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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 1976)
s The Oregon Memorial Service: Planning for a simple service The Oregon Memorial Asso ciation, founded in 1961, is a non-profit, non-denominal asso ciation dedicated to assisting its members to reduce death costs. Under contract to form local mortuaries, the Association con contrates the buying power of its members and is able to assure the desired services at lower cost. Members are encouraged to make their plans before death, thus relieving their family of this responsibility in the time of grief. The Association philosophy is that funeral costs should be kept at a minimum through simple services and through knowing the legal requirements. Although members are free to determine what type of funeral arrange ments they want, there is an encouragem ent to w a rd sim ple costs, funeral or memorial ser vices in churches or homes, and a lack of ostentación. Funerals can be expensive and they are often planned under emotional stress. Unwise deci sions are made that can cripple a family financially. Often other alternatives can not only be less expensive, but can emphasize deeper meaning of the occasion. ference, then fill out forms pro vided by the society. Question: Can these plans be cancelled or changed later? Answer: Certainly. Any time. Question: How does pre-plan ning help at time of death? Answer: In several ways: 1. You know what you want, how to get it and what it will cost. You don't have to choose a casket or negotiate for a funeral. 2. Y o u r fam ily understands what is being done. Simplicity will not be mistaken for miser liness or lack of respect. 3. By accepting the reality of death in advance, and by dis cussing it frankly, you and your family are better able to meet it when it comes. Question: Why is embalming usually practiced in this country? Answer: unless otherwise ad vised the funeral director as sumes there will be viewing of the body, and a service in its presence, and that embalming and "restoration" are desired, if this is not the rase, and if the body is not to be held for a funeral service, he will omit embalming if so requested. Question: What appropriate disposition ran be made of a body? Answer: There are three al ternatives: 1. Earth burial was once the simplest and most economical arrangement. W ith increasing population, rising land values, cost of caskets, vaults and other items usually required, it is be coming more and more costly. 2. C re m a tio n s clean orderly method of returning the body to the elements, is economics! and is rapidly increasing in use. 3. Hequeathal to a medical school performs a valuable ser vice and saves expense. In many areas there is a shortage of bodies for the proper training of doctors. Many public spirited people leave their bodies for this purpose. The eye banks, too. need donors. EMANUEL HOSPITAL MODEL CITIES LIAISON COMMITTEE A n o p p o rtu n ity fo r re p re s e n ta tiv e s fro m th e c o m m u n ity a n d th e h o s p ita l to c o m e to g e th e r, s h a re id e a s a n d re a c h a b e t t e r u n d e rs ta n d in g o f e a c h o th e r s p ro b le m s . CURRENTLY, THE M O DEL CITIES L IA IS O N C O M M ITT E E IS W O R K IN G W IT H THE HOSPITAL IN IM P L E M E N T IN G E M A N U E L 'S A F F IR M A TIV E A C T IO N PLAN W H IC H W A S APPROVED IN APRIL, 19 75 , BY THE DEPARTMENT O F HEALTH, E D U C A T IO N A N D WELFARE. QUESTIONS AND ANSW ERS CONCERNING MEMORIAL SOCIETIES Question: What is a memorial society? .Answer: A memorial society is a group of people who have joined together to obtain dignity, simplicity and economy in fu neral arrangements by advance planning. AT M O N T H L Y M E E T IN G S - - E M P L O Y M E N T O PPO R TU N ITIES FOR M IN O R IT IE S ; Question: It is run by funeral directors? .Answer: No, it is a people’s cooperative organization that as sists its members in selecting a funeral director and in getting the services they want Question: How is it controlled? - - AVAILABLE C O M M U N IT Y SERVICES; HEALTH CAREER E D U C A T IO N A L O PPO R TU NITIES, - AND EAAANUEL HO SPITA L'S B U IL D IN G A N D R EM O D ELIN G Answer: I t is a democratic organization managed by an un paid board of directors elected from its membership. Q u e s tio n : W h o o rg a n iz e s memorial societies? Answer: They usually are ini tiated by a church or a mini sterial association; occasionally by labor, civic or educational groups; sometimes by a few concerned individuals. Question: Is membership li mited? Answer: No. Even though a society may have been organized by a church or civic group, it is open to all regardless of creed, color, occupation or nationality. Question: How are memorial societies supported? ARE DISCUSSED, SO TH A T THE C O M M ITT E E C A N Answer: Most have a lifetime membership fee of $10 or $15 plus a $5 records charge at time of death. Some receive bequests and other gifts. Question: Who does the work? Answer: The members. Most societies are run by unpaid offi cers and committees, some by church staffs. A few larger ones have part or full time paid secretaries. Question: W hat happens when you join? Answer: The society lets you know what kinds of funeral ser vices a.e available and at what cost. You talk it over in your family and decide on your pre PROGRAM SERVE AS A N EFFECTIVE C O M M U N IC A T IO N LINK BETWEEN M EM BERS O F THE C O M M U N IT Y A N D THE HO SPITAL. BOB ROGERS THE C O M M IT T E E W A S ESTABLISHED SIX YEARS A G O W IT H M ODEL CITIES F U N D IN G A N D H A S R E M A IN E D A N ACTIVE L IA IS O N BETWEEN THE HOSPITAL A N D THE C O M M U N IT Y . COMMITTEE MEMBERS BOB ROGERS. CHAIRMAN HARRY WARD JIM LOVING LEROY PATTEN ROBERT KING GRACYE BALDWIN JACK DEYAMPERT VERNON SUMMERS THE REV. JOHN JACKSON
