By Rose Ybarra
The designers at Forever Yours Flower Shop in Beaumont worked on funeral arrangement after funeral arrangement on Monday, from elaborate casket sprays to small standing sprays and floral baskets.
"Here lately, it's never-ending funeral work," said Gina Savoie, 44, of Lumberton, a designer at Forever Yours.
For decades, families of the deceased have requested donations to churches or charities instead of flowers or "in lieu of flowers," as commonly phrased in obituaries.
The phrase, however, is appearing in more and more obituaries of late, according to the Texas State Florists Association, which addressed the issue in its August 2007 monthly magazine.
So far, the growing trend hasn't had a profound impact on flower shop businesses locally. Both Savoie and Walter McCloney, owner of McCloney's Florist in Beaumont, said funeral orders still account for the majority of their business. But they admit they still sometimes cringe when they see the words, "in lieu of flowers."
"Sometimes, it does hurt business, but it's what the family wants," McCloney said. "In those cases, the family usually wants to give to a church or a charity and you can't really argue with that."
Savoie said many don't comply with the "in lieu of flowers," request or they send both flowers and a charitable contribution.
"It doesn't matter what the obituary says," she said. "They order them anyway."
The cost of sympathy flowers generally ranges from $50 to $500, depending on the size of the arrangement and the type of flowers and plants used.
The "in lieu of flowers," trend, however, has created a buzz among florist organizations.
Dianna Nordman, executive director of the state florists association, said there has been a grassroots effort among florists to change, "in lieu of flowers," to phrases such as, "The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to ... " or "Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to ... "
The campaign has been focused on funeral directors, who are responsible for submitting obituaries to newspapers.
The Allied Florists of Houston have even circulated a form letter that can be addressed to funeral directors.
Clay Atchison, owner of McAdams Floral in Victoria, addressed the issue at the Texas Funeral Director's Association annual convention in June 2007.
Atchison is the on the technology committee of the state florists group. He started a Web site: www.inlieuofflowers.info, which provides information on the history of sympathy flowers, sympathy flower etiquette and related topics.
"When you go to a service and there are only one or two flowers arrangements or no flower arrangements at all, it feels a little barren," Atchison said. "Flowers create a background of warmth and beauty."
