This section of our website will be updated periodically to keep consumers informed about what's new at Crawford Funeral Home and on our website.

Alan Wolfelt’s GRIEF WORDS added to CFH Website

Our funeral home website has a new section entitled GRIEF WORDS featuring 25 special articles to aid families in grief and caregivers.  This new community resource is written by Dr. Alan Wolfelt, a nationally renowned author and lecturer on grief related issues, and the director of the Center For Loss and Life Transition in Colorado.

For people who have lost a loved one or friend the articles are conveniently arranged into five topic areas: General-Grief, Helping Yourself Heal, Helping Others Heal, For/About Grieving Children and Teenagers, and Funerals, Memorials, Cremations and Related Topics.

The website’s resources for Caregivers follows the same topic area format but is organized specifically to quickly provide information of interest to caregivers and meet their special needs.

It is our hope that this special GRIEF WORDS resource section on our website will be helpful to the community and a source for family and friends to obtain well written materials by a nationally respected author. If you feel that you need more help than these articles provide, we encourage you to join a grief support group or contact your family doctor for additional assistance.

See GRIEFWORDS at www.CrawfordFuneralHome.com

Another Sad Day at the Funeral Home

The photo collage at the funeral home shows events of March 30 – 31, 2005, when with deep regret, we had to take down the beautiful old trees on the island area of our parking lot.

The American Linden tree (closest to the garage) is estimated to have been about 110 years old. We have enjoyed the beauty, color and shade these wonderful trees have provided during the almost 50 years we have called this home.

Unfortunately age and the 1991 ice storm caused severe damage to these wonderful trees. Skilled care by Crandall Tree & Landscaping Service helped to nurture them for another 14 years. Unfortunately a decision had to be made and we were advised that the trees were very weak and had to come down.

Imagine everyone’s surprise when we saw the large damaged areas inside the Linden’s trunk.  While it was a wise decision, it was indeed a sad one and we will miss these beautiful old trees.

We are very excited about a new project now in the planning stages that will utilize this space.  We will keep you informed about our progress as we bring new life to the island area.

The Crawford Funeral Home Staff

END  NOTES

One item of interest that is new is END NOTES which is located in the RESOURCE CENTER. This special section is designed to contain helpful material which has been shared with our staff by the families we serve during their time of need.  Visiting END NOTES from time to time you may find an inspirational poem, story about grief and grief recovery, or any of the many challenges surrounding things families deal with following the death of a beloved family member or friend.  We invite you to visit this section of our website frequently to see what is new and may be of personal help to each visitor.

NEWS RELEASE

David P. Crawford, CFSP, of Rochester, NY, has recently been awarded the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice (APFSP).

A number of professions grant special recognition to members upon completion of specified academic and professional programs and "CFSP" is funeral service's national individual recognition. The Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, since its 1976 founding, has had as its goals: (1) to recognize those practitioners who have voluntarily entered into a program of personal and professional growth, (2) to raise and improve the standards of funeal service, and (3) to encourage practitioners to make continuing educations a life-long process in their own self-interest, the interest of the families they serve, and the community in which they serve.

To initially receive this award, the practitioner must complete a 180 hour program of continuing education activities and events.  In addition, the practitioner is required to accumulate 20 hours per year to recertify (note: current NYS funeral directing licsensure only requires 6 hours per year to recertify). Credits are awarded by the Academy for work leading to personal and/or professional grown in four areas:

- Academic Activities
- Professional Activities
- Career Review (retroactive credit)
-Community and Civic Activities

Certified Practitioners may use the CFSP designation with their names for business letterheads, professional cards, and other appropriate uses.  Certification is for individuals only and is not used to imply certification of a firm.

Of the over 4000 funeral directors licensed by the New York State Department of Health, as of January 2005, fewer than 60 had attained this prestegious recognition.