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Cover photograph of fog clouds over
Dana Butte, taken at Hopi Point in
Grand Canyon, Arizona, by Nick Berezenko.
January 1999
Burial And Cremation Ron Hast
Even though we continue to practice burial and increasingly embrace cremation, our ways and means have evolved to promote comfort of the bereaved and, just as certainly, profitability of the business.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Ron talks with Fred Frank of Comfort Music, takes a look at cremation-related services and products, a Catholic Archdiocese sending letters to priests offering discounts for church-owned mortuaries and cemeteries, and funeral homes under the same family ownership.
Who Will Be Your Business Partner? Douglas O. Meyer, Esq.
What to do when your business partner passes away and the heir comes to you wishing to sell the interest in the mortuary business he just inherited.
Preneed Marketing: Achieving Impact And Shelf Life Fred H. Kitchen
Marketing a preneed program to the general public is something that most of us are still a little hesitant about. How can we provide and market it efficiently?
Compassion Incarnate Jerry J. Brown
The compelling proof of the "power of people."
Interview With Daniel M. Isard Ron Hast
Ron Hast interviews Daniel M. Isard, founder of the Foresight Companies, which together provide financial and business management consulting, appraisals, mergers and acquisitions, continuing education and Preneed Perspective.
Retailer Appealing The Appeal (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
After the state Court of Civil Appeals denied their request to reconsider the court's opinion that only licensed funeral directors can sell caskets, Stone Casket Company is appealing the decision.
Mortuaries To Pay Their Share (Carson, California)
More than 30 mortuaries have agreed to pay $1 million to settle their portion of a lawsuit filed by several thousand plaintiffs who allege that the remains of their family members were mistreated at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Carson.
Casket Reuse Draws Criticism (South Bend, Indiana)
A complaint was filed against Hickey Funeral Homes for allegedly trying to bury a man in a casket that had been occupied by another corpse.
Inspection Demonstrates Total Compliance (Reno, Nevada)
The Federal Trade Commission announced that a sweep of 38 funeral homes in Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City showed that none of those funeral homes appeared to be in violation of the FTC's Funeral Rule.
Sweep Finds Five In Violation (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
The Federal Trade Commission announced that a sweep of 56 funeral homes in Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester and Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan areas demonstrated that five of those businesses appeared to be in violation of the FTC's Funeral Rule.
Ray Loewen Sells Stock (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce acquired almost 14 percent of Loewen Group's common stock from former Loewen Group CEO Ray Loewen, as the founder of the company reduces his debt to CIBC.
Loewen Seeks Damages From United States (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)
The Loewen Group is attempting to use a rarely-invoked provision of the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to recover from the U.S. government its losses stemming from a massive Mississippi court verdict that crippled the company three years ago.
First Casket Warehouse Outlet (New Hyde Park, New York)
Direct Casket has opened the country's first casket warehouse outlet in New Hyde Park, Long Island, New York.
Technology Enables Managerial Leap Forward (Houston, Texas)
As Service Corporation International continues acquiring at a steady pace, a new intranet strategy has emerged as the lifeblood of its acquisition spree -- while also producing a new focus on Internet e-commerce.
Revolution In Progress (Boston, Massachusetts)
Many funeral professionals think it's time for an overhaul of the funeral industry's image, and one way of accomplishing that is by advancing the concept that funeral directors can assist consumers in crafting completely customized funeral services.
Pay-Back Time (Pontoctoc, Mississippi)
After pleading guilty to four counts of embezzlement, former funeral home owner Ferrell Swords was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison and ordered to make full restitution to the clients he had victimized.
Demystifying Death (Sebastopol, California)
With the help of an The Natural Death Care Project, an organization that prepares families for intimate home funerals, some consumers are taking the unconventional approach of do-it-yourself funerals.
In this January 1999 issue, Fred H. Kitchen wrote an article "Preneed Marketing: Achieving Impact And Shelf Life." Mentioned in the article was a company called Mid-West Consumer Specialties and an incorrect phone number appeared.
The company's correct information is:
Mid-West Consumer Specialties, P.O. Box 125, 239 HWY 61, Bloomsdale, MO 63627
Phone: (573) 483-3109, Fax: (573) 483-9747.
Cover photograph was taken in Province, France, by David Noton.
February 1999
Computers As Competition? Ron Hast
How computer technology and the Internet help the flow information and what it can do for you.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Ron takes a look at small firms being exempted from music fees, frustrations of embalmers, formaldehyde, credit cards and funeral directors, and educational seminars.
But Is It Price Fixing? Douglas O. Meyer, Esq.
Some casket stores owners are making a lot of noise about funeral directors engaging in price fixing. They seem to believe that if two or more mortuaries have the same or similar casket prices, it is illegal price fixing. They fail to understand, as with most legal issues, it isn't that simple.
Mostly A Matter Of The Spirit Jerry J. Brown
Eternalizing life through the process of remembering and referencing.
Creating A Website That Works Denise Moriarty
The decision has been made -- time to create a website for your funeral home. The content and the general look of the website is agreed upon. Now how do you go about creating this website?
Mixed Results For Casket Retailers (Framingham, Massachusetts)
While some casket stores have shut their doors after making few sales, others appear to be enjoying tremendous success.
Facilities Improved For The Disabled (Glendale, California)
Forest Lawn Memorial-Park has settled a lawsuit filed by the widow of a disabled activist claiming the cemetery was not set up to handle wheelchair-bound mourners at her husband's funeral.
Dishonesty Is A Costly Policy (Miami, Florida)
A Miami funeral home was ordered to pay over a quarter-million to the parents of a baby whose body was cremated after a mix-up.
Get In Line (Contra Costa County, California)
Two more lawsuits have been filed against the now-defunct Rogers Family Funeral Home, supplementing three previously filed suits alleging improper handling of bodies and delivery of the wrong ashes.
Funeral Director Branches Out To Retailing (Woodstock, Virginia)
Not even the smallest towns are immune to the retail casket store trend, as witnessed by the recent opening of The Funeral Store in the small Shenandoah County town of Woodstock.
Millennium Bug Even In Cemeteries (South Hero, Vermont)
Many headstones across the country already have the first two digits of the year of death set in stone, even though the plot's future occupant hasn't died yet and may not until after the year 2000.
Worse Than Lost Luggage (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
The widow of a man whose body was temporarily lost aboard a plane is suing a Baton Rouge funeral home and Delta Air Lines, claiming both share responsibility for the disruption to her husband's funeral services that resulted.
From Wholesale To Retail (Fresno, California)
The first casket retail shop has opened in Fresno, the owner of which used to sell caskets to funeral homes but says he now has no choice but to sell directly to the public.
Videos Add Extra Meaning To Services (Champaign, Illinois)
A Champaign funeral director is taking his business the extra mile by offering memorial videos made not by a video service, but created entirely at his own facility.
Mortuaries Sued For Body Shuffling (Los Angeles, California)
The parents of a baby that died shortly after birth have filed suit against five funeral homes for breach of contract, negligence and fraud after their baby was apparently shuffled between the mortuaries and lost for several days.
Couple Face Racketeering Charges (Sarasota, Florida)
State investigators have charged the owners of American Family Cremation Society with defrauding approximately 9,000 customers who bought prepaid cremation service contracts.
SCI Says Board Is Overboard (Houston, Texas)
Service Corporation International was hit with nearly $450,000 in recommended fines by a state board that alleges bodies were embalmed by unsupervised trainees and in unlicensed locations.
New Laws In Effect (Sacramento, California)
As of January 1, 1999, one of several new funeral-related laws allows the scattering of cremated remains where there is no local prohibition against it, as long as written permission from the property owner is obtained.
Cover photograph was taken in Dorset, England by David Noton.
March 1999
A Look At Batesville Ron Hast
A very detailed look at Batesville Casket Company.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Ron takes a look at wholesale cost of caskets, how we are slowly becoming a paperless society, thefts of embalming fluid, and a look at Todd Van Beck's latest book titled "Winning Ways."
The Public Perception Of The Value Of Funeral Rites
And Ceremonies Is Continually Eroding Lowell Pugh and Joanne Howard
Are indifferent funeral directors and inflexible package services part of the problem?
Odds & Ends Douglas O. Meyer, Esq.
When a funeral home sponsors an event to benefit either a particular family or a community group, some thought should be given to the potential liabilities that could be incurred as a result of the sponsorship. Also, a look at new laws and regulations taking effect this year which you should be aware of.
Advertising Choices For Independents Michael Pursel
Funeral homes are now a commodity. As much as you hate to admit it, people are shopping for caskets, services, and cremation -- all in the name of saving a dollar. And can you blame them? Here are some steps that you can take.
The Human Touch Jerry J. Brown
How funeral service is the prime example of the power of persona and personality in the delicate balance of death care.
Kids At Funerals Bryan H. Pace
The topic "Kids at Funerals" came up in a recent Electronic Funeral Service Association (EFSA) chat session on AOL. Bryan H. Place leads the discussion, being the youngest member at 14, and possessing the most recent recollection of what the experience of a funeral was like from a child's point of view.
Qualified Funeral Trusts Richard A. Neuman
The taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 contains many significant provisions affecting all taxpayers. Perhaps one of the lesser known, but an exceptionally important area contained within these provisions, involves money that is kept in a Preneed Funeral Trust used for purposes of paying for one's funeral.
The Loewen Group Faces Class Action Suit (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)
A class action suit against The Loewen Group has been commenced by numerous law firms on behalf of purchasers of Loewen common stock from August 6, 1998 through November 5, 1998 for alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act.
Grave-Recycling Charge Unsubstantiated (Carson, California)
The California Attorney General's Office has uncovered no evidence that Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Carson removed remains or resold plots, as alleged by the plaintiffs in their complaint.
Opening Up To Restore Trust (Brentwood, California)
A Brentwood funeral director came up with one way of allaying the bad publicity surrounding death care in his community of Contra Costa County -- have an open house to share an inside story directly with the public.
By The Book (Brookfield, Wisconsin)
It was a fitting tribute to the man who wrote the book on funeral protocol when the National Funeral Directors Association named the library at its new headquarters after Howard C. Raether.
Reunion Marks A New Rural Emphasis (Houston, Texas)
Industry analysts say urban-orientated Service Corporation International's recent acquisition of rural-orientated Equity Corporation International is part of its strategy of turning attention to lower-volume funeral homes in smaller towns.
Regulatory Group's Effectiveness In Debate (Sacramento, California)
Consumer advocates allege that the state's current funeral industry watchdog -- established with the intent of fixing problems under the former system -- continues to come up short.
Rural Graveyards Prove Appealing (Chicago, Illinois)
At a time when large, corporate-run cemeteries have come under fire for high prices and high-pressure sales tactics, several far-flung suburbs of Chicago are experiencing a new vitality in their rustic burial grounds.
Scam Worker Put To A Stop (Chicago, Illinois)
Vera Jones, a scam worker who obtained confidential information about deceased persons from grieving families to illegally purchase tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise over the last two years, has been captured by police.
Someone's Gotta Do It (San Diego, California)
According to researchers, most people who work in professions that have a stigma associated with them, such as the funeral industry, aren't particularly bothered by it.
Environmental Sanctuary (Pittsford, New York)
As a result of their environmentally-friendly efforts, White Haven Memorial Park in Pittsford became the first cemetery in the country to be designated as a "Certified Audobon Cooperative Sanctuary."
New York Ripe For Consolidation (Long Island, New York)
The independent owners of Frederick J. Chapey & Sons Funeral Homes say they've seen the acquisition writing on the wall and decided to fight back with a not-so-subtle ad campaign targeting Service Corporation International.
Sentry's Eyes On Small Towns (Fort Worth, Texas)
Realizing that its large competitors have been focusing predominantly on big metropolitan areas, Sentry Group Services Inc. has crafted a consolidation strategy that concentrates heavily on small- and medium-sized towns.
Back To Square One (Sacramento, California)
Attorneys on both sides were stunned when a Superior Court judge rejected the $4.17 million proposed settlement between 160 mortuaries and family members whose loved ones' ashes were stockpiled by Discover Bay pilot Al Vieira.
Cover photograph was taken in Dorset, England by David Noton.
April 1999
Clues Ron Hast
Consolidator-owned funeral firms have been serving the public for many years. Most have fared well and are profitable. Due to economies of scale, labor utilization, automotive, efficiencies and for many other reasons, the concept flourishes.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Ron goes back to the days when entrepreneurs recognized a business opportunity to compete with traditional funeral homes and a story about Sue Simon's (former editor of Preneed Perspective) visit to a funeral home.
Strong Management: Challenges Of The Independent Funeral Home Douglas O. Meyer, Esq.
One of the biggest problems faced by independent owners, yet seldom discussed, is the lack of strong "backup" management.
Commoners To Kings Jerry J. Brown
For decades, the world of funeral service has embraced the rhetoric of "universality" in the lexicon of dying, death and grief resolution.
The Power And Importance Of Names Todd Van Beck
A person's name and what it represents to that person are extremely significant. In funeral service, you are in contact with the public constantly, and you can bring clients and goodwill to your funeral home by getting the names straight.
Fall Of The Loewen Empire (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)
Analysts speculate that The Loewen Group's only hope of raising the $400 million (U.S.) it needs is for newly-appointed, non-executive chairman John Lacey to sell off the funeral home chain's best properties.
Lawsuit Filed Following SCI's Stock Drop (Houston, Texas)
A lawsuit has been filed against Service Corporation International for allegedly violating the federal securities laws by failing to inform shareholders of Equity Corporation International in connection with SCI's acquisition of ECI that SCI would not achieve its expected 1998 fourth-quarter earnings.
Bulk Discounts For Independents Permitted (Northbrook, Illinois)
The Justice Department has approved a plan by National Selected Morticians, an organization representing family-owned funeral homes, to cooperate in obtaining cheaper caskets by joining together to buy them at bulk discounts.
Suspended For Non-Compliance (Tallahassee, Florida)
The Florida Department of Banking and Finance suspended the preneed licenses of 16 funeral and cemetery businesses throughout the state owned by The Loewen Group.
You're Fired (Durant, Oklahoma)
The former manager of Coffee and Murray funeral homes in Durant and his wife have been charged with embezzlement and have been fired.
Cemetery Plot Sold Twice (Hartford, Connecticut)
Even though a woman bought the plot next to her son's in the town-owned Silver Lane Cemetery, someone else was buried there after an accounting error led to the resale of the plot.
Bizarre Body Theft (Westminster, California)
Police said someone went to great effort to steal the body of an 85-year-old woman from the grounds of Westminster Memorial Park Cemetery Mortuary and Florist, who was buried in a mausoleum five feet up.
Misbehavior (Middletown, Connecticut)
Police arrested a man who they say confessed to vandalizing St. John Cemetery as a tribute to Satan.
That Settles It (Houston, Texas)
Budget Funeral Home has reached an undisclosed settlement with the family of a man buried in a cardboard box instead of a pine casket that had been ordered.
Funeral Home Blamed For Error (Houston, Texas)
A woman whose husband was accidentally cremated after a mix-up at the medical examiner's office has filed a $1.7 million lawsuit against Compean Funeral Directors of Houston for their role in the cremation.
Board Issues Disciplinary Action (Lakeview, Oregon)
A Lakeview funeral director has agreed to pay a $25,000 civil penalty to the Oregon Mortuary & Cemetery Board after the state agency alleged 141 violations against the operation of his funeral business, Ousley Osterman Huffstutter Funeral Chapel.
Family Has A Bone To Pick (Houston, Texas)
A lawsuit was filed against Paradise Funeral Home and Paradise Cemetery by a family that believes they discovered the bones of their loved one exposed on the surface of his grave site during one of their regular visits.
Franchising Reaches Far Beyond Fast Food (Erie, Pennsylvania)
Franchises have grown in popularity to the extent that the concept has worked its way into the funeral industry with franchise funeral businesses and retail casket chains.
Trouble In Paradise (Pasadena, Maryland)
The tranquil community known as Venice on the Bay has become the scattering place for many unwelcome cremated remains.
Hairdressing The Dead (Fremont, California)
As anyone involved in funeral care can attest, amusing experiences are had by those with a unique occupation -- as in the case of the hairdresser for Chapel of the Roses in Fremont.
SCI Under Scrutiny (New York, New York)
The city of New York has been taking a hard look at Service Corporation International since the conglomerate bought up a sizable chunk of the city's funeral establishments.
Antiques Dealers Arrested In Cemetery Thefts (New Orleans, Louisiana)
New Orleans police have arrested members of a ring suspected of stealing more than 200 cemetery decorations worth an estimated $1 million from tombs belonging to some of the city's wealthiest families.
Cover photograph was taken at the Maldive Islands by Chad Ehlers.
More info about the Maldive Islands can be found
at the VisitMaldives.com website.
May 1999
Publicy-Owned Funeral Service Consolidators Are Ill:
Can They Recover? Ron Hast
For many years, observers have expressed opinions about the future of funeral service consolidators. Can funeral service continue to be effective in a publicly-held arena? Will there be a breaking point?
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Ron takes a look at a Sunday gathering on AOL of the Electronic Funeral Service Association, an ongoing legal battle regarding a casket that was found to be full of water, preneed arrangements, the number of times a grave is visited, and caskets casually being referred to as "sealers."
Keeping The Basics In Mind Douglas O. Meyer, Esq.
A staff that knows it's appreciated will work hard and you'll reap the rewards.
Keep It In The Family Bob Pierce
Financing can help independent funeral home owners find an alternative to consolidation.
Image & Perception Steve Nimz
What is the image we in funeral service are giving the public?
New Settlement Hammered Out (Sacramento County, California)
Months after a deal to resolve the case of unscattered ashes by Discovery Bay pilot Allan Vieira sank, attorneys have reached a new tentative settlement between the mortuaries and the families whose loved ones' ashes were stockpiled.
Lengthy Litigation Concludes Over Leaking Casket (Syracuse, New York)
A man who claimed his deceased son's sealer casket failed to perform as advertised has reached a court settlement, ending his eight-year legal battle with Kenco Manufacturing Inc., Columbia Casket Corporation and DeWitt Memorial Funeral Home.
Preneed Incentive (New Berlin, Wisconsin)
A New Berlin funeral home is offering a refund to anyone who preplans their funeral service and reaches 100 years of age.
Venerable Rebel (Denver, Colorado)
Maverick priest Frederick McCAllin, who shocked the Catholic community by adding a bar and grill to his church, has died at age 85.
Wrong Corpse At Funeral (Copenhagen, Denmark)
A funeral in Denmark came to a halt when grieving relatives noticed that the woman in the coffin was not the person they had come to bury.
Postcards From Heaven (London, England)
Friends of a British man who died of lung cancer received "wish you were here" postcards several days after his cremation saying he was enjoying heaven.
Ancient Burial Mound Flattened (Athboy, Ireland)
Over-zealous volunteers wiped out hundreds of years of history when they cleaned up an old graveyard -- a protected national monument in Co Meath -- by unwittingly removing an ancient burial mound and gravestones dating back centuries.
Artisitic Caskets Play Substantial Role In Personalization (Dallas, Texas)
The owners of WhiteLight casket company dream of shaking up the funeral industry by satisfying consumers' desire for more personalized funerals with their artwork-laminated caskets.
New State Requirements For Casket Retailers (Sacramento, California)
A new California law requires various price disclosures by third-party casket sellers.
Well-Equipped For The Afterlife (Stamford, Connecticut)
As the trend of funeral customization grows, more families are burying their loved with personal items, including those that are often unique and unusual.
Pet Funerals On The Rise (Miami, Florida)
Funerals for pets are becoming more common, with about 650 designated pet cemeteries across the country.
Web Service Eases Burden On Survivors (Parkland, Florida)
A widower's new Web service called FuneralTribute.com is not only geared for memorials, but also to assist families with other funeral matters.
Death Care Moves On Line (Lowell, Massachusetts)
A growing number of funeral directors are navigating the Internet, where they educate each other, display their expertise and connect with their customers.
Attorneys Perceive A Burgeoning Field (Roseville, California)
In response to the increasing number of lawsuits in the death-care industry, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America has officially formed the Cemetery and Funeral Services Litigation Group, signaling their interest in this frontier.
Cover photograph was taken in Dorset, England, by David Noton.
June 1999
Forecasters And Reality Ron Hast
Funeral service forecasters often point to "baby boomers" as a major source for increased funeral service business in the future. One of the factors behind the wide publicity given to this claim could be to install greater confidence in stockholders of publicly traded death care and funeral service companies.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Ron talks about adjusting casket prices, converting malls to cemeteries, a new preneed law in North Carolina, and an amusing story of a family's dealing with COPA, the Carolina Organ Procurement Agency.
A Learning Experience Douglas O. Meyer, Esq.
What to do when your case count starts declining due to increase in your town's population with many of whom are from different cultures than the "old time" residents.
The Funeral Home's Personality Todd Van Beck
Does your firm attract or repel? The importance of putting families at ease.
Being There Jerry Brown
The ideologies of death care and the poignant manifestations of shock, sorrow, loneliness and despair inevitably wrought by the death of a loved one.
Cemetery Decorations Banned (Boca Raton, Florida)
A federal judge has ruled that Boca Raton municipal cemetery can tear down religious decorations in order to maintain the cemetery.
Cemetery Put On Notice (Peoria, Illinois)
Springdale Cemetery was given 30 days to make improvements or lose their license to operate.
House Restricts Arlington Burials (Washington, D.C.)
Burial at Arlington National Cemetery would be restricted to those who die on active military duty, and just a few others, under House-passed legislation.
Small Business Interests (Orlando, Florida)
Owners of small businesses say their top concerns are health-care reform, taxes and finding capital to grow.
Legislators Have Urge To Merge (Olympia, Washington)
The state has set its sight once again on merging the Cemetery Board and the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers.
Loewen Group's Founder Dropped From Board (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)
Loewen Group Inc. founder Ray Loewen has been dropped from company's board of directors.
Tombstone Fund Gets Buried In First Quarter (Houston, Texas)
The Pauze' Tombstone Fund, the first-of-its kind death care industry mutual fund, was the worst-performing stock fund in the first quarter of 1999.
Lost Trust Is Restored At Severe Cost (Medford, California)
Mortician Chuck Kern will liquidate his business and personal estate worth $6 million to repay $5.3 million allegedly embezzled by his son from a prepaid funeral trust fund.
State Scrutinizes Prepaid Funerals (Baltimore, Maryland)
For the first time, Maryland funeral service providers have been required to document how much money they collected from preneed contracts over the past year and where the money is being kept.
Public Cemetery And Private Sector Clash (Waukesha, Wisconsin)
Hoping to increase revenue by expanding its offerings, the city-owned Prairie Home Cemetery is venturing into the sale of monuments and grave liners, provoking an outcry from private funeral operators and monument companies.
Regulator Accuses SCI Of Interference (Houston, Texas)
The former executive director of the Texas Funeral Service Commission has filed a lawsuit over her dismissal from the commission in which she alleges interference by Service Corporation International.
Settlement Approved (Santa Fe Springs, California)
A court commissioner has approved a $3.9-million settlement with about 40 mortuaries in the Los Angeles area resulting from legal action by relatives whose family graves had been mishandled by a Santa Fe Springs cemetery.
Future Of Regulatory Board Uncertain (Austin, Texas)
A heated debate is ensuing in the state Legislature over how -- or whether -- to regulate the funeral industry in Texas.
Pancake House To Funeral Home (Roanoke, Virginia)
A newly-opened funeral service provider in Roanoke aiming to offer low-cost services found its home in a former pancake house.
Cover photograph of an oasis in the Sahara Desert was taken by Robert Arakaki.
July/August 1999
Paving The Way For Competition Ron Hast
Some of us take for granted that our long established methods of providing death care services will protect our future. In many places throughout North America this philosophy sustains us in a comfort zone. But don't be too tempted to snuggle in!
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Ron looks at the true benefit of surveys, funeral directors responding to claims of poverty, photographic presentation of a decedent during visitation and the liberal practice of handling peripheral fees.
Denver Tragedy John J. Horan
As the details of this tragedy unfolded, Horan & McConaty were braced for what was likely to come. Discussed are what Horan & McConaty believed to be the most honorable and ethical manner with which they would proceed.
When Will The Bleeding Stop? Jerry Brown
Wouldn't it be joyous if the intrinsic nature of all humankind flowed and flourished in harmony with the wondrous achievements of modern day science, technology and social reform?
Managing Legal Risk Douglas O. Meyer, Esq.
Service businesses that don't offer the particular services desired by the public eventually decline and fall by the wayside. This decline generally occurs over a period of time. Here's what funeral home owners can do to stay on top.
Retailer Busted For Selling Preneed (Wallace, North Carolina)
The proprietor of Casket Sales, Inc., a retail casket seller in Wallace, was charged with preneed fraud for illegally taking money from two people in exchange for a guarantee that a casket would be waiting for them when they die.
A Learning Experience (Houston, Texas)
Service Corporation International's decline in earnings last year has necessitated that the company adjust to new market conditions and tackle its growing pains aggressively.
Delayed Reaction (Maui, Hawaii)
A woman who says the wrong body was placed in her father's casket during his funeral more than a year ago has filed a lawsuit against Borthwick Mortuary in Honolulu and Nakamura Mortuary on Maui.
Preneed's Explosive Growth (Batesville, Indiana)
A recent study shows that preneed contacts have attracted double-digit growth in the '90s in a business that generates some $1.1 billion annually in net written premiums overall.
Winter-Burial Law Considered (Madison, Wisconsin)
A bill mandating Wisconsin cemeteries stay open during the winter could pass before next winter.
Traumatized Mother Disinters Baby (Madrid, Spain)
Madrid authorities say that the mother of a baby who died recently dug the infant up and carried her body through the streets asking strangers for help and insisting the child was still alive.
Couple Dies In Hearse (Campeche, Mexico)
A young Mexican couple sneaked into a back of a hearse to have sex but died from carbon monoxide poisoning while sleeping off their tryst because they left the motor running in order to have air conditioning.
Horror Buff Gets Final Wish (Covina, California)
A horror buff known for spending time with the fellow members of his beloved Phantom Coaches Hearse Club was given a funeral sendoff fitting of the club's motto: "Putting the 'fun' back in funeral."
Prepaid Funds Misappropriated (Bridgeton, New Jersey)
Bridgeton funeral director Russell Sheppard has been charged with the theft of $27,100 in funds entrusted to him for future services.
Out For Good (Easton, Pennsylvania)
The state has revoked the license of Easton funeral director Cesare Sportelli for having accepted money for not having correctly deposited money he accepted for prepaid services.
Government Officials Concerned With Acquisitions (New York, New York)
Following the recent rash of funeral home acquisitions in New York, state officials reported that it is getting harder for consumers to shop around for affordable funerals.
Cemetery Art Targeted For Theft (Brooklyn, New York)
A Tiffany stained-glass expert who teamed with a grave robber to sell a 9-foot stained glass window stolen from a mausoleum was charged in a cemetery-looting scheme.
Regulation Sought On Cemetery Artifacts (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Following the recent theft of nearly $1 million worth of stolen cemetery art in New Orleans, city officials are seeking new rules to regulate the sale of cemetery artifacts.
British Charter Aims To Improve Death Care (Bristol, England)
A British organization set up to improve funeral practices has launched The Dead Citizens Charter, warning that the average funeral in Britain is a "costly and miserable affair" and calling for wide reforms of the funeral industry to allow informed choice for those preparing for death.
Afterlife Names Contribute To High Funeral Costs (Tokyo, Japan)
Japan's Buddhist establishment is increasingly under attack over the practice of charging bereaved and vulnerable relatives huge fees for afterlife names given to the dead at their funerals.
Mobile Populations Prefer Cremation (Olympia, Washington)
Cremation has taken a distinct lead over burial as the preferred method of disposition in Washington, where state Department of Licensing estimates show that the cremation rate has reached 55 percent.
Families Defend Graves (Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania)
An outbreak of body snatching has forced family members to camp at a graveyard to protect the graves of their deceased loved ones.
Preneed Protection Amongst New Legislation (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
The Oklahoma Board of Embalmers & Funeral Directors has supported several pieces of legislation, including the authorization of conversion of trust-funded prepaid funeral benefits to insurance-funded prepaid funeral benefits, a provision for the dissolution of unincorporated burial associations and a rewrite of the Funeral Service Licensing Act.
The New And Improved Neptune (Los Angeles, California)
Aiming to capitalize on the country's rising cremation rates, the once-troubled Neptune Society Inc. has gone public and is embarking on a campaign under its new ownership to develop a national brand-name across the United States.
Prospect Of Bankruptcy High For Loewen (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)
The Loewen Group reported a 77 percent drop in first-quarter profit and warned that without an improvement its creditors may force the sale or reorganization of the company under United States or Canadian bankruptcy laws.
Ancestor-Worshipping Practice Returns (Huaxi, China)
The cult of worshipping one's ancestors is returning in force in one of the poorest regions of southern China, where many families have spent a small fortune for a festival honoring their dead.
Mortuary And Cemetery Both Liable (Woodbury, New Jersey)
The Davis Funeral Home of Woodbury and the Eglington Cemetery of Clarksboro were found by a jury to be responsible for botching a man's burial and will combine to pay $100,000 to his children.
Cover photograph of ancient ruins was taken in Mexico.
September 1999
Commissions, Incentives And Quotas Ron Hast
How people in sales can become skilled in "the art of the sale."
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Ron takes a look at casket stores, caskets and the Loewen Group, funeral websites, and information overload.
Changing Sales Practices Douglas O. Meyer
Change in business practices is a funny thing -- it sort of sneaks up on you. One day you're doing business in a certain way, then you begin to hear about something new but think to yourself that it will never affect you.
Interview With Bill Forsberg Ron Hast
Wilbert Funeral Service, a nationwide network of regional partners, provide quality cemetery vault products and placement services, as well as a variety of specialty related items such as quality urns and cremation products. For many years, Wilbert affiliates have been aggressively supportive of funeral service through various educational programs and hospitality events. We are privileged to present an interview with Bill Forsberg, Vice President of Marketing and sales for Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc.
In Search Of Financing: Options For The Independent Funeral Business Peter Hamilton
While Loewen Group's recent pratfall my be peculiar for its severity, ending as it has with a Chapter 11 filing, other funeral business consolidators are also giving clear indication of problems within the industry. As a result, the landscape may be changing for the acquisition minded.
Funeral Music: Past, Present And Future Ron Hast
Ron takes us through the history of music in the funeral industry, the current trend, and what is around the corner into the new century.
Funeral Benefit For Organ Donors (Pennsylvania)
With the demand for donated organs far outweighing the supply, Pennsylvania is poised to become the first state in the nation to confront the long-held taboo against providing a financial reward -- in the form of a funeral benefit -- for organ donation.
Medical School Lawsuit Dismissed (Los Angeles, California)
A court commissioner struck the last remaining cause of action that could have brought monetary damage in a lawsuit against UCLA Medical School, which is accused of improperly disposing remains of bodies willed to it for research.
Body Illegally Photographed (York, Pennsylvania)
A morgue employee was charged with taking his own personal photographs of a young woman's naked corpse.
Burial Plot Reuse Proposed (London, England)
The British government is exploring proposals that could lead to mass exhumations and the reuse of precious space in crowded cemeteries.
Doing Time (Long Beach, California)
Following a series of delays, a former Wilmington Cemetery employee who sold nonexistent burial plots to about 25 elderly people in the early 1990s was sentenced to three years in state prison.
In Lieu of Flowers (Spokane, Washington)
At one time, funerals could account for as much as half of a florist's revenue, but times are changing.
Not Resting In Peace (Bloomington, California)
A disturbing trend of cemetery vandalism appears to have arisen in San Bernardino County, where vandals recently caused extensive damage at a 60-acre cemetery.
Preneed Policies Affected By Scam (Herndon, Virginia)
Authorities allege that a fugitive stock trader pulled off a bizarre scam that has cost insurance companies -- mostly small Southern carriers selling preneed -- roughly $200 million.
Case Of The Leaking Crypt (Augusta, Georgia)
Platt's Funeral Home and a funeral director were found liable only for the cost of reburial to the widow of a man whose body from a leaking casket and put it into another without the family's permission.
Death Rates Flow In Monthly Cycle (San Diego, California)
Researchers have found that the number of deaths in the United States rises at the start of every month and drops at the end.
Body Takes Trip To Topless Bar (Proctorville, Ohio)
An attendant for a Proctorville funeral home has been charged with abuse of a corpse after the van in which he was transporting a body was found parked outside a strip bar in Columbus.
Organization Says Consumers Distrust Conglomerates (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
According to a nationwide poll sponsored by Associated Independent Family Funeral Homes (AIFFH), eight out of 10 Americans call for sweeping curbs on funeral conglomerates, including anti-trust investigations, clear pricing of all funeral costs and full disclosure of funeral home ownership.
Treasurer Plunders Cemetery Treasury (Cudahy, Wisconsin)
The former treasurer for a Catholic cemetery in Cudahy was charged with stealing $410,000 from the graveyard and using the money to pay his personal and business expenses.
Charges Remain Standing (South Bend, Illinois)
The state Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service voted unanimously to deny a motion that they drop a case filed last year against Hickey Funeral Home in South Bend.
Cover photograph of lightning striking mountain tops was taken by Warren Faidley.
October 1999
Can't We All Just Get Along? Ron Hast
As we head to the FTC regulation debates, there seems to be no shortage of "us and them" arguments heading our way: Funeral Director vs. Cemeterian and Consolidator vs. Independent.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Ron takes a look at media misinterpretation of statements, model year 2000 coaches, and suggested retail pricing for funeral service merchandise.
Liability For Another Party's Actions Douglas O. Meyer
Last year, a California Appeals Court decision held that a funeral home wasn't liable for the wrongful acts of a crematory to which the funeral home had sent bodies for cremation. There are several precautions a funeral director should take to protect the mortuary from liability.
Client Appreciation Todd Van Beck
We know we have to treat our clients with courtesy and decency or they can, and will, take their service needs elsewhere.
Sometimes I Wonder David J. Walkinshaw
The future of technology in funeral service.
Managing Multiple Locations William W. McReavy
Today, very few progressive funeral and cremation providers offer only one facility to the families they serve. Not expanding beyond one location could be the smartest plan for many organizations. However, when considering shifts in population, demographic and cultural changes, or the possibility of competing firms expanding into your market, it may be time to break new ground.
Kalahari: The Cradle Of Man Jerry Brown
At look at "Bise" and what it means when a person dies, from the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert.
Catering To All Budgets (Roanoke, Virginia)
There's nothing new about alternative funeral providers, but there's a twist to some of the most recently opened of these stores -- they're operated by funeral home owners.
Atlantis Has Sunken (Santa Ana, California)
A man whose cremation company, Atlantis Society, has been out of business for several years was finally charged by police with swindling as many as 200 people out of money in prepaid services.
These Streets Are Eerie (Erie, Colorado)
The widow of the former town manager of Erie not only witnessed her husband's dream of paving the streets become a reality, but even blended his cremated remains in with them.
Ready For The End (East Canton, Ohio)
Concerned about burdening his family with funeral costs, a retired carpenter spent six months building his own casket.
Few Veterans Take Cemetery Benefit (Washington, D.C.)
Veterans, and in some cases their wives and minor children, are entitled to free burial in cemeteries run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, yet only 10 to 15 percent of veterans take advantage of this benefit.
You Can Take It With You
While the amount of personal property people bring with them after death today will never rival ancient Egyptian pharaohs, people are adding more mementos to their caskets and funeral services as the trend of personalization flourishes.
Tapping Into The Minority Market (South Florida)
More South Florida residents are choosing cremation, but minorities overwhelmingly want traditional burials, making them a valuable market for funeral homes.
This Time For Real (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Five years ago, family members of a former Marine stood by as his ashes were buried at a veterans' cemetery with full military honors, but his funeral took place again recently -- this time for real and without his family present.
The Catholic Funeral Plan (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
To ensure their share of the coming boom, funeral directors are emphasizing preneed -- and in some states, the emphasis on preneed is having a significant impact on the way the Roman Catholic Church handles its cemetery business.
Stock Watch (Houston, Texas)
The death care stocks have continued to decline gradually in value, as witnessed by an imaginary investment in the nine public corporations several weeks ago that has lost a quarter of its value.
Women Discovering Funeral Profession (Fayetteville, North Carolina)
In the South, the funeral industry has traditionally been dominated by family-owned, male-run businesses, but women comprise a growing number of those entering the profession.
Family Alleges Botched Embalming (Los Angeles, California)
A family has filed suit against a Los Angeles mortuary for allegedly mishandling the body of their mother.
Shedding Light On Body Donation (Center City, Pennsylvania)
Body donation, though rarely thought of as a funeral plan, is a pragmatic option for final arrangements.
Insurance Scam (Hackensack, New Jersey)
A Hackensack funeral director has been charged with filing bogus insurance claims by using information gleaned from some of the families his business served.
Cover photograph of life during the Cretaceous Period was unearthed during an archeological dig.
Photo by Buddy Mays taken in Costa Rica.
November 1999
Consolidator Tumble Ron Hast
The stock market has all but dismissed a former "sure thing." Long believed to be a secure investment because everyone had to die, publicly-held funeral service companies have become pariahs to the investing public. Ten suggestions are offered to this end.
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Ron shares a story about a priest rebelling about bringing a casket suitable for survivors to write notes upon into the church, the Internet and funeral service, the meaning of funeral "home" and funeral "parlor," preneed sales, and funeral service in regards to automated telephone systems.
Vehicle-Related Liabilities Douglas O. Meyer
Vehicle-related incidents represent a significant liability exposure for funeral homes and vehicle insurance is usually a significant expense. Learn how to protect yourself and your funeral home and minimize your exposure.
Growing Volume Profitably Through Marketing Strategies And Branding Glenn Gould
The challenge to the contemporary funeral service company is to position itself to better compete in the increasingly competitive death care industry by building at-need volume. There are a number of ways to build a funeral company.
What's Going Online? Denise Moriarty
You may find yourself oblivious to the effects of the Internet on the funeral industry. How the Internet can be a valuable tool for your funeral home to remain competitive.
Old-Fashioned Manners Todd Van Beck
How the quality of client service is important to the survival of your funeral home business.
You've Found Your Niche, Now Don't Be Cryptic Michael Tod Good
How to properly communicate the details surrounding scheduling and announcing the ceremonies arranged for a family.
Stewart Enterprises Faces Shareholder Suit (New Orleans, Louisiana)
A securities class action lawsuit was commenced on behalf of purchasers of Stewart Enterprises common stock between the period of December 15, 1998 through August 12, 1999, inclusive, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Opening Doors To The Media (San Francisco, California)
The San Francisco College of Mortuary Science was the topic of a recent installment in the Arts & Entertainment (A&E) cable network's Investigative Reports series that profiled students as they learn embalming and restoration and serve their apprenticeships in funeral homes.
Charge Dismissed (Proctorville, Ohio)
An attendant for a Proctorville funeral home who was charged with abuse of a corpse after he left a body parked outside a strip bar in Columbus was fined only $150 for the offense.
Going Back In Time (Decatur, Illinois)
Brintlinger Funeral Home took a step back in time recently as they fulfilled a last request made by a horse lover who wanted his funeral to be led by a horse-drawn funeral carriage to his final resting place.
Risky Business (Short Hills, New Jersey)
Franklin Mutual Advisers Inc., a Short Hills-based mutual fund manager that seeks out undervalued and distressed securities, has been scooping up outstanding debt of the bankrupt Loewen Group Inc.
Public Burial Reimbursements (Wauwatosa, Wisconsin)
Wisconsin funeral homes are seeking a larger reimbursement for burial services to those who lived on public assistance.
The Graveyard That Got Trashed (Newark, New Jersey)
An environmental engineering firm found that a potter's field that later became a garbage dump contains more than twice as many bodies than the 18,000 originally thought.
Leaking Crypt Results In Fine (Witchita Falls, Texas)
The Texas Funeral Service Commission fined Service Corporation International $2,000 for unprofessional conduct in handling the embalming and entombment last year of a Wichita Falls television news anchor.
Murder Mystery (Orange City, Florida)
A funeral director was arrested and charged with stabbing his wife to death as she slept and then burying her body in the bottom of a casket for a women whose family held a closed-casket service, police said.
Bush Subpoena Thrown Out (Austin, Texas)
A judge ruled that Texas Governor George W. Bush does not have to testify in a lawsuit filed by a former state official who said she was fired for investigating Service Corporation International, which purportedly has ties to Bush.
City Officials Flip At Funeral Bill (Long Island, New York)
After the recent death of a firefighter who died in the line of duty, as is customary, city officials sent word to the funeral home handling the arrangements that the bill should be sent to the fire department -- but they never expected to receive a bill for nearly $50,000.
Directors Fight New Regulations (New York, New York)
New York City funeral directors are challenging new city rules that require them to place a stack of price lists near the entrance of their business and to visibly disclose their ownership to the public.
Diversified Services (Anaheim, California)
Increasingly, funeral homes and cemeteries across the state and nationwide are finding ways to cater to a variety of ethnic and religious groups by adapting to a variety of cultural traditions and customs.
Ordered To Sell (Boston, Massachusetts)
A longtime, prominent Mattapan funeral home owner has been forced to give up her license because of allegations that she violated state and federal laws.
Assets For The State (Atlantic City, New Jersey)
Legislation that would require monies remaining in certain prepaid funeral arrangements to be paid to the state passed the full Assembly.
Lawsuit Over Improper Handling (Konawa, Oklahoma)
A woman has filed two lawsuits against a Konawa funeral home, alleging the remains of her two daughters were improperly handled.
Cover photograph of Mount Hood from Carin Basin in Oregon by Wayne Aldridge.
December 1999
After Burial Ron Hast
What does or does not go on within a casket after burial. Is it important?
Just Conversation Ron Hast
Interesting and true, unembellished accounts of what can, and has, happened in funeral service!
Howard Raether, Our Once And Future King Jerry Brown
A eulogy written for the late Howard Raether, the protagonist of the funeral profession.
Some Thoughts About Business Insurance Douglas O. Meyer
An important look at property and casualty insurance policies for the funeral director.
Echoes Of Gettysburg Jerry Brown
Controversy, challenge and change from within and without the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Cemetery System.
From Corporate To Private (Crown Point, Indiana)
After being under a corporate umbrella for more than two years, a Crown Point funeral home manager decided the time was right to part with Service Corporation International and buy back the family business.
Funeralaphobia (Elizabeth, Indiana)
A man distraught over the prospect of arranging his mother's funeral left her body in the chair where she died more than five years ago.
Charged With Fraud (Lantana, Florida)
The owner of Palm Beach Funeral Services in Lantana was arrested for submitting inflated invoices to an insurance company.
Searching For A Cemetery Site (Beaver County, Pennsylvania)
A search is underway for land to build a state Veterans' cemetery in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Now It's Official (St. Charles, Missouri)
Before Missouri's new funeral procession law recently went into effect, the state had no statute that addressed or regulated this issue.
Caretaker Takes More Than Care (San Diego, California)
A cemetery caretaker pleaded guilty to stealing a historical and valuable bronze grave marker that commemorated the first person to deliver mail in San Diego.
Stock Drop (Houston, Texas)
Service Corporation International's stock plunged 25 percent after it announced that it would report disappointing third-quarter earnings.
Farewell To "Mr. Funeral Service" Howard Raether (Brookfield, Wisconsin)
Howard C. Raether of Brookfield, retired executive director of the National Funeral Directors Association and one of the nation's leading authorities on funeral service, died on October 6 in Milwaukee.
Accused Of Selling Body Parts (Irvine, California)
The medical school at the University of California at Irvine has fired a mortician accused of selling body parts.
Suffering The Consequences (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)
In the wake of The Loewen Group's bankruptcy, many funeral home owners have discovered the downside of selling to a consolidator as they find their payments have ceased and their stock is nearly worthless.
Directors Assist With Unearthed Coffins (Princeville, North Carolina)
During the ugly aftermath of Hurricane Floyd, funeral directors undertook the task of identifying as many as 100 airtight caskets that were forced from the ground by the floodwaters.
In-State Retailer Ban Upheld (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has upheld a state law that allows only funeral homes to sell caskets directly to the public.
Consumer Advocate Accuses Industry Of False Claims (Hinesburg, Vermont)
Consumer advocate Lisa Carlson calls a recent press release put out by the National Funeral Directors Association "self-serving hogwash."
On Probation (Carbondale, Illinois)
The license of a Carbondale funeral director has ben placed on probation by a state agency for accepting private payments for destitute funerals for which he also billed the state.
Comparing Apples To Lemons? (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Hawaii's first retail casket seller has opened in Honolulu featuring a broad selection of caskets and urns.
Dark Side Of The Little Old Lady (Woodbury, Connecticut)
A 61-year-old elementary school teacher motivated by religion was charged with desecration of property and interference with a cemetery for ripping out flowers and removing graveside ornaments.
Retailers Fight Law Prohibiting Them (Chattahooga, Tennessee)
A casket retailer in Tennessee that was shut down has filed a federal suit seeking to overturn a state law that prohibits the retail sale of caskets by anyone other than a licensed funeral director.
Keeping Up With Costs (Pontiac, Illinois)
A new state law increasing the cap on public aid funds for funeral and burial expenses will help alleviate the financial burden placed on funeral homes.
