Party of My Life

With so many options for where to host a funeral reception or celebration of life, where does one begin? One consideration for veterans in Minnesota is what is located near Fort Snelling? Adena Hinz, Sales Director for Mendakota Country Club shares what this beautiful venue has to offer.Mendakota Country Club2075 Mendakota DriveMendota Heights, MN 55120This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, with original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg.IntroductionAdena Hinz, Sales Director for Mendakota Country ClubMembership & how to get started planning for a Funeral Reception or Celebration of Life at Mendakota Country ClubPre-planning vs. post-loss planning and supportSpaces & capacity04:05–0:05:22 Description of venuesTiming flexibilityFlexibility on scheduling (immediate or months later); consider travel, snowbirds, guest availabilityGuest profile & pricing*Note that events aren’t limited to golfersFood & beverageVeterans support and logistics with Fort SnellingWorks with Fort Snelling for services; offers 10% rental discount for veterans; ~10-minute proximity to Fort SnellingPersonalization and common questionsAdvice on personalizing events; common question “what have others done?” Music and atmosphereBuilt-in sound system, XM radio, portable Bluetooth speaker, and live music options; Adina covers music during planningMemorable examplesClosing offers & contact

Wings for Widows Executive Director Chris Bentley joins us to encourage everyone to talk about proactively financial planning before one passes away. For more information:Wings for Widows and to register for the1st Annual X-Golf Tournament.This episode was hosted by Anne Morehouse with original music composed and performed by Caileen Viehweg.Outline:Chris Bentley's Journey to Founding Wings for WidowsThe Need for Practical Support for WidowsChallenges Faced by Widows and WidowersThe Impact of Widowhood on Cognitive FunctionWings for Widows' Mission and ServicesPractical Problems Faced by Familes After a DeathSuccess Stories and ChallengesThe Importance of Intentional ConversationsEncouraging Professional Support for FamiliesWings for Widow's Annual Fundraiser

People are getting cremated, but then what? Lakewood's Director of Marketing & Outreach, Julia Gillis, and Director of Family Services, Kelly Leahy, explain how this Minneapolis landmark has evolved along with the death care industry. Be sure to check out Lakewood's Events & Programs tab to visit in a variety of ways at lakewoodcemetery.org.This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg.0:06 Lakewood's background8:13 Cremation options10:19 Memorialization offerings18:40 Record-keeping23:07 Grief support through ongoing community events29:30 Lakewood tours, fees and history

As in life, businesses grow and develop. Heidi Andermack, Co-founder and CEO of Chowgirls Catering shares her journey and how Chowgirls came into its own as a flagship, sustainably responsible catering company. Heidi discusses how taking care of people and the planet is critically vital to Chowgirls mission.This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, with original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg.Contact info for today's episode:Chowgirls Catering - [email protected] Harvest HeartlandOrigins of Chow Girls CateringA. Founders: Heidi Andreback and Amy B. Background: English majors with marketing experience C. Founded in March 2004 D. Initial motivation: Catering as a low-risk business ventureSustainability JourneyA. Initial focus on organic catering B. Evolution to local and seasonal food practices C. Pioneering sustainability efforts 1. Commercial composting 2. Food rescue initiatives 3. Partnership with Second Harvest HeartlandCOVID-19 Response A. Pivoting during pandemic B. Food rescue from closing restaurants C. Producing 9,000 meals per week D. Supporting chefs and addressing food insecurityBusiness PhilosophyA. Triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit B. Community involvement C. Staff volunteer opportunities D. Structured donation systemPersonalization and Community ImpactA. Catering approach B. End-of-life event considerations C. Supporting local and BIPOC businessesKey LessonsA. Adaptability B. Commitment to sustainability C. Importance of giving back

In addition to organ donation, whole body donation is another end-of-life option. By donating one's body, we help advance medical research and support future professionals studying medicine and mortuary science.Linnea Seidelman, donation coordinator at the University of Minnesota's Anatomy Bequest Program, shares details on the donation process and how people can make a difference for future generations.For more information, please visit the University of Minnesota's Anatomy Bequest Program's website at:https://med.umn.edu/anatomy-bequest-programThis podcast is hosted by Anne Morehouse, original music was created and performed by Caileen Viehweg.

Handling the logistics of a loved one's estate is not easy, especially when it comes to real estate. Ann Breuer from First Choice Realty Solutions guides us on how to best navigate this challenging process.Ann Breuer can be reached at [email protected]://www.firstchoicerealtysolutions.com/Party of My Life is hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse. Original music was created and performed by Caileen Viehweg.First Choice Realty background and family involvement (0:11)Planning ahead for end-of-life matters, including power of attorney, transfer of death on deed (2:53)Estate planning, probate and property titling after death (5:40)Home selling process, including property debts & disclosures (12:26)Downsizing, estate sales, and real estate market insights (14:57)Handling real estate sales after a personal loss with a specialized firm (24:22)

Funerals are evolving beyond traditional formats towards more personalized and creative celebrations. Kozlak-Radulovich Funeral Chapels' Danielle Radulovich Nelson and Daniel Gelhaus highlight key shifts, including the value of pre-planning and the increased popularity of celebrations of life.  Unique, theme-based funerals serve as a beginning towards healing, such as a Star Wars-themed funeral Danielle and her team created for one of their families.For more information, visit https://www.kozlakradulovich.com.This episode of Party of My Life was hosted by Anne Morehouse. Original music was created and performed by Caileen Viehweg.Introduction and Background of Koslak Radulovich Funeral ChapelEvolution of Funeral Services and PersonalizationTrends in Funeral Services and Celebration of LifePre-Planning and the Importance of Discussing End-of-Life WishesCreative Approaches to Funeral ServicesThe Role of Funeral Directors and the Importance of RelationshipsMemorial Folders and Personalized TributesFinal Thoughts and Advice for Listeners

Travis Easton, Regional Director of Operations at Brighton Hospice helps us learn how to select a hospice care team and how to best prepare for this life event.For more information, visit Brighton Hospice or call (952) 856-2212. To research hospice providers near you, visit Medicare.gov.This episode was produced by Anne Morehouse with original music composed and performed by Caileen Viehweg. :25 Introduction with Travis Easton, Brighton Hospice 1:18 Hospice Care Options and Patient Preference 3:21 Navigating Insurance & Hospice Providers 5:43 For-Profit vs Non-Profit Hospices 8:53 Referrals and Patient Relationships14:54 The Role of Palliative Care16:23 Qualifying for Hospice Care19:53 Brighton Hospice Services and Differentiators23:10 Questions to Ask When Looking for Hospice Care26:30 Planning for Hospice Care29:10 Travis's Advice for Navigating Hospice Care

Dogs are known to be therapeutic in many ways. In Anoka and Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Gearhart Funeral Homes has Jackie, a special canine trained specifically to help people through one of life's most difficult times. For more information, visit https://www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/minnesota/coon-rapids/gearhart-funeral-home/7236 Call 763-755-6300 or email Ryan directly at [email protected] This episode is produced by Anne Morehouse with orignal music composed & performed by Caileeen Viehweg. 0:00 Introduction - Ryan Scharfencamp & Gearhart Funeral Homes 1:56 Services Offered by Gearhart Funeral Homes 3:43 Role & Impact of Jackie, the certified therapy dog 5:47 Behaviors & benefits of therapy dogs 9:11 Jackie's role + future plans 18:01 Advice for funeral planning 22:57 The benefits of Dignity Memorials' network 26:25 Contact information and final thoughts

For people who are looking for an affordable venue for a funeral reception or celebration of life, you may not need to venture farther than your local community center. Nicole Schultz from Plymouth Community Center talks about her facility, the amenities available and what people should think about when looking at their community centers as an option. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse. Original music was created and performed by Caileen Viehweg. For more information or to reserve space, please visit: https://www.plymouthmn.gov/departments/parks-recreation/plymouth-community-center/rentals-at-the-plymouth-community-center/other-special-events Nicole can be reached at [email protected] or call 763-509-5200. Photo of the Plymouth Room 0:05 Plymouth Community Center Overview and Introduction 1:37 Facilities and Accessibility 3:25 Rental Options and Pricing 5:05 Outdoor Space and Weather Contingencies 6:29 Catering and Event Customization 8:27 Booking Process and Availability 11:01 Virtual Tours and Live Music 12:38 Final Advice 14:14 Conclusion and Contact Information

It’s the time of year when many of us will soon be surrounded by loved ones. What better opportunity to have a difficult, but critical conversation (no, not politics!).  Steve Heintz and Aaron Clark, owners of Heintz + Clark Ltd, A CPA firm in Plymouth, Minnesota, share their personal and professional experiences with end of life, both expected and unforeseen, and how it’s impacted the way they plan for themselves and their clients. Heintz + Clark, Ltd Guests: Steve Heintz ([email protected])              Aaron Clark ([email protected]) Host & Producer: Anne Morehouse ([email protected]) Original Music: Caileen Viehweg   0:00   Introduction   1:24   Types of Events Triggering Planning   4:42   Key Planning Tools and Concepts   9:50   Importance of Beneficiaries and Healthcare Directives  14:56  Gifting and Estate Planning Strategies  24:01  Professional Roles and Team Approach  25:26  Final Advice and Contact Information

With 72+% of Minnesotans choosing cremation over burial, many are hosting their funeral receptions or celebrations of life at non-traditional venues. Lisa Albers, Sales Manager for Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove, Minnesota, talks about how Rush Creek assists people during this difficult time. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse. Original music was created and performed by Caileen Viehweg. For more information, reach Lisa Albers at Rush Creek Golf Club: https://www.rushcreek.com/events/funerals :59 Intro to Lisa Albers and Rush Creek Golf Club 1:21 How Rush Creek serves the funeral reception and celebration of life needs 3:12 The end of life event planning process 6:08 Collaborating with funeral homes 6:47 Unique offering - full bar service 7:22 How to prepare prior to reaching out to a venue 10:16 Making your event special 12:07 Music 14:20 Capacity, timing 15:24 Close

Music is a universal, unifying art form that may convey emotions when words are inadequate. Live music provides a unique element to reflect a person's life. Sharon Planer, owner of Pianist for Parties explains how she customizes and plans for an end-of-life service performance. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music was created and performed by Caileen Viehweg. For more information visit: https://pianistforparties.com/ https://mnfuneralplanning.com/listing/1177/ 0:45 Sharon Planer, Pianist for Parties introduction 2:01 Getting started planning for live music at a funeral, memorial or celebration of life 3:15 Song selection 6:59 How Sharon works with people who are planning the event 8:06 Considerations for outdoor services with live music 10:16 Venues and cemeteries for piano music 13:40 Renting a grand piano 16:03 Solo, duets, and accompaniments 19:04 Sharon's piano history 21:48 Sharon's advice for those who are thinking about incorporating music in an end-of-life service event

Have you or someone you know lost a pet only to discover a deep void in your day-to-day life? We talk with Joan Corbett from The Bridge Between Pet Loss Support Group about the community of pet loss, grief support and resources that are available to help people through this difficult time of healing. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg.  Additional Note: The Bond Between takes donations of food, pet supplies, toys, unexpired medication and open bags of pet food.  Tough dog toys, big dog crates, cat trees and scratchers really appreciated. For more information visit: https://www.thebondbetween.org/the-bridge-between or contact: [email protected] [0:00:00] Anne Morehouse introduces the Party of My Life podcast and welcomes Joan Corbett from the Bridge Between. [0:00:30] Joan shares how she got started with pet loss support groups after losing her pet bulldog, Ripple. [0:01:34] Joan’s start with the Bond Between organization through donating pet supplies and fostering dogs. [0:03:05] The Bridge Between, the new pet loss support group at the Bond Between, which started in July. [0:04:10] The format of the pet loss support group, held in person on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. [0:06:28] Advice for supporting those who have lost a pet. [0:11:02] Insights on the typical length of time people attend the support group. [0:13:02] Joan highlights the benefits of the support group, including the universality of the experience. [0:19:01] Joan mentions the need for volunteers to expand the support group to additional locations. [0:24:44] Final thoughts on the grieving process.

Long before Laurie Rengel learned of her terminal cancer diagnosis, she had her end-of-life documents in order. Laurie talks about not only how important it is for everyone to get their end-of-life plans in order, but HOW she has done it. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg. 1:14 Laurie Rengel introduction 2:35 Laurie's medical history 9:21 The danger of online medical information 11:00 Laurie's renewed focus 15:00 Health care directive/will/end-of-life plans 16:20 Planning is freeing - why it's a relief 18:57 First bucket list - how to leave Rosenbauer America 19:40 Laurie's "Dead Book" 20:55 The most challenging part of planning 22:15 What makes this time a bit easier 26:35 Decluttering a home to sell 31:45 How friends/loved ones can help 36:25 Planning brings peace 38:00 Funeral planning 39:00 No Pink Flowers! 41:20 Avoiding regrets 43:13 Talk it through 44:56 Laurie's Advice: Free Yourself, DeClutter and Do the Paperwork

A lot has changed within the funeral industry. Dan McGraw, a fourth generation business owner of Gill Brothers Funeral Service & Cremation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, talks with Anne about what those changes entail. For more information: Gill Brothers Funeral Service & Cremation 952.888.7771 This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg. :45 Dan McGraw on Gill Brothers & the funeral industry history 3:10 Embalming and the Civil War 4:12 Gill Brothers had the first female licensed embalmer in the State of Minnesota 5:00 How to become a licensed mortician 6:24 How Dan got his start in the business 8:00 Cultures and funeral traditions 15:08 The difference between a traditional funeral and celebration of life 17:35 Laws surrounding death 19:15 Recent green body disposition options 20:50 Joe McGraw - 5th generation business owner 26:00 Obituaries and obituary scraping 29:13 Why Visitations 31:25 Dan's Advice: Involve the entire family in your funeral preplanning

Megan Feller shares her experience and the lessons she learned following the death of her mother, Stephanie Feller. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg. To learn more about Stephanie Feller's journey, you can read about them here from LocalTies Magazine: Living a Great Story, January 2020 A Year Through COVID-19, December 2020 The Silver Linings, August 2021 Stellar Fellar, May 2024 :08 Stephanie's cancer journey, resilience and positivity 1:43 Megan shares about the time leading up to, then learning of her mom's cancer diagnosis 2:55 Cancer treatments 4:06 Stephanie's strategy for life 5:32 COVID-19's impact 7:43 Plans for moving forward 10:24 Megan's mom's celebration of life 11:56 The importance of a support network 13:17 Legacy, gratitude and how to cope 15:39 Megan's tip for moving on with grief

For anyone with assets and belongings, children and/or pets, an estate plan is a great idea. Join us as we talk with Andy Lehner of Lehner Law Office, LLC about how to get started, the different options and what happens if we don't set up anything before we die. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg. Contact info for today's episode: Andy Lehner, owner and primary attorney Lehner Law Office, LLC 816 Dodd Road, Suite A West St. Paul, MN 55118 651.222.9829 lehnerlawoffice.com    Creating Your Estate Plan     :31 Andy Lehner Intro   1:15 Wills/estate plan basics   2:08 Estate plan definition   2:23 Beneficiary designations   2:45 When should people start planning an estate?   4:41 How long does it take to create an estate?   6:28 Health care directives as part of an estate plan   7:28 How and where to begin   8:35 How estate law attorneys help to establish goals & values   9:39 Case example 11:44 Why language matters for clarity in legal outcomes 13:00 Online will templates 15:29 Planning and administering by choosing your own adventure 17:27 If NO PLANS Minnesota (+ most states) has a law of intestacy 18:19 Difference between wills and trusts 18:40 Wills are a court driven process - probate 19:24 Living trust – a legal entity that does not involve the probate process by the court 20:30 A will or trust is dependent on an individual’s goals, values and situation 21:56 Emotions like grief and loss coupled with assets play into an outcome 22:45 What is included in an estate plan 24:23 Attorneys and established professional relationships (financial advisor, CPA, etc.) 25:10 Andy’s tip 25:30 The historical death rate among humans 25:40 The reality is we 100% will need to make a decision one way or the other 25:50 Why this is important 27:57 Credits

There is nothing like turning to locally owned and operated florists when paying tribute at a funeral or celebration of life. Susan Masko from Bachman's shares with us creative floral sympathy arrangements, etiquette tips, and other gift ideas. For more information: Bachman's (612) 861 - 7311 bachmans.com and store locations This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg.   :40 Bachman’s Susan Masko Introduction 1:05 What is Bachman’s? 1:45 How the internet has changed the floral industry as it pertains to funeral and celebrations   of life 3:10 Talking with a person versus ordering online for floral orders 5:35 Trends in funerals and celebrations of life 6:22 How cremation has changed the floral business 7:55 Ideas to pay tribute 10:40 The process for ordering flowers for funerals / celebrations of life 12:23 Anne’s personal flower story 13:00 Things to keep in mind when ordering flowers 13:33 Lanterns as a gift idea 14:13 Susan's Tip: the importance of choosing a trusted partner 15:00 Shop Local

Minnesota Network of Hospice & Palliative Care (MNHPC) representatives Leigh Hartenberg and KaLee Mohrman discuss the differences and definitions of hospice and palliative care, the evolution of end-of-life care and the need for early planning with regular updates in advanced care directives. More information can be found on the Minnesota Network of Hospice and Palliative Care website: mnhpc.org :01 Leigh and KaLee introductions 2:00 Why advanced care planning? 3:39 Recommended time to begin conversations surrounding advanced care planning 8:32 Difference between hospice and palliative care 11:50 How the philosophy of hospice care has changed 14:00 The goal of hospice care 14:06 What does futility care entail? 16:00 Hospice care is not giving up 18:40 Support for hospice patients and their caregivers 20:39 How does one choose which hospice program to use? 23:05 Hospice professionals - a calling 24:25 What to ask in an informational interview with hospice providers 25:25 Advance care plan or hospice conversation first? 29:05 Can a person change their health care directive change? 30:20 Benefits and risks of interventions listed in directive 30:42 How often to review and update health care directive 31:30 Talking with your physician and/or specialist 33:42 Resources and support at MNHPC 36:30 TIP - reach out to hospice as soon as you know you have no further treatment options

For many, food is an important day-to-day life experience. Yet when planning a funeral or celebration of life, the refreshments or meal provided oftentimes isn't reflective of the life of the person being remembered. Today, Antigoni Sander, Director of Catering for Hightop Hospitality (a restaurant, retail, catering, and event venue company in the Twin Cities) shares tips and trends as it pertains to end-of-life events. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg. Contact info for today's episode: Antigoni Sander, Director of Catering, Hightop Hospitality: [email protected] Green Mill Catering Deco Catering Sterling Catering Kafe 421 Catering Catering Tips - Hightop Hospitality   :25 Welcome Antigoni Sander, Director of Catering   :40 What is Hightop Hospitality?  1:25 Suggestions for planning food for a funeral reception/celebration of life  2:44 Why talk about it? How can food be reflective of a person’s life?  5:24 Trends in funerals/celebrations of life from a catering perspective  7:30 How to plan for guest count  8:11 The menu planning process  8:34 Budgeting for food and catering 10:49 Planning by religion, cultural menus and family recipes 13:57 Anne’s experience 15:00 Antigoni’s example for bringing a favorite food to the table  15:39 Creating a memorable event with food 16:25 Take mental notes by asking questions 17:00 Eco-friendly events 18:20 The benefit of planning ahead  20:51 Antigoni’s advice: Delegate catering to a trusted person. 23:25 Be your own advocate - speak up if there is anything you want done differently. 24:45 Antigoni invites people to reach out, even in advance.

Sometimes ideas come from a place of not knowing. From a devastating loss, to a hope that something positive may come from a regret, this is a story of a paradigm shift in how we might think about end of life planning, and why it's important. Original music by Caileen Viehweg Resources: mnfuneralplanning.com

As more people are not affiliated with a church, one trend for funeral receptions or celebrations of life is to look at non-traditional venue options. One popular space in the Twin Cities is The Hutton House, located in Medicine Lake, a first tier suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I spoke with Nicki Gavin from The Hutton House about their recommendations regarding what people should consider when seeking an end-of-life event venue. :28 Introduction to Nicki Gavin from The Hutton House 1:11 Where is The Hutton House? 1:25 Who do the Hutton House serve? 1:53 What should people look for when considering a venue? 2:00 Asthetics 3:25 Location - Where are your guests coming from? What should be considered when hosting a service and the reception venue? 5:45 Details - What do we need to think about when selecting food, flowers, AV needs and the timing process? 8:50 Capacity - When selecting a venue, how should one think about guest count and their experience? 12:00 Timing - Who - professionally - should people align with when planning a funeral reception or celebration of life? https://thehuttonhousemn.com/ Social media platforms: @thehuttonhouse

As we contemplate how our personal decisions impact the planet, there is an end-of-life option available in nine protected forests across the country. Tori Nonnemacher from Better Place Forests talks with us about what a Better Place Forest is, the option it provides and her own personal experience that led her to this unique business. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, edited by Parker Morehouse, original music by Caileen Viehweg and logo/artwork by Joel Morehouse. :30 Tori Nonnemacher introduction :56 What is Better Place Forests? 1:48 What is a memorial forest? 2:50 Why do people choose Better Place Forests? 4:06 How do people select a tree? 5:07 How much do Better Place Forests memorial trees cost? 6:08 Why should people choose Better Place Forests (as opposed to other options)? 7:03 What happens if lightning strikes my tree? 8:38 What would Better Place Forests do if there were a forest fire? 9:20 What brought Tori to Better Place Forests? 12:00 How does the forest affect people who are grieving? 13:22 Are there more Better Place Forests in Minnesota and/or the rest of the country? 14:09 Can people select any forest, are there any rules for placement? 15:04 Visiting forests across the country. 15:30 What is there to do in the area when visiting the St. Croix Valley forest location? How should people prepare for their visit? 18:06 How can people reach Better Place Forests with questions or to schedule a tour?