"We are thrilled to participate in the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days for the second year ... and, we are joined in this effort by the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home in Hingham and the McDonald Funeral Homes in Weymouth, now owned and operated by the Keohane family," explained John Keohane.    

     Residents and businesses of Quincy, Hingham, Hull, Weymouth, and surrounding communities can donate by ordering daffodils and other Daffodil Days gifts by visiting either the Keohane Funeral and Cremation Service website or the McDonald Funeral Homes website.  

     When on the website's home page, simply click on the Daffodils Days link. You'll see a list of beautiful items available in exchange for donations, including everything from fresh-cut daffodils to an adorable Daffodil Days Boyds® by Enesco® Bear.   

     "We're proud to be a part of the fight against cancer by participating in this unique campaign," said Dennis Keohane, funeral director at McDonald Funeral Homes in Weymouth.  "Every dollar is so very important in supporting the American Cancer Society. For as little as $10 you can make a donation and give a bunch of daffodils to brighten someone's day!"

     One of the American Cancer Society's oldest and most beloved fundraising programs since 1973, Daffodil Days has empowered people to help save lives from cancer by raising money and awareness to help beat the disease.   

      Dennis Keohane explained, "Buying daffodils to support the American Cancer Society is a win-win. Their on-going work helps people get well and stay well and you get a beautiful reminder that spring is on its way!"

     "Last year we were overwhelmed with the outpouring of support by members of the community for Daffodil Days. This year we hope to do even better and beat our goal of raising $2,000, " said John Keohane.  

     "It is the first Daffodil Days for McDonald Funeral Homes," said Dennis Keohane. We are confident that the community will respond to our call for donations, and a bit of brotherly competition won't hurt, either!"

     Flowers will be delivered the week of March 19th and we will advise all donors of the exact date and times. Orders must be placed by March 2, 2012.  

Visit www.keohane.com  or www.Mcdonald-funeralhomes.com and click on the Daffodils Days link to donate today!

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Celebrant Services Available
as Alternative for Families 

Introducing Joseph Moya

     A Celebrant offers an alternative to a funeral service provided by a member of the clergy for those families who are not affiliated with a church or who do not wish to have a traditional religious funeral service.  

     Training for becoming a Celebrant was first developed by Doug Manning from the Insight Institute in Colorado, who learned about Celebrants when traveling in Australia over 12 years ago.   

     "Celebrants literally celebrate a person's life and together with the family of the deceased, create a meaningful service that may include special readings, music, family stories, and personal touches that relate the remarkable story of the life that was lived," said Joseph Moya, a Celebrant with Keohane Funeral and Cremation Service.

     Joseph, who is 53, has a background as a corporate trainer and management consultant. He was born and raised in the Corpus Christi area of Texas, but has lived in Massachusetts for more than 30 years."In my 30s, a number of friends and family died and I saw tremendous need for the personal touch in funeral service, "Joseph explained. "At the time I was volunteering at a hospice and I realized that I had special 'gifts' - a wonderful capacity to touch people with compassion and respect, especially when dealing with death issues. I was interested in learning more about funeral service - I thought I might study to become a funeral director. But then, I learned about Celebrants and realized that this was where I was meant to be."

     Joseph meets with families and talks with them about the best way to commemorate the life of their loved one. He will spend two to three hours talking about hobbies, favorite books ... listening to the stories that the family tells. "My goal," says Joseph, "is to relay that life in a way that at the end of the service, people will tell me: 'It is as though you knew him!'"

      "Many people tell me they are spiritual, but not religious," said Joseph. "We can design the funeral so we can meet the varying needs of different family members. For instance, we can have a Life Celebration ceremony during visitation hours the night before the traditional church service. We work with the funeral director to help create a meaningful and personal memorial. The possibilities are endless."

     "I love being able to help people at a very difficult time in their lives. It is important to help get them to the place they need to be to begin the healing process. I understand that all too well. I, too, have loved and lost."

     If you would like to know more about Celebrant services for your family or would like to learn more about career opportunities as a Celebrant, please call John Keohane at 1-800-536-4263.

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Spotlight on The Hull Lifesaving Museum

       The 1889 Point Allerton U.S. Lifesaving station has been a landmark for more than 100 years. From this station, Joshua James and his crews launched dozens of rescues and saved more than 600 lives.  

       Today the Hull Lifesaving Museum welcomes thousands of visitors each year. According to their Facebook page, The Hull Lifesaving Museum is "a diverse crew of individuals committed to changing lives, and sometimes saving them, by preserving and teaching maritime skills and lifesaving heritage."

       Located at 1117 Nantasket Avenue in Hull, the Museum offers historical presentations, lectures, art shows, workshops for kids, rowing events and more. A complete list of their calendar of events can be found on their website.

       Keohane Funeral and Cremation Service has long been a supporter of the Hull

Harbor Illumination

Lifesaving Museum's Harbor Illumination which is held each July. "This yearly event includes a variety of afternoon activities culminating in the spectacular lighting of flares stretching from the island side of Spinnaker Island Bridge all the way to the very tip of the A Street Pier! " Area businesses sell flares with proceeds donated to the Museum.

       For many years, Point Allerton Station has withstood ferocious coastal storms - from 1898's Portland Gale to the Blizzard of '78 - and the exposed location takes a heavy toll. The Museum is in the midst of a multi-phased restoration that will help to preserve this important landmark. Phase One is the replacement of the distinctive and detailed cedar-shingled roof. Subsequent phases will include architectural assessment of the building's needs and energy efficiency, clapboard replacement, and interior and exterior painting.

       Donations for this $275,000 restoration project can be mailed to the Museum at P. O. Box 221, Hull MA 02045.  

     "Here's a fun event you may want to get involved in," said Dennis Keohane. The annual Snow Ball and Snow Row will take place March 9th and 10th. The Snow Ball, at Nantasket Beach Resort (7 pm - midnight) will feature live entertainment by The Dons, cocktails, raffles, and a silent auction. The Snow Row takes place on Saturday, March 10th at 10:30 am at the Windmill Point Boathouse - with or without snow! Tickets for the Snow Ball are $10 and more information can be obtained by calling 1-781-925-5433.        

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     Pre-planning is the opportunity to sit with a funeral director and ask lots of questions, find out about the services that are offered, understand options that are available with either cremation or burial, and begin the process of making decisions about the type of funeral service that is most in accord with your values.   Many people who are nearing or are in early retirement want to solidify their retirement plans and include funeral arrangements as part of their overall strategy.

     Joe Reardon, Director of Advance Planning at Keohane Funeral and Cremation Service says "Getting started may be difficult because we are all procrastinators. But when the advance planning is done, people tell me they are thrilled ... it gives them a feeling of freedom. Later, when death occurs, the emphasis shifts from making arrangements to focusing on the person and the memorable experience the family can create to celebrate their loved one's life."

     During the pre-planning conference, the funeral director will also record your wishes and desires so that this information is readily available for your family when it is needed.   Pre-planning may or may not include pre-paying for those services.  

     People pre-plan for a variety of reasons. Certainly, funeral planning isn't something people want to think about every day. But, if you put it off, family members may not be prepared, either emotionally or financially, to make the many decisions that must be made.  

     As part of the arrangement process, the funeral director will help you to think about how best to create a personalized memorial that will hold special meaning to those in attendance.  

     Pre-planning is often a part of general estate planning, and enables you to set aside appropriate funds in a vehicle that is considered an exempt asset when qualifying for Medicaid.   You will also have the opportunity to determine pricing, and to decide whether pre-paying for your arrangements is appropriate for you.

     People pre-pay for a number of reasons: to eliminate the need for family members to come up with the funds at what might be a difficult time; to receive price guarantees when available; to make comfortable payments using payment plans instead of having to pay a lump sum later; to set funds aside when qualifying for Medicaid; and to get a sense of control over an inevitable cost.

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