The Last Track

In the state of Oregon, any unlicensed person is allowed to run the funeral service, as long as they are not accepting payment of the services. In order to accept payments for officiating a funeral service, a person must be licensed. Typically, the person who officiates the funeral service will run the order of service. The officiant will gather music to play at the service, read the eulogy and often will say a prayer or present a ...

Typically, the person who officiates the funeral service will run the order of service.

This can include: 

Reading of the life story or eulogy

Playing music

Playing a memorial video

Offering a time of remembrance 

Offering prayers or reading of poems

Introduce military honors or funeral rites

Presenting announcements for the graveside service, luncheon, family gathering or other directors

In the state of Oregon, any unlicensed person is all...

In this trilogy, Brian talks about types of cemeteries that you might find when looking for a final resting place for a loved one. In this podcast, Brian talks about how a cemetery can be an environmentally friendly green cemetery. From scattering options, urn burial and casket burial, Brian goes through the different options for green burial. Brian talks about the different options families have for a green service and disposition...

In this trilogy, Brian talks about types of cemeteries that you might find when looking for a final resting place for a loved one. In this podcast, Brian talks about how a cemetery is designated a memorial park versus a traditional cemetery. He talks about the perpetual care and types of headstone or markers allowed in the different types of cemeteries. 

Memorial parks are a newer type of cemetery introduced about 75 years ago. They...

In this trilogy, Brian talks about types of cemeteries that you might find when looking for a final resting place for a loved one. In this podcast, Brian talks about how a cemetery is considered a pioneer cemetery. 

The State of Oregon defines a "pioneer cemetery" as "any burial place that contains the remains of one or more persons who died before February 14, 1909", which is the 50th anniversary of Oregon'...

In this trilogy, Brian talks about your options for final disposition and a final resting place for a loved one. For this podcast, Brian talks about the different options families have for a final disposition. 

For burial, there are three different resting place options: above ground, in the ground or at sea. A body can be entombed in a mausoleum or buried in a cemetery. At sea, a body can be released into the ocean in a biodegradab...

In this trilogy, Brian talks about your options for final disposition and a final resting place for a loved one. For this podcast, Brian talks about options for burial as a final disposition. 

In this episode, Brian talks about burial regulations in Oregon and why people may choose different types of burial. He talks about how cemeteries can have their own requirements for burial and even different sections of the cemetery for diffe...

In this trilogy, Brian talks about your options for final disposition and a final resting place for a loved one. For this podcast, Brian talks about the different options families have for a green service and disposition including aquamation, burial, cremation and natural decomposition. From burial to cremation options, Brian talks about the different ways that families can incorporate a smaller carbon footprint and giving back to ...

In this podcast, Brian goes over different types of funeral services. For this episode, he talks about LDS (Mormon), Lutheran, Presbyterian, Russian Orthodox and Jewish funerals. 

Brian talks about different Latter Day Saint/LDS funeral rituals and traditions you may see if you attend an LDS funeral. He talks about religious clothing that you may see if there is a visitation before the funeral. Brian also explains the difference bet...

This podcast features a recording from a seminar that Brian presented at.  The seminar was focused on common questions that are asked about the funeral industry, such as whether a prepaid funeral service can be altered and what a travel protection plan is. Brian also answers questions from the audience in this recording.  In this episode, he covers pre-needs and how to make sure that your final expenses are covered for your unique ...

Grief is a difficult subject to talk about, especially when talking about it to a child for the first time. Brian talks about ways to help a child process grief and understand the permanence of death. He covers how grief can be expressed through the body and through actions, as well as how to explain the feeling of grief to a child. There are activities that Brian suggests, which are linked in the description below. Brian also talk...

Legacy planning means something different to each person. It should not be left for “someday” where it could end up creating tension and heartbreak. Brian Norris presented at Oregon Coast Community College Central Campus about how you can create a personalized legacy plan that is right for your family.
Listen to a recording of the presentation Brian gave on legacy planning and taking care of your final arrangements. In this epi...

Legacy planning means something different to each person. It should not be left for “someday” where it could end up creating tension and heartbreak. Brian Norris presented at Oregon Coast Community College Central Campus about how you can create a personalized legacy plan that is right for your family.
Listen to a recording of the presentation Brian gave on legacy planning and taking care of your final arrangements. In this epi...

Even though most Americans over the last decade have died due to chronic illness, over 2,000 adults die every year in accidents in Oregon alone. In this trilogy, we are going to talk about what to do if a loved one dies in an accident. 
This is the third in a three part series talking about types of accidental deaths, autopsy, and planning a funeral after the unexpected sudden death.  In this episode, Brian talks about the comm...

An accidental death can cause a lot of confusion and grief. Holding a service for a loved one who has died in an accident can be stressful and overwhelming. 
There are many things to consider after an unexpected or sudden death, especially when planning a service. In this episode, Brian talks about the different parts of a service and how they can be impacted by a sudden death. Brian also addresses what happens when a suicide o...

When someone has died by suicide, there can be a lot of emotions and heartache involved. There can be a lot of questions on how to talk about the person after they have died and how to celebrate their life. In this episode, Brian will be talking about planning a funeral for someone who has died by suicide. 

If you are contemplating suicide or believe a loved one is, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-82...

Deciding whether or not to bring a child to a funeral is a very difficult and sometimes overwhelming decision. Brian Norris talks about how to decide whether a child should attend a funeral and how to present the choice of whether to go or not to a child. This podcast references an article written by  Kenneth J. Doka, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and counseling at the College of New Rochelle and a senior consultant to the Hospi...

Grief is a difficult subject to talk about, especially when talking about it to a child for the first time. Brian talks about ways to help a child process grief and understand the permanence of death. He covers how grief can be expressed through the body and through actions, as well as how to explain the feeling of grief to a child. There are activities that Brian suggests, which are linked in the description below. Brian also talk...

While most deaths today are due to chronic illness such as heart disease and cancers, death can occur unexpectedly in accidents and sudden severe illness. This is why it is important to start the conversation about final wishes early. In this episode, Brian talks about what things should be addressed in a conversation about death. He explains what information your funeral director will need to know in an arrangement conference and ...