218 Years of Authentic Compassion with Howard McComas IV

What does it take to keep a family business thriving for more than two centuries?

In this powerful episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Rich sits down with Howard McComas IV, seventh-generation leader of McComas Funeral Home, to discuss a remarkable family legacy that has served Harford County since 1808.

But this conversation goes far beyond funeral services.

Howard shares lessons learned from helping families through grief, the importance of relationships, how funeral traditions are evolving, and why community involvement remains at the heart of everything the McComas family does. From honoring veterans and first responders to supporting families before, during, and after loss, Howard offers a perspective that is both deeply personal and incredibly inspiring.

You'll learn:

• How McComas Funeral Home has remained family-owned for 218 years
 • Why relationships are the foundation of lasting success
 • The changing role of funerals and celebrations of life
 • The importance of grief support and healthy healing
 • How veterans and first responders are honored through special programs

Resources:

• McComas Funeral Home: McComasFuneralHome.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who would appreciate this conversation. And as always, join the conversation by reaching out to Rich Bennett.

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Transcript

Wendy & Rich 0:01
Coming to you from the Freedom Federal Credit Union Studios, Hartford County Living presents conversations with Rich Bennett. 

Rich Bennett 0:30
On another episode for the Kelly Group. I believe Kelly Group 

Howard McComas 0:36
It 

Rich Bennett 0:36
right? 

Howard McComas 0:36
was yeah Brian 

Rich Bennett 0:37
I'm 

Howard McComas 0:37
Kelly. 

Rich Bennett 0:37
at Arthur Brooks. 

Howard McComas 0:39
Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 0:39
And I told him he needed to come on in, he ignored me. 

No, he did it. No, he did, he's just been busy. 

Howard McComas 0:46
We're here. 

Rich Bennett 0:47
But Sandy from Hartford's Heart magazine said, okay, you have to get him on. I said my guy yes. I would love to because when it comes to local businesses I just especially with 

Howard McComas 0:59
somebody who's 

Rich Bennett 0:59
been in his long as you and your family have I love talking to you. So I have Howard McClure was the fourth, right? 

Howard McComas 1:08
The fourth. Right. 

Rich Bennett 1:08
So I got to ask because my brother in law's name is Howard, but he gives by 

Howard McComas 1:13
junior. Does he? 

Rich Bennett 1:14
Okay. Yeah, so do you go by Howard? 

Howard McComas 1:15
Actually, 

Rich Bennett 1:16
junior, junior, 

Howard McComas 1:17
no, 

Rich Bennett 1:17
junior. 

Howard McComas 1:18
I go by Howard. I mean, it's I do. Yeah, and it's interesting because I'm there and my dad Howard. The 

Rich Bennett 1:24
Right. 

Howard McComas 1:24
third. He's there too. So he normally gets the mister Howard in there. So yeah, I'm Howard a four and yes, I do have the fifth and he's Howard the fifth, but somebody smarter than me when he was born, because I wanted him to have his own identity, 

Rich Bennett 1:42
Right. 

Howard McComas 1:42
so somebody's smarter than me said, you know, Quinn Latin for five is Quinn. So he's known as Quintin. He has is 

Rich Bennett 1:49
Okay. 

Howard McComas 1:50
he has that, but he is Howard the fifth. So you have the couple generations running around. 

Rich Bennett 1:55
And for those people listening that you aren't here in Hartford County or even in Maryland for the ones that like in all the other countries, tell them. 

Howard McComas 2:06
Sure. Okay, so we're a family funeral home and have been blessed to be in the community here in Hartford County, Maryland for. Well, this year is going to be 218 years. In excess. Yeah, I know. 

Rich Bennett 2:23
Wow. 

Okay, cuz with most family and businesses, they're proud of they even make it to a 

Howard McComas 2:32
second generation. Sure. And 

Rich Bennett 2:35
with your family serving the community for over 200 years, when you really stop to think about that legacy, what does that mean to you personally? 

Howard McComas 2:49
wow. I'm very humbled. 

Rich Bennett 2:51
Yeah, 

Howard McComas 2:52
I can say, you know, being a part of the seventh generation in the family. My grandfather died the year I was born, so I never even got to know that generation. 

Rich Bennett 3:03
oh, 

Howard McComas 3:04
To this thing, think about the amount of folks that have come before us here now that have perpetuated this business throughout history as is very humbling. you know, to have and you know, that was when the time when normally the sons carried on the 

Rich Bennett 3:20
Right, 

Howard McComas 3:20
business, it's just the way it was in history. And to have the lineage of that many boys being born within the family and then the maintain a business obviously business back in 1808 is. And date so obviously what the business look like back then, you're doing funerals, but you're also selling horse and you're doing all different kinds of things because you had to back then. 

Rich Bennett 3:45
Never thought about that. 

Howard McComas 3:46
Well, yeah, I mean, just it was a different obviously. 

Rich Bennett 3:49
Yeah, 

Howard McComas 3:49
day and time, but to carry on a business that is this intimate throughout the years, the way it's been, that's the real blessing. I look back and think about it. And I would just love to drop in history, just a little bit to see how things were being done in the years before 

Rich Bennett 4:07
But 

Howard McComas 4:07
us. 

Rich Bennett 4:07
you got it. I just hit me because 1808. That's before the Civil War and everything. So basically people were still being put in pine boxes. 

Howard McComas 4:16
Yeah, it was a very simplified process. Obviously, but it was also functional 

Rich Bennett 4:23
Right. 

Howard McComas 4:23
serving. You had to get the deceased from one place to the other, but then there's a mechanism of that family and allowing them to create a tribute. So, however, it was being done, the family helped help make that happen back. 

Rich Bennett 4:38
Oh my God. This just hit me because you look at all the old cemeteries around here. 

Howard McComas 4:44
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 4:44
My brother-in-law loves goin' to 'em and he helps restore some of the old stones 

Howard McComas 4:51
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 4:52
that have been torn up. But people always look at the person that is buried there in the history of that person but just think about that. How many of those people had come through 'Macomis'? That?! Wow! And 

Howard McComas 5:12
the thing is, the world may never know. I mean, 

Rich Bennett 5:14
you 

Howard McComas 5:14
can imagine the records back then. 

Rich Bennett 5:17
Oh yeah! 

Howard McComas 5:17
Rich, the story goes, and you know, stories are 

Rich Bennett 5:21
stories. 

Howard McComas 5:22
the story goes, we were always been in Aviendin, Aviendin, Maryland. But it was a higher-class thing for folks that lived in a city to be buried out in the country. 

Rich Bennett 5:35
Right, 

Howard McComas 5:35
Right. 

Rich Bennett 5:35
right. 

Howard McComas 5:35
So, railroad ran right through Aviendin, a school station, specifically. And the word is we had the biggest buckboard at the time. So buckboard is a wagon. 

Rich Bennett 5:47
Well, 

Howard McComas 5:47
Yup, see. You're young me, you probably wouldn't know that, right? 

Rich Bennett 5:50
I was probably taught that at school and forgot, you know. 

Howard McComas 5:54
That's the way it was explained to me. So, you know, just out of functionality. We were the ones to go down and pick up the deceased and then make sure they got to where they were needed to go. 

Rich Bennett 6:05
Wow. 

Howard McComas 6:05
And I think from there, I have, I do know that we started making furniture. And from the furniture, part of that were cascets. So we were actually functionally, again, making the deceased would go into. And I think it just evolved from there to become more of a service provided versus just product. 

Rich Bennett 6:25
Now, is the original home, the original funeral home still where it was originally? 

Howard McComas 6:32
So, the original where everything used to take place was right there on the corner of Route 7 in Aviendin, 

Rich Bennett 6:37
right? 

Howard McComas 6:38
And that house is no longer there. 

Rich Bennett 6:39
Okay, 

Howard McComas 6:40
That's where it originally happened. The first freestanding funeral home is actually the white building, right on Aviendin 

Rich Bennett 6:47
yeah. 

Howard McComas 6:47
Road, which is now a liquor store. So that's the 

Rich Bennett 6:50
actual, really, 

Howard McComas 6:50
that's the actual freestanding first funeral home for the family. And that goes back to my great grandfather and grandfather day. 

Rich Bennett 6:59
I had no idea. 

Howard McComas 7:02
And it all happened right out, right out of that facility. 

Rich Bennett 7:05
That's two stories, isn't it? Or is that one? 

Howard McComas 7:08
That's one with the basement. 

Rich Bennett 7:09
Okay, 

Howard McComas 7:10
yeah, 

Rich Bennett 7:10
I'll be darn 

Howard McComas 7:11
in that crazy. 

Rich Bennett 7:12
That is I did not do that. 

Howard McComas 7:15
So, 

Rich Bennett 7:16
now I have to go into that liquor store. I've never been in what it 

Howard McComas 7:19
to start 

Rich Bennett 7:19
was going 

Howard McComas 7:20
envisioning. 

Rich Bennett 7:21
Well, the thing is, 

Howard McComas 7:22
find 

Rich Bennett 7:22
and I 

Howard McComas 7:23
this 

Rich Bennett 7:23
is where when it comes to history, a lot of people miss the boot on Yeah, wherever whenever you go somewhere, and we were talking before, before we started recording about angels, MVH, you changed the entrance there. Which I, and I've been there not too long ago. I've never really noticed. But now I want to look at it because it's got even more history to it. 

Howard McComas 7:45
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 7:46
But to stand in that original, that old building, the first freestanding one, and just soak into history. I think too many people don't do that. 

Howard McComas 7:58
And we're losing the generation that remembers doing business there, too. See, I still have folks come in and say, hey, we remember going to see Grandad's services there. It's your old place. They, 

Rich Bennett 8:09
wow. 

Howard McComas 8:11
And so that, that goes back to the early 70s. Late 

Rich Bennett 8:16
60s, right. 

Howard McComas 8:18
And that was primarily my grandfather, great grandfather, and then eventually my dad, Howard. 

Rich Bennett 8:23
Wow. 

Howard McComas 8:24
So that business was there until really my grandfather's death in 1967. And then the business started transforming from there. My grandmother, Nina, which a lot of people would remember, she and my dad continued the business, broke away from a different part of the family. And at that time, we're adversarily trying to figure out the business. 

Rich Bennett 8:49
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 8:50
So he decided to move from that location and just moved up the hill where we are now on top of the hill there on Route 7. And then he and my grandmother, basically, they built that business. So we consider that business as the latest chapter in the business. And that's that just celebrated 50 years in existence there on top of the hill. 

Rich Bennett 9:12
Wow. 

Howard McComas 9:12
So the joke is, I mean, we moved 200 yards and 200 years, 

Rich Bennett 9:16
basically. Yeah, but you also, you're now in what Jared'sville and 

Howard McComas 9:21
are. Yes, we're there on Belair in Belair in town. 

Rich Bennett 9:24
we 

Howard McComas 9:25
We're the only if you're home there in town right there on Broadway in Williams. 

Rich Bennett 9:29
You were the only one in town? 

I 

Howard McComas 9:31
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 9:31
didn't realize 

Howard McComas 9:31
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 9:32
that. 

Howard McComas 9:32
right near, you got the climbs, you make a left and we're, we're in there and then been there since 1994. 

Rich Bennett 9:38
Okay, 

Howard McComas 9:39
purchased that from the foster family who had been there for many years, who had a hardware store and a furniture building. You know, so, I mean, you see the trend. 

Rich Bennett 9:47
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 9:47
And then, uh, just, uh, it's been six years ago now. We, um, in 2018, 19, um, purchased the funeral home up in Jeresville. And that was the Kurtz family. And, you know, in the Kurtz family, they were in business for about 170 years. And so, uh, very generational, they just got to a point where they were, we're tired. I mean, 

Rich Bennett 10:13
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 10:13
this is a, this business will wear on you. 

Rich Bennett 10:16
so what the McCurms 

Howard McComas 10:17
Alright, 

Rich Bennett 10:17
family, how far back do you guys go 

Howard McComas 10:19
or? 

Rich Bennett 10:20
in 

Howard McComas 10:22
No, that's I told 1808. 

Rich Bennett 10:24
That's when the funeral home started, but as far as family. 

Howard McComas 10:28
That's tough. 

Rich Bennett 10:29
That's hard to say. 

Howard McComas 10:31
That's tough because I mean, we go back and like I mentioned before, I mean, not many people know about the bush declaration, but 

Rich Bennett 10:38
Right. 

Howard McComas 10:38
that was 

Rich Bennett 10:39
40 

Howard McComas 10:39
actually 

Rich Bennett 10:39
independence of 

Howard McComas 10:40
It 

Rich Bennett 10:40
declaration. 

Howard McComas 10:40
was, it's a precursor to the Declaration of Independence. And you know, a group of folks. And you just could, can imagine getting in their heads back then. But, you know, you have England doing what they were 

Rich Bennett 10:51
doing. Right. 

Howard McComas 10:53
Um, and a group of locals. And if you look at the list, it's all a lot of local names. We know today, they got together. And they decided to sign a declaration independence from, from England. And you can just imagine what's in there, which was in their mindset. 

Rich Bennett 11:09
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 11:09
So yes, we are, we're blessed that James McCommus, one of our descendants, we signed that, and I was back in 1775. S that was a year before the big document. 

Rich Bennett 11:22
So you may have one of the longest. how did I explain this longest rain sounds like I'm getting ready to see like the World Champion 

Howard McComas 11:31
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 11:31
or whatever, but families in Hartford 

Howard McComas 11:34
still so there's several families in the county that are 

Rich Bennett 11:38
County. Right. 

Howard McComas 11:38
of that age or older, 

Rich Bennett 11:40
But 

Howard McComas 11:40
but still what I will tell you and ancestors are still here. But what and we learned that when we had, when we celebrated the Bush Declaration, all of his families came back together. 

Rich Bennett 11:50
Oh, real. 

Howard McComas 11:51
That was very humbling. It really was. And we started talking about the, you know, the, the various different generations. What I can tell you is we are the oldest family owned and operated business in Hartford County. And as far as funeral homes go, we're about number five in the country. So and I can't answer to the others before us, or older than us, if they are still family within the business. So I, 

Rich Bennett 12:18
but family owned, 

Howard McComas 12:19
but family owns. 

Rich Bennett 12:21
What is it with these corporations coming in and purchasing these from your 

Howard McComas 12:28
Yeah. Well, I 

Rich Bennett 12:29
home? 

Howard McComas 12:29
mean, it is a business. 

Rich Bennett 12:30
right. 

Howard McComas 12:31
I 

Rich Bennett 12:31
I 

Howard McComas 12:31
mean, 

Rich Bennett 12:31
mean, it's a money making 

Howard McComas 12:32
It's, 

Rich Bennett 12:32
business. 

Howard McComas 12:33
it's it's a, it's a ministry and it is a business. So I think any time that you see that situation to the business aspect of it, you're going to have corporate America take a look at that and, and, and, and, you know, enter into that market. So the big misnomer nowadays, I heard you mentioned this before, still today, even if, even we think about corporate America, you see it everywhere. You. 

Rich Bennett 13:01
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 13:02
Still the majority of the funeral homes are still owned by families. 

Rich Bennett 13:05
Okay. 

Howard McComas 13:06
So it's still the majority owned, but you do have corporations that are moved into communities. And, and purchased 

Rich Bennett 13:12
them up. 

Howard McComas 13:13
They 

Rich Bennett 13:13
have seen. I think when you go to, and I only know this from experience, especially for living here all my life. 

Going to a funeral home, just that, that family owned business part of it, you, the people going there have such a, I want to say you guys have an advantage because you're more connected with the people that are coming there. As being a family owned business, whereas if it's a corporation, even if it's got some families still working there, I don't think the connection is still there. Like it used to be 

Howard McComas 13:50
the corporate, the corporate approach. I, I really think works on a lot of different levels in different areas. Economies to scale. You can, 

Rich Bennett 13:58
yeah, 

Howard McComas 13:58
cost in that type of thing. In, in the funeral business, specifically, The bottom line is, you're meeting a stranger, 

Rich Bennett 14:08
right. 

Howard McComas 14:08
you're creating a very intimate relationship in a very short time at one of their most trying times in their lives. And, um, to be able to guide them, meet them where they are, and, and actually walk alongside them. That's just a tough undertaking for a corporation in my eyes. I like to be able to have the person on the premises who can make the call, can figure it out, c create that experience. 

Rich Bennett 14:39
Right. 

Howard McComas 14:39
That's what we're all about. And I think you have a lot more flexibility to do that if you have the folks that actually own the the business right there with you. That's my opinion. 

Rich Bennett 14:49
Oh, not only that. I'm sure, especially if you're your history and everybody you know in Harvard County, and I know you've come across people that. 

Families, you know, they have lots of love when they're coming to you. So you still even you have that personal connection as well, which I think would even help people heal more in their grief. Just know and say, you know, we're going to McCommie's because Howard knew so and so. I know it can be hard on you, but I think at the same time, it's easier for the families. 

Howard McComas 15:23
Rich, I went to edgewood high school. So local relationships there. I did choose it was able to go away to college. 

Rich Bennett 15:32
Right. 

Howard McComas 15:33
And that was the only time I really got out of this community. I thought it let's do a lot of time. Anybody gets out of their community, but I did. So I was a way for it is 

Rich Bennett 15:42
basically yeah. 

Howard McComas 15:43
It's, it's a good excuse sometimes, right. But I never had that outside perspective. So I grew up around the funeral home cut grass and you know, set up chairs and that type of thing. To help out with visitations, I'd help out taking people into our care. Fear was all of that. And that's something that I did growing up because I was supposed to and not dad asked me to do it in that type of thing. It wasn't until going away and being completely out of the community and having a different perspective of a different place. So I went in North Carolina. And then coming back for it was a holiday or something. I've never forget standing in the lobby next to my dad. And he knew 75 to 80% of the people 

Rich Bennett 16:27
walking 

Howard McComas 16:28
door. That is when it clicked in my head that I understood that's going to give me what I need in 

Rich Bennett 16:36
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 16:36
life. It's relationships. And I think if you think about what you do, no matter what you do, I think it's relationships that that just give you that strength to do whatever you do. And I realized it then. So the funeral part, it's our business, but it's creating those relationships. So I'm going back to your point. I give out my cell phone regularly. I get text now that I'm getting older and my friends are getting. Right. I'll get a text or a call and say how hey, mom or grandmom, I don't know what to do. Just can you help me and I absolutely I'm that's where I am. Yeah. That's that's that's my fulfillment right there. So I'm answering your question. It's it's the relationships. 

Rich Bennett 17:20
And the thing is that and it's more than just family that work there. 

Howard McComas 17:24
Oh, absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 17:25
Okay, because one of the things I've noticed every time I've gone there, the people that work there are just so friendly, because I've been to other places where they're not as friendly. They're like, you know, they want you to hurry up, get in, get out, but no, you're everybody that I've met that works there. It's just so friendly. Even to the point to where 

when they come to a location, I guess. 

I'm correct me if I'm wrong here when somebody passes in a house then you guys coming. Right. 

Howard McComas 18:06
We will. I mean, there's a there's a process. But 

Rich Bennett 18:08
Right. 

Howard McComas 18:09
we'll come take 

Rich Bennett 18:09
Okay, 

Howard McComas 18:10
them into our care. 

Rich Bennett 18:11
because I could have sworn it was you guys and did that for one of our neighbors. 

Howard McComas 18:17
Okay, 

Rich Bennett 18:18
this made him feel 

Howard McComas 18:21
so comfortable. 

Rich Bennett 18:21
So it is. And that's a hard time for 

Howard McComas 18:24
people. It is. 

Rich Bennett 18:25
But you guys like we leave that. 

Howard McComas 18:28
It's interesting. You mentioned that part of it. You know, when we go to a home, we've done it obviously years. 

Rich Bennett 18:34
Right. 

Howard McComas 18:35
One day it hit us in the head that, you know, there needs to be more because if mom was in that home, maybe on hospice. 

Rich Bennett 18:42
Yes. 

Howard McComas 18:42
been there extended amount of time we always went and had our hospital bed and everything right there as a family and then here we come in when she passes take her into our care then all of a sudden there was an emptiness because that that is no longer full and that she's been there so what our folks did I'm giving you as an example of just one of our areas the fellows and the ladies that do these transfers they now leave a rose and they'll also leave a card that each of them sign saying it's an honor to work with your family thank you for entrusting your love when in our care now that there's something there we you know when they go back into the into the room this is a this is a long answer to your question our goal when it comes to our team and it is a team 

Rich Bennett 19:31
yeah 

Howard McComas 19:31
because you got all worked together is to hire somebody based upon what they have in their heart and their head I know that sounds cliched but you know give me someone that really believes in our mission of helping folks think I have half a brain I mean you know I mean I got about a quarter of a brain so I ask everybody else 

Rich Bennett 19:52
that 

Howard McComas 19:52
to at least 

Rich Bennett 19:54
but 

Howard McComas 19:54
have it in your heart in your head 

Rich Bennett 19:56
yeah 

Howard McComas 19:56
and and then we'll teach feardal all day long all day long and it for the most part that works and that's what you're seeing when you yeah you know because I can tell you everybody works there is is wired that way 

Rich Bennett 20:12
it's a 

Howard McComas 20:13
it is no we're we are blessed and I'll use that word over and over but we are 

Rich Bennett 20:18
wow 

Howard McComas 20:18
we are 

Rich Bennett 20:19
so with and now what it get mainly to you because you've been involved I know I'm not talking about just at the funeral but you've been involved in the community got for hello 

Howard McComas 20:30
well 

Rich Bennett 20:30
now probably before college right in a way 

Howard McComas 20:34
probably so but more time to dedicate you know since being being in the business 

Rich Bennett 20:38
yeah 

Howard McComas 20:38
and you say me but I mean it's it's everybody 

Rich Bennett 20:41
how many 

Howard McComas 20:41
it's a family and it's it's folks that actually work there also they're they're all involved in something around the County to give back but no in that part you understand very quickly you're not in this by 

Rich Bennett 20:54
right 

Howard McComas 20:54
yourself 

Rich Bennett 20:54
no 

Howard McComas 20:55
right 

Rich Bennett 20:56
yeah 

Howard McComas 20:56
so it's all matter of not just doing what I got to do and I run a business and you come and use my business now it's it's a it's a big picture 

Rich Bennett 21:04
well how important it's that for other businesses to be because you I mean you guys are a good example that 

Howard McComas 21:11
voice right I mean you can 

Rich Bennett 21:14
everything's a choice think 

Howard McComas 21:15
come 

Rich Bennett 21:15
about 

Howard McComas 21:15
it 

Rich Bennett 21:15
it 

Howard McComas 21:16
is it 

Rich Bennett 21:16
but 

Howard McComas 21:16
is 

Rich Bennett 21:16
it could be a bad choice 

Howard McComas 21:18
well 

Rich Bennett 21:18
if you don't 

Howard McComas 21:18
and we've all and we've all made them 

Rich Bennett 21:20
well 

Howard McComas 21:20
I don't raise my hand right now you see it 

Rich Bennett 21:22
yeah 

Howard McComas 21:24
but no I I absolutely believe you know I'll go back to that that concept of relationships you're you're establishing relationships and you know given back just plain feels good and that'd be great thing to pass on and I pass it on to my boys and young people start doing that a little bit and man you're gonna get something big time out of it plus people remember 

Rich Bennett 21:46
yeah 

Howard McComas 21:46
that 

Rich Bennett 21:46
yeah oh absolutely 

Howard McComas 21:47
so you know the trust that they have as you work with them on different committees and different 

Rich Bennett 21:52
yeah 

Howard McComas 21:53
you know around around the county then they see that and hopefully you can fulfill that when you if you work with them 

Rich Bennett 21:58
do you do you actually go out and talk to groups whether it be like rotary clubs lines whatever about the business because sometimes people wait until it's too late to look into something I'll bring up a story here in a minute 

Howard McComas 22:16
yeah I the answers yes 

Rich Bennett 22:18
okay 

Howard McComas 22:18
so you know I go back to you know the relationships with the businesses for early organizations let me just mention this you know Hartf Community College has been a big thing so I'm involved in the in the board there for years and that's just that's just incredible institution in our 

Rich Bennett 22:36
backyard yeah 

Howard McComas 22:37
even understand some and then boys and girls club I got to give a shout out because that had been involved with them now for over 25 years 

Rich Bennett 22:46
wow 

Howard McComas 22:47
and so honored to serve as chairs their board right now so I specifically want to give shout-outs to a couple of those organizations because they continue to give back and 

Rich Bennett 22:57
yes 

Howard McComas 22:57
that that gives us that's that's that's very fulfilling 

Rich Bennett 23:00
25 years on the board 

Howard McComas 23:02
yeah they they haven't got rid of me yet so yeah just 

Rich Bennett 23:05
I 

Howard McComas 23:05
feeling 

Rich Bennett 23:05
know the 

Howard McComas 23:06
keep showing up 

Rich Bennett 23:08
but that's a great organization too yeah 

Howard McComas 23:12
and I think now more than ever you talk about 

Rich Bennett 23:16
children yeah 

Howard McComas 23:17
And, 

Rich Bennett 23:17
yeah 

Howard McComas 23:17
and, you know, we talk about an environment that it's hard to disagree with that hate in somebody, you know, we can do better, we can do better, so let's, let's start young, right? And start affluent young. So anyway, I gotta track it a little bit, but I just, I definitely want to mention those. 

Rich Bennett 23:43
Oh my god. Love it. Now, I wish I had the time to do it. 

Howard McComas 23:47
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 23:48
Do you stay in the closet one time and then right away, everybody? 

Howard McComas 23:51
That organization serving over 2,000 kids a day. Yeah. Which is just absolutely 

Rich Bennett 23:58
amazing. The, the story I wanted to tell you, and I'm sure you've ran into situations like this. My mother, when, um, she had gotten cancer, so she knew her time was coming. She said, 'Hey, we need to go shopping.' Well, okay. Well, it was to the funeral home where she went to go shopping. 

Howard McComas 24:22
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 24:24
And she took me, my two brothers and my sister. And it was, it felt weird, but my mother broke the ice very quick. Okay. Because am I younger brother because she said, which she said, she was looking at the caskets, she said, 'Well, I don't really like that one.' And my younger brother said, 'Mom, what do you care? You're not going to see it. Anyway, you're, or it was the inside of it.' 

Howard McComas 24:52
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 24:52
'It's like a really sedent. Well, it's going to be my head on it. And it's got to be comfortable. And I'm going to 

Howard McComas 24:57
be, 

Rich Bennett 24:58
but me while whoever was, was there helping us from the funeral, I was just cracking up. But have you ever, when people come in, I want to say to shop because that's what it is. 

Howard McComas 25:11
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 25:12
Are there any funny moments like that where you, you're just like, okay, this is going to be a fun one. 

Howard McComas 25:20
when you start working with folks, 

Rich Bennett 25:22
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 25:22
when you do it ahead of time like that, with pre-arranging, 

Rich Bennett 25:25
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 25:25
you have obviously a different emotional investment, 

Rich Bennett 25:28
Right. 

Howard McComas 25:28
right. So it allows for a lot more lighter conversation, but I would tell you, yes, I have had somebody that wanted to try it out first. 

Rich Bennett 25:39
Until 

Howard McComas 25:39
So we, oh, absolutely. I raised my hand. So we actually they selected a casket. We brought it in and that's fine. Just go ahead and do whatever you think you need to do. 

Rich Bennett 25:50
So, no. 

Howard McComas 25:51
So this isn't every day, but yeah, I mean, craziness. 

Rich Bennett 25:56
Oh, no, 

Howard McComas 25:57
no, 

Rich Bennett 25:57
no, 

Howard McComas 25:57
no, but, but ever, whatever, however you're going to figure it out 

Rich Bennett 26:01
that 

Howard McComas 26:03
every guy to figure out. 

Rich Bennett 26:04
worked with a guy 

Howard McComas 26:05
I 

Rich Bennett 26:05
when I was in the IT field, and he worked part time at a funeral home. 

Howard McComas 26:09
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 26:09
And he would do that just getting in there. It's like, dude, what is wrong with you? Well, it's just part of the 

Howard McComas 26:16
you can imagine as a kid growing up around that place, what some things they would do to you. 

Rich Bennett 26:23
speaking of a kid growing up, you 

Howard McComas 26:24
Actually, 

Rich Bennett 26:25
know, all the different generations, seven different generations. Has there ever been anybody in a family that didn't want to get into the family business that isn't in the family business? Everybody more or less gotten into it. 

Howard McComas 26:39
I can only answer for the last couple of generations, 

Rich Bennett 26:41
well, 

Howard McComas 26:42
obviously. But, you know, it is, it's one of those things where it is not a business to get into just because that's your last name. 

Rich Bennett 26:50
Right. 

Howard McComas 26:51
Again, 

Rich Bennett 26:51
Right. my son is with any 

Howard McComas 26:53
business as with any business. So right now in the business, my father's there. He's 83 years old and every day he's there because of relationships, right. He just thrives on that. And my family does my sister, Holly, who's very, very 

Rich Bennett 27:09
involved, 

Howard McComas 27:09
the unity, 

Rich Bennett 27:10
very involved, yeah, 

Howard McComas 27:10
too, is in the business in myself. So is there a pressure? Well, I remember growing up. I will say, you know, dad said, hey, you do whatever you want to do in life. Just remember you have a Roman numerate your name. 

Point taking. 

Rich Bennett 27:31
My father never pulled that would I like that. 

Howard McComas 27:34
point taking, 

Rich Bennett 27:35
And, 

Howard McComas 27:36
and with that being said, it's worked out. Okay. That I think it's worked out 

Rich Bennett 27:41
now. Is yours on any plans? 

Howard McComas 27:44
He does. Yeah, he really 

Rich Bennett 27:45
Oh, wow. 

Howard McComas 27:46
does. He 

Rich Bennett 27:47
to that 

Howard McComas 27:47
really does. He's, 

Rich Bennett 27:47
be 

Howard McComas 27:47
he's just 

Rich Bennett 27:47
eight generation. 

Howard McComas 27:48
Eighth generation. Yeah, he's just out of college. And he's, I've encouraged him, you know, with this being a legacy business. I've encouraged him to figure himself out. So right now, he's working at a bank down in North Carolina. And actually, he's in a bank that lends to funeral homes a lot of things. So he actually travels around visiting funeral homes and seeing their operation. So he's getting it from a different direction, a 

Rich Bennett 28:17
That's, 

Howard McComas 28:17
different angle. 

Rich Bennett 28:18
that's good though. 

Howard McComas 28:19
Yeah, it just, it has worked out really well, 

Rich Bennett 28:22
so. Wow. 

Howard McComas 28:22
Yeah, it, it's a, it's a special situation. So to answer your question, yes, the anticipation is anyway the 

Rich Bennett 28:29
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 28:29
next- ventilation. Throughout 

Rich Bennett 28:31
the years, and I know you can't answer for the generations that you weren't there. 

Howard McComas 28:36
We can make something 

Rich Bennett 28:37
OK, 

Howard McComas 28:37
up. 

Rich Bennett 28:37
that works. What has been some of the biggest changes that you've seen in the business throughout the years? I mean, besides the fact that you're not using 

Howard McComas 28:47
Hi, Box. Well, I, I think a lot, there's a couple of things. One is church, is organized religion. I mean, we all see it. We all feel it. Less folks, I'm generalizing, but less folks are identifying with and organized 

Rich Bennett 29:04
puncture, 

Howard McComas 29:04
religion. And let's face it, religion has traditional rituals with it as do funerals. So that's absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 29:13
right, cultures. 

Howard McComas 29:15
So that's, that's one of the things. 

Rich Bennett 29:17
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 29:17
So when folks go away from maybe that organized religion situation, they may be left not quite understanding now. What should I 

Rich Bennett 29:28
Right. 

Howard McComas 29:28
do when I get married? What should I do when somebody in my family dies? Because now that structure's going. So now they're actually trying to figure out now what's going to be my structure. There's so much to be said about traditions. There's a reason traditions are in place. So our big challenge we 

Rich Bennett 29:48
have is people 

Howard McComas 29:49
understanding the value of the process of grieving, the value of the process of memorializing, or having a funeral for somebody. are running away from the word funeral, by the way, because it just signifies grief and sorrow. And we're into, we are, we're into a society. You know this, that everything's either on a phone, immediate, I'll use this. I call it the wall wall mentality, 

Rich Bennett 30:19
People 

Howard McComas 30:20
OK? So I'll go in, put in the order. And I wait there, they call my number, and I got it. No must, no fuss. I don't have to deal with anything else. 

Rich Bennett 30:29
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 30:30
It has driven I think folks to have-- they want everything as easy as possible. And there is a place that it's not easy. I mean, when you lose somebody, that's a life lived. There is a process. And part of that is pain, it's sorrow. 

Rich Bennett 30:46
You have to-- 

Howard McComas 30:46
you've lost 

Rich Bennett 30:47
To 

Howard McComas 30:47
somebody. 

Rich Bennett 30:47
heal, 

Howard McComas 30:49
But I tell you, there's a lot-- I will say I'm generalizing, but a lot of folks want to skip that, and let's just get together, and we'll raise a beard of Dad, because that's 

Rich Bennett 30:59
right? 

Howard McComas 30:59
what he would want. He wouldn't want us to go through all that. The problem is, you're going to go through it, but you're not going to be going through it necessarily the way in a healthy way. 

Rich Bennett 31:10
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 31:10
It may be down the road a little bit. So a change-- and this isn't everybody, but I see that trend. 

Rich Bennett 31:19
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 31:19
So that's one of the things I see. I use this example. And this is actually a real world example. Lady lost her husband. He'd been sick for a little while, decided not to have services because of what I just mentioned. Just don't want to take my family through all of that. She came back to us a month later, and she says, I need to have something. And we asked her, what changed your mind? She said, I've been to Climes in Bel Air now, three times. Shop. And three times I've had somebody walk up to me and say, how's Jim? 

She has to talk about his illness and what happened. And she's had to do that three different times. So versus having that visitation, gathering, remembering him. Now, she's had to stand in that visitation line three times in Climes, but you're not prepared to even 

Rich Bennett 32:19
it? Yeah. 

Howard McComas 32:19
have So just a general illustration of it does go on. 

Rich Bennett 32:27
You're listening to the conversations with Rich Bennett. We'll be right back. 

I want to take a minute to talk about Hartford's Hart magazine. And full transparency, I'm proud to say I'm a business partner with them. Why? Because Harford's heart is Harford County's only truly local magazine. This isn't a franchise or a publication run from outside the area. It's built right here, focused on our community, our businesses, and the people who make Harford County special. I read every issue because it highlights local events, restaurants, nonprofits, and businesses that deserve real visibility. Not just the nads stuck on the page. As a business partner, I believe in what they're doing. And I trust the platform enough to put my name behind it. If you're a local business, looking to connect with the community in a meaningful way, or a resident who wants to stay in the know, check them out at harford'sheart.com. Local matters, and Harford's heart gets that right. Are you seeing more people getting away from the burial part and going towards cremation more? 

Howard McComas 33:46
So we are. There's a trend there. It's a nationwide trend. 

Rich Bennett 33:51
Right. 

Howard McComas 33:52
We see a lot of that because well, one of the things people are so transient now 

Rich Bennett 33:57
today. 

Howard McComas 33:58
You know, where'd you say you grew up? 

Rich Bennett 34:00
Here in Jon Patown. 

Howard McComas 34:01
Jon Patown, where we're sitting right now, 

Rich Bennett 34:03
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 34:03
right? I grew up in Avington, went to Edgewood. So you and I are kind of anomalies. 

Rich Bennett 34:08
But 

Howard McComas 34:08
then we talk about our children and where they may be, and how far family is spread out. So cremation has become eight. Let's use the word "apportable" option too, because no longer does everybody have that family, cemetery, that family plot. 

Rich Bennett 34:23
Right. 

Howard McComas 34:24
So that's one piece of it. Cost is another consideration, although, you know, again, there's a balance there when it comes to cost and and the services you select. 

Rich Bennett 34:34
Mmm-hmm. 

Howard McComas 34:35
Also. But I hear the word simplicity. Let's simplify things. And you know, cremation is, we have, we offer the services. 

Rich Bennett 34:44
Right. 

Howard McComas 34:45
We keep that service in our care, actually at our bailer facility. But that's not the reason in my mind to do it. 

Rich Bennett 34:52
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 34:52
Yeah. You really, that's simplification. We just don't need to go through the process. So yes, I'd say now we're about 50, 50, we're about burial services, about 50% and then cremation about 50%. 

Rich Bennett 35:04
Is there any services that you guys offered at some people may be surprised about? 

Howard McComas 35:12
Well, I don't know about surprise, but I go back to cremation. I mean, a lot of folks, majority of folks we work with, have a viewing 

Rich Bennett 35:21
Right. 

Howard McComas 35:21
with the body president, have the funeral or mass or 

Rich Bennett 35:24
Right. 

Howard McComas 35:25
service, and then cremate afterwards. And not everybody knows that that can happen. So that simply, that so that simply is the cremation takes the place of the burial, but you still have, if you want to use the word traditional, you still have the process of that. 

Rich Bennett 35:39
Okay. 

Howard McComas 35:40
The other thing is, I mentioned earlier about organized religion. You know, still plenty of people go to church. Trust me, Easter at St. Ignatius, I can raise my hand. There's a lot of people to go to church. However, some people don't identify, as we mentioned with religion. So we have a system in place called a celebrant program. 

Rich Bennett 36:02
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 36:03
Okay. You may have heard about that. And and that simply is, we have a couple folks that will meet with the family. They'll learn about their loved one and the whole service is really centered around their loved one. Maybe versus Scripture. 

Rich Bennett 36:17
Right. 

Howard McComas 36:18
And that is again, hopefully meeting them where they are. So that's a, that's a service that has really been growing and we do that quite often. 

Rich Bennett 36:26
As far as, because I know with cremation, and I only noticed from when my brother was cremated, his wife contacted us and asked us if we wanted any pieces of jewelry or 

Howard McComas 36:41
whatever. Okay. 

Rich Bennett 36:42
Did they were putting the ashes in? 

Howard McComas 36:43
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 36:45
And then I 

Howard McComas 36:45
another 

Rich Bennett 36:46
had 

Howard McComas 36:46
another friend of 

Rich Bennett 36:47
I'm 

Howard McComas 36:47
mine. 

Rich Bennett 36:47
when he passed, I guess he was cremated because it is a part of a choral ref or something. 

Howard McComas 36:54
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 36:55
Which I never heard of that either. 

Howard McComas 36:58
There's a lot out there. Say 

Rich Bennett 36:59
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 37:00
that. There are a lot of companies out there doing those types of 

Rich Bennett 37:02
things. So it's not, that's not something that's done through the funeral home. 

Howard McComas 37:05
Yeah, it is. I mean, we can, 

Rich Bennett 37:06
okay, 

Howard McComas 37:07
Coordinate any of those things. 

Rich Bennett 37:08
okay. 

Howard McComas 37:09
Some of them obviously were doing a little bit more than others. 

Rich Bennett 37:11
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 37:12
The choral ref not so much. But, 

Rich Bennett 37:13
Right. 

Howard McComas 37:14
but we can help facilitate that. The jewelry. Sure. I mean, you can put a little bit of the cremated remains 

Rich Bennett 37:19
it. 

Howard McComas 37:19
we call 

Rich Bennett 37:19
Yeah. Injury 

Howard McComas 37:21
for folks. It's, hey, 

Rich Bennett 37:23
I don't 

Howard McComas 37:24
And 

Rich Bennett 37:24
like. 

Howard McComas 37:24
we have, we've had the families in four kids and they all, they all went part of, uh, you know, mom to take home. So we again, you accommodate. You meet folks where they are and and their, their, their, uh, their needs. 

Rich Bennett 37:38
Wow. 

Howard McComas 37:39
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 37:52
Yeah, yeah. We do this when it comes to the few homes worker. you work with a lot of veteran 

Howard McComas 38:00
Well, 

Rich Bennett 38:00
organizations as well, don't you? 

Howard McComas 38:01
Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 38:02
Okay. 

Howard McComas 38:02
Okay. Yeah, we got in July. We actually have a veteran fare up at our, our Jaret'sville location. 

Rich Bennett 38:09
We 

Howard McComas 38:10
work with, um, Bob Brown. He's Commissioner of Veterans Affairs here. 

Rich Bennett 38:14
Yeah, 

Howard McComas 38:14
County. And, ah, matter of fact, if you haven't had him on here, he'd be a 

Rich Bennett 38:18
one. 

Howard McComas 38:18
great 

Rich Bennett 38:18
I'd have to get him. 

Howard McComas 38:19
Yeah, I'll put a plug in there. 

Rich Bennett 38:21
Okay. 

Howard McComas 38:22
Um, but we, we do that every year. But beyond that, uh, absolutely. I mean, the respect and honor that those men and women deserve. 

Rich Bennett 38:31
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 38:31
It's just, is, um, I think it's, everybody deserves it, but just one more notch. So we, we take somebody into our care. It starts there. So we'll cover them with. A blanket of stars or. 

Rich Bennett 38:44
Yes. 

Howard McComas 38:44
So that, that from the very beginning, that'll signify the fact that they've served our country. And then following that, they'll get a special video, tribute. 

Rich Bennett 38:53
Right. 

Howard McComas 38:54
Um, if we go to the cemetery, we'll have flags in the ground that we put in. We call that the walk of honor. We also have flag large flags at each of our facilities that we'll put out and then flags on the harsh, you know, if it's good enough for the press, it's, it's certainly good enough for our veterans. So, um, we have American flags or, or branch, very 

Rich Bennett 39:14
Right. 

Howard McComas 39:14
different branch of flags or law enforcement 

Rich Bennett 39:18
Mm hmm. 

Howard McComas 39:18
or fire, you know, that type of thing. Just it's, the veterans, but it's also public service. We 

Rich Bennett 39:23
Yes. 

Howard McComas 39:24
just have been, we, that we have valued that partnership and that relationship through the years. And, um, no, that's that's something special. 

Rich Bennett 39:31
It correct me if I'm wrong, but if a veteran or a first responder wants to be cremated, you guys burn the flag with them. Didn't you? 

Howard McComas 39:43
We do we have a flag retirement 

Rich Bennett 39:45
Yes. 

Howard McComas 39:46
program. Yes. So, um, the proper way to retire a flag is to burn it. Honourable, not running around the street. 

Rich Bennett 39:55
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 39:55
Right. 

Rich Bennett 39:55
Right. Really. 

Howard McComas 39:56
Okay. Do it the right way. And we did. We offer that program. We have a collection boxes at the legion there in Bel Air. That right down the road here at Edgewood. Yeah. And then up in Darlington, too. So actually with everybody that elects to have a cremation done, we asked them if it's okay to, to cremate to retire a flag with their loved one. So it's not just with veterans. 

Rich Bennett 40:22
Oh, I love that. 

Howard McComas 40:23
And the majority of folks will say, absolutely. So we'll, we'll do it 

Rich Bennett 40:27
And 

Howard McComas 40:27
that. 

Rich Bennett 40:27
I bring that up because I recently, um, lost a bird. I say brother served in the Marine Corps with me and he wanted to be cremated and I, um, told my sister, let his girlfriend know. I said, I believe he can do that. She was you sure I said, I know the legion of our post collects the flags. And I'm pretty sure that is one of the reasons why they retire the flag with him in the ashes. And it's there. So it, but it's amazing how many people did not know that. And I think it's important. But I love the fact that it could be of anybody. 

Howard McComas 41:02
It can be. And then if we have an ordinary amount, we'll actually put together a service. And we've done 

Rich Bennett 41:08
Yeah, 

Howard McComas 41:08
that. we've done that before with other Boy Scouts and brought the Boy Scouts in or the legion or whoever, and they're part of that process. So we'll do that right there at our crematory. 

Rich Bennett 41:18
Oh, that's amazing. 

Howard McComas 41:19
Well, again, it's, it's community, right? 

Rich Bennett 41:22
Yeah. And 

Howard McComas 41:24
it is amazing. I'll tell you during COVID, we could tell people we're cleaning their houses out. Because the amount of flags that came into us during the COVID time was amazing. It is. 

Rich Bennett 41:36
So how was that time for you guys? Because visitations had to be hard. Well, you couldn't have them. Right? 

Howard McComas 41:41
Well, during during the height of it, 

Rich Bennett 41:43
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 41:44
we followed the regulations of churches, 

Rich Bennett 41:46
Okay. 

Howard McComas 41:46
basically. So it went down to 50% and it went down to 10 people. And you know, from there, it was just like it was excruciating for families. 

Rich Bennett 41:57
Yes. 

Howard McComas 41:57
A lot of them. That's the first time they had seen their ill mom was at the funeral home. 

Rich Bennett 42:03
Wow. 

Howard McComas 42:03
Because they couldn't go into the hospital if you remember it was at its worst. So, um, we always joked about dry by viewings. Um, we actually did that. I mean, we actually, our facilities allow for that. Especially the one in Abingdon, so that, 

Rich Bennett 42:19
uh, oh, 

Howard McComas 42:20
club? 

Rich Bennett 42:20
the 

Howard McComas 42:30
Come in. We're supposed to be safe outside. 

Rich Bennett 42:35
Yeah. That's brilliant though. 

Howard McComas 42:37
Well, that 

Rich Bennett 42:38
because 

Howard McComas 42:38
time 

Rich Bennett 42:39
that's beautiful. 

Howard McComas 42:39
With 

everybody that everybody dealt with. That time, everybody had to adjust and figure out how are you going to continue life. 

Rich Bennett 42:48
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 42:48
And then I couldn't just simply say, "Where everybody worked from home." Right? 

Rich Bennett 42:52
Yeah, that would make you kind of 

Howard McComas 42:53
Well, 

Rich Bennett 42:53
hard. 

Howard McComas 42:55
listen, our folks got together and half our directors actually went home and stayed there. They worked from families remotely while another half stayed in the on location and made things happen there. So unheard of in our business, but we adapted and figured it out. 

Rich Bennett 43:12
Wow. 

Howard McComas 43:12
And let's never go back there again. 

Rich Bennett 43:14
No. 

Howard McComas 43:15
Huh? 

Rich Bennett 43:16
No, we definitely don't want to go back there. With the services and everything, because you've already talked about some of the feel good stories, which... You know, I think when somebody passes on doing a lot of the traditional things, 

Howard McComas 43:33
I 

Rich Bennett 43:33
I think 

Howard McComas 43:33
think 

Rich Bennett 43:33
it 

Howard McComas 43:33
it 

Rich Bennett 43:34
is a feel good moment 

Howard McComas 43:35
is... 

Rich Bennett 43:35
to be honest. That's just me. 

Everybody that I've lost when we go through that seems to put us at peace. It puts us at ease. But has there ever been a moment for you when you've been there, and it's just emotionally wise, got to you? 

Howard McComas 43:55
I can... after doing this for 35-ish years 

Rich Bennett 44:00
Right. 

Howard McComas 44:01
full-time, I can tell you every service we do, I firmly believe takes a little piece from you. Right. It takes a little piece. When you start working with tragedy, like our deputies. You know, when those guys were taken from us. Then all of a sudden, what's taken from you is a bigger piece. 

Rich Bennett 44:20
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 44:21
When you work with children. When you work with other sudden deaths, there's no way you don't come from that without just a little piece. Because, you know, we're not only serving a function, we're walking alongside these families. And you don't do that without being so involved. 

Rich Bennett 44:40
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 44:41
Yes, absolutely. It Life's full of balance, but we're simply not in balance all the time. 

Rich Bennett 44:50
is. 

Howard McComas 44:50
And a lot of times you've got to balance the ministry side and the business side, because it's both. And if I can tell you, if we're ever going to air on the side of one, it's going to be the ministry side. It's just the way 

Rich Bennett 45:01
walking. 

Howard McComas 45:02
everybody's 

Rich Bennett 45:02
And 

Howard McComas 45:03
that's when we got to get together and support one another. 

Rich Bennett 45:05
Yes, And 

Howard McComas 45:06
that's the team we have. We've got eight directors of eight directors. We have six ladies. The average age is about 33. 

Rich Bennett 45:16
Really? 

Howard McComas 45:16
You asked me about a change in the industry. That's a huge change. And I personally think it's been a change for the better. 

Rich Bennett 45:24
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 45:25
I mean, when I grew up, my grandmother was in the business. And then my sister came in, but they were minorities in the business. It was a predominantly male worry industry. Now going into school, about 85 percent of the folks going into school to become a funeral director are women. 

Rich Bennett 45:44
Wow. 

Howard McComas 45:45
Yes. And I can tell you our business, as I mentioned before, I think it's being served better than it ever has. For the reason there's a nurturing nature about women. There just, there just is. And they can connect so well with families. So it is. But that's been a trend, you know, nationwide too. 

Rich Bennett 46:06
I didn't realize it. 

Howard McComas 46:07
It is. So you say one of the big changes nationally or nationwide, that's been one of the ones too. 

Rich Bennett 46:15
How, with everything that the changes are at the years, how often do you have to retrain for things, or does the training ever stop at all? 

Howard McComas 46:25
I'm here today after spending an hour with our folks on every Wednesday morning we all get together and we'll take a point and then we'll do a roundtable on that point. 

Rich Bennett 46:35
Okay. 

Howard McComas 46:36
We just had a very difficult situation between the families and a brother and sister that just couldn't quite get it together. 

Rich Bennett 46:43
Mm-hmm. 

Howard McComas 46:44
And it went on and on and on. So the directors that worked with those that family brought that case study to the table and we had a roundtable discussion about it. How was handled. Just general thoughts and how it can handle moving forward as a group. So to answer your question we're always 

Rich Bennett 47:02
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 47:03
always training or retraining or just as I got to mention this culture makes a business 

Rich Bennett 47:10
yeah 

Howard McComas 47:11
culture makes a family culture makes 

Rich Bennett 47:12
everything. 

Howard McComas 47:13
So I'd say relationship one but culture two 

Rich Bennett 47:17
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 47:17
the culture that we have established there together and create and maintain allows us to do what we do. I firmly firmly believe that and it supports it supports itself really. 

Rich Bennett 47:30
With so with yourself and the staff because I mean you guys. Well let's face it, besides hospitals you guys deal with death more than anybody has to take a toll on your mental health at times. So do you guys actually do things to help yourself and the staff as well whether it be. Hey we're going to send you to this place for a small stretch or whatever you know what I mean. 

Howard McComas 47:55
Right. We don't do it enough. 

Rich Bennett 47:57
Okay. 

Howard McComas 47:57
But to get together socially. We brought it to her in Covid. We brought in a masseuse. 

Rich Bennett 48:03
Oh, I was 

Howard McComas 48:04
To 

Rich Bennett 48:04
joking about 

Howard McComas 48:05
no. 

Rich Bennett 48:05
that but okay. 

Howard McComas 48:06
be there for everybody. 

Rich Bennett 48:07
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 48:07
So I think we do it more in small doses 

Rich Bennett 48:11
Right. 

Howard McComas 48:11
when it's somebody baking something we had this past year they got together we had a we had a Thanksgiving dinner. But it was during the day but a Thanksgiving dinner. So we brought all of our folks together and we put right in the chapel put a big old table when it just came in and had that time. It's it's things like that along the way. 

Rich Bennett 48:32
To 

Howard McComas 48:33
So we have the Christmas party and the gatherings like that that's fine. But I think it's more important to do it along the way and support one another which I will I will tell you I think we can continue to do better there. 

Rich Bennett 48:45
When it comes to the funerals and any of the funeral directors. What are some of the most misunderstood things about 

Howard McComas 48:58
I think you just brought it up. I think the mental health 

Rich Bennett 49:01
them. 

Howard McComas 49:01
aspect of things and when I was coming up you go through a tragic loss. And then you need to meet with a family here later today another 

Rich Bennett 49:13
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 49:13
family just you got to just get over it. Nobody nobody focused on that piece. 

Rich Bennett 49:19
Right. 

Howard McComas 49:20
Am I got a human right. 

Rich Bennett 49:21
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 49:22
So I think the mental health aspect of of this business is something that people on the outside I'll say quite don't understand. But the industry and us certainly we understand that more than I think we ever have. 

Rich Bennett 49:35
Yeah, 

Howard McComas 49:36
that's one. The other is a wear suit all the time and just drive around in shiny cars. 

Okay, that might that might be that might be a couple of things we do. Of course, we were those suits in 95 

Rich Bennett 49:51
weather. 

Howard McComas 49:52
degree 

Rich Bennett 49:52
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 49:54
folks come and work with us full time we have somebody now working in the office and we get it every time after they've been been in the business for a couple of weeks, they always say I had no idea what goes into the final production of what you do, whether it's whether it's mom in the casket 

Rich Bennett 50:13
When 

Howard McComas 50:13
or it's getting the dust certificate done. Or it's putting the newspaper in without one mistake or it's making sure the cars are absolutely spotless or making sure my pen is on straight. They don't see this 

Rich Bennett 50:25
yeah, 

Howard McComas 50:25
but they get done. So I think that's the other thing. That's that's a part. Probably the people just don't understand what goes into getting it done the right way. 

Rich Bennett 50:35
I have I have to point out 

Howard McComas 50:37
to be 

Rich Bennett 50:37
now because the last time I 

Howard McComas 50:39
at 

Rich Bennett 50:39
was it was a friend of ours had lost their 

Howard McComas 50:43
mother 

Rich Bennett 50:45
and there was somebody in the lobby. I think it was a family member. I mean, just fallen, crying just actually not even sitting just walking back and forth like they were lost. 

Howard McComas 50:57
And 

Rich Bennett 50:58
somebody from your staff, young woman came up to her and just gave her a huge hug. And it seemed like forever that they were hugging, but she, the woman that was all upset came. I walked outside and she came outside. Afterwards, as she said to me, she goes, Oh my God, I really needed that. ... that was just amazing. That's... and that's something you don't see from the staff. it just made her feel so much, and I wish I knew the person's name that did that. 

Howard McComas 51:37
And 

Rich Bennett 51:38
Because to me, that's... 

Yeah, I did it. They didn't know? 'Cause that's my first grade. I said, "Well, did you know what she goes now?" 

Howard McComas 51:58
Yeah, that's great. 

Rich Bennett 52:00
Wow. 

Howard McComas 52:01
You know, again, if I can say in this day and time, right, I just went to Wawa a little while ago, and I had to force two people to say 'hi' to me, because I said 'hi' to them. That's where we are. We walk by people, we walk by people and, you know,we  just don't speak. Yeah, it allows us... it allows our folks, I think, to be spotlighted a little bit more 

Rich Bennett 52:20
Mm-hmm. 

Howard McComas 52:20
when they do take that extra care. That might not have been that crazy maybe 30 years ago, but today, I'm going to sit down with you, and I'm going to pay attention to just you for the next two hours. 

Rich Bennett 52:31
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 52:31
It doesn't happen much today, you know, it really doesn't. I contact really doesn't happen with folks. Let alone, let alone, you know. I'm here for you, 

Rich Bennett 52:42
now. 

Howard McComas 52:42
right And the other thing is, I mean it. I'm not just doing this, because Howard's telling me to do this. I mean 

Rich Bennett 52:50
it. 

Howard McComas 52:50
Right? Yeah. Well, 

Rich Bennett 52:53
alright, so, a couple hard questions here. 

Howard McComas 52:55
No. 

Rich Bennett 52:56
I know, I'm sorry, but you got to ask the hard ones at times. So, if someone is listening right now and is dealing with loss, what would you want them to know? 

Howard McComas 53:09
He's dealing with 

Rich Bennett 53:10
also. 

Howard McComas 53:10
it 

Rich Bennett 53:10
It's a loss. Yeah. 

Howard McComas 53:12
Yeah. We'll say we also value, and when we work together, we're there for you. But after the fact also, we have grief resources. We have actually on our website on a page. 

We got to talk about the folks in an aftercare situation, so we call every family and just check in on them. And that hopefully at that point, a week or so later, that's when everybody's gone home. It's quiet. 

Rich Bennett 53:44
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 53:44
We're touching them, and we can direct them that way. Now, I will say, Rich, our grief resources, 90% of them, they're local. 

Rich Bennett 53:54
Right. So, 

Howard McComas 53:54
Yeah. So, you're not getting some national group. 

Rich Bennett 53:57
that's important. 

Howard McComas 53:57
And it's, and that's, and listen, national groups are great. But again, we're all about local, right? So, I would say that's what there's resources out there, whether it's one on one or if you're a group person or just somebody to talk to. So, that's what I would say to them, they're absolutely not alone. 

Rich Bennett 54:17
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 54:17
Yeah. And don't, and don't, and don't suffer in 

Rich Bennett 54:20
silence. Local keeping the, using the local organizations like that is important because it the people can even make a contact and become, you know, make a friend. And if they need them again, 

Howard McComas 54:33
sure. 

Rich Bennett 54:34
Because you on the nationwide level, well, we know, this seats change a lot. So, you never know who you're going to get 

Howard McComas 54:40
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 54:40
this goes in line with that one too. So, after spending so much of your life, help the families, you know, through grief, what do you think matters most in life? 

Howard McComas 54:54
I think I've told you relationships, you know, I, and yet it's funny. I'll go back to Arthur Brooks. 

Rich Bennett 55:00
We talked about. Yeah. 

Howard McComas 55:00
Remember, we went back and he talks about the second strength and, you know, you have a strength in life and what you do. And then you should get older. You need to figure out what is your next strength. And I just absolutely believe. It is, it's faith. 

Rich Bennett 55:16
Yes. 

Howard McComas 55:17
Whatever that may be, right? Something bigger than you. Yes. Bottom line. It doesn't have to be organized religion, although it's certainly out for a lot of people it is 

Rich Bennett 55:26
Mm-hmm. 

Howard McComas 55:26
for me. Family. I know this sounds cliché, but with family goes the rest of your life. 

Rich Bennett 55:33
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 55:34
Have a good spouse or somebody you can turn to, right? And then your personal health. So I'm giving you very general philosophical thing, 

Rich Bennett 55:43
but it's important. 

Howard McComas 55:44
Absolutely. And if you, and, and let me, let me, and friends. 

Rich Bennett 55:48
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 55:48
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 55:49
Yes. 

Howard McComas 55:49
You've got to have friends. You have a spouse or a significant other. You got, you've got your faith, your family, friends. So if you have those things going, you can get through a heck of a lot. And not, God knows, you know, what we do. I mean, that would be that, yeah. Right there. 

Rich Bennett 56:06
Yeah. That's 

Howard McComas 56:07
what I've learned as I'm turning big 60 

Rich Bennett 56:11
No. Sorry. Why stop making me feel so 

Howard McComas 56:14
soon. 

Rich Bennett 56:14
old? All right. So I don't know if you can answer this one or not. But we're going to see. 

Howard McComas 56:20
What are you [BLANK_AUDIO] 

Rich Bennett 56:21
No, we can. Alright, no, we can't. I'll throw just one word in there that way. You can't answer it. Alright, so what do you hope people say about the Macomba's family another 200 years from 

Howard McComas 56:33
now? Wow, huh? 200 

Rich Bennett 56:39
years. 

Howard the fourth was the best! 

Howard McComas 56:47
Is your teleporter available, so my family can get there from Canada? 

Rich Bennett 56:54
It may be a thing, 

Howard McComas 56:55
then. Wanted an answer? 

Rich Bennett 56:56
No. 

Howard McComas 56:56
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 56:57
I mean, we had the self-driving cars. 

Howard McComas 57:00
That's right. 

Rich Bennett 57:01
So, and people just flying up in space 

Howard McComas 57:05
and doing 

Rich Bennett 57:05
planes now. 

Howard McComas 57:06
Star track, right? 

Rich Bennett 57:07
Eh, eh, yeah. 

Howard McComas 57:09
I mean, hopefully, and I'm looking now, I'm looking at our family, uh, you know, timeline, I guess you want to call it. That, uh, is on our website, and I want to talk about that in just a second, but, um, I hope that I can be looking at a list of things and folks speaking that what was done during our time here. Um, as you say, made a difference. 

Rich Bennett 57:35
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 57:35
Yeah. And then they could maybe say, "Hey, my grandparents used them back around 2030, and, uh, I just know it was a great experience." No matter what the experience is expected, two, that's a long time. 200 years from now, but I do. And I hope that there can be a little notch that, um,we  were there for somebody. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And, in a good 

Rich Bennett 58:00
What 

Howard McComas 58:00
way. 

Rich Bennett 58:01
would you want to talk about the website? 

Howard McComas 58:02
Well, it's, it's fourth of July coming up, right? I don't know, and I don't know when this, I don't know when this will be aired. I don't know when you air things, 

Rich Bennett 58:09
I 

Howard McComas 58:09
but 

Rich Bennett 58:09
will 

Howard McComas 58:09
yeah, 

Rich Bennett 58:09
make sure I have this on 

Howard McComas 58:11
Oh my. 

Rich Bennett 58:12
July. 

Howard McComas 58:12
But, um, we're celebrating 218 years in, uh, in doing what we do. And we thought about let's celebrate it in a year that the country is celebrating. Being a 250 years. So from a perspective standpoint. So we're having fun with it. I mean, we have a timeline in each of our locations on our website. Um, we make coins, um, which you get one coins, 

Rich Bennett 58:36
challenge 

Howard McComas 58:37
sir. Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 58:38
Oh, come on. 

Howard McComas 58:39
Why not? 

Rich Bennett 58:40
I know. I love that idea. 

Howard McComas 58:42
So we're doing that. But for the first 

Rich Bennett 58:46
Oh, 

Howard McComas 58:46
time ever, for the first, 

Rich Bennett 58:47
yeah. 

Howard McComas 58:48
for the first time ever in a history of the business, we're going to be in the 4th of July. Parade in Bel Air. 

Rich Bennett 58:54
Are you really? 

Howard McComas 58:54
I'm telling you, so not my brainchild, my sister, I got named Charlie who's been with us forever. They're the creative ones created a boat. It's supposed to be the boat that we came over from Scotland on. I, I, Hey, I'm sure it is. And then, uh, 

Rich Bennett 59:13
still float. 

Howard McComas 59:13
Well, we're going to, what's in my, how much rain comes at day? 

Rich Bennett 59:18
Hey, don't call for rain that day. 

Howard McComas 59:19
Uh, 

Rich Bennett 59:20
Christie will make me hold the umbrella above her head. 

Howard McComas 59:24
But, um, yeah, we were having fun with it. So we'll be actually in the parade, but we're, we're taking that Just not yet. The history is very important, but it's more in the community 

Rich Bennett 59:34
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 59:34
for that amount of time. That's the emphasis we're trying to put 

Rich Bennett 59:37
love 

Howard McComas 59:37
on. 

Rich Bennett 59:37
that. 

Howard McComas 59:38
Yeah. I 

Rich Bennett 59:38
Yeah. Who's driving the boat? 

Howard McComas 59:40
I'm not sure yet. Yeah, nobody's certified. I'll tell you that. We're certified other ways. 

Rich Bennett 59:47
Who did these coins for you?This  is beautiful. 

Howard McComas 59:49
Yeah. Well, we're going back. Well, facilitator Sandy. She's one to put us together. So, um, Sandy Kapinos did that. 

Rich Bennett 59:58
Okay. 

Howard McComas 59:58
Okay. Little plug. Sandy 

Rich Bennett 1:00:00
does coins. 

Howard McComas 1:00:01
well, she finds good people that do good 

Rich Bennett 1:00:04
Uh, 

Howard McComas 1:00:04
coins. How's that? 

Rich Bennett 1:00:05
Sandy, you and I have to talk. was because I, although I feel bad, well, you're not a Marine. So I won't get in trouble. 

Howard McComas 1:00:14
I 

Rich Bennett 1:00:15
Cause if I know if I'm going somewhere, especially if it's a place where there's a bar, 

Howard McComas 1:00:20
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:00:21
I got to have my challenge coin. My Marine Corp challenge 

Howard McComas 1:00:24
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 1:00:24
coin because 

Howard McComas 1:00:24
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 1:00:24
that, I think that's where it more or less, they started. 

Howard McComas 1:00:27
They did. 

Rich Bennett 1:00:28
absolutely. Um, 

Howard McComas 1:00:29
Absolutely, 

Rich Bennett 1:00:29
and those of you that don't know how challenge coins work. Actually, you know what? Never mind. That's a whole other episode. 

Now, these 

Howard McComas 1:00:41
these are 

Rich Bennett 1:00:41
are, 

Howard McComas 1:00:41
really, it's, it's, 

Rich Bennett 1:00:41
calling. 

Howard McComas 1:00:41
it's a nice Pardon it. It's something that hopefully again, you said 200 years. Maybe somebody finds one of those and 

Rich Bennett 1:00:48
in another 200 years, they'll be like, 

Howard McComas 1:00:50
whatever they keep things in 

Rich Bennett 1:00:51
Wait a minute. 2026. 

Howard McComas 1:00:53
that. 

Rich Bennett 1:00:53
Oh my God. That was 

Howard McComas 1:00:54
long. 

Rich Bennett 1:00:54
so 

Howard McComas 1:00:55
Oh my. Can you believe that? 

Rich Bennett 1:00:57
All right. No, I don't even want to think about that. 

Howard McComas 1:00:59
You and I, you and I've talked about a lot of things, but can I just throw in it that you talked about being there for folks after the fact 

Rich Bennett 1:01:05
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:01:05
and during we haven't talked about being there beforehand. And if I, if I give me a second with that, um, we have an active pre-arrangement program. 

Rich Bennett 1:01:15
huh? 

Howard McComas 1:01:15
Uh-huh. And that is, um, you talk about speaking to the community. 

Rich Bennett 1:01:20
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:01:20
We travel with open houses, uh, we get American legions and that type of thing to for folks to understand the value of putting down information ahead of time. You mentioned your mom. 

Rich Bennett 1:01:32
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:01:32
I, I know that was probably maybe in the beginning a little awkward situation, but, 

Rich Bennett 1:01:38
but it was the first, but she put us at ease very quickly. 

Howard McComas 1:01:42
I would ask you how you may have felt walking out that door that day too. 

Rich Bennett 1:01:46
A lot better. 

Howard McComas 1:01:47
Yeah. So just that, that piece of mind, there's 

Rich Bennett 1:01:49
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:01:49
a lot of details, right? 

Rich Bennett 1:01:51
Yeah. Oh my God. There's, we, those of you listening, and if you've never gone through this, I love 

you know, this idea that you're told, or this, what you guys are doing here, because people don't realize the casket. Then you have what the vault that goes into the, we had no idea all about all 

Howard McComas 1:02:13
stuff. 

Rich Bennett 1:02:14
this 

Howard McComas 1:02:14
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 1:02:15
No idea. 

Howard McComas 1:02:17
I, I'd see funeral arrangements as a, it's, it's an investment. 

Rich Bennett 1:02:21
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:02:22
So it's, firstly, I see an informational 

Rich Bennett 1:02:25
Mm hmm. 

Howard McComas 1:02:26
investment. So maybe there's information just being asked, the only mom maybe know, 

Rich Bennett 1:02:29
Right. 

Howard McComas 1:02:29
right? So it's a lot of gathering of information. It's an emotional investment that in my mind, the emotion is taken down a notch when you're doing it ahead of time. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:02:39
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:02:39
And that's a financial investment. It's, it is. It's, it's, it's finances involved. There's, it's a business. The interesting thing about the last part of that is that things can be prepaid 

Rich Bennett 1:02:50
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:02:50
and in most cases, they can be guaranteed at the time too. And they're very, very, very few. I can't think of one business that I am purchasing today, what I'll be using. I have no idea when. But the, the costs are locked in and, and guaranteed for folks. And that really, from a planning standpoint, that really I think So. 

Rich Bennett 1:03:12
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:03:13
And that's our connection with Brian Kelly with, and, and a state planning. So you have the, a state plan thing done. Oh, we ask is you finish? There's another consideration. And that is, you know, what, how do I want to be remembered? What kind of tribute do I want? What 

Rich Bennett 1:03:29
Right. 

Howard McComas 1:03:29
kind of service? So what? So it just goes hand in hand with anybody that, if you're half a planner and putting things together, then I just think that's part of 

Rich Bennett 1:03:38
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:03:38
it. 

Rich Bennett 1:03:40
Yeah, it's, yeah, because we, well, like I said, with mom, she was still alive with my father. He had already passed. And we went there. And, you know, mom went with us. 

Howard McComas 1:03:53
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 1:03:55
But just the different things. looking at, because when we were looking at the caskets, then there's these emblems 

Howard McComas 1:04:04
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 1:04:04
that you can get put on to the caskets. And we're looking to say, okay, well, there's a baseball glove. Dad was big, it played softball at the time, but it was big and coaching a lot of the kids, especially in Legion ball. 

Howard McComas 1:04:19
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 1:04:19
So we got to have that there. 

Howard McComas 1:04:20
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 1:04:21
There was the Navy emblem and the Air Force emblem have to have them there. 

Howard McComas 1:04:24
We're 

But 

Rich Bennett 1:04:28
little things like that people don't think about. And would I, the fact that, when, when he was buried, the emblems didn't stay on the casket. They come off. you have, the family has something. 

Howard McComas 1:04:43
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 1:04:43
And me, and God, they, I didn't know this was going to happen. I was crying as 

Howard McComas 1:04:49
So 

Rich Bennett 1:04:49
it was and then doing the funeral services. Of course, my family would be crying even more because they presented me with the flag. 

Howard McComas 1:04:56
Okay. Wow. 

Rich Bennett 1:04:57
I thought it was going to be my mother presented with the flag. 

Howard McComas 1:05:00
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:00
But because I I served and was on it, we just discharged the served me with it. So where we went, I was able to get 

Howard McComas 1:05:09
the box. Okay. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:11
With the fly, the box for the fly. But it had a little thing on the bottom where I could also display. 

Howard McComas 1:05:16
That's great. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:17
things. 

Howard McComas 1:05:17
That's those 

Rich Bennett 1:05:18
I wouldn't have never known that. 

Howard McComas 1:05:19
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:20
Amazon ain't good to tell me that. That's for sure. You know, but yeah, it's, that is, that's important. That what's the pre-arrangement? 

Howard McComas 1:05:30
So it's a pre-arrangement process, pre-planning process. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:35
I love 

Howard McComas 1:05:35
it. And um, but that again, it allows you to be, um, your mind a lot clearer. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:40
Mm-hmm. 

Howard McComas 1:05:41
To get that figured out. It's not an easy thing to do because once a good day to go to the funeral home. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:46
That's true. 

Howard McComas 1:05:52
Also, you ask me, I'm sorry about it, you ask me about the biggest changes, 

Rich Bennett 1:05:56
yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:05:57
Also, our Jarrantzville location is actually a celebration of life center, so versus a, a funeral home per se, we do the funerals there, 

Rich Bennett 1:06:07
but 

Howard McComas 1:06:07
the very first thing we did there was actually a wedding reception. 

Rich Bennett 1:06:12
Wait a minute, what? 

Howard McComas 1:06:13
You heard it here first, and so it, uhm, it's a community gathering place that we've created, so actually, we, the, the, the, the number one thing there, we do our funerals, memorial 

Rich Bennett 1:06:26
service. Right. 

Howard McComas 1:06:27
But it is a space that has a lot of windows, we have AV, uhm, and it's, it's in Jarrantzville in the northern end, but it allows folks to gather for other things. So we had a 16-year-old birthday party there last week, last Saturday, and we had a great time. D and everything. 

Rich Bennett 1:06:45
Yeah. Wow. 

Howard McComas 1:06:46
So, again, this, we, we talk about celebrations of life, and that's a big, that's a big, I say buzzword now when 

Rich Bennett 1:06:54
Right. 

Howard McComas 1:06:54
somebody passes away, uhm, and that's it, it is, 

Rich Bennett 1:06:57
part, 

Howard McComas 1:06:57
that is but now we have celebrations in other, other ends too. 

Rich Bennett 1:07:02
Well, and if you haven't done this yet, you should, because I just, uh, there was a lady that did this recently. The first time I ever heard of it was, have you ever read the book Two Seas with Maury? 

Howard McComas 1:07:14
I have. Yes. 

Rich Bennett 1:07:15
Okay, Maury Schwartz had the, well, he called it a living funeral. 

Howard McComas 1:07:19
Right. 

Rich Bennett 1:07:19
This young lady had a celebration of life. 

Howard McComas 1:07:22
Uh-huh. 

Rich Bennett 1:07:23
But she hadn't passed. She was there. 

Howard McComas 1:07:25
I understand. 

Rich Bennett 1:07:26
I think that's something up in common, where you're going to see more people doing that, especially if they're sick and, 

Howard McComas 1:07:33
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 1:07:33
and they know that at times come in, it's like, who cares what people say about me when I'm gone? I want to know what they got to say now. 

Howard McComas 1:07:40
One of our favorite sayings is why 

Rich Bennett 1:07:43
not? Why Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:07:44
not? Right. Don't, just don't tell me we've never done it that way. 

Rich Bennett 1:07:49
Right. 

Howard McComas 1:07:49
Or we've always done it that way. Everybody around me knows those two phrases, everything stops and we're going to have a discussion because I don't like either one of them. 

Rich Bennett 1:07:58
No, 

Howard McComas 1:07:58
No. 

Rich Bennett 1:07:58
but I, I read that and I was like, that's brilliant. Love that. What is the website? 

Howard McComas 1:08:06
It's. 

Rich Bennett 1:08:06
You gave that. It's 

Howard McComas 1:08:08
very straightforward. It's simply macomasfemeralhome.com. Yeah. How 

Rich Bennett 1:08:14
do you spell it? 

Anything you would like to add before you pick the last question? 

Howard McComas 1:08:23
Oh, wow. 

No, I just, I just reiterate what I've said. The, the legacy piece is just, it's humbling. It really is. 

Rich Bennett 1:08:34
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:08:34
And to be able to have, have the relationship to the community for this many years is I can only answer to my time there, but I wouldn't do it any other way. It's just there's so much value from our family to be able to serve others. And I'm just looking forward to really what's next. 

Rich Bennett 1:08:52
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:08:53
And just keep, keep an open mind, you know, along those lines because who knows, right? Who knows? 

Rich Bennett 1:09:00
It's learning from you, everything I did today, the, the, about the industry and the history, any, this is not my last question. 

Howard McComas 1:09:11
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 1:09:12
The last question. If, if there isn't yet, is there any 

Howard McComas 1:09:15
plans on 

Rich Bennett 1:09:16
Anybody 

Howard McComas 1:09:16
it? 

Rich Bennett 1:09:17
in the family writing a book? 

Howard McComas 1:09:18
Hmm. We don't have many writers. So there's a lot of information being 

Rich Bennett 1:09:26
Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:09:26
gathered. 

Rich Bennett 1:09:27
And 

Howard McComas 1:09:27
I loved a harness at some point. 

Rich Bennett 1:09:30
I know Hartford 

Howard McComas 1:09:31
Oh, 

Rich Bennett 1:09:31
Candy's got a lot of 

Howard McComas 1:09:32
writers to put it together. So 

Rich Bennett 1:09:35
I'm sure there's got to be somebody out there. 

Howard McComas 1:09:38
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:09:38
All right. So I need to pick a number between one and five. 

Howard McComas 1:09:43
Well, since I'm the fourth, I'll go with four. How's that 

Rich Bennett 1:09:47
four and 

Howard McComas 1:09:48
did I pick right? Well, 

Rich Bennett 1:09:51
I mean, let's see, this category says imagination, hypotheticals, and wonders. 

Howard McComas 1:09:56
Hmm. 

Rich Bennett 1:09:57
If you were to pick five, it would have been legacy 

Howard McComas 1:09:59
good 

Rich Bennett 1:09:59
connection and the perspective. 

Howard McComas 1:10:01
that's 

Rich Bennett 1:10:01
So 

Howard McComas 1:10:01
what we've been talking 

Rich Bennett 1:10:02
Now 

Howard McComas 1:10:02
about. 

Rich Bennett 1:10:02
pick a number. Well, I don't know, you know what? Here's the weird thing. 

Howard McComas 1:10:05
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:10:06
And I don't know most of these questions. But somehow another, I would say 99% of the people that I've had on, whatever question, they end up picking lines of what we've been talking about. So 

Howard McComas 1:10:19
Interesting. 

Rich Bennett 1:10:19
we'll see how good you are here. 

Howard McComas 1:10:21
All right. 

Rich Bennett 1:10:21
All right. Now pick a number between 61 and 80. 

Howard McComas 1:10:26
Do 77. 

Rich Bennett 1:10:30
77. 

Howard McComas 1:10:30
I'm a good friend Chris Robinson. 

Rich Bennett 1:10:35
I guess in a way, this might, if you swing the answer, you know, you could, if you could invent something that would make daily life easier, 

Howard McComas 1:10:48
[BLANK_AUDIO] 

Rich Bennett 1:10:48
what would it be? 

That's a hard question. 

Howard McComas 1:11:01
Yeah it is. That's a huge 

Rich Bennett 1:11:02
question. Yeah. 

Howard McComas 1:11:05
Yeah. Something 

Rich Bennett 1:11:07
you could invent to make daily life easier, what would it be? 

Howard McComas 1:11:11
Well we're doing a lot of the things now, you know, I, as we, well locally, as we continue to grow, some way to get from here to there, without wasting too much of your life, 

Rich Bennett 1:11:25
the teleport. 

Howard McComas 1:11:27
Yeah. I'm back 

Rich Bennett 1:11:27
the 

Howard McComas 1:11:27
to teleport. I mentioned the teleport. So I don't know, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:11:35
I mean, I 

Howard McComas 1:11:37
can get philosophical, but I don't want to do that. That's, that's, I'd say just simply yet, somehow to get from here to 

Rich Bennett 1:11:42
To 

Howard McComas 1:11:42
there. 

Rich Bennett 1:11:42
an A to point B. 

Howard McComas 1:11:43
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:11:44
Yeah. And not an express lane, which seems to take even longer. 

Howard McComas 1:11:48
No, how about a pneumatic, I always said pneumatic tube. You know, think about that. The old pneumatic tubes, get in there and just go from major city, major city. It's safe. You got no traffic and it'll get you there in, in no time at all. So, of course, 

Rich Bennett 1:12:05
hold 

Howard McComas 1:12:07
on tight. 

Rich Bennett 1:12:09
doesn't try to have something like that. 

Howard McComas 1:12:11
This 

Rich Bennett 1:12:11
It's the bullet 

Howard McComas 1:12:11
train. 

Rich Bennett 1:12:14
Wow. 

Howard McComas 1:12:14
This trip will be too short. We will not be serving 

Rich Bennett 1:12:16
drinks or 

Howard McComas 1:12:17
any refresh. 

Rich Bennett 1:12:18
And then you're there. 

Howard McComas 1:12:19
And you're there. 

Rich Bennett 1:12:21
Wow. Howard, I want to thank you so much. It's been an honor and the door is open. Anytime you want to come back, and even bring, bring some of the 

Howard McComas 1:12:31
whatever 

Rich Bennett 1:12:31
employees 

Howard McComas 1:12:31
love 

Rich Bennett 1:12:32
family, 

Howard McComas 1:12:33
to 

Rich Bennett 1:12:33
you know, I mean, and any ideas. Yeah, I was like, Hey, Rich, I got an idea that you should do for your podcast. I'm going to say, Oh, good. Come on, because you're co-hosting. 

Howard McComas 1:12:43
love to love to love that, 

Rich Bennett 1:12:44
Howard, thanks a lot. 

Howard McComas 1:12:45
Rich, thank you, bud. It's been been an honor. Appreciate the relationship. 

Rich Bennett 1:12:49
This conversation wasn't just about funerals. It was about legacy. Relationships. Community. And what it means to show up for people when they need you most. Howard shared some incredible stories about a family business that's been serving Hartford County for more than 218 years. But would stood out to me was something much bigger than history. It was the reminder that no matter much technology changes no matter how fast life moves people still need connection. They still need compassion. They still need someone willing to walk alongside them during life's hardest moments. What I loved most is that Howard could come back to the same theme throughout our conversation relationships. Whether it's family, friends, faith, community, or simply be in there for a neighbor. Those are the things that truly matter and the things that last long after we're going. If you'd like to learn more about Howard, the incredible McCommiss Family Legacy, their grief support resources, pre-planning services, their celebration of life center, or any of the ways they're helping families throughout Hartford County and beyond. Head over to McCommiss If you're in wrongome.com. Trust me. There's a lot more to this story than just a funeral. It's a family that's been serving this community for more than two centuries. And as always, I want to thank you for listening. If this episode made you think about your own legacy, your family, or someone you've lost, I'd love to hear from you. Join the conversation by leaving a comment, sending me a message or a voicemail, or sharing this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Until next time, remember, it's not just about how long we're here. It's about the impact we make, the relationships we build, and the lives we touch along the way.