Choosing a Funeral Home-Part 1
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Choosing a Funeral Home-Part 1 by Dr. R.E. Markin
Funeral Help Program
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Choosing a Funeral Home-Part 1- Choosing a Funeral Home

Funeral homes came through an interesting evolution from their humble beginnings in the mid-19th Century. Originally responsible for the preservation and shipment of Civil War dead, they grew along with the westward expansion of our nation. The 'undertaker' later became a fulltime job, rather than just something else a barber or merchant did in the community, and once this name became the butt of jokes, they started calling themselves 'morticians'. Half-way through the 20th Century this again changed to 'funeral director', which is where you find the profession today.

A parallel line of ownership has evolved as well. As little as a quarter century ago, when a full funeral with burial could still be had for a few hundred dollars, virtually all funeral homes were owned by individuals and families. Today, over fifteen percent of all funeral homes, and an even greater percentage of 'for profit' cemeteries and crematories, are owned by large corporations, but this percentage is deceiving. Fully one-in-four funerals is conducted by a corporate-owned funeral home, because most of the 'high-traffic' homes have been bought out. This bodes poorly for the consumer because corporations ... ALL corporations ... tend to be more concerned with stockholders and earnings than they are with the families they serve.

The 'Big Three' death care corporations, Service Corporation International (SCI), Carriage Services, and Stewarts, together own thousands of funeral homes and cemeteries. Typically they buy the more-prosperous homes in urban areas, or the 'only source available' in rural areas, keep the family name, and jack prices as much as 35%. Since there is no overt sign of changed ownership (often the original owners and/or operators are kept on for at least a transition period), the consumer is allowed to believe he/she is still dealing with the same family-owned business as before. Corporate mandates, service consolidation and sweetheart deals with casket and vault companies make the end result -- the COST and net profit -- much different. Recently New York and Maine passed state laws requiring funeral homes indicate their owners in all signage and paperwork. Hopefully other states will follow suit, but for now you are advised to stay away from these bottom-line oriented homes out of concern for your wallet.

All is not going smoothly for the big corporations, however. Over the past couple of years The Loewens Group saw its stock drop over 75% as it over-bought and incurred huge amounts of debt. This led to 'reorganization' and their return to the market as Carriage Services. All three have been sued, or are currently being sued, for such things as predatory practices, and breach of contract. At this writing, SCI alone has over 300 lawsuits pending. A good tact would be to ASK, and to look at their contract forms for mention of the corporation. Now for some general information on how to go about choosing a funeral home.

Funeral Home Shopping

In 1984, in a rare act of concern for the consumer, Congress passed what is now known as the Funeral Rule Legislation. This was revised in 1994, and is up for consideration again as this is written. The important aspects of it are as listed below:

 Funeral homes must make available, in person or by phone, a General Price List covering all fees for services offered. They are required to give you a copy of this GPL to keep, if you ask for it. Funeral homes must also make available a price list for caskets, outer containers and urns. Notice they are NOT required to give you a copy of this, merely to show you one. The more reputable funeral homes will have a copy you can take with you, so this could be your first sign a funeral home is less-than-honest in their dealings with families. Funeral homes are NOT to make claims for 'sealing', 'gasketed', or 'protective' caskets or outer containers that are not true. This includes implying that a rubber seal will help preserve remains, which is ludicrous once the biochemistry of the situation is considered, but perhaps the most common scam in the industry. Funeral homes are NOT to state that a casket is required for cremation. This includes only showing the family upscale 'cremation caskets' without advising them that an alternative container is available. The consumer can purchase a casket from any source he/she chooses -- even in states where casket sales are limited to licensed funeral directors -- and the funeral home cannot change their prices, nor charge a 'handling fee' for using a casket bought from a third-party.

Break out your Yellow Pages and call for prices, or better yet, visit in person to pick up the GPL and peruse the casket and outer container price list. Since caskets are covered in-depth in the next section and available in from a range of sources, we'll concentrate here on the General Price List of services. Take notes when you visit, and don't be surprised if you find a wide gap between the lowest and highest prices, even in a confined area. This comparative shopping is an important and illuminating step, and something you'll want to do with every facet of the arrangement process, from funeral home, to casket, to outer container, to cemetery plots. This industry thrives on the fact that most people do not question prices and refuse to even consider the inevitability of their needing to know this information. Do NOT make any decisions during this phase, take the information to a quiet place and study it.

NOTE: In 2003 we started the Consumer Certification Program. Funeral-related establishments can request a certification visit and, should they meet our standards, receive our endorsement as 'Consumer Certified'. The logo and plaques are conspicuous, so be on the lookout for them when you visit any funeral home, crematory, casket store or cemetery. Add to a notebook or create a new notebook