiar?
- Copyrighted music is silenced (even with proper certifications!)
- Advertisements out of your control pop up during the livestream
- It’s difficult for families to access because it requires a Facebook account
This is why Carlton Stevens Jr., Operations Manager and Mortician at Stevens Funeral Home in North Carolina, said goodbye to Facebook and switched to MemoryShare—a live streaming platform built specifically for funeral professionals.
“Now, families don’t have to worry about Facebook accounts. It works, and it’s easy to use,” Carlton said. “It’s the best, I’m telling you. It’s liquid gold.”
After he started offering live streaming during the pandemic, Carlton saw Stevens Funeral Home call volume bump from 20 calls to 41 calls.
Today, Stevens Funeral Home live streams a service every other day.
And with MemoryShare, all they have to do is push a button.
“It’s a no brainer,” Carlton said.
Read how Carlton is using livestreaming to grow his business in our latest case study—click here to read it!
