bulletin 2011 feburary

The Plus-Size Challenge

As People Get LargerFuneral Products Must Expand to Meet Their Final Needs

of the National Concrete Burial Vault Association

B U L L E T I NTHE

February 2011

The Largest CremationEquipment Service & Repair Team

In The Country.

CREMATION DIVISION

UNIVERSITY

February 2011 l NCBVA.ORG 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Taxes, Cemetery Perversion& Picketing............................................ 4by J. Scott Calkins, Esq.NCBVA Legal Counsel

Plus-size PeopleA Weighty Challenge for theDeathcare Industry ............................... 8By Sylvia HeidemannNCBVA Staff Writer

Is Your Company Locatedin a “Fat” State? .................................. 12

Membership Application ..................... 18

NCBVA Certified Plants...................... 19

Industry News ’N Notes...................... 22

National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc.

P.O. Box 917525Longwood, Florida 32791

http://www.ncbva.org

PresidentStephen Hatfield

Hicks Industries, Inc.Mulberry, FL

President-Elect Hubert McQuestion

Lake Shore Burial Vault Co.Brookfield, WI

Secretary/TreasurerMichael Crummitt

Crummitt & Son Vault Co.Martins Ferry, OH

Immediate Past PresidentTodd Swihart

Saginaw Wilbert Vault Corp.Saginaw, MI

DirectorsWendy Bott BrownMark H. Bott Co.

Ogden, UT

Doug EvansCarolina Doric, Inc.

Florence, SC

Steve HandleyHandley Precast Systems, Inc.

Glendale, AZ

Dave LongEagle Burial Vault Association

Joliet, IL

Paul E. CooperWilbert Funeral Services, Inc.

Forest Park, IL

Jerry RussellSouthern Ohio Vault Co.

Portsmouth, OH

Dennis SchultzDoric Vault of Western N.Y., Inc.

Buffalo, NY

Blake SwinfordTrigard Vaults / Greenwood Plastics

Danville, IL

Steve VincentDoric Products, Inc.

Marshall, IL

Executive DirectorThomas A. Monahan, CAE

Certified Association Management Co.Longwood, FL

Legal CounselJ. Scott Calkins, Esq.

American Cemetery Supplies, Inc. .... 6Accurate Wire & Strip Forming ........ 12Axis Corporation.............................. 21Crescent Bronze Powder Co.............. 7D & C Supply Co., Inc........................ 7Doric, Inc.......................................... 17Edgmont Metallic Pigment Co.......... 17Holland Supply Inc........................... 11Long Machine Co............................. 16Matthews Cremation.......................... 2Mixer Systems ................................. 18RoMix Chemical & Brush................. 13Rostine Manufacturing & Supply ....... 4Trigard Vaults ..................................... 5

4 NCBVA.ORG l February 2011

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By J. Scott Calkins, Esq.NCBVA Counsel

taken place that have direct effect on your business. As could be expected, a number of significant events have come out of Washington.

National & State ElectionsThe elections resulted in a switch of power in Congress from one dominated by Demo-crats to one that is now equally divided, with the Republicans taking control of the House of Representatives. As a result of such division and based on previous splits of power, many “experts” indicated a contentious and non-agreeable Congress. But the best news regarding Washington is that the business community will have a “seat at the table” and at least for the time being will not be legislated and regulated to an extreme with costly and non-business laws.

One of the biggest business and individual benefits that occurred in the lame-duck

and business.A few of the new provisions of this Act for business are: (a) A cap on the immediate write-off of equipment and other business-related tan-

(b) General Business Credit Carryback may now be carried back five years instead of one for some small businesses. Also, such credit is not subject to the Alternative Mini-mum Tax (AMT).

(c) The holding period of S Corporation stock to escape the built-in gains tax (which

(d) Cell phones provided to employees will be a tax-free fringe benefit. User logs were previously required to separate business and personal calls.

It is important that owners of NCBVA firms work with their professional advisers to reassess their existing status, both as individuals and as owners of businesses, under the current tax laws.

Taxes, Cemetery Perversion & Picketing

Continued on page 7


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Customers’ Cemetery Rights ErodedWe all read various publications and articles regarding the death-care industry. A few articles are provocative and some are very informative. One article in particular caught my eye recently, for it reaffirmed things I have warned our industry about in the past. The reality is that traditional and personal burial customs are increas-ingly being replaced with corporate-style conformity in many modern cemeteries. According to a legal scholar from Wake Forest University, “The American cemetery is becoming a reflection of the desires of the funeral services industry rather than the wishes of the American public. The irony is that the laws that once gave great deference to families regarding burial practices are now be-ing used to institutionalize a commercial norm at the expense of individual choice, family custom and religious beliefs.”

For much of American history, according to this scholar, there were few laws governing cemeteries other than those for land use, health and safety. In recent years, however, the cemetery industry has influenced state legislatures to create laws (to the cemeter-ies’ benefit, of course) regulating the creation of new cemeteries. Today, the cost to build and maintain a cemetery is prohibitively expensive. As a result, in urban areas especially, large for-profit cemeteries dominate the competition. In Indianapolis, IN, for

Because these cemeteries set the rules, the scholar said, families and individuals are given little choice. Unfortunately, this trend is largely going unnoticed by the American public.

Cemetery PicketingYou are no doubt aware of the picketing of veterans’ funerals, especially at cemeteries, by an extremist religious group. (The Westboro Baptist Church - WBC - is prominent in current news stories involving picketing.) Several state legislatures have en-acted new laws attempting to regulate such picketing. I recently received two calls, one from an attorney and the other from a member seeking to find out the current state of the law regarding such proposed regulation. Based on some research, I ascertained that the issue of free speech and the right to preserve the dignity and sanctity of memorial and funeral services is currently being considered by the Supreme Court of the U.S. in its review of the case of Snyder v. Phelps. Snyder is the father of a deceased soldier whose funeral was disrupted by members of the WBC. A lower court jury decision that was made in the father’s favor was overturned by a Court of Appeals and is now before the Supreme Court. It is possible there may be a decision by the Supreme Court during the current term of the Court.

Calkins, continued from page 4


When it comes to dying, size does matter. The logistics involved in planning a tra-ditional funeral are doubled

or even tripled when an individual dies who

The deathcare industry in general has made some progress in accommodating the special needs of families whose loved ones are overweight by anyone’s standards. For more than 15 years, as Americans have grown in girth, casket and burial vault manu-facturers have offered “oversize” models, but yesterday’s definition of “oversize” is now being stretched.

Let’s explore the world of caskets. It should come as no surprise that “oversized” caskets are available on line as well as from funeral homes. One company (Caskets By Design in the state of Idaho) features on its home page a celebrity endorsement by a famous actor. Richard Kiel, better known as “Jaws” in James Bond films, states “. . . I realized with my unusual size I needed to make arrangements [for my funeral] well in advance so my lovely wife Diane would

They are classified as “the morbidly obese.” They tip the scales at 400 or more pounds. In life, they are often discriminated against, made the object of jokes, or they are social outcasts because their excess weight confines them to their homes. But they are real people with feelings and emotions, and when they die they deserve the same digni-fied treatment and celebration of life that “average weight” individuals receive.

The challenges the obese face in life may often continue to follow them after death, however, and providing that dignified treatment––an appropriate celebration of life––can be a challenge for the deathcare industry.

Plus-size People:A Weighty Challenge

for the Deathcare Industry

not be left with the added burden of finding a going-away box that was big enough for me at the last minute.” His endorsement con-tinues by saying that Caskets By Design cre-ated a beautiful casket and accommodated his size (he’s 7-ft 2-in. tall) at an affordable price. He’s keeping the casket in storage until it’s needed. What an endorsement! The

38-in. widths, and can also custom-make larger sizes.

The “standard” casket size is considered

general description of “oversized” caskets, the website of well-known manufacturer

Batesville Casket Company states that the caskets are available in most colors and finishes of standard caskets. Batesville describes its oversize product line as “A comfortable fit for your loved one.” The sizes of oversized caskets are not provided on line.

There is a casket manufacturer whose founder (now deceased) and current owner believe that “bigger people” need more se-lection in caskets, and that even a 38-inch width casket may not be large enough. As a result, that company is getting considerable attention in the funeral industry and in the media right now. Goliath Caskets of Lynn, IN began as a cottage industry in 1985 when its founder, Forrest Davis, who worked as a welder in a casket company, decided that it just wasn’t right for “bigger people” not to have quality-designed, appropriate-fitting caskets. He and his wife Mary began fabri-cating oversize caskets in a converted barn on their farm. At first, the couple offered only two sizes and one color, but business grew because they met a definite need. The product line increased, offering sizes from

P

By Sylvia HeidemannNCBVA Staff Writer

Getting a good fit: Increased girth can be a problem in getting a good fit in a casket. The deceased used to be measured from elbow to elbow, but waist and thickness measurements are also taken on heavier individuals. The deeper the casket to accommodate thickness of the body, the deeper the burial vault must be.


29 inches wide up to 52 inches, in a variety of colors. The Davises’ son Keith and his

took over ownership in 1998.The 52-inch “Goliath” casket was first

Keith Davis says he sold 11 of those the first year, and now sells four to five of them a month. Other oversized caskets manufac-tured by Goliath are sold in widths of 29,

If the concrete burial vault industry pro-motes the use of vaults for the protection of the casket and the loved one within, how is the industry responding to what has been labeled the “obesity epidemic” in the U.S.? Larger caskets call for larger burial vaults. The additional size and weight required, however, add up to a weighty challenge.

Concrete Burial VaultsWilbert, Doric, Trigard and Eagle have their own form-making shops or rely on a con-tracted supplier, according to David Brugger, NCBVA’s Plant Certification Representative. Larger, custom-made forms can also be made by independent mold manufacturers.

But what about the weight of a concrete burial vault that would accommodate a cas-ket as large as the 52-inch Goliath? Brugger says a typical, standard-size burial vault

With advances in concrete technology, is it possible to manufacture increasingly larger vaults without having the weight go off the charts?

“The advanced chemical technology that is available today,” comments Brugger, “allows us to manufacture concrete that is much stronger and that reaches an accept-able state of curing much sooner. In my opinion, however, the available technology still does not allow us to make the products lighter in weight or with thinner sidewalls and covers.”

Some member companies that carry

(as discussed on page 12) were contacted regarding how large their “oversize” vaults

wide vault is the largest they produce. He also commented, “Handling an oversize casket containing a heavy person is a major ordeal.”

-crete vault can be produced. The company

metal vaults. A number of burial vault manufacturers

also produce concrete septic tanks. When first questioned, one manufacturer said he

-

He then added, “If push comes to shove, we can go up to 58 inches on the inside, with

inches.” He continued to clarify even more. “Actually, that’s the bottom half of a septic tank, and the biggest problem then becomes getting the necessary handling equipment into the cemetery. Many cemetery roads are narrow and not built to withstand use by heavy equipment.” (Septic tank bases can

NCBVA member company, Lake Shore Burial Vault in Brookfield, WI, has recently been involved in a project to manufacture a concrete burial vault for the 52-inch Goliath casket. According to Hubert McQuestion, President, the unit was poured from a mold for a water vessel. (See accompanying photo.) “We were able to seal the top on the unit by using the same material we use to seal water vessels” says McQuestion, “but we’re still looking for a way to make a liner for something of that size.”

One option for an extremely oversized casket: Shown is a concrete unit that was manufactured by Lake Shore Burial Vault in a project to produce a concrete burial vault for the 52-inch-wide Goliath casket (left). The inside dimensions are 94 X 70.5 X 41 inches. A water vessel mold was used for the bottom of the vault. Although the unit was unlined, the cover was sealed with the material used to seal water vessels.

Photo courtesy of Goliath Casket

Continued


As concrete vault manufacturers know, if a burial vault (or any tank/vessel modified to serve as a burial vault) is unlined, it doesn’t offer as much protection for the casket and its contents as does a lined and sealed burial vault. Its main function is merely the preven-tion of a cave-in of the grave.

Sensitivity & SympathyJim Woods, co-owner and partner of Carolina-Doric in Florence, SC, agrees that there’s been an increase in “plus-size” funer-

inches wide,” he says, “and our largest metal

to accommodate a casket that’s 52-inches wide or larger, we’d probably have to fab-ricate a burial vault out of metal.”

Sensitivity to the family is always a priority, Woods states, and when a fam-ily’s deceased loved one is very heavy, the funeral professional must be tactful in broaching some of the logistics that have to be considered.

“About five years ago,” says Woods, “a funeral director asked us to use one of our trucks to bring the deceased to the church and then to the cemetery because the fu-neral home’s hearse just couldn’t handle the weight. It was necessary to use our lift to get the casket into the burial vault at the gravesite. The family was very of-fended. I spoke with the family and tried to explain as delicately as possible why this approach was necessary––that the funeral home’s equipment just couldn’t handle the weight nor could this be done manually by pallbearers––and I assured them that our driver was very competent and would use extreme caution to give their loved one a dignified last journey. While they finally

accepted the reality of the situation, I don’t think they were ever completely satisfied, unfortunately. Being sensitive to families al-ways calls for diplomacy––we’re all human and make comments or suggestions that can be misinterpreted by grieving families, but in cases where families have special needs, knowing the right thing to say or how to say it can be even more challenging.”

What About Cremation?Yes, There Are Risks; Respect the ProcedureThe Bulletin has previously published re-ports on the cremation trend (most recent:

taking that option. In some of the articles published in funeral industry magazines and on Internet sources, however, there are accounts of fires within the crematories and damage to the cremation equipment when attempts were made to cremate the remains

pounds.According to Matthews International,

Cremation Division, an NCBVA Associate member, that kind of catastrophe is totally avoidable. Matthews insists on providing important training to purchasers of its cre-

mation equipment. Its website affirms its goal to “. . . assist the cremationist with organization, efficient operation, safety, disease control, cremated remains removal and packaging.”

Steve Schaal, President––Matthews Cre-mation Division––North America, states that when education procedures are judiciously followed, even the company’s entry-level equipment can effectively cremate the re-

pounds.“Most crematory operations get in

trouble because they don’t fully understand the procedures involved in handling obese individuals. There is a significant amount of

= 12 gal of Kerosene) and we must respect the introduction of heat and the potential for uncontrollable combustion,” says Schaal.

“In addition to the training we provide when a burial vault manufacturer buys cre-mation equipment,” continues Schaal, “Mat-

can literally hand-hold an operator through a challenging cremation process. It’s impor-tant to have respect for the cremation pro-

Jim Woods Keith Davis Hubert McQuestion

Continued on page 14

Classic Metal Vaults (Doric Products)

of Corbin, KY manufactures this

oversize metal vault that will accommodate

a 52-in.-wide Goliath Casket.


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No one who keeps up with the news can escape the aware-ness of the so-called “obesity epidemic” in the U.S. If you’re

skeptical about the seriousness of this epidemic, you might be convinced if you visit the website for the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) and click on “O” for obesity information.

The opening sentence on the “Over-weight and Obesity” topical page on the CDC website states “American society has become ‘obesogenic,’ characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, nonhealthy foods, and physical inactivity.”

On a subsequent “data and statistics page,” the abstract of the first reference cited reads: “Over the past decade, obesity has become recognized as a national health threat and a major public health

-sured weights and heights, approximately 72.5 million adults in the United States were obese (CDC, unpublished data,

for many serious health conditions, includ-ing coronary heart disease, hypertension,

stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, and premature death. Adult obe-sity also is associated with reduced qual-ity of life, social stigmatization, and dis-crimination.associated with obesity accounted for 27 percent of the increases in U.S. medical

with obesity were estimated at as much

all payers, obese persons had estimated

persons of normal weight.”Here’s another interesting resource:

There is a “population clock” on the U.S. Census Bureau website (www.census.gov/population/popclockus.html) that con-tinually updates and projects population

checked in the afternoon on January 13,

that day that there is one birth every eight seconds and one death every 11 seconds. If approximately one-third of the U.S. population is by the CDC’s definition “obese” (having a Body Mass Index of

deaths in one day that may call for “plus-size” handling by the funeral industry.

All across the U.S., people are living large and, eventually, dying large. With the exception of Oklahoma, southern states hold title to the “fattest” in the land. In order to keep market share and accommodate heavier-than-“normal” individuals, the concrete burial vault industry must be gracious andprepared to make even more adjustments.

Is Your Company Located in a “Fat” State?


States By Obesity Ranking*

“Fattest” StatesMississippi (for 5th straight year)33.8%

West Virginia 31.3Louisiana 31.2

S. Carolina 29.9

“Thinnest” StatesColorado 19.1%

District of Columbia 21.5

of the population is “obese,” as defined by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC). Source: www.calorielab.com. Computations based on Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System main-tained by the CDC (www.cdc.gov).

More Than 20-Year TrendThe obesity epidemic in the U.S. is target-

the fast food industry began competing for market share by offering more quantity for the customer’s dollar. Soon the words “supersize me” infiltrated everyday speech and customers got used to eating larger quantities of food just to feel satisfied, thereby taking in more calories than they really needed––especially in the form of extra sugar (soft drinks of 32-ounces or more) and “bad” fats. The predictable results have materialized.

One of the statements in the abstract cited in the third paragraph on page 12 cries out to the deathcare industry: Adult obesity also is associated with reduced quality of life, social stigmatization, and discrimination.

If the deathcare industry is all about the celebration and memorialization of life as all the associations that belong to the Funeral & Memorialization Information Council (FAMIC) claim, it must take care to avoid any appearance of social stigma or discrimination, and be prepared to meet special needs.

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understand the dynamics of all the variables that affect cremation: body weight, gender, type of container, and number of cremations for the day. That’s what we teach.”

Schaal stresses that the cremation cham-ber should be cool when handling an obese person (first case of the day). He recom-mends, if possible, inserting the body head first so that the bulk of the weight is towards the back of the cremation chamber, away from the primary burner. He emphasizes that the laws of physics cannot be overlooked, and that cremating an obese body requires the operator to remain near the cremator to monitor the cremation cycle.

“It’s unfortunate,” comments Schaal, “but the majority of all crematory violations are the result of human error, and the more we understand the process, the stronger we will be as an industry.”

A Checklist for Handling Funerals of “Bigger People”If you haven’t yet handled a “plus-size” funeral, chances are very good that you will soon. Prepare now so that you and the family of the deceased won’t have any unpleasant––and unforgettable––surprises.

1. Have “plus-sized” burial vaults readily available, or know where you can get larger vaults quickly so the family doesn’t have the additional anguish of postpon-ing the funeral service while waiting for delivery.

2. Be sure your delivery equipment can accommodate the extra size and weight ofan oversized casket and burial vault. Keep your trucks and vans spotlessly clean and in good working condition.

3. Be prepared to offer creative delivery solutions for the casketed remains and the burial vault (horse-drawn wagons, fire trucks, flat-bed trucks with lifts, etc.).

5. Measure doorways where the funeral services will be held. Are there elevators that are too small? Or is the weight restriction on the elevator too low? Stairs or narrow corridors that will make access impossible? Be able to offer alternative sug-gestions for funeral locations if access is limited.

plots will be necessary for burial of an oversized casket/burial vault. Check out access roads.

7. Staff: Have enough personnel on hand. All usual activities will likely take twiceas long to accomplish and call for more manpower to do them.

8. NEVER lose sight of the fact that you are helping the family to experience a dignified celebration of life and closure. Don’t take the chance of letting any glitch mar their memories of their loved one’s memorial service.

9. Plan to read the article by Keith Davis in the ICCFA Magazine. Then, borrow what he states is his number-one rule: “If I didn’t check it, it will be a problem.”

At the GravesideMany burial vault companies provide grave-side set-up services for funeral homes. If you’re one of those companies, think as creatively as you can about the comfort of the family members of the heavy decedent. His or her family members may be “bigger people,” too, and they may insist on attend-ing the graveside service, in spite of the inconvenience of getting there and enduring the time there. In addition to grieving, they may be exhausted and at-risk themselves from a safety/health standpoint. Have you gone the extra mile in considering their comfort? They may not be able to stand during the service, but can they realistically sit on the chairs you’ve provided? If they

need chairs that will seat them safely and comfortably. They may also need special assistance from and to their vehicles.

Advocacy GroupOn Size-AcceptanceCurrently, there is an advocacy group (a non-profit civil rights organization) that combats size discrimination. While still in relative infancy, the Size-Acceptance As-sociation (ISAA) is now marking its 13th anniversary as an organization. Its mission is “To promote size acceptance and to help end weight-based discrimination throughout the world by means of advocacy and visible, lawful action. ISAA’s primary purpose is to end the most common form of size discrimi-nation and bigotry––that against fat children

human rights of members affected by other forms of size discrimination as well. ISAA defines size discrimination as any action which places people at a disadvantage sim-ply because of their size. ISAA defines sizeacceptance as acceptance of self and others without regard to weight or body size.” The website states that ISAA has not been a membership organization since September

and donations. Allen Steadham is ISAA’s Director (www.size-acceptance.org).

Has the Industry Done Enough?If one-third of the U.S. population today is considered extremely overweight, the fami-lies you encounter from now on will tend to be “bigger people” themselves. They will remember how their loved one was treated by the funeral professionals involved. Sen-sitivity to needs and attention to the details called for in a “plus-size” funeral create an opportunity for repeat business. Are the funeral homes with which you do business––and your company––doing everything possible to deserve this business?

Additional ReadingAdams, Alice, “The Challenge of Obese Cases,”

ICCFA Magazine

Conley, Mikaela, “Obesity Epidemic Spurs Demand for Oversize Caskets,” ABC News (In-

Davis, Keith, “A Guide for Dealing with Large IC-

CFA Magazine

Yearsley, David, CSE, “Obesity a Growing Prob-lem in the Memorialization Industry,” published

ICCFA Magazine, p. 18.

Continued from page 11


Employers – now you can

If you have job openings going unfilled becausepotential employees can’t find you, visit:

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National ConcreteBurial Vault Association, Inc. PO Box 917525Longwood, FL 32791(407) 788-1996


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NCBVA is a proud member of FAMIC

The Funeral and Memorialization Information Council (FAMIC) is a membership organization comprising organizations in nearly all areas of the death care industry.

FAMIC is committed to making available to the public direct and open information regarding death care and memorialization from the lead-ing associations of service providers and busi-nesses.

FAMIC Members:

Casket & Funeral Supply Association

Cremation Association of North America

Funeral Service Foundation

International Order of the Golden Rule

Monument Builders of North America

National Concrete Burial Vault Association

National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association

National Funeral Directors Association

Selected Independent Funeral Homes


National Concrete Burial Vault Association“Serving the death care industry with the very best”

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We believe that concrete is an ideal material for the construction of burial vaults for the interment of human remains and that a properly constructed concrete burial vault is worthy of acceptance by the public. Our sales and advertising policies will be governed by standards acceptable by the public and the funeral profession and by principles advocated by the National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc. We pledge fair trade practices to our competitor, whose product we will not dispar-age. We shall conduct our business on sound business principles, striving to build a relationship of respect and confidence for the burial vault industry with the public, with the funeral director and with the cemetery’s management. We will abide by the rules and regulations of the National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc., thereby contributing to a stronger and greater national industry.

CODE OF ETHICS


A D & Sons Vault Co. Suffolk, VAAbel Vault & Monument Co. Canton, ILAmerican Concrete Industries Veazie, MEAmerican Vault Co. Cleveland, OHAmerican Wilbert Vault Corp. Forest Park, ILArnold-Wilbert Corp. Goldsboro, NCArrow Vault Co., Inc. Lafayette, INAtlas Concrete Products, Inc. Orlando, FLAustin Concrete Products Dover, NHBabylon Vault Co. New Windsor, MDBadger Burial Vault Co. Eau Claire, WIBailey Monument & Vault Co. Waycross, GABaumgardner Products Co. Akron, OHBaxter Burial Vault Cincinnati, OHBaxter Vault Co. Baxter Springs, KSBeck Vault Co. Rome, NYBell Vault & Monument Miamisburg, OHBrewster Vaults & Monuments Millville, NJBrown-Wilbert, Inc. Morris, MNBrown-Wilbert, Inc. St. Paul, MNBruns Norwalk Vault Co. St. Louis, MOBrutsche Concrete Products Battle Creek, MIBrutsche Concrete Products Benton Harbor, MIBuckeye Vault Service, Inc. Mansfield, OHC & M Precast Kerrville, TXCalumet Wilbert Vault Co. Inc. Gary, INCapital Precast, Ltd. St. Johns, NL, CanadaCarolina-Doric, Inc. Florence, SCCarolina-Doric, Inc. Snow Camp, NCCentral Burial Vaults, Inc. Marlow, OKCentral Burial Vaults, Inc. Oklahoma City, OK

Central Burial Vaults, Inc. Tulsa, OKCentral New York Vault Co. Cortland, NYCentury Vault Co., Inc. West Barnstable, MACharleston Wilbert Summerville, SCCheboygan Cement Products Co. Cheboygan, MIChesapeake Burial Vault Co. Barkley, MDChristy Vault Co., Inc. Colma, CAColumbus-Beier Vaults Columbus, WICooper Wilbert Vault Co. Middletown, DECordeiro Vault Co., Inc. Vallejo, CACostello & Company Vaults Smith Falls, Ontario, CanadaCreter Vault Corp. Flemington, NJCrummitt & Son Vault Corp. Martins Ferry, OHD.G. Robertson, Inc. Williston, VTDardanelle Vault & Monument Dardanelle, ARDeihl Vault & Precast Co. Orangeville, PADelaware Valley Vault Co. Blackwood, NJDePue Wilbert Vault Savannah, GA Detroit Wilbert Vault Corp. Detroit, MIDoody Burial Vaults, Inc. Winchendon, MADoric Concrete Vaults Inc. Garden City, KSDoric Concrete Vaults, Inc. Great Bend, KSDoric Concrete Vaults Inc. Osage City, KSDoric Huntingburg Vault Co. Huntingburg, INDoric of Kansas Vault Iola, KSDoric of Nashville, Inc. Nashville, TNDoric of Northeast Arkansas Jonesboro, ARDoric of Tennessee Cowan, TNDoric Concrete Vaults Limon, CODoric Concrete Vaults, Inc. Newton, KSDoric Manufacturing Co. Boaz, AL

Doric Mississippi, Inc. Jackson, MSDoric-South, Inc. Demopolis, ALDoric Vault of Connecticut North Haven, CTDoric Vault of Eastern NY, Inc. Hudson, NYDoric Vault of Western NY, Inc. Depew, NYDoric Vault Co. Griffin, GADura Vault North Bend, OHEagle Burial Vault Co. of LA Ruston, LAEagle Burial Vaults Perry, GAEsterly Burial Vault Co. West Reading, PAEvans Eagle Vaults, Inc. Leola, PAEverlasting Vault Co. Randallstown, MDFlagg-Palmer Precast, Inc. Oxford, MAFlorida Wilbert, Inc. Jacksonville, FLFond du Lac Wilbert Vault Fond du Lac, WIForsyth Bros. Concrete Prod. Terre Haute, INForsyth Bros. Burial Vaults Fithian, ILFort Myers Wilbert Vault Service Fort Myers, FL Gettysburg Burial Vault Co. Gettysburg, PAGolden Eagle Vault Co. Rocky Mount, VA Grable Vault Co. Logansport, INGraffius Burial Vault Co. Sinking Springs, PAGranite State Doric Newport, NH Gross Vault Co. Thomasville, GAHairfield Vault Co. Hickory, NCHardy Doric, Inc. Chelmsford, MAHarn Vault Service Massillon, OHHarris Precast La Porte, INHicks Industries, Inc. Davie, FLHicks Industries, Inc. Mulberry, FL Horton Precast Girard, PA

Huntingburg Vault Co. Huntingburg, INJacson, Inc. Henderson, TXJefferson Concrete Corp. Watertown, NYJosten Wilbert Vault Co. Sioux Falls, SDKansas City Wilbert Grandview, MOLake Shore Burial Vault Co. Brookfield, WILavaca Vault Co. Lavaca, ARLindquist Concrete Products Ogden, UTLouisell-Davis Vault Service Chattanooga, TNLycoming Burial Vault Co. Inc. Montoursville, PAMarion Vault Works Marion, INMark H. Bott Co. Ogden, UTMaster Grave Service Athens, GAMcDowell Doric Vault Co. Fletcher, NCMemphis Burial Vault Co. Memphis, TNMercer Vault Company Fredericksburg, VAMilan Burial Vault, Inc. Milan, MIMinchew Concrete Products Co. Waycross, GAMinnick Services Corp. Fort Wayne, INMontgomery Vault Co. Woodsboro, MDMontgomery Vault Co. Rockville, MDMoore Wilbert Vault Co. Evans, GANeher Burial Vault Co. Springfield, OHNor-Don Vault Co. Inc. Strafford, MONorth Central Mich. Vault Srvc. Cadillac, MINorthwest PA Burial Service Cochranton, PANorwalk Vault Co. Johnstown, PAOdon Vault Company, Inc. Odon, INOmaha Wilbert Vault, Inc. Omaha, NEOstwalt Vault Co. Concord, NCPalm Vault Co. Ada, OKPatriot Vault Co. Park Hills, MOPanhandle Vaults Amarillo, TX

For information on NCBVA’s exclusive Plant Inspection and Certification Program, please contact NCBVA Headquarters at 1-888-88-NCBVA or use application form on the next page. continued . . .

NCBVA proudly recognizes the following companies that have a current standing in the

Plant Certification Program

NCBVA Certified Vault Manufacturing Plants


Name of Plant ___________________________________________________________________________

Plant Mailing Address______________________________________________________________________

Plant Street Address_______________________________________________________________________

Plant Telephone_________________ Fax Number_______________________________________

Owner’s Name_____________________________ Evening Phone______________________________

Plant Manager/Contact Person__________________ Evening Phone_______________________________

Types of Outer Burial Receptacles Produced Top Seals Air Domes Sectionals

Other________________________________________________

Please return this application with full payment to:

The National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc.P.O. Box 917525Longwood, FL 32791(888) 88-NCBVA

For a NCBVA member in good standing, the Plant Certification Inspection fee is $1295.

National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc.Member Application for Plant Inspection

NCBVA Certified Vault Manufacturing Plants(Continued)

Pennsylvania Concrete Vault Co. Greensburg, PA Perfection Vault Woodson, ILPhenix Vault Phenix City, ALPioneer Vault, Inc. Doylestown, PAPoplar Bluff Doric Vaults, Inc. Poplar Bluff, MOPrecast Concrete Products, Inc. Blissfield, MI Precision Precast Inc. Pittsfield, MAQuality Burial Vault Co. Houston, TXRex Vault Service Newton, ILRocky Mountain Monument/Vault Sandy, UTRoland-Wilbert Vault Co. Clinton, IARoland-Wilbert Vault Co. Marion, IASaginaw Wilbert Vault Corp. Saginaw, MISam Green Vault Corp. Lynchburg, VASt. Louis Wilbert Vault Co. St. Louis, MO

Saline Vault Co. Sweet Springs, MOSanteiu Vaults Inc. Livonia, MISexton Wilbert Corporation Bloomington, INSheldon Vault Co. Sheldon, IAShore Vault & Precast Co. Exmore, VASimerly Concrete Products, Inc. Bristol, TNSimerly Vaults, Inc. Knoxville, TNSouthern Ohio Vault Co. Portsmouth, OHSouthern Vault Service Blakely, GASpoerr Precast Concrete Sandusky, OHSI Funeral Services Cedar Hill, TXSI Funeral Services Gerard, PASI Funeral Services Parsons, KSSI Funeral Services San Antonio, TXSunnycrest, Inc. Auburn, NY

Superior Burial Vaults, Inc. Salt Lake City, UTSuperior Vault Co. Bryantown, MDSuperior Vault Co. Charlestown, INSuperior Vault Co., Ltd. Mississauga, Ont., CanadaSwan’s Concrete Products Westbrook, METurner Vault Company Toledo, OHVanden Boomen Burial Vaults Inc. Appleton, WIVanden Boomen Burial Vaults Inc. Wausau, WIVincent & Son, Inc. Galena, ILWashington Wilbert Vault Works Inc. Laurel, MDWarga Concrete Products Inc. Fort Wayne, INWatts Vault & Monument Co. Des Moines, IAWayne Burial Vault Co., Inc. Indianapolis, INWelte Vault Co. Danbury, IAWest Plains Vault & Mfg. Co. Pomona, MO

Whitman Vault Co. Whitman, MAWicomico Vault Co., Inc. Salisbury, MD Wieser Precast Stewartville, MNWieser Doric Vault Co. LaCrescent, MNWilbert Burial Vault Co. Atlanta, GAWilbert Burial Vault Co. Waycross, GAWilbert Burial Vault Co. Muskegon, MIWilbert Burial Vault Co. Traverse City, MIWilbert Services Lancaster, NYWilbert Vaults of Houston, Inc. Houston, TXWillbee Concrete Products Jackson, MIWilliams Wilbert Des Moines, IAWilliams Vault Company Emporia, VAWillmar Precast Co. Willmar, MNZeiser Wilbert Vault Co. Elmira, NY


We at the National Concrete Burial Vault Association Bulletin would love to hear from you. Please take a few minutes and send us a press release about your happenings. We’re interested in details about special events, individuals who deserve recognition, awards, and new services you are providing. Suppliers: let us know about your new products and services. Color or black and white photos are also welcome. Send to [email protected].

We Want to Hear From You!!

INDUSTRY NEWS ’N NOTES

2011CALENDAR

February 20-27NCBVA Eastern Caribbean Convention CruiseAllure of the SeasDeparts from Ft. Lauderdale, FL

March 8-11ICCFA Annual Convention &ExpoMandalay Bay Resort & CasinoLas Vegas, NV

April 1-3NFDA Professional Women’s ConferenceAlexandria, VA

April 8-9OGR Annual ConferenceLoew’s Atlanta MidtownAtlanta, GA

October 23-26NFDA Intl. Convention & Expo/CANA Annual ConventionChicago, IL

Asa Brewster (center front), co-owner of Brewster Vaults and Monuments, Inc. in Millville, NJ, has been honored with an induction into the Millville Sports Hall of Fame for his football accomplishments in the late 1940s at Millville Senior High School. Although Brewster received scholarship opportunities at very reputable universities, he chose to enter his family burial vault business and marry his high school sweetheart, Myrtie. Brewster has been a part of Doric Products since 1962. He has served on the board of directors for Doric Products since January 26, 1977, the day Doric became incorporated.

Wilbert Wins Design Awards

Graphics Design USA for its marketing communications materials, The three print efforts

Image Library CD case and the Wilbert Annual Report. Each year this design competition

Matthews to Install Bio-Cremation Unit at UCLAMatthews Cremation Division has received approval to install its Bio-Cremation Unit at the University of California. The school plans to use alkaline hydrolysis to dispose of cadavers and medical waste from its donated body program and school of medicine. Matthews is the exclusive U.S. distributor of alkaline hydrolysis equipment manfacturer, Resomation, which is based in Scotland.

Prices on RiseThe average cost of a regular adult funeral, including casket and professional services,

increase compared to the same quarter the previous year, according to a report from Federated Funeral Directors of America. The cost of the average outer burial container increased by 3.17 % over the same period


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