Northern Michigan Mortuary Logistics, LLC

05/16/2026

Sitting at Silver Spruce Brewing, drinking a stout while waiting on my dogs from Toby's Dog House with the sun on my back merely blocks from my home.

Taking that order home to sit in my cabana to eat, drink, smoke a cigar and watch TV as the pool fills for the season, I can't believe my "luck".

However, "luck" has had nothing to do with this. I think back on nearly 30 years in funeral service; nearly 30 years of being on call 24/7; nearly 30 years of honing my craft. I think of 24 hour work days, fighting fatigue on the road, powering through endless hours in the middle of the night toiling away in embalming rooms far from home. I think of owning a small business, paying bills, making payroll, paying mortgage, paying taxes, anxiety, depression, happiness, sadness, small victories, huge defeats, large risks, small gains, success, failure, success again; one step forward, two steps back, then forward again.

I wouldn't trade it for all the money and success in the world.

05/01/2026

Certified Funeral Service Practitioner

The CFSP designation is awarded to those Funeral Directors who are members of the American Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice who obtain continuing education credits culminated over several years. Those credits have to be in certain categories ranging from professional and community based activities as well as academic endeavors.

Is CFSP mandatory for Funeral Directors? No, it is optional

Is a Funeral Director with CFSP more credible than one without? Absolutely not. While some may consider those with this designation a step above the rest, the truth is it only shows that the individual funeral director has spent a lot of time in civic, academic, and professional activities, recorded those activities AND applied them to membership with APFSP. Funeral Directors without a CFSP designation may have just as much engagement, experience and expertise as someone with it.

So, why do it?
Some of my client Funeral Homes require their staff to at least work towards their CFSP designation, so, in their eyes, it creates value added service from me.

Most importantly, I see it more as a personal achievement as opposed to a professional one. It also holds me accountable to myself to continue my education in and out of funeral service because, in order to keep the designation, I have to record no less than 20 hours of applicable credits per year.

Special thanks to Gift of Life Michigan, Ohio Embalmer's Association and Fountain National Academy of Professional Embalming Skills for hosting credit rich classes and seminars, and the two former organizations for trusting me to deliver presentations; all of which helped to speed me to completion. Also to American Legion Post 35 for trusting me as their leader for the last 4 years, which completely satisfied my civic requirements.

03/03/2026

01/20/2026

Flip Top Cap

These caps are very useful for adding dye to a solution. They are also great for pin point precision to avoid running bleach marks when using phenol products. Also good for dispensing humectant for rehydration packs and combating cradle cap.

There do not seem to be very many places to get these unless you are buying bulk. But, if you do find a source, I'll save you a lot of time and tell you the size is 28-410.

You can also get them from your favorite supplier of prep supplies and ESCO/HYDROL products. (That would be me, of course.)

231-943-1203
[email protected]

12/27/2025

Ice Storm

In the wee hours of the morning, a band of freezing rain rolled through Michigan creating instant ice and slush on the roads that plows and salt trucks had no chance in keeping up with. A 4-hour drive turned into a 5.5 hour drive. Entire sections of interstate were closed, emergency crews were everywhere, vehicles in ditches lined the entire route. The slightest alteration in speed, nudge of the steering wheel could cause a chain reaction of fish-tailing that could easily sling you to the side of the road.

The ice on the front of my car was .25" thick by the time I got through the band of weather!

When it absolutely has to get done, regardless of circumstances, you can trust us!
We are a Traverse City based company providing trade embalming and mortuary transport. We are also your ESCO/HYDROL sales reps!

For a list of prices and services, please contact us!
[email protected]
231-943-1203

10/04/2025

The odd world of Mortuary Trade Services

There is work to be done to be sure. However, none of that work is "ready" for me yet. Operating as a business owner and trade embalmer has many perks,especially in flexibility of schedule. The dichotomy of such flexibility is the odd balance of having very little flexibility. Many times, we are forced by circumstances to do our work later in the day, or even at night.

Pro tip, become accustomed to relaxing and enjoying life when you can and abandon the rigors of daily routine. Because, in this line of work, we use every one of those 24 hours of the day.

07/31/2025

The subject of the history of modern embalming is a fascinating one. The many inventions, fluid compounds, rituals and customs that were developed in the Victorian era and have led to today's practices are something to be studied and remembered. The history in question can be an object lesson in the importance of viewing the body, the great lengths sought to achieve the required preservation, and that art taken for granted by many today.

Here is a terrific writing detailing the death of General Grant, his funeral arrangements, embalming, challenges faced by our predecessors in this undertaking, and perceptions of the public.

https://www.grantcottage.org/blog/2019/7/29/a-necessary-undertaking #:~:text=Reverend%20Stephen%20Merritt%20Jr.,a%20small%20cadre%20of%20assistants.

06/12/2025

At the MFDA convention, we had a drawing for one of our hoodies with art work designed by Amanda King/AMEK Graphics. One of our hometown funeral directors won!
Congratulations, Mia! Thank you for your support!

05/08/2025

The Ohio Embalmer's Association once again put on a very informative seminar in Cleveland. It is always a pleasure to mingle with like-minded professionals. gave a terrific presentation on the importance of viewing the body, the history of restorative art in embalming and science based logic, dispelling the common misconceptions and myths of the use of formaldehyde. Well done, all!
Michigan was well represented!

04/28/2025

First sunny day of spring calls for an employee appreciation BBQ and going away party for our friend Trevor at headquarters in Traverse City, Michigan.