Synopsis
This important volume offers a comprehensive overview of the funeral home business and provides valuable inside information needed by thoughtful consumers, legal advisors, trust officers, and even clergy - all those who must confront the hard, practical questions that surround one of life's most trying and emotion-filled experiences.
How does one select a funeral home? What obligations and functions are properly the family's and which should be expected of a funeral home? Who is financially responsible for the funeral? What funeral options are available and which are best? Is it possible to arrange a dignified, yet affordable funeral? Is it crass to be concerned about costs?
These are just some of the questions addressed by former funeral home director Gregory W. Young in this easy-to-read reference guide that aids consumers in arranging a funeral and avoiding unnecessary charges. Young's compassion for the grief-stricken and his in-depth understanding of funeral preparation combine to provide a unique perspective on the history and psychology of the American funeral.
Each chapter of this information-packed book covers an important aspect of the contemporary funeral: the need for consumerism, the funeral in history, how the funeral director can help survivors, making the choice between burial and cremation, the importance of the funeral arrangement conference, outlining the funeral contract, describing common funeral rip-offs, how to pre-arrange a funeral, answering frequently asked consumer questions, and much more. Of vital importance are the special features of this remarkable volume: the handy funeral arrangement checklist that helps consumers determine their needs, and a discussion of price ranges for specific services, caskets, burial vaults and miscellaneous expenses.
Never before has so much valuable information been compiled by such a noted authority on a topic that will inevitably touch us all.
From Booklist
Although, as Young notes, it is "not something most of us would normally choose to read up on in our spare time," a funeral is a costly package of services many will have to purchase at least once. Young is well qualified to guide those in need of funeral services, for during his career as a funeral director, he assisted authorities in rooting out unscrupulous practitioners, and he undercut the prevailing market price of cremation services. He first considers the "funeral as a consumer issue," then presents a history of funerals and the funeral director and proceeds to the services, sales tactics, and rip-offs common in the business. The chapter "Frequently Asked Questions" and the bibliography are particularly informative; the former covers common concerns such as why funerals cost so much and what the terms in an itemized funeral bill mean, while the latter lists resources on grieving and funeral rites. Addresses of organizations providing postfuneral help, funeral service complaint procedures, and information on anatomical gifts also appear. Excellent counsel on an important though unhappy topic most people deal with sooner or later. Mike Tribby
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