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CARTMELL COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Winter 2012
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Blanket Drive for the Homeless -
Your Help is Needed!
Dec. 15th - Jan. 30th
Contributions of new blankets, sheets (flat and fitted twin size),
men's white cotton socks, and razors will be appreciated.
Drop off at Cartmell Funeral Home
150 Court Street, Plymouth between noon - 4 pm Mon - Fri
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The 23rd Cranberry Hospice
Annual Festival of Trees
Nov. 30th - Dec. 2nd
Every year since the tradition began, Cartmell Funeral Home has participated in the annual Festival of Trees in Plymouth. This event - now in its 23rd year - celebrates the joys of the holiday season and supports the care given by Cranberry Hospice.
Kathy Cartmell-Sirrico, owner and funeral director at Cartmell Funeral Home, says "We look forward each year to the Tree of Lights trimmed with white lights and candles to honor and remember loved ones. This giant, 15-foot tree greets visitors to The Festival of Trees and Cartmell Funeral Home participates by 'lighting a candle' for each family we've served during the year. The names of all those honored are registered in the Tree of Lights Journal which is displayed next to the Tree of Lights."
A former member of the Cranberry Hospice Board of Directors, Kathy added, "The folks at Cranberry Hospice are truly angels of mercy and we are proud to participate in this wonderful event."
The Festival of Trees includes more than 30 uniquely decorated evergreen trees that have been donated and decorated by individuals or groups from local communities. Visitors can stroll among the trees and enjoy the entertainment. There are opportunities to make a wish with Santa or purchase a butterfly to benefit the Children's Bereavement Program and to visit the gift shop.
 Since The Festival of Trees began, the Friends of Cranberry Hospice have donated over $1,500,000 to Cranberry Hospice to provide hospice services to patients and families in Plymouth and 16 surrounding communities.
Your tax-deductible donation to the Festival of Trees benefits Cranberry Hospice's Children's Bereavement Program as well as direct patient care. You can share in the magic of the Annual Festival of Trees in many ways:
- Contribute to the Festival - There are many opportunities to donate and/or sponsor this event. Call 508-830-2420 for information.
- Sponsor a Tree - Individuals or groups can buy a tree and decorate it
- Volunteer your time and/or services - Call 781-934-7778
- Light a Candle on the Tree of Lights
- Place an ad in the Festival of Trees Program - Call 781-934-7778
The Festival of Trees is held at Plimoth Plantation on Route 3A, Plimoth Plantation Highway in Plymouth. The Festival is open to the public from 10 am - 9 pm on Friday, November 30th and from 10 am - 5 pm on Saturday, December 1st and Sunday, December 2nd. Tickets are $10 for adults and children and are only available in advance.
Check the Festival website for information on where you can purchase tickets.
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Plymouth Taskforce for the Homeless Prepares for Winter
The first snowfall in November emphasized the need for winter bedding and other supplies for the emergency shelter program run by the Plymouth Taskforce for the Homeless. Now, more than ever, the shelters need winter bedding for the men served in the shelters in Plymouth.
Cartmell Funeral Home is sponsoring a "Blanket Drive" to collect heavy blankets, twin sheets, white cotton men's socks, and razors. "We request that new items be brought to Cartmell Funeral Home, 150 Court Street, Plymouth, between noon and 4 pm, Monday through Friday, beginning December 15th through January 30th," said John Vincent. "Our goal is to collect 150 new blankets and sets of sheets - enough so that the shelters are well-equipped and ready for this winter."
Overnights of hospitality are provided on a rotating basis by several houses of worship, including Christ Church Parish, First Baptist Church of Plymouth, First Parish Unitarian Universalist, Zion Lutheran Church, and the Church of the Pilgrimage. There homeless men can find shelter and a hot meal.
"The staff at Cartmell Funeral Home often volunteers to serve as overnight chaperones, to set up shelters, and to provide food, cook, and serve meals," said Kathy Cartmell-Sirrico. "We've been doing this for a number of years. I believe that people should not be judged on their financial status ... doing good for others in need is important. We also try to provide a bit of companionship by playing cards or cribbage or watching a movie together. We want them to know that people care."
In addition, the Plymouth Taskforce provides permanent housing for eight formerly homeless men in North Plymouth. The house was purchased with Community Preservation Funding last August. "This is the first step in our long-term goal of providing additional permanent housing," said Connie Melahoures, President of the Plymouth Taskforce. "The lives of the homeless become more stable as a result of having a place to call home. Everyone deserves a place to live, food on the table, access to health care, education, and a job."
The Blanket Drive continues through the end of January. In addition, you can help by volunteering or contributing to The Plymouth Taskforce for the Homeless. Chaperones are always needed and monetary donations are used to purchase Stop & Shop gift cards for those who want to prepare a meal and cannot afford to purchase the supplies. Contact Connie Melahoures at (508) 367-0516. To contribute, make checks payable to Task Force for the Homeless and mail to P. O. Box 3896, Plymouth MA 02361.
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Raymond LaForest Retires
Veteran, Hero at Normandy and
Inspiration for Funeral Home
Raymond LaForest's family is very proud of him and for a wealth of reasons. At age 87, Ray is retiring from a job he has held since Cartmell Funeral Home opened in 1948. That was after he returned from serving his country in the Navy as Seaman 2nd Class.
At only 17 years old, Ray enlisted in the United States Navy and was sent first to California and then to France. He was in the second wave of the troops who stormed the beaches at Normandy - the first wave was wiped out - and he witnessed the horror of war first hand ... so much so that it wasn't until many years later that he would speak of it at all.
His son Jeffrey explains, "In 1997, our family visited France and Mom and Dad actually went on a tour to Normandy. When the tour guide learned that Dad was a survivor of the Battle of Normandy, he gave Dad the microphone and asked him to detail what happened! That was quite a treat for the others and a turning point for Dad and very emotional for all. After that, he began to open up a bit about his experience."
When Ray was discharged, he had to fill out an application that asked him about his future plans. He wrote: "to become an embalmer" ... what funeral directors were called at the time. "Funny thing, though," said Jeff, "because his brother-in-law, my cousin Kathy's Dad Robert Cartmell, had not yet opened Cartmell Funeral Home. Apparently it was Dad's idea that prompted Robert to do that."
Ray never did become an embalmer but has worked at Cartmell Funeral Home as a funeral home assistant since the very beginning. "Uncle Ray has been like the 'Energizer Bunny' all these years," said his niece Kathy Cartmell-Sirrico.
After his active years in the Navy, Ray joined the Naval Reserves and also had an extensive career history, working in sales for TWA, Alitalia Airlines - selling seats and cargo space to corporations - and at the Bostonian Shoe Company in Whitman as Customer Service Manager for sixteen years.
Ray and his twin sister, Madeleine Butterfield, are two of nine children in a very
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Robert & Teresa Cartmell's Wedding - Ray & his twin sister Madeleine were Best Man & Maid of Honor
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close-knit family. Ray and his wife Nancy have been married for 57 years and have three sons, Steven, Christopher, and Jeffrey who continues the tradition by working at Cartmell Funeral Home as an After Loss Coordinator. Ray and Nancy live in Pine Hills and in retirement, Raymond will continue to walk his dogs Rudy and Sandy and to play cribbage with his friends.
"We are all very proud of Dad," says Jeff. "He is very proud to have served his country and enlisting is a decision he never regretted. He has said that it made 'the boy become a man'. He also said it helped him to recognize the importance of family. He watched people die right beside him and it taught him the value of human life. And the dignity of death."
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Frequently Asked Questions
"This time of year can be so difficult to deal with. Do you have any suggestions for coping with grief during the holidays?"
The holidays can be difficult for those of us who have lost a loved one, particularly if this is the first holiday season without that person. This usually joyous time of year is often accompanied by painful reminders of the person we are missing, and apprehension about how we will cope with the festivities all around us.
In "Coping with the Holidays - The Road to Recovery," published by the International Order of the Golden Rule, an anonymous writer says, "I thought I was doing much better. The pain had subsided: I could laugh again. I was beginning to spend time with friends. My eating and sleeping patterns were back to normal. Then, I had to face my first holiday without him. I felt the familiar effects of grief wash over me and it was just like the healing process had never even begun."
The key to managing grief during this time is to give yourself permission to be flexible and to try to anticipate changes you may wish to make. We have listed some suggestions below which we hope will help you face the coming season knowing that you are not alone in your ambivalence about the holidays, and that there are coping strategies available.
1) It is important to acknowledge that adjustments will be necessary in the traditions and celebrations of the holiday season.
2) Use a journal to write down your feelings and fears concerning the holidays. Clarifying your thoughts will help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed. View the holiday season as a series of small events, rather than as endless commitments and demands.
3) Plan ahead to participate in some holiday activities to avoid having to make decisions under pressure. If you are not sure about an invitation, be tentative. Explain that some days are better than others and you may attend, only if you feel up to it.
4) Build in quiet time to your schedule so you will not resent having too much to do.
5) Getting into the spirit by decorating can bring warmth into your home. Ask family and friends to help if it all seems too much to do alone.
6) If you are not ready to celebrate this year, that's OK. If you have children, discuss holiday changes with them so they don't feel confused or punished.
7) If you find yourself alone for the holidays, use the time to pamper yourself - do something you've wanted to do and haven't had the time for.
8) If you don't want to be alone, make a plan not to spend the holidays by yourself. Call family and friends and tell them you'd like to spend some time with them.
9) Do for others: Put together a holiday gift package or basket of food for a needy family.
10) Start a new tradition in memory of your loved one.
There are several local resources in the area that offer support for individuals experiencing grief. These include, but are not limited to:
At Cartmell Funeral Home, we offer a wealth of helpful reading material on coping with grief. Stop by or call us at 508-746-2162. We'll be pleased to help you select one that is right for you.
Remember that there is no right or wrong way to experience grief; nor is there a time limit for our feelings. We all experience loss differently. We hope that the suggestions in this article will help you during this time of year, using the strategies that are best for you.
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About Cartmell Funeral Home
Now in its third generation, Cartmell Funeral Service is an independent family-owned and operated funeral home. The legacy of care and compassion continues through personal experience and understanding, serving the people of the greater Plymouth area and surrounding communities.
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Cartmell Funeral Service, Inc.
Entrusted to the Community for Three Generations |
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