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Mortuary Science - Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Wayne State University
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News from the Wayne State Mortuary Science Program • Winter 2022


Letter from the program director

"What you should teach..." 

This is a phrase I often hear when I attend district meetings and state and national conventions. I appreciate the perspectives of new licensees and seasoned professionals who have served families for decades. Practitioners should be interested and involved in shaping the curriculum taught in mortuary schools. 

Mark Evely

Curriculum development is a process that starts with the American Board of Funeral Service Education. The ABFSE holds sessions every summer where groups work on 2-3 subject outlines ranging from Restorative Art to Business Law. These groups are composed of educators and practitioners from across the country. Changes to these outlines are then voted on by the membership of the ABFSE. 

The content of these outlines represents the foundational knowledge that must be taught in every mortuary science or funeral service program. It is then up to each program to determine when and how to teach those foundational principles, the structure of courses, and what else should be taught in order to graduate competent professionals. 

In shaping the curriculum at Wayne State, we collect feedback from students, graduates and employers. We also consider our National Board Examination scores, student course performance and employment rates. All of this data is presented to and discussed with our advisory committee, which includes practitioners, suppliers, regulators and MFDA representatives. 

A valuable source of information for us is the employer surveys we send out each year to funeral homes that employ recent graduates. We ask questions about each graduate’s readiness to perform specific tasks such as setting features and discussing various service options with families. 

Curriculum development is a balance between teaching the foundational knowledge for competent practice that is tested on the NBE and the practical skills, customer service and critical thinking abilities required for success. Curriculum is not developed by one individual or shaped by a single article or presentation. It must be based on evidence and a structured process that involves all those who have a stake in funeral service. Thank you for taking the time to share your insights about the future of funeral service and what is and what should be taught in mortuary schools. 

Mark T. Evely
Program Director, Mortuary Science
Chair, Applied Health Sciences
Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Wayne State University


Meet the new WSU Applebaum dean

Brian S. Cummings

On Aug. 1, 2021, Dr. Brian S. Cummings assumed the role of dean of the Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and professor of pharmaceutical sciences. 

“I am honored to be chosen to lead the college at this dynamic time in its century-long history,” Cummings said. “As a native Michigander and Wayne State alumnus, I have always kept the university and the city of Detroit close to my heart, and I look forward to serving the WSU Applebaum family.”

Read more about Dean Cummings' background and priorities for the college.

Peter Frade retires after 25 years at WSU Applebaum

Dr. Peter Frade is a Wayne State Warrior through and through. A three-time alumnus with a quarter-century of professional service to the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Dr. Frade is well known in Mortuary Science and across campus for his optimism, enthusiasm, kindness and compassion. He retired on January 15, 2022, leaving a meaningful legacy and having achieved the title professor emeritus.

Peter Frade

Mortuary Science alumnus Robert Vandenbergh ’69 – an emeritus member of the WSU Applebaum Board of Visitors who continues to support and advocate for the college ­– said, “Dr. Peter Frade defines the word dedication. I have never met a person who is more dedicated to his university, his students or his profession. Irreplaceable comes to my mind when I think of Peter. He never gives less than 100 percent.” 

Read more about Dr. Frade's career at Wayne State and watch his surprise retirement celebration.


A distinguished visitor

Fran McCormick

Any Mortuary Science alum who walked the halls at Alexandrine knows the name Fran McCormick.

Fran served as the registrar of the Department of Mortuary Science from 1957-1994. She recently donated her collection of Pyramid yearbooks to the Mortuary Science archives and took a tour of the building. 

"Fran is a legend at Mortuary Science," said Program Director Mark Evely. 

"She ran the day-to-day operations of the department. She was often the first contact a prospective student would have with Wayne State and the first person a student would talk to when he or she needed something." 

In addition to her daily responsibilities as registrar, Fran proctored exams and chaperoned field trips, the latter of which she has many fond memories. Fran is doing well and we hope to invite her to a future WSU Mortuary Science event.


Alumni in the news

Mortuary Science alumnus Timothy Schramm '89 was selected to join the Wayne State University Alumni Association board. A 1989 Mortuary Sciences graduate, he is owner and CEO of Howe-Peterson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, with locations in Dearborn and Taylor, Michigan, as well as commander of MI-MORT, Michigan’s Mass Fatality Response team. His term continues through 2023. 

Board members play an essential role in guiding alumni relations efforts, programs and initiatives.

Tim Schramm

Stephen Kemp Sr. ’85 was interviewed about funeral rituals in Black communities on NPR's Weekend Edition. The president and CEO of Kemp Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Southfield, Kemp spoke with program host Ayesha Rascoe about how his business and the community he serves have been affected by the pandemic. Listen to the interview here.

Faculty highlights

Instructor Dominick Astorino spent a significant amount of care and time to bring his own style to the Embalming courses he took over after the retirement of Sharon Gee-Mascarello. In addition to teaching, this year Astorino is scheduled to deliver presentations on restorative art topics to TanExpo in Bologna, Italy, Pennsylvania FDA, Indiana FDA, Michigan FDA, Virginia FDA, Order of the Golden Rule, Wisconsin FDA and California FDA.  

Dominick Astorino

Sarah Beckham-Marshall '18, instructional assistant, gave birth to a daughter, Rosemarie, on December 12, 2021.

Baby Rosemarie

Welcome to the team!

The following three Wayne State Mortuary Science Program alumni joined the faculty as instructional assistants in online courses this semester.

Tyler Bernstein Tyler Bernstein '18 is an instructional assistant for MS 3300: Religions, Values, & Death. He is the grandson of Bill and Yvonne Fuller. He began working at Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home in January of 2016. He lives in Madison Heights with his wife, Lisa, and their rescue dog, Snoopy. He is proud to be furthering his family's legacy and enjoys serving his community.
Autumn Cooper Autumn Cooper '12 is an instructional assistant for MS 3100: Thanatochemistry. She worked for a Lansing funeral home until 2015, when she moved to the East Coast to work for a Rhode Island funeral home. After spending several years working as a funeral director and embalmer, she took on her current role of sales representative and chemist with the Dodge Company. Prior to working in the funeral industry, Autumn received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from Central Michigan University. In her off-time, Autumn enjoys traveling, cooking and yoga.
 
Mackenzie Rediske Mackenzie Rediske '20 is an instructional assistant for MS 3810: Funeral Service Marketing & Merchandising. She grew up within the Uht Funeral Home setting, however she never had aspirations to follow in the family footsteps. After attending the University of Alabama her freshman year studying nursing, she returned home to complete college. After reevaluating and shadowing at the funeral home, she decided this was her passion. She is looking forward to a rewarding career and continuing her family’s legacy as a successful businesswoman.
 

Student profiles and scholarships

Newcomer Scholarship Recipient

Sidra Hovde is from Sioux City, IA, and she has lived there for the past 19 years. She graduated from East High School in 2020 before attending Western Iowa Tech Community College, where she earned her associate of science degree. She joined Wayne State's online Mortuary Science Program in 2021.

Sidra works at Meyer Brothers Funeral Home as a funeral assistant and intends to become a licensed practitioner with the social mission of making funerals more affordable for low-income communities.
Sidra Hovde

Sidra enjoys art in her free time, drawing with chalk pastels and participating in various art and music events in and around Sioux City.

Newcomer Scholarship Recipient

Cureson Brown was born and raised in Detroit, MI. She is the proud mother of a wonderful nine-year-old son who inspires her to follow her dreams, and one of those dreams is to become a funeral director. After the death of so many family members, Cureson decided she wanted to assist her family and community in a time of loss. She hopes to one day own a funeral home. Cureson Brown
Cureson joined the online Mortuary Science Program in 2021 and keeps busy with her studies. When she has free time she enjoys reading, crocheting, traveling, being with family and friends, and playing video games with her son.

Michigan Mortuary Science Foundation Scholarship Recipient

Jacqueline Dalzell is a full time Mortuary Science student who has had a passion for the field since a young child.

It began in junior high when confronted with the task of arranging and planning a field trip in her 7th grade biology class; she arranged and transported the class to the A.H. Peters Funeral Home for the assignment. It was a great success!
Jacqueline

After many years in other fields, and obtaining a cosmetology license, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and a master's degree in psychology, Jacqueline was called back to her passion in death care. She has been a full-time student while working at the David C. Brown Funeral Home in Belleville. Jacqueline became a Certified Celebrant with The Insight Institute in October of 2022. She enjoys a variety of hobbies including running, reading, writing, and being creative with art and scrapbooking.


Meet the 2022 class president

Kayla Taus Kayla Tyus is currently a senior at Wayne State University. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Kayla realized her passion for funeral service. Kayla comes from a family of service-minded leaders from her mother’s counseling practice to her father’s work in the funeral industry. Kayla loves being able to provide service to grieving families during their time of bereavement. Kayla has a passion for helping people and believes in providing excellence in all that she does. She currently serves as an assistant administrative coordinator at Tyus-Fields Funeral Home in Detroit, where she is able to learn under her father Clyde T. Tyus, who has been a licensed funeral director for over 28 years.

Kayla is passionate about volunteering and frequently serves on the youth ministry at her church. As president of the Mortuary Science Class of 2022, she helps to coordinate fundraisers and other activities. Kayla is a natural born leader who enjoys learning. She was honored as one of Channel 7’s Brightest and Best in 2017 and has received numerous awards throughout her high school and college career. Kayla believes that with hard work, dedication and teamwork all things are possible. 

Alumni merchandise survey

Every year, the Mortuary Science Program puts on a Recognition Ceremony to celebrate the graduating class. It will be held at St. Mary's Cultural Center in Livonia on August 5, 2022. We are trying to raise funds to help lower the cost of the tickets for the graduating class. The price and information on the shirts and hoodies is still pending, but we would love to know if you are interested in possibly getting apparel. We will send out information regarding ordering soon. Please list your contact information in the survey if you are interested. Thank you!

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Send us news

If you have suggestions or contributions for future newsletters, please let us know by emailing lauren.budrow@wayne.edu.

Visit the Wayne State Mortuary Science Program website for the latest news and information.