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Funeral Homes Go High-Tech
December, 1999
 By MARY KROCKER, The Times Reporter
Saturday, December 4, 1999
Web sites, software and national directories are a growing concern for funeral homes, withonline obituaries, pre-planning funerals via the Internet and videos to preserve a loved one's memory.
It's all designed to help families in a difficult time, explained Denny Trimmer, Webmaster of the program at Toland-Herzig Funeral Home at Dover.
The firm established its Web site - which may be reached at www.tolandherzig.com - about four years ago. It contained basic information about the funeral home, directions to its locations at Dover and Strasburg and other helpful details.
Four months ago, the program was updated to include full obituaries and on-line registry for those who can't attend calling hours or services to sign and leave messages.
''Response to this service has been incredible,' said Trimmer. ''It is everything we could have hoped it to be.Recently more than 80 people signed the on-line registry for one family.
''We also offer an on-line pre-planning page. When complete, the information is automatically sent to John Delcoma, director of pre-planning, and is a tremendous help to him and to families.''
Since the updates, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of visits to the Web site, Trimmer pointed out.
''In September, 221 people visited our site and there were nearly 648 in October, and 1121 in November' he said. ''In the last five months, we've had 'hits' (contacts to the site) from 11 states, 80 Ohio cities and three countries.''
The registry, however, is just to enhance regular services at the funeral home, according to John Herzig, president of Toland-Herzig.
''Our hope is that the on-line obituary registry will enhance the services we already provide, and that people won't use it as a substitute for attending services or visiting hours - because their presence can mean so much to families,'' Herzig said. ''We are simply providing another avenue through which friends and family can express their support.''
Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home at New Philadelphia established its Web site _ www.linnhertgeib.com _ two years ago.
''Developing our site were my son, Chris, a programmer working with the University of Cincinnati, and Jim Grant Jr. of New Philadelphia,' explained Richard Geib II. ''Currently our site is an informational site, providing information about the history of the company, employees and their backgrounds, our services and facilities, including our Family Center and links to several other major sites.''
The program will likely be updated and expanded, said Geib, adding, ''There are all types of ideas coming down the line - different opportunities that the Web presents.''
At a recent convention of the National Funeral Directors Assn. in Kansas City, Mo., it was pointed out that many directors are reluctant to join the technology age. ''But that is all going to change in the next five to seven years,' insisted a 31-year veteran of the business.
Among those attending the convention was the marketing director of Heavenlydoor.com which lists everything from cemeteries and monument markers to virtual gravesite visits.
It was pointed out during the event that about 35,000 caskets were sold via the Internet last year.
The increase in nontraditional funeral service providers has prompted the funeral directors group to push for stronger federal controls. The 14,000-member organization wants tighter regulations on Internet companies, wholesale casket sellers and cemeteries that also provide caskets.
''Our concern is that the customers ought to be protected no matter where they shop,' said a spokesman.
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