13+ Things A Funeral Director Won't Tell You

Redheadfolsom

Alot of these r just not true. Lets start with the very first one. if u give ur money to a funeral home federal law requires that it must be trusted with an APPROVED bank or trust comp. This law passed in April/200

grievedfamily

That still does not stop you from loosing your money if the company goes out of business. This happened to a family member of mine last year. He had all the pre-planned paperwork and had pre-paid for a funeral. I live in another state so when I get home to take care of everything the funeral home had gone out of business a few months prior and no one would return my calls as to what happened to his money.
- Dave
  
  If the funeral home goes out of buisness, your money is safe if you had it written through Security National or such.
- FD daughter
  
  Federal law(not state by state) prevents this, the family member of yours is not taking the correct action.
  - Cowboy fan
    
    You are mistaken, as preneed funds are indeed regulated by each state. There are no federal laws concerning how the monies are invested.
    - Aawilson06
      
      in michigan, funeral homes can hold up to 10 percent. the family would get the rest back, as long as the funeral home isnt doing anything illegal. cemeteries can take way more than 10%, but i forget exactly how much.
    - Rwaggs 101
      
      No, but they are regulated in the sense that they must be put in a trust or insurance company so that the funeral home doesn’t have it. You can take your pre-arranged funeral insurance to any funeral home you want. Not to mention, the funeral home’s prices are guaranteed not to go up with a fully funded arrangement.
    - tim
      
      I think so too, this is a State issue not a Federal one and it is “Buyer Beware”
    - GoBigBlue
      
      As a person who works in this industry, I have to say that Cowboy fan is completely correct. In NY and NJ the funds go into a state insured fund and the funeral home does not recieve the money until the funeral home presents a death certificate. If you are going to present an article you really need to do your research.
- Jamie Sarche
  
  If the funeral is funded through an insurance policy that the funeral home provides to you, the cost of the funeral is guaranteed. If that funeral home goes out of business, any funeral home can service the contract. Though they will not be able to guarantee the contract at the prices of the year you bought it, the insurance will have grown to cover most of the cost.
  
  A funded prearranged funeral plan is a good emotional and financial gift to your loved ones!
  - http://profile.yahoo.com/BOGS5VCUPXUWPWCCZ7QT524OEE Richard
    
    The first item is not true. Every State as its own pre
    funding laws. New Jersey requires 100% trusting and must be revocable at
    anytime the family wishes. Florida on the other hand is the worst for funding. Florida has the most law suits filed and
    buyers should beware. This article is falsely painted with a broad brush. In
    truth do your homework based on what state you live in
  - Anonymous
    
    I don’t think anyone is disagreeing with you. The issue in question is how such preneed arrangements should be made, funded and handled.
  - MBH
    
    There are going to be loop holes in all businesses, it doesn’t matter the nature of the business. There are going to be dishonest people in all types of business. Investigate who you are dealing with, know the people and the firm. I do work for a preneed company. We sell all over the united states. All of our contracts/policies are backed by insurance. If the funeral home goes out of business and we go out of business the money is still available for the contract/policy. There are federal laws that govern how the business is handled and each state has its own set of laws. Our company is audited every year by 2 different government entities. Funeral Homes are audited every year. Preneeds are good because you are not purchasing items during an emotional crisis or at the last minute. Read your contracts and ask questions. Just like any other business funeral homes have to make money or they wouldn’t be able to provide a service. As far as whether you call the person in charge a mortician, or undertaker, both names sound a little morbid. Funeral Director covers it all. They are licensed individuals and they do direct the funeral.
- Mparssfo
  
  *losing. Lose=opposite of gain. Loose=your mom.
  - Charlee2112
    
    That was unnecessary, and petty.
- Maureen_pgh
  
  Then you must not have had the proper paperwork…ALL funeral homes are regulated by the federal trade commission. Your family member’s money is sitting in a bank somewhere…you can always call the state board of funeral directors in that state &they will tell you what trust company that funeral home used….it’s the 21st century…there’s always a paper trail.
  I’m so sick of these reporters putting out wrong information making the funeral business look bad when in truth it’s the public who is afraid of death what to believe this crap. What would you do without funeral diectors? Would you want to do their jobs??. I highly doubt it!!!!you should feel privilege that people are there that care enough to take care of your loved ones in this time of need.
- Afz0819
  
  If the funeral home utilizes a burial insurance company then the policy issued is 100% transferable. This would allow you to take the policy to another funeral home in the event the family moves or chooses to use another facility. This also protects the funds if the funeral home that was originally used. Every funeral home uses a different vehicle to pre-fund funeral arrangements. If the consumer has ‘what if’ questions, the funeral home that the services are to be completed through should clarify any concerns.
- Rmurphy4709
  
  This simply is not true. If the funeral home went out of business the money that your loved one paid is in an insurance trust account and that policy has a guaranteed side and a non guaranteed side (for the cash advance items) on the Funeral Purchase Agreement. The guaranteed side (left side) of the contract is the guaranteed side meaning that those items will not go up in price to the consumer, when the price goes up those items are normally absorbed by the interest accrued but the amount of interest is determined by how long the person lives after the agreement is made and paid for. Every Purchase Agreement that are Pre-Need are written through an Insurance Company, some insurance company for example NGL to name but one company. If the funeral home goes out of business, which hardly ever happens but it could then the contract your loved one made is with the Insurance Company and insurance funds pay for the funeral. So, your loved one’s money is in the insurance company not in the funeral home.
grievedfamily

That still does not stop you from loosing your money if the company goes out of business. This happened to a family member of mine last year. He had all the pre-planned paperwork and had pre-paid for a funeral. I live in another state so when I get home to take care of everything the funeral home had gone out of business a few months prior and no one would return my calls as to what happened to his money.
Cmdr550

You are absolutely correct.The modern pre-paid funeral policies are with bonded and insured insurance companies, and are also portable for use with any funeral home in the USA,,,,,,,
- NectoxicdragonMD
  
  AS LONG AS you have the documents available to you, you are covered, HOWEVER as with any form of insurance, if they are lost you have nothing to fall back on
  - Rwaggs 101
    
    Not true, if you know the insurance company you can call them and any reputable F.H. will have records.
- NectoxicdragonMD
  
  AS LONG AS you have the documents available to you, you are covered, HOWEVER as with any form of insurance, if they are lost you have nothing to fall back on
- NectoxicdragonMD
  
  AS LONG AS you have the documents available to you, you are covered, HOWEVER as with any form of insurance, if they are lost you have nothing to fall back on
FD daughter

I’m wondering if there is lack of information on most of this article…doesn’t seem too informed.
Bahamamamasmama

haha – Red Head Fool – some funeral homes are not going to abide by the law. Heck, lots of lawmakers don’t abide by the law.
- Rwaggs 101
  
  In your business too I imagine. Never going to your again.
Nora Mckell

Our experience when mother died with a prepaid funeral.

The funeral directors had NO information with regard to mother having a pre paid funeral arrangement. We then produced a reciept for it that mother had carefully put away. When we produced the document, they then tried to say it was not for a full funeral service.

Then is when my sister got angry. She got in their faces and threatened a law suit and disclosuer through the local media. (My sister had lived in the town all her life and knew most everyone in town,as well). They finally honored the reciept.

Do you think any of us would prepay our funeral expenses after that expierence? OR use that funeral home again?

There are other ways to cover this expense without relying on the funeral directors. Our advise is to look into your options.
- CT Funeral Director
  
  Sounds like you trusted a bunch of crooks with your money. Don’t let one bad apple ruin it for the other funeral directors out here trying to do everyday honest work.
  - Rwaggs 101
    
    Now to the list, I’m a vet, why would I not tell you about the National Cemetery? Only a small percentage of Funeral Homes have a cemetery and even they will tell you about it. Rental Caskets are a great thing for the Funeral Home, why hide them. In 20 years I have never seen a Funeral Home without refrigeration. We have signs on every sealer casket that tells you it has not been proven to slow decomposition. I’d like to see a picture of a casket that has exploded in the ground. Every contract, at least in CA, has to be individually priced. The crematory we use has show us the damage a pace maker has done, and finally, yes the author was ill informed and vindictive and not caring about truth, but doesn’t writer sound better. By the by, My licence says Funeral Director, my other one says Embalmer.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EBQL7MMHA2YXHM2VXYFZCSJFZQ Dan Rather

Not many laws from the first century are still applicable today. I’m sure the banking system back then was quite different from today’s structure, but one thing was still prevalent: the little guy got bent over and the rich got richer.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EBQL7MMHA2YXHM2VXYFZCSJFZQ Dan Rather

Not many laws from the first century are still applicable today. I’m sure the banking system back then was quite different from today’s structure, but one thing was still prevalent: the little guy got bent over and the rich got richer.
ShadowMason

and we are too believe one who can not write in complete words and oh… 4/200 was 1,812 years ago… Also it is not Federal law..
- Charlee2112
  
  But we should believe someone who follows absolutely no logical rules of grammar or punctuation, yet criticizes someone else’s online writing? Pot, meet kettle.
Gov111w

And they go broke you can hired a lawyer to try to get your money back….why bother at all…just set up yur own account
CA Funerals

State law not federal regulates it. Families should always be given a Consumer Guide as required by state law. It offers SOME info. With 20+ yrs in the funeral industry I have to honestly say, as much as Directors don’t want to hear it, pre-PLANNING is so much more important than pre-PAYING. If you choose to pay in advance it is only wise to pay in full. Interest on the payments is very costly. Also, ask if the business is corporately owned. It might be the most important question you ask.
- Seamus
  
  Why does it matter if it is corporately owned?
  - Licensed CA FD
    
    In my experience, corporately owned funeral homes have higher prices and employ pre-need sales people are HIGHLY encouraged to increase sales. Each sales person as well as the sales manager are compensated based upon the level of sales. The staff of the sales department are rarely licensed funeral directors. Family owned funeral homes typically will have no dedicated pre-need staff, so the person meeting with you will usually have no incentive to pressure you to arrange a higher priced funeral than you want.
  - Licensed CA FD
    
    In my experience, corporately owned funeral homes have higher prices and employ pre-need sales people are HIGHLY encouraged to increase sales. Each sales person as well as the sales manager are compensated based upon the level of sales. The staff of the sales department are rarely licensed funeral directors. Family owned funeral homes typically will have no dedicated pre-need staff, so the person meeting with you will usually have no incentive to pressure you to arrange a higher priced funeral than you want.
Abc

and if u were to have obtrained a betta educaution u may have no need 2 spells wurds lik a kid.

Dude, that’s just pure laziness to not press a few more keys and completely spell out a word in the English language.

ur
u
r
alot

I don’t believe that anyone would take your posting serious with such spelling!!
Mopsy1

This is just another circulation enhancing hit piece on the funeral business. Nearly all of it is outright false and much is selective “facts”.
Mopsy1

This is just another circulation enhancing hit piece on the funeral business. Nearly all of it is outright false and much is selective “facts”.
Tim

Is this true for all States?

Aa

They really need to check their facts on most of the info in this. The better part of it is completely wrong.

Dogchaser

You can bet they will remove the gold and keep it. They remove pacemakers because it will “damage” their cremation system!

Dogchaser

You can bet they will remove the gold and keep it. They remove pacemakers because it will “damage” their cremation system!

A BiPolar Guy

The pacemaker thing is legit – the batteries will also produce toxic fumes. As for the gold , not so much. Getting gold out of teeth is not worth the effort, nor is it something they want to do. They are not ghouls. Trust me it’s much easier to simply fleece the living, and it’s easier to delude yourself about what your are doing, too.
DE

Pacemakers will and do damage cremation chambers. The intense heat causes the batteries to explode and will chip away the protective lining inside. It is a costly fix thing to fix. All cremation authorization forms must list and signed by the next-of-kin stating if a pacemaker or other medical device is present and this gives the funeral home the authority to remove and properly dispose of them
Mack

I can almost guarantee a legitimate funeral home will NOT remove the teeth. If there is no purpose for something within the body to be moved it will not be moved. It’s a shame people honestly think a funeral home will do that. and for what, $10 they will get for a tooth. and who is really going to take a gold tooth for an exchange for money? come on
- Sbeachbum
  
  Maybe a legitimate one won’t do that, but there are hundreds of funeral homes that are not legitimate. I know of a guy that had a funeral home in my hometown that removed gold teeth regularly. He had a bucket that he had sitting there where he did the embalming and such, and he would fill it with gold teeth. He would then take it and sell it.
  - Sonia Gleason
    
    wow really i know a guy who knows a guy lol did u personally stand over him when he did this ??? dont stereo type all funeral homes base off tv or a few news stores
    - Patrick
      
      Erm, they didn’t stereotype. The limited it to non-legit funeral homes, with a personal example (yes, anecdotes aren’t “proof” but that doesn’t make them untrue, either).
  - CT Funeral Director
    
    I know a guy… Sounds like “Horse Crap”, why don’t you post the name of the funeral home and the town he operates in? This is the kind of crazy talk that gives the Funeral Business a bad wrap.
- Louisajr
  
  $10 a tooth. As a Dental Tech i can tell you i buried my parents over 12 years ago and they had at least 2 oz of gold and other precious metals in their mouth. Today’s value $3,000 DOLLARS.
  - Seamus
    
    Of all people, you should know how much work is required to remove a tooth and how nasty of a process it is. As a former funeral director, I was asked to do it for a family. It was a gruesome and grotesque task and REFUSED to do it from that point forward. If someone wants it done THAT badly, ask a dentist to do it and see what kind of a response you will get.
    - Boss Blackfoot
      
      With all the things The funeral directors do to prepare a body to be viewed how can you call pulling a tooth grotesque! You embalm a body, suck out all the blood, sew up stuff with super glue such as skin and eye lids, hid and color skin that is black and decomposed… ” read the American way of dying” and you will see how gruesome and grotesque this business really is! Who are you kidding, lies, lies and more lies you guys will do anything for a buck, Shame on you shame on you! I have been with love ones who are taken advantage of during their most weak time in their lives, I have seen how these blood suckers these so call funeral directors DO HAVE inexpensive coffins in the Basement with dust on them sitting in water I saw that myself it was not hearsay! Shame on you blood suckers , shame on you!
- CCT Funeral Director
  
  Well said. When are people going to use their heads. This isn’t the movies people. Funeral Directors do not go in and yank teeth out of the dead. WTH?
Mack

I can almost guarantee a legitimate funeral home will NOT remove the teeth. If there is no purpose for something within the body to be moved it will not be moved. It’s a shame people honestly think a funeral home will do that. and for what, $10 they will get for a tooth. and who is really going to take a gold tooth for an exchange for money? come on
Sandrouss77

I work in a crematorium and run a retort (cremation machine). The cremator is essentially a brick oven the bricks are heat refractory meaning that they absorb heat and let it out. Pacemakers contain lithium batteries; when these batteries are exposed to high heat they explode. The exploding battery and pieces of the pacemaker hit the brick walls of the cremation chamber and damage them, this causes breakage and cracking of the bricks, which means that they will need to be replaced sooner. Pacemakers are sent to be destroyed, per FDA Law they cannot be reused in patients and its also against the law to ship them outside the US.

I have heard a pacemaker explode in a cremation chamber, it sounds like a .38 is being fired.

Dental Gold is worthless. Pulling teeth out of a deceased persons mouth is considered extreme mutilation of a deceased person and is completely unethical. No reputable establishment would ever engage in that practice.

http://profile.yahoo.com/ZVAHM4YQAXNDROJ4ZDKYUQ7OG4 Dontlookbehindu

Walmart has caskets ? That would have been nice to know before my family ripped me off and made me pay for the funeral with MY insurance check. Note to suckers : Do NOT in grief let your family push you around. If the insurance check is made out to YOU that does not mean you have to pay for the ENTIRE funeral with it. Though I wonder how long it would have taken to GET that casket. I had a hard time buying a COUCH and dealing with ignorant customer service in our Connecticut walmart.

Adnil

Go the Costco way we had it in 36 hrs delivered, The undertaker was upset he only made about $1800 for three hrs work.
- paul
  
  3 hours? Did they pick up the body? Did they file the death certificate? Did they make arrangements with everyone to ensure that the burial went as planned? Did they speak to you and/ or your family? Did they embalm or at least casket the body? Did they wash the body? Did they file the burial transit permit? Did they shift their schedule around to make sure that your funeral was able to be accommodated? Did they miss out on time with family in order to do the pick up of the deceased? I can pretty much guarantee you that they did more than 3 hours of work. I am not saying that none of this article is true, but there is a lot more that goes into it than most people know, and not all funeral directors are money hungry thieves…some, dare I say a majority, do this out of a sincere desire to aid people in one of their most vulnerable times. However, the funeral home has to keep its lights on and pay its employees just like any other business.
  - The Package
    
    Paul, guess you have never dealt with the green-eyed undertaker of Plainfield NY.
    - The Package
      
      That should be Plainfield, NJ
    - The Package
      
      That should be Plainfield, NJ
  - The Package
    
    Paul, guess you have never dealt with the green-eyed undertaker of Plainfield NY.
Adnil

Go the Costco way we had it in 36 hrs delivered, The undertaker was upset he only made about $1800 for three hrs work.
Adnil

Go the Costco way we had it in 36 hrs delivered, The undertaker was upset he only made about $1800 for three hrs work.
R800

I never knew any Wal-Mart sold caskets or couches. I worked at a Wal-Mart and they never did. Not even the Super Wal-Mart.
123abc

Your insurance check? It was the dead person’s life insurance, so the check was made out to you. Why would you pocket that money and then force others to pay for a funeral with other money? You sound like a greedy piece of trash. ME ME ME MY CHECK

Someone died, you didn’t win a lottery. THEIR insurance, THEIR funeral, see how that works.

http://profile.yahoo.com/ZVAHM4YQAXNDROJ4ZDKYUQ7OG4 Dontlookbehindu

Well for all of those people saying they remove the gold. Just do what we did. Close the casket with everyone present the morning of the burial and make sure no one climbs into the back of the hearse with the casket .

Holly

Some states have a state law that you have to be buried/viewed within 24 hours of death in order to avoid being embalmed.

Dave

Most of this is not true. Of coarse for some strange reason the funeral inustry is the only buisness that it is a sin to even think of asking for payment.
As for as bodies holding up 3 to 4 days after death to be viewed unembalmed. Obviously the author should do more research on health hazards. Depending on death and type there of, that is about the dumbest statement ever made.
I have no compassion for people who claim they have no money to bury. Maybe people would have money to bury if they made it a priority. People do not and would rather have toys and such as opposed to planning their funeral.
Point blank, no money, no burial!!!

Pamelarene65

not true. my dad held up from a sunday til a friday with just refrigeration. get your own facts straight wiseass.
- Seamus
  
  I call shenanigans on that. NO CHANCE that body was viewable after 5 days.
  - Licensed CA FD
    
    Sorry Dave and Seamus, I have to agree with Pamelarene65. I commonly hold private viewings for unembalmed bodies up to a week after death. If you can’t, I strongly suggest you take a look at the temperature setting on your refrigerator.
- Colonelbushman
  
  haha! wow Pamelarene, I do not believe you one bit! Refrigeration provides zero preservation. Talk about health hazards…
  - Licensed CA FD
    
    What is the use of refrigeration if it provides “zero preservation”?
    - Bwilliams30
      
      Refrigeration will delay the process of decomposition. I apologize for the example i am about to give….as this is the only way to give an accurate understanding of the importance of refrigeration with unembalmed human remains (for those who have not experience the unpleasant sight and sell of a decomposd human body…it is like leaving a steak on the couter for a couple days, the bateria quickly begins to go to work doing what they do and the steak would quickly begin the process of breaking down as the bacteria multiplies, it would not be pleasant. Placing the steak in the cold fridge/freezer until the day is to be removed to the can will retard the process, slow the multiplying of bacteria, and preventing the impendingt horrific odor that accompanys decaying meat. Now, equate that to a deceased person lying in wait for their disposition….this is common and appropriate practice when one’s wishes were for burial without embalming or cremation. It is necessary to protect everone involved. So, “zero preservation” by refrigeration is correct….however slowing of the decomposition process through cooling the body is the appropriate way to proceed when embalming is not an option or desire.
Southjrzygirl

No money, no burial Dave??? Then where do you think the body should go??
Southjrzygirl

No money, no burial Dave??? Then where do you think the body should go??
Anonymous

My Dad worked HARD up until the last 3 years of his life when he was too ravaged by cancer to work. He barely made enough money to make ends meet from week to week, let alone save for anything or buy “toys” and had to use up the little retirement funds he had those last three years to eat and pay the utilities. I find your lack of compassion disgusting! This doesn’t mean I don’t think a funeral has to be paid for, I know it does, but attitudes like yours make me sick, you make it sound like only the affluent deserve any dignity or compassion. Glad that I personally know some decent folks in the industry, so I know that the little my father was able to leave me paid people who actually deserved it.
- Seamus
  
  I see both sides of this problem. While I understand some people do go through tough times, especially today, the purchase of a simple term life insurance policy years ago could have solved this situation. What often ends up happening is that family members of the deceased show up to make arrangements in their fancy cars and whatnot, claim to not have any money but yet demand to have the most extravagant services.
  
  You can’t walk into a restaurant and ask for caviar when you don’t even have 6 bucks in your wallet and expect to get away with it but for some reason, folks think they can do that to a funeral home and that just isn’t right.
  - Sugarmaple104
    
    My Dad had several small life insurance policies that paid for his funeral, and the remainder went into my Mom’s bank account. So I think life insurance is the way to go to pay for your funeral, instead of prepaying for the service. Even if the Funeral Home is very trustworthy and of long business life (like the two in our town), things do happen to businesses, unfortunate as it sounds. Just be sure you get enough to cover the future expenses. I think that $10,000 should be enough to cover costs in twenty years, eh?
Anonymous

Wow, that’s really crass. Not everyone has money for life insurance. Alot of people are living hand to mouth and unexpected situations happen. Hope they never happen to you.
Anonymous

Wow, that’s really crass. Not everyone has money for life insurance. Alot of people are living hand to mouth and unexpected situations happen. Hope they never happen to you.

Melissa

I am extremely disappointed in this article. I am a funeral director and I find this very dissatisfying and not true. Rental caskets are JUST for cremations. It is illegal to put a decedent in a casket and use the same casket for someone else. The cooler issue is not the issue. In most states there is a 48 hr law which states if a body hasn’t been to its final disposition by 48 hours, for sanitary reasons, the body has to be embalmed. After a certain amount of time the body starts to decompose and becomes harmful and toxic to its environment and the people around them. It is articles like these that give funeral directors a bad name.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000280220625 Al Smith

Get your facts straight Ms. Melissa Funeral Director: How do you think bodies that are autopsied are preserved during the process? The answer is refrigeration. Embalming my arse….
- Seamus
  
  Al, you are extremely misinformed or incredibly ignorant. Based on the way you responded to Melissa, I am going to guess the latter. Bodies are autopsied fairly quickly. They are often disinfected with bleach to limit any potential bio hazard issues. While yes, they are refrigerated in the short term, that does NOT stop the decomp process. Yes, it may slow it down a bit for a little while but it does not do what embalming can do. Trust me. I have seen it first hand. Refrigeration alone does not stop nature from taking its course.

Rho1953

Some true, some not. I would NEVER prepay a funeral plan. Many people have lost their money doing that. Much better to just put it in a savings account. Buying your casket from a third party will piss off the funeral home and they will make up their losses somewhere else. My state requires embalming unless you are being cremated or have religious exemptions. The best way to save money is by being firm about what you want. Don’t buy more casket than you want and DON’T waste money on an upscale burial vault. Most cemeteries require vaults but a plain concrete one is just as good as an expensive custom vault.

6th Generation Director

Prepaying for a funeral 10 years ago would have given you a better return on your money than CD’s, bonds, or the S&P 500 once you account the inflation of funeral costs over that time (thank the rise in health care coverage!). Generally it is the funeral home that loses money when you prepay for a funeral, but it does secure the business. The money has to be placed with a third party trust of in an insurance product by law. Here is what funeral directors really do not want to talk about: 5% profit margin. That was what the average funeral home makes. Apple has over 30% profit margin. Hospice companies have a 10% profit margin. Yet, by public perception largely based upon poorly researched articles like this one, it is the funeral director who is trying to rip people off. Most families that own a funeral home (the vast majority of funeral homes in this country are own by a local family) could make a better living investing their money doing something else. They would have a lot more time with their family, better hours, and better pay. But, out of an act of kindness and a calling to help people through their difficult process of grief, this is the profession that they choose.

Rho1953

Some true, some not. I would NEVER prepay a funeral plan. Many people have lost their money doing that. Much better to just put it in a savings account. Buying your casket from a third party will piss off the funeral home and they will make up their losses somewhere else. My state requires embalming unless you are being cremated or have religious exemptions. The best way to save money is by being firm about what you want. Don’t buy more casket than you want and DON’T waste money on an upscale burial vault. Most cemeteries require vaults but a plain concrete one is just as good as an expensive custom vault.

Efsensel

Your facts are WRONG. I am a licensed funeral director. It is ILLEGAL to view an unembalmed body for anything other than quick identification. State health regulations prohibit the funeral home from allowing the public to come into contact with a deceased human being without being embalmed to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Yes, we have cooling facilities; these are to hold bodies that are going to be cremated. They are also kept cold when we are trying to find next of kin or when a family is trying to decide what course of action they want to take. Also most people want the same services for their relatives; we do not pressure them into something that they cannot afford.

Spud

B.S. The funeral homes i have dealt with all have used guilt tor get us to pay for more than we wanted to.
Licensed Funeral Director

What state are you licensed in? It is certainly not illegal to view an unembalmed body in Calif. Your cooling facilities should also be used to hold bodies that are going to be buried but not embalmed. FTC Funeral Rule states: Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or immediate burial.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1225882721 Rhonda J. Rouch Gram

The picture of the funeral home with the blurred out name is in my hometown.. Springfield, Ohio… Littleton and Rue…they are the most reputable that I have ever had to deal with… they have been in business since the 1930′s….they ARE NOT big company owned..NOR HAVE THEY EVER BEEN… they are LOCAL FAMILY OWNED!! The only one our family has ever used…

Shane Ritchie

Just as I thought. A bit of research reveals that this author has no expertise in the funeral profession.

BobbyMcGillicutty

It’s usually less expensive if the body is not present for the funeral. — YEAH – so is a wedding without a Bride. – but isnt that the point. I’d be kind of miffed if I wasn’t invited to the one party held in my honor.

Samanth

the creamation is in my name and the funeral director is giving the ashes to another member of my family all the funeral is in my name aswell and i registier my brothers death aswell can the funeral director give them with out my premssion

Hetany

Good we bury underground and as of sand we came from sand we return
Thank you Allah

Hetany

Good we bury underground and as of sand we came from sand we return
Thank you Allah

Hetany

Good we bury underground and as of sand we came from sand we return
Thank you Allah

Hetany

Good we bury underground and as of sand we came from sand we return
Thank you Allah

Hetany

Good we bury underground and as of sand we came from sand we return
Thank you Allah

Hetany

Good we bury underground and as of sand we came from sand we return
Thank you Allah

annie ee

A lot of this is wrong. You don’t have to be embalmed if you are going to be cremated, but many states have VERY specific laws about how a dead body must be handled. Check your sources people!

annie ee

A lot of this is wrong. You don’t have to be embalmed if you are going to be cremated, but many states have VERY specific laws about how a dead body must be handled. Check your sources people!

Anonymous

Funny, I posted a detailed rebuttal of most of these points and they did not have the courage to let it appear here.

Anonymous

Paul – I agree that Adnil clearly has no idea what is involved in coordinating a funeral. To continue your thread, did Costco:

1) Schedule the church, minister, organist, soloist and anyone else required for a church service?
2) Write up and submit the obituary to the various papers?
3) Schedule the opening of the lot at the cemetery (if applicable)?
4) File for federal death benefits on the family’s behalf?
5) Make prayers cards and copies of funeral programs (if applicable)?
6) Procure certified copies of the death certificate for the various organizations that will require it from the family?
7) Arrange transportation if the person dies out of the area?
8) Help referee the family if they are fighting – as often happens?

……And I could go on…and on… and on….

Someone once said that planning a funeral is like planning a wedding…in just a few days. I think that says it all.

lori

We skipped the funeral home all together when our dad passed. Hospice took him to the crematory, I picked him up, took him home & put him in a lovely antique box he’d had for years & there he sits on the marble top sideboard in the dining room. We met w/ the church & planned the funeral, we wrote the obit & took it to the newspaper, got 10 copies of the death certificate & gave them to the proper agencies, etc…Saved a bundle, just like Dad would have wanted!
- No Frills FD
  
  YAY! Glad to know Hospice transports bodies now, I don’t have to get up at 3am anymore…and what state is it that does not require a statement of death by FUNERAL DIRECTOR to be sent to the Social Security Administration? Yes a family can submit their own obituary but before it’s printed the newspaper editor must contact the FUNERAL DIRECTOR to confirm the death. What state is it that allows death certificates to be filed without the signitire of a FUNERAL DIRECTOR? Yes, you may have bypassed a funeral home, but if a body is buried or cremated, a FUNERAL DIRECTOR must be involved, BY LAW!!! Also, concerning obituaries, every funeral establishment I have ever worked for composes and submits obituaries as a courtesey to the family at no extra charge..aside from what the newspaper charges. So in short, you bypassed a funeral home, but don’t insinuate that you bypass FUNERAL PROFESSIONALS!!!! These things I know as I manage a Mortuary service which provides exactly the services you describe on a daily basis.
  - Bwilliams30
    
    Apparently hospice also has the wherewithall to obtain a Burial Transit Permit…..something is way wrong with the simplicity of Lori’s experience…..she must have missed the Funeral Professional who completed everything that is required by all state laws to transport, report, and cremate a deceased individual….hmmmmm
- No Frills FD
  
  YAY! Glad to know Hospice transports bodies now, I don’t have to get up at 3am anymore…and what state is it that does not require a statement of death by FUNERAL DIRECTOR to be sent to the Social Security Administration? Yes a family can submit their own obituary but before it’s printed the newspaper editor must contact the FUNERAL DIRECTOR to confirm the death. What state is it that allows death certificates to be filed without the signitire of a FUNERAL DIRECTOR? Yes, you may have bypassed a funeral home, but if a body is buried or cremated, a FUNERAL DIRECTOR must be involved, BY LAW!!! Also, concerning obituaries, every funeral establishment I have ever worked for composes and submits obituaries as a courtesey to the family at no extra charge..aside from what the newspaper charges. So in short, you bypassed a funeral home, but don’t insinuate that you bypass FUNERAL PROFESSIONALS!!!! These things I know as I manage a Mortuary service which provides exactly the services you describe on a daily basis.

Francesca71

We found an amazing company that made our memorial porcelain pictures, custom portrait urn with picture and marbling made by Porcelains Unlimited. They offered a funeral home that was closest to me to purchase and we were truely happy with the variations they offered and customer service. Thank you Porcelains Unlimited for the amazing vibrant porcelain photos or cameo and urn. Your company has the most unique offerings to the memorial art industry.

FD daughter

Check on the pay-on-death accounts, sometimes these are quite expensive. Most funeral homes have guarantees on the pre-pays, there are very strong and accountable rules on these.

Maddog

I am a funeral director and my family has been in the funeral business for well over 100 years. Your information regarding pre-paid funeral plans is poorly researched. Consumer protection laws have nearly eliminated any possibility of an individual losing their investment.

You also mention the consumer being able to purchase caskets at Walmart/Costco. This is true, but you claim the quality of make to be just as high as what funeral selection rooms provide. Granted this may vary from business to business, but caskets are just like any other product. There are large variances in the quality of make based on manufacturing. Many funeral providers choose to carry caskets lines of high quality. They feel they are doing an injustice to the consumer by offering a poor product.

I know personally the tips you have provided our business shares with the public on a daily basis. Having funeral services and memorials will always have value. In my opinion the media continually does the public an injustice by encouraging people not to view their loved ones. From my own experience, it was extremely important to me that I had the time and ability to properly view and grieve my father and grandfather.

Are there bad folks in the funeral industry? Why yes I’m certain there are. Are there bad folks in any and all businesses around the world? Why yes I’m certain there are. My best advice to the consumer, do your research as you do with any other major purchase. There are many wonderful and caring people in our industry. Seek them out, they will help you down the path that is best for you, your family, your memories, and your budget.

Really?

Bad people like you!!! “Poor product” really? To burry a dead body? Who’s complaining? A persons life is now judged by the “quality ” of the box the remains are buried in? How does this affect the after life or lack there of? Maddog is a good name for some one so despicable as you are for saying that ones remains need a box of (hidden) quality. If it looks respectable and gets buried, job well done!! Sell them some mag wheels for the box buddy! and dont forget the stereo charge for music to be played at the funeral. The $500 stereo used thousand of times a billed for, every time. The whole industry is sick, but show me someone in pain and I’ll show you someone who will take advantage of them and rip every penny from there wallet . SCUMBAGS
- http://profile.yahoo.com/TQXUFIHZB4CDIFIKWHYVVMRCXY Matt
  
  Relax buddy or you will be needing their services sooner rather than later

FD daughter

Most families are aware of veteran benefits and the FD will work with them and the local VFWs, etc. to make a wonderful tribute funeral.

FD daughter

Most Funeral Homes have discounted caskets, vaults and the like and are readily available. Various costs are available just like any other business. Many states require vaults and that adds to costs considerably. One-day funerals/wakes are cost-cutting also. Price lists are available per law, shop around!!

FD daughter

Most Funeral Homes have discounted caskets, vaults and the like and are readily available. Various costs are available just like any other business. Many states require vaults and that adds to costs considerably. One-day funerals/wakes are cost-cutting also. Price lists are available per law, shop around!!

FD daughter

Most Funeral Homes have discounted caskets, vaults and the like and are readily available. Various costs are available just like any other business. Many states require vaults and that adds to costs considerably. One-day funerals/wakes are cost-cutting also. Price lists are available per law, shop around!!

FD daughter

Check onyour state laws on embalming/refrigeration…many states require embalming.

FD daughter

Keep this in mind…Funeral Homes are one of the most Federally regulated businesses in the United States. Don’t believe all you read, I’m disappointed in this article. Most FHs are well run, it’s like any other business in that a few are not but, at least they are Federally regulated and you have the government to fall back on. How many other businesses can you say that about?

FD daughter

Keep this in mind…Funeral Homes are one of the most Federally regulated businesses in the United States. Don’t believe all you read, I’m disappointed in this article. Most FHs are well run, it’s like any other business in that a few are not but, at least they are Federally regulated and you have the government to fall back on. How many other businesses can you say that about?

Efsensel

This article has not been researched at all. I am a licensed funeral director. Reader’s Digest should be ashamed of this article. I posted a lengthly reply to this article over the weekend and they erased all of it. Shame on you Reader’s Digest.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1658866059 Ken Detweiler

Nature can deal with my ashes as she pleases.

Jjs3wyo

Once again more poor journalism by a reporter who choose not to do the proper research. This article is full of false statements and outright lies.

Garyscott19467

im donating my body in the hope that someone else might live a (better) or longer life. maybe help someone to see better and what ever else the doctors can do with my remains. i hope i can help at least one person.
- Bwilliams30
  
  if you want to donate, make sure you contact the medical college in your area to obtain and complete the necessary form so that your request is actually honored (your funeral director should have the form you are required to complete). in my state, our medical college makes it a tedious process to accept a donation if the papers were not completed ahead of time by the deceased….why….I don’t know. i just wanted to you make sure you did everything that may be necessary in your state to make sure your wishes are carried out. ;)

Jjs3wyo

Once again more poor journalism by a reporter who choose not to do the proper research. This article is full of false statements and outright lies.

Jjs3wyo

Once again more poor journalism by a reporter who choose not to do the proper research. This article is full of false statements and outright lies.

Stephanie

Many of these are not true. Take it from a funeral director. You cannot legally be shown at a visitation without embalming and as for the pace makers, if those blow up when the retort door is opened, the funeral director can up with some serious injuries.

Stephanie

Many of these are not true. Take it from a funeral director. You cannot legally be shown at a visitation without embalming and as for the pace makers, if those blow up when the retort door is opened, the funeral director can up with some serious injuries.

Lwright

Having worked in the profession for 24 years, this has to be one of the most ill-informed articles I have ever read. Not sure where Ms. Crouch got her information, but most of what she relates is just not true. Shame on Reader’s Digest.

Funeral Director

@AskAFuneralDir

http://profile.yahoo.com/ZFHOTUBFSPUCYXILFAMX7BOVKE bloviatertoo

Wow! I can bury my wife in a cardboard box? That’s the good news. The bad new is that I will probably have to wait until she dies. More bad news. I think it is illegal to bury a spouse in the back yard. That’s OK. the ground is too rocky to dig in anyway.

Anonymous

Actually, much of this article is completely correct. When my father passed away two years ago, he left me with very little with which to pay his final expenses. Fortunately, some friends of the family who happen to run a local funeral home helped me plan a tasteful, and inexpensive veteran’s funeral for him. Embalming is only necessary and required by law if you have an open casket service or wake, which we didn’t plan on, so we skipped it. Cardboard was available, but I found it distasteful so they helped find a low cost casket I could afford ($700). Since the cost would have been raised considerably to transport the casket from the funeral parlor to the church and then to the cemetery, we did this: We skipped a wake and went directly to the national cemetery (being a veteran made everything a great deal easier and less expensive), where we had a short and simple graveside service for family only. Afterwards our church allowed us the use of their facilities for a memorial service and dinner for all of Dad’s friends, family, and co-workers.

Our total cost was under $1200 (mind you, it would have been more if he hadn’t been a vet), and I know that was not discounted for the sake of friendship because they had entire binders with low cost options for those without a lot of money, which they carefully helped me and my objective friend (that’s an important tip, no one thinks clearly after losing a loved one!) go through each one and choose our best options There’s a reason they are the most popular funeral home in the city I live in and well loved and respected members of the community: They have a policy of honesty, compassion and integrity that the people around here have come to trust in times of sorrow.

Shame on those taking advantage of the grieving to line their own pockets!

Anonymous

If your dad was a veteran, the DOJ should have covered it. You don’t have to be active duty for this.
- Seamus
  
  Ladybug94, that statement is not even REMOTELY correct. It is not the government’s job to bury anyone AFTER they completed their service. However, after your enlistment is up, you are eligible for a veteran cemetery plot, which comes with a grave liner and grave opening for no charge. You are eligible for a grave marker for no charge. Outside of that, you are on your own.

http://twitter.com/The_Lightbringr Eric Andrews

I’m going for a Viking funeral. Put in the boat, set out to sea, and have the boat lit on fire by an archer.

http://profile.yahoo.com/TQXUFIHZB4CDIFIKWHYVVMRCXY Matt

My father was buried at sea and two of his brothers drowned digging his grave

Jgiles

I wouldn’t trust a funeral home director anymore than I would a used-car salesman

http://www.facebook.com/netck Alex McConnell-hill

Rental casket, that’s the ticket!

Anonymous

Is it me, or are there only 22 slides?

Sbeachbum

Another way of saving is to drive the body yourself if you have to go out of state. Our family has done this a couple of times. My husband’s brother died in Tennessee, but the funeral was to be in Ohio. We just took the casket with his body in it in the SUV and drove it to Ohio. That can save considerable money. Just FYI.

Sbeachbum

Another way of saving is to drive the body yourself if you have to go out of state. Our family has done this a couple of times. My husband’s brother died in Tennessee, but the funeral was to be in Ohio. We just took the casket with his body in it in the SUV and drove it to Ohio. That can save considerable money. Just FYI.

http://profile.yahoo.com/VY5GY7KSJ5B73H2HIDCASRN4EM oceanbourne

necrophillia is a common practice in the work place dont be surprised

Country Crock

Why not put these on one page instead of 23???

wise 1

Undertakers aren’t any different than car salesman, trying to sell extended warranty or stain proofing seat covers etc. This in my opinion is predatory to people who are grieving and not at their best mentally.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001081524703 Willis CurryFans

The emblaming part is pretty much true. If a body is kept in a cooler for a few days it will still look fine in most cases 72 hrs after death. I lost a brother & he was thousands of miles away & I had not seen him in ten years. The funeral home will try to not show u the body just to try & talk u into the whole inbalming shabang. But on a limited budget they can let u see an unembalmed body. After seeing two close relatives right after death I can say the body looks ALOT more natural without the embalming. its just a bio hazard & u shouldnt touch or kiss the deceased. But for cremation purposes the body does not have to be imbalmed. One funeral home said the body wont burn in the retort if its not imbalmed. Apparently the retort will still cook a person in either case. Just so folks know. Also u can buy your urns & caskets online it just takes a clear head & alot of funeral homes make money because they know most wont question the prices they charge when youre emotional. I’m all for saving folks money!

Anonymous

Embalming isn’t a requirement but it does cost more and it does preserve the body in case you have not secured an immediate date for services.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001081524703 Willis CurryFans

The emblaming part is pretty much true. If a body is kept in a cooler for a few days it will still look fine in most cases 72 hrs after death. I lost a brother & he was thousands of miles away & I had not seen him in ten years. The funeral home will try to not show u the body just to try & talk u into the whole inbalming shabang. But on a limited budget they can let u see an unembalmed body. After seeing two close relatives right after death I can say the body looks ALOT more natural without the embalming. its just a bio hazard & u shouldnt touch or kiss the deceased. But for cremation purposes the body does not have to be imbalmed. One funeral home said the body wont burn in the retort if its not imbalmed. Apparently the retort will still cook a person in either case. Just so folks know. Also u can buy your urns & caskets online it just takes a clear head & alot of funeral homes make money because they know most wont question the prices they charge when youre emotional. I’m all for saving folks money!

Joannstrider

As a licensed funeral director in West Virginia, I find these “facts” that you have published to be very misleading to the general public. When money is entrusted to a funeral home for “pre-need” it is insured and filed with the Secretary of State; we file VA forms for our clients and do not own our own cemetery so it would be pointless to keep the burial benefit from the family. In addition, the benefits for Veterans are available to anyone so why would a funeral home try to hide such? We have no refridgeration unit and do not need one. We show rental caskets, lower priced caskets and even offer a price for a pine box, should the family want that option. I could argue with all of your points here and feel that this information does not represent that majority of funeral homes.

Sandydee58

We buried our sister for about $3000 in Kaufman County, TX. Per her wishes, she was not embalmed and the cheapest casket was a polished pine with minimum “frufru” which she hated. The casket was not on the showroom floor but in a catalog. It was beautiful and we were glad since we didn’t have much money. I have to say the funeral director helped us a lot on a very stressful day and we will always appreciate his kindness.

Littonsphac

Savings, your stash, investments or cash is not safe in the bank, in the sock drawer, in the investment profile, in the payables pocket or receivablse pocket or in your pocket unless you are samrt about it. I did not say trusting in yourself or others, I said smart. Don’t sock up more than you need, don’t believe gold is the secret you can’t walk or run very far with gold in your pocket, cahs certificates may not be worth what they speculate when you want to cash them in, don’t believe the markets are going to give you more than you put in and they are not able to giveback to the orginal investor but a smaller percentage of the orginal of even the prginal amount you put in in the first place. The best investment is your health and doing things to promote health like diet, veggies and water and staying fit like walking or working out a feew times every week and getting use to the outside temperture even if it is 100 in the summer and 0 in the winter and good hard work to keep you use to good hard work. Like the lady said yesterday on a PRM interview she visited Washington and they shut dowm the city becuase of a 1″ snow. She is from near the Artic Circle and wants to keep her lands safe from oil spills so they can hunt whale and an under ice oil spill is only months away after they strat drilling in the frozen tundra and they have to get out and go regardless of the conditions so choose what you want, healt and work or investing and crying. Natue wins hands down every time nd she is just now warming up to get going. Laws don’t matter when it comes to investing in ones-self first and friends and family and friends next. Funerals cost way to much when planting us in the ground will work, it recycles and allows bacteria do it’s work of hygene and decompostion. Bruying cost as much as getting born and that is a shame on us, not the lay makers or provacators of burying, we let it happen and pay for it out the wazoo. Many a spirit gets burried when it should run free and embalmbing stops process of natural decay after the living process has been denied l ife anylonger which is much of the process of living, recycling and renewal.

http://www.JVE.biz/ Rug Ratz

some people should not type in some forums. Your diatribe is meaningless.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Mikki-Mousse/100002759676997 Mikki Mousse

Cremation and scattering of ashes.
Do you really think that in a hundred years
someone is going to be on bended knee
weeping over your tombstone?

Noodle19 2000

Our funeral director made it abundantly clear that we needed to bury my dad (a Vietnam veteran) at a nearby national cemetery and he also helped my mother pre-plan her funeral at the same cemetery. He never withheld information about either of them being buried there.

Also, when my mother pre-planned her funeral, it was through an independent company that said that the plan was transferrable.

Travelingnurse402

ONE THING THAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT IN S.C. YOU HAVE NO SAY OVER YOUR REMAINS AFTER YOUR DEATH ! YOU MAY DESIRE A NICE FUNERAL AND A BURIAL WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AN EVIL SPOUSE OR ANY OTHER NEXT OF KIN MAY WANT YOU CREMATED. THEY HAVE THE FINAL SAY IN S.C.!!!!!!!!!!!THINK ABOUT THAT. JOANNE NICHOLS

Louisajr

They should have funeral planners that deal with funeral directors and get the best deal for you and oversee the process. So you can greive properly. Also, at precious metals at an all time high, i would request that any crowns in a deceased love one be giving to you.I cannot believe that a Funeral director do not remove them for themselves.As an Dental Technician i know that my parents had at least 2oz of Gold and other precious metals in there mouth worth today over $ 3,000. And like you, i felt stranged to ask for them. That’s why you need a Funeral planner.

reviewing

Our Funeral Directors do educate families on how to save money. One of the first items we ask them about is Veteran Benefits. This article was titled and named very poorly.

3D12200

Usually the state law requires certain things, ie. embalming, if you have an open casket.

3D12200

Usually the state law requires certain things, ie. embalming, if you have an open casket.

this article needs help

As a FORMER funeral director, I’ll say about 1/3 are true, 1/3 somewhat true and the other 1/3 are absurd. Someone really didn’t do a whole lot of research on this and it sounds like they may have recently had a bad experience….or a vendetta.

Shanagodbee

I have been at a funeral where they got a casket from a third party distributor and the bottom of it fell out while being carried to the hearse. If that had been my loved one falling to the ground, I would have wished I had paid for a better casket.

Klani225

I wish I had know these rules when my husband died

Bad_wolf

Not True. I’ve worked in the Funeral Industry for 14 years. The moneys are invested into a trust. Funds are guaranteed. These funds are transferable to any Funeral Home.

Matdough

this is just awful, reading this makes me COLD!

Roddy

#14″ I just banged the decedent.”

Jenny

1) Do not dress your best or carry designer purse, or expensive jewelry or expensive shoes to go price funeral homes. Dress DOWN. I don’t mean poverty, but ordinary.
They look for signs of income in clients & pitch sales accordingly.
2) INSIST on a on a written individual price list of everything included in the funeral package. Leave if you don’t get one.
3) Leave if you’re there too long. They deliberately drag out the time. Put a timer on the table & say you’ve got one hour (or two). Then go.
4) always go to more than one funeral home. My family got a package at a second place that would have paid for THREE funerals over the price of the first place we went (who also did not give us an individual price list which is required by law). My Mother was buying a 2 person plan.
5) Occasionally go to visitations to see the embalmers work. Go to every one in town. You’ll find
out who does the best work. Also, a small funeral home may have the best enbalmer who is called
to help other places when they are overbooked.

Deathcarepro

Wow, I think you are quite the fibber! It’s those annoying families like you who blow up our nerves and keep us their, as if we want to be in your company that long with an attitude like that ugh!
Bwilliams30

1.The way you dress does not dictate a decent funeral director’s “selling” tactics.
2.You don’t have to INSIST on a price list….we are required by law to provide one to anyone who inquires about pricing…it’s called a GPL or General Price List
3.Trust me, we don’t want to be dragging out the time trying to get someone to buy something they don’t want or afford. We have families as well. We work insane amounts of hours, much of which is “on call” during the night. We have NO interest in pushing merchandise that a family can not afford…afterall we are the one’s who will be left with a bad debt write off when they can’t pay for it….we aren’t all greedy ghouls. But do know that the funeral industry is a for profit business….just like millions of other businesses who work with people during pivotal times in their lives.

RAFCroughton

I know in Oregon it is illegal for a funeral director to remove gold dental restorations (abuse of corpse and, believe it or not, practicing dentistry without a license), but what happens to the gold left after cremation? Surely it’s not 24k, but there is value there . . . witness what happened in Europe during WWII and the mountains of burlap bags of dental gold later captured by the Allied forces.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RDLEZRV5QY6GHGGFGLMS45FAEU Profbam

When my mother died, my wife and I went with my father to the funeral home. Harry gave him the hard sell on the casket, the room, the urn. At 78 yrs of age and having just lost his love and best friend for almost 50 years, he was totally at sea. My wife and I kept challenging Harry about prices, about rentals, about the memorial hall. I really felt like I was haggling with a used car salesman. A few days after the funeral, we had to return home and the last thing my father said before we left was, “When I die, DO NOT let Harry get me.” When his time did come, we used a different funeral home. They quickly tuned in to what we wanted and matched up with us: no hard sales to jack up the costs. Night and day experience. Harry is what gives undertakers a bad reputation.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RDLEZRV5QY6GHGGFGLMS45FAEU Profbam

When my mother died, my wife and I went with my father to the funeral home. Harry gave him the hard sell on the casket, the room, the urn. At 78 yrs of age and having just lost his love and best friend for almost 50 years, he was totally at sea. My wife and I kept challenging Harry about prices, about rentals, about the memorial hall. I really felt like I was haggling with a used car salesman. A few days after the funeral, we had to return home and the last thing my father said before we left was, “When I die, DO NOT let Harry get me.” When his time did come, we used a different funeral home. They quickly tuned in to what we wanted and matched up with us: no hard sales to jack up the costs. Night and day experience. Harry is what gives undertakers a bad reputation.

Jamie Sarche

Making funeral plans BEFORE an emergency allows you to think clearly and make good decisions! Funding the plan is a good idea!

http://profile.yahoo.com/BOGS5VCUPXUWPWCCZ7QT524OEE Richard

The second untruth in this article is #5. Regarding viewing of the body and refrigeration
is totally false. Federal Trade Commission
Law. No body may be viewed without being embalmed. Refrigeration is only
required if burial or cremation cannot take place within 48 hours but has
nothing to do with a viewing. bottom line is if the body is to be viewed it
must be embalmed.

http://profile.yahoo.com/BOGS5VCUPXUWPWCCZ7QT524OEE Richard

Number # 11 Pacemakers do in fact damage the retort in a
crematory. They Explode. The funeral home must sign a release that stats any
pacemakers or any electronics with batteries must be removed from a body prior
to cremation. If the funeral home fails to remove a pacemaker it must pay the
crematory for any damage caused by the explosion.

http://profile.yahoo.com/BOGS5VCUPXUWPWCCZ7QT524OEE Richard

Over all this is a negative article done without proper research.
The writer is painting our industry with a broad brush in an unfavorable manor.
Every profession has bad apples. But most and I mean 99% or better of the death
care professionals have the best interest of the family in mind. I would wager most of the consumer complaints and
lawsuits come from the conglomerate funeral home business like SCI, Stewart,
Carriage and alike. The majority of the funeral homes in the US are mom and pop
funeral homes and have generations of caring funeral directors who dedicate their
entire life to the serves of others. I feel this article doesn’t properly represent
the true majority of the funeral directors who take great pride in their profession
but instead portrays us as predatory used car salesman.

http://profile.yahoo.com/BOGS5VCUPXUWPWCCZ7QT524OEE Richard

Over all this is a negative article done without proper research.
The writer is painting our industry with a broad brush in an unfavorable manor.
Every profession has bad apples. But most and I mean 99% or better of the death
care professionals have the best interest of the family in mind. I would wager most of the consumer complaints and
lawsuits come from the conglomerate funeral home business like SCI, Stewart,
Carriage and alike. The majority of the funeral homes in the US are mom and pop
funeral homes and have generations of caring funeral directors who dedicate their
entire life to the serves of others. I feel this article doesn’t properly represent
the true majority of the funeral directors who take great pride in their profession
but instead portrays us as predatory used car salesman.

http://profile.yahoo.com/S3COHWKPHMXOUI7GL5NS7WMOFQ JP

Permanent Whole Life Insurance is designed to be there when you die and pay a check within 24-48 hours of the company receiving a Death Claim. The payment is Income Tax-Free and does Not have to go through Probate delays. 93% of AARP, Globe, Primerica, etc Term Policies NEVER PAY because they END after the 80th year and Most People live to 85! Would you pay for Car Insurnce if they did not pay 93% of the time??? Term is OK for coverage of things like mortgages with known end dates, but Not Suitable for Death and Burial Insurance because No One knows their hour and time of Death! Simple!
Life Insurance is to replace Income…and can take weeks or months to get cleared through Probate…therefore, not appropriate for payng the Funeral Home and Burial costs upfront.

Laidbackbuddy57

# 24 –its CASH up front, no credit—dont make me chunk him out the back door–i will, pay or else !

WAKE UP PEOPLE!

Tell me another SERVICE industry that gives you unsecured credit without any collateral?

http://www.facebook.com/randy.hankins.58 Randy Hankins

It’s “losing” people, not “loosing”.. My pet peeve,,,the most mis-spelled word in the American language, yet it’s a 3rd grade word.

http://profile.yahoo.com/SMVV27EYKNNGAPJEMDK4R72B2M Roxy

I worked at a funeral home for several years and they have insurance policies for funerals. I purchased one for my father several years ago. Once it is paid for that it. I worked with the best people and I can tell you form experience that they are not out to get your money. We have helped families that were financially unable to pay for the cost of a funeral. Like everything else, including the cost of the newspaper the cost increases, but you are not getting any more for your money. My suggestion is to look into a funeral policy. You can choose everything right down to the obit in the town you want published. And the policies can be transferred to different states. Wow the comments I read here were pretty ignorant in most cases…sad…

http://profile.yahoo.com/SMVV27EYKNNGAPJEMDK4R72B2M Roxy

I worked at a funeral home for several years and they have insurance policies for funerals. I purchased one for my father several years ago. Once it is paid for that it. I worked with the best people and I can tell you form experience that they are not out to get your money. We have helped families that were financially unable to pay for the cost of a funeral. Like everything else, including the cost of the newspaper the cost increases, but you are not getting any more for your money. My suggestion is to look into a funeral policy. You can choose everything right down to the obit in the town you want published. And the policies can be transferred to different states. Wow the comments I read here were pretty ignorant in most cases…sad…

TheFuneralGuy

This author is quite misguided. Embalming has little to do with making the body “nicely presented” as much as it is to protect the public health and welfare. After life ends, the person becomes a dead human body. That seems like common sense, but what that entails is the body begins to decompose and this is what embalming slows, the effects of decomposition. Refrigeration alone doesn’t do that. Visit a morgue and give it a good sniff if you don’t believe me. This is full of faulty information…

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002451576852 Paul Brotherton

Choose cremation. Skip all the ceremonial mumbo jumbo. You’re dead.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002451576852 Paul Brotherton

Choose cremation. Skip all the ceremonial mumbo jumbo. You’re dead.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002451576852 Paul Brotherton

Choose cremation. Skip all the ceremonial mumbo jumbo. You’re dead.

Ceitwojo

@ redheadfuolsom is it true cause you read it on the internet? what about dishonest directors who spend the $$?

Stephen Poteet

The
days of responsible journalism are done. After a lifetime of being in a family
owned business w/ 500 death calls a year, one or two of your 13 have some
truth. For the most part your article is irresponsible. RD is no longer about
providing its readers great information; it’s about selling subscriptions w/ sensationalism
and half truths. What happened to the RD I used to know as a kid?

Stephen Poteet - Augusta, GA

Frank

Obviously who ever wrote this has absolutely no idea what they are talking about!

Frank

So, what is a “State” veteran’s cemetery???

Frank

Apparently the person writing this “list” has not done any homework on the subject!!

Cowboy fan

My My, the anit funeral media has hit Reader’s Digest. Most all of these 13 things are totally false, and all funeral directors (after all, we do direct funerals) I know in Texas would cringe at the thought of any one doing these things. Most would be against the law, and by the way, preneed funds are regulated by each state, there are no federal laws concering how the monies are invested. Insurance funded is by far the best choice, as they can be honored by any funeral home.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=567210521 Dana Geister

A mortician is a funeral director, but a funeral director is not a mortician. They are different.

http://www.facebook.com/cornergang Phil Collins

Really 14 things – they never tell you when you are dead !

hermanking

why would anyone become an undertaker?necessary as it is.

Calijazzsmith

MOST of everything printed by the author of this article is absolutely INCORRECT AND UNTRUE!

http://twitter.com/EyeTweaks aleon lore

Death has now been regulated by the Police State Office of Population Control activated in each of the largest states/cities just look in the Yellow pages. You have the right to pay taxes, go to jail and give up all your property upon death otherwise you have no rights….

Weatherfordadam

those online caskets are crap

Weatherfordadam

whoever wrote this article doesnt know a thing about the funeral industry

Almarc13