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Pasadena florist: Orders reflect people’s isolation in pandemic - Houston Chronicle

Wright has seen the impact of COVID-19. Rules for funeral services have fluctuated to reflect pandemic conditions, but orders to Wright’s shop have remained steady. “There are more people sending flowers,” Wright said. “That’s the way they’re expressing themselves because they’re not able to attend; so we’ve been very, very busy.” Like restaurants offering curbside and other businesses going online, Wright has found a way to survive during an unpredictable business climate. The need to say it with flowers, Wright said, has become more pronounced. “People want you to know that they’re thinking about you,” she said. Vaccine Tracker: How many Texans are vaccinated? Check our interactive map. People are also looking for other means to connect. “People are so excited nowadays to get flowers,” Wright said. Sometimes the delivery becomes a welcome break for those customers just wanting to come out of their pandemic seclusion, especially older people, homebound and alone. “Older people are very afraid of COVID,” Wright said. “They are just very careful … and we want to keep a distance, but when we go deliver they’ll follow us and not let us get back in our car, because they’re lonely, they want to talk and have some kind of interaction.” Heartfelt messages on cards Wright said it’s those longer messages on cards and the personal stories from customers that drive home the emotional toll the pandemic has had on people. “When someone orders a casket cover and they tell you that their husband died alone because they couldn’t come in (to the hospital room) — that gives you goosebumps,” she said. That order, Wright said, becomes part of the grieving process in a way that’s different than before. Enchanted Florist arranger Gloria Cervantes sees the difference, too. She had always taken pride in her work, but now, like Wright, Cervantes finds greater gratification in her role as messenger. Her arrangements fill a void, she said. “We feel a lot of people are lonely now, and then for those people who can’t go to a family member’s funeral, they feel helpless and sad because they can’t be there,” Cervantes said. “With flowers, it’s a way for us to help them express their affection and love.” Wright started her business because she just loved flowers, but she also felt a calling to be provide a source of comfort or to convey joy. “This year has made what we do more meaningful,” she said. “I take it very personal and try to do the very best with every order that comes in. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/pasadena/news/article/Pasadena-florist-Orders-reflect-people-s-15896107.php

Florists keep busy during pandemic | News, Sports, Jobs - Minot Daily News

Susan Bartz of Harvey and Keller’s sister Regina Martin of Cookson, Okla. – in the project.Submitted PhotoPeony Petals in Kenmare has remained busy despite pandemic restrictions.The plan was for each business to donate the typical cost of a bouquet. Keller got the ball rolling when she decided to pay for 25 herself. Because it was such a good cause, Keller received donations of up to $300 per business.“Our project received such a good response from the community, especially those in the nursing homes whose family aren’t able to visit. I received so many phone calls from families who wondered where these beautiful arrangements came from. Each flower came with a card that read, ‘We want to make your day better,’ and I listed all of the businesses that helped me do that,” Keller said.Including herself, Perfect Petals, two full-time employees, two part-timers, and two volunteers created 80 bouquets the first week, sending some to nursing homes. The following week, they created 20 more giant bouquets for each department in the hospital as a token of appreciation.“Engaging through signs outside of their parents’ and grandparents’ windows, people started realizing that their loved ones became lonely, so orders for flowers began to flow. After about three weeks, my business began to recover,” Keller said.After 60 days of coronavirus restrictions, Perfect Petals re-opened its doors to the public last Friday. Current store hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.Like Keller, Tami Chrest of Peony Petals Floral & Gifts in Kenmare said her company felt the impact of the pandemic, but in a good way. She said they had some excellent days regarding production and traffic for online orders.“Mother’s Day and Easter were good,” said Chrest. “We’ve been closed, so we didn’t have foot traffic in here, but we kept busy with curbside pickup and deliveries. If the customers ordered online for store pickup, I would practice non-contact curbside pickup for their safety and ours.”As the owner, she’s predominantly a soloist, but during busy times like holidays and special events, Chrest employs eight to 10 people. Current hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Like most business establishments, Peony Petals’ store hours changed due to the pandemic. “We kept our do... https://www.minotdailynews.com/life/business/2020/05/florists-keep-busy-during-pandemic/

Maine funeral home worker charged with stealing wedding ring - Press Herald

Autumn Green Funeral Home in Alfred, was sent by the funeral home to pick up Wood’s body. He was arrested after police obtained evidence, including video, that he sold Wood’s ring to Maine Gold & Silver in South Portland, said Saco Deputy Police Chief Corey Huntress.Family members of Laura Wood are relieved that the wedding ring has been recovered, but are still stinging at the thought that someone entrusted to care for their loved one at such an emotional time could violate that trust so completely.“Taking care of someone’s dead body should be something sacred,” said Emily Coyne of Cape Elizabeth, Wood’s granddaughter. “Knowing this happened has been an awful distraction to our ability to grieve her.”Coyne said the family had the wedding ring – three rings fused together – appraised  years ago at about $4,000. But she said the value of the jewelry was not the issue. The ring is a family heirloom and symbol of the life built together by her grandmother and grandfather, who were married some 80 years ago.“We’re happy at the resolution, so he can’t do this to anyone else,” said Wood’s daughter, Sally Wood, of Weston’s arrest. She said she hoped the incident would make nursing homes and funeral homes look carefully at the procedures they have for making sure a loved one’s possessions are safe.Emily Coyne wears her grandmother’s wedding ring, which had been stolen, after it was recovered at Maine Gold & Silver in South Portland. Photo courtesy of Emily Coyne Wood’s family learned that the wedding ring and two other rings were missing when they went to the funeral home a couple of days after Wood’s body was brought there, Coyne said. The missing rings were reported to Saco police as... https://www.pressherald.com/2021/02/27/maine-funeral-home-worker-charged-with-stealing-wedding-ring/

Longtime CEO of Wedel’s Nursery remembered for love of faith, family, fishing and flowers - mlive.com

Schwartz and her brother, Andy Wedel.One of the founding members of Country Christian Evangelical Free Church in Scotts in the mid-1980s, George Wedel remained in an active leadership role with the church right up until the end, both children said.“He was a very strong Christian man who put his faith first, others second and himself last,” Andy Wedel said.The man’s son recalled times where his father would take in traveling salespeople overnight and then buy flower bulbs from them the next day. And when he would make sure homeless people, who slept behind the nursery when it was still on Westnedge Hill, were fed daily.It always came back to his passion for nature, though, something Andy Wedel said went hand in hand with his father’s love for the Lord.“He always tried to promote the green industry and if he could ever get someone who was excited about plants, he took them under his wing,” Andy Wedel said.He shared his love for plants and flowers in every way he could think of, his son said. He helped found the Michigan Certified Nurseryman Program in 1980. And he also spent 42 years on the air for WKZO 590 AM, delivering “Over the Garden Fence” on Saturday mornings.George Wedel picked up the mic from father Harley Wedel in 1963, before passing it to Andy Wedel 15 years ago. One of Southwest Michigan’s longest-running radio shows, it has stayed in the family in a similar way the nursery and garden center has, Andy Wedel said.Four generations of Wedels have put their hard work, sweat and love into the business Harley Wedel started more than seven decades ago. George Wedel was the company’s longest leader, though, the family says. His wife of 61 years, Joyce Wedel, who survives George, was also involved for many years in running the family business.Related: Sunny weather provides Kalamazoo-area gardeners respite amid coronavirus outbreakAll three of George Wedel’s children, including daughter Bonnie Russell, work there. He also has three grandchil... https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2020/06/longtime-ceo-of-wedels-nursery-remembered-for-love-of-faith-family-fishing-and-flowers.html