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Caskets to roll in for mock funeral exercise
The Advocate
The MHCC community should not be alarmed if they see caskets rolled through campus next week as the Funeral Service Education program will be holding its 15th Annual Mock Funeral event Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event will be in the Town and Gown Room and will be headed by Terri Canfield, a funeral management instructor.
"We will have an assortment of caskets, urns, markers, items that one would typically see at a funeral home and be exposed to during an actual arrangement. It is an educational experience for both student and participant," said Canfield.
"For the first time this year we will also have available pet urns and an opportunity to plan a service for a pet," said Canfield.
Along with helping students in the funeral service program learn, both Canfield and Doug Ferrin, the head of the department, feel that it is a good learning experience for volunteers as well.
Canfield said, "They (students) benefit from assisting the public with a mock arrangement, preparing them for their entry into the funeral industry as licensed funeral directors."
As for volunteers, "By being exposed to the planning process when there is not an immediate need can lessen their stress when the actual need occurs," said Canfield, as well as preparing for "something that invariably they will have to do at one point in their lives."
All students in the program will participate in the event, with first year students posing as clients along with the other volunteers and second-year students posing as funeral directors and actually helping "clients" with funeral arrangements.
"We try to have each student arrange at least two services. Some students already work in the funeral industry and have been exposed to arranging and some have not," said Canfield.
Students are given a lot of responsibility in taking part in the planning of the event."
Many of the items one would expect to see for a funeral arrangement will be present at the event.
The event is open to the public and walk-ins are welcome.
Canfield said the department still needs volunteers; anyone interested can email [email protected] or call 503-489-8505 to schedule an appointment for volunteering or for more information on the event.
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