the Mortuary Science program and my employment at The Missoula Funeral Homes can only be described as a beautiful chaos. I sometimes have to remind myself that this life is real — that I have found a way to do all the things I love in a state that truly feels like home. I believe it is essential that you stay open to new possibilities and never close the door to an opportunity simply because it seems complicated or goes against societal expectations of what paths you should take. Had I not lived by these philosophies, I may have never discovered that a career as a funeral director and embalmer seems to be my true calling. I cannot go without mentioning the phenomenal group of directors I have the opportunity to learn from in Missoula. All of my coworkers at Just Cremation Montana, Garden City Funeral Home and Sunset Memorial Gardens have grown to feel like family. The support and encouragement I feel on a daily basis are often the boost I need to keep following my dreams. Being the recipient of the Dennis Schoepp Memorial Scholarship will be a tremendous help in reaching my educational goals. It is such an honor to receive the support from the MFDA. I look forward to becoming a funeral director and continuing the exceptional standard of care that past and present directors in Montana demonstrate daily. Interested in applying for an academic scholarship? Submissions are open between February 15 and April 1! Scan the QR code to learn more. https://www.funeralservicefoundation.org/ scholarship-opportunities/ End-of-Life Benefits Plan Ahead Using End-of-Life Benefits Provided by VA End-of-life planning provides surviving family members with peace of mind following their veteran’s death. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new website with a focus on funeral and burial benefits. The site offers information on what veterans can expect with end-of-life planning and links that offer assistance with: • Benefits for your spouse, dependents and survivors. • Advance care planning. • Burial and memorial benefits. • Advance directives that ensure that veterans’ future care reflects their current wishes. • End-of-life planning with the VA. In addition, more survivors of veterans are eligible for PACT Act (toxic exposure) benefits and other valuable resources. The website also contains a Frequently Asked Questions section for further assistance. To learn more, scan the QR code. https://www.va.gov/initiatives/end-of-life-benefits/ 16 | Directors Digest
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