The Final Curtain Never Closes Podcast By Genevieve Keeney-Vazquez cover art

The Final Curtain Never Closes

The Final Curtain Never Closes

By: Genevieve Keeney-Vazquez
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About this listen

The National Museum of Funeral History presents The Final Curtain Never Closes, a podcast that tells the stories about the people behind our final rite of passage.

This series is part of the museum's larger mission to build and maintain a love of history and enriched understanding of our industry.

Virtual tours are available 24/7, but we'd love to see you in person. Plan your visit at www.nmfh.org.

And remember, any day above ground is a good one!

Economics Management Management & Leadership Social Sciences Spirituality Travel Writing & Commentary World
Episodes
  • The Art of Cemetery Landscaping
    Jul 1 2025

    How does a landscape maintenance expert become an indispensable ally in the cemetery care industry?

    Don Winsett, a strategy consultant and executive coach, discussed his journey from working with Davey Tree Expert Company to supporting the death care industry. His focus on enhancing cemetery maintenance practices reflects his passion for aiding communities in maintaining serene memorial spaces. By leveraging his extensive experience, he helps businesses navigate the complexities of perpetual care.

    Key Takeaways

    1. Cemetery care involves much more than just mowing the lawn. It requires a team of professionals managing plant health, tree health, erosion, and infestations to ensure safety and aesthetic beauty.

    2. Trees are central to cemetery landscapes but require careful monitoring to prevent hazards such as falling branches. Proper tree care is crucial for safety and maintaining the tranquility of the cemetery.

    3. Continuous maintenance of cemeteries is essential to prevent overgrowth and deterioration. This involves regularly reinvesting earnings from plot sales into maintaining the grounds indefinitely.

    4. The serene and well-maintained environment of cemeteries plays a vital role in the healing process for visitors, ensuring they have a peaceful place for reflection.

    5. Hiring a single company to handle all aspects of landscape maintenance in cemeteries avoids confusion, reduces complications, and ensures consistency in care. This comprehensive approach is more efficient and cost-effective in the long term.

    Timestamped Overview

    00:00 Cemetery Maintenance: A Team Effort

    03:56 Impact of Trees in Cemeteries

    07:07 Houston's Neglected Cemeteries Struggle

    11:50 Cemetery Tree Maintenance Challenges

    14:00 Peaceful Cemetery Experience

    18:19 Effective Grave Decoration Tips

    21:46 Cemetery Landscaping Trends

    23:40 Graveliners Prevent Casket Implosion

    25:47 "Retirement Consulting: Death Care & Landscaping"

    29:14 Streamlining Museum Grounds Management

    Learn more about Don here, or call 954-303-3333.

    Plan your visit to the museum today at nmfh.org and take a journey through over 30,000 square feet of fascinating history.

    Subscribe to The Final Curtain Never Closes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    35 mins
  • Navigating Grief in the Digital Age
    Jun 17 2025

    Genevieve Keeney-Vazquez, the president and CEO of the National Museum of Funeral History, interviews Bridget Caletka, a grief counselor with Mosaics of Mercy.

    During this conversation, they talk about the importance of face-to-face communication in a technology-driven society. From the stages of grief to the various forms of grief, Genevieve and Bridget explore the topic of grief and societal attitudes from it.

    Plan your visit to the museum today at nmfh.org and take a journey through over 30,000 square feet of fascinating history.

    Subscribe to The Final Curtain Never Closes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

    Follow Mosaics of Mercy on Facebook and Instagram.

    Takeaways

    1.) There are different types of counselors, such as psychologists and licensed professional counselors, who provide talk therapy and address mental health struggles.

    2.) In a technology-driven society, face-to-face communication is becoming less common, leading to a loss of interpersonal connection and empathy.

    3.) Grief is a natural response to loss and can take many forms, including the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the end of a relationship.

    4.) The stages of grief, as described by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, although they may not occur in a linear fashion.

    5.) Grief is a universal experience, and it is important to recognize and support individuals who are grieving.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Different Types of Counselors
    06:14 Exploring the Stages and Forms of Grief
    32:12 Favorite Exhibits at the National Museum of Funeral History
    42:08 The Importance of Supporting Those Who Are Grieving

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    44 mins
  • Understanding Digital Legacy: How to Prepare for the Inevitable
    Jun 3 2025

    What role does technology play in end-of-life planning?

    Niki Weiss joins the podcast to discuss the intersection of technology and death planning. Niki emphasizes the importance of managing our digital footprint before death, tackling legal, financial, physical, and digital aspects in life planning. She presents real-world scenarios like the disruption caused by unprepared digital assets, inviting critical reflection on sudden mortality's challenges.

    Explore more about the transformative impact of digital planning at ENDevo and Niki's podcast, Death and Dying in the Digital Age.

    Plan your visit to the museum today at nmfh.org and take a journey through over 30,000 square feet of fascinating history.

    Subscribe to The Final Curtain Never Closes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

    Key Takeaways

    1.Niki emphasizes the importance of managing one's digital footprint as part of holistic end-of-life planning. This includes legal, financial, physical, and digital aspects of life.

    2. The conversation highlights how technology, like the My Final Playbook app and digital vaults, plays a crucial role in organizing personal information, making it easier for loved ones to handle affairs post-death.

    3. Situations like sudden accidents can create chaos if there's no plan for digital assets. Setting up legacy contacts on devices ensures that loved ones have access to important information.

    4. The introduction of AI agents like Grace Evergrace in the funeral industry is changing how services are accessed and enhancing efficiency, allowing for better management of intake processes and data.

    5. The discussion underscores creating a digital legacy that resonates with family, such as using QR codes on headstones to access personal stories, which can provide comfort and continuity to grieving loved ones.

    Timestamped Overview

    00:00 Holistic End-of-Life Planning

    05:13 Digital Legacy and Access Challenges

    09:01 Navigating Probate and End-of-Life Decisions

    09:54 Palliative Nursing and Family Vigilance

    15:15 Video Remembrance Heals Grief

    17:46 Distracted by Urgent Hospice Call

    20:34 AI-Assisted Funeral Planning

    23:19 Service Recommendations for Terminal Care

    26:45 Black Mirror's Tech Predictions

    33:07 Plan for Life's End

    35:32 The Importance of Legacy Planning

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    38 mins
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