Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Funerals
One topic that most people do not want to deal with is funerals. Unfortunately, the unwillingness among many (if not most) people to deal with this topic makes it a very controversial because people are eventually forced to deal with the topic when they are overly emotional. The rational part of the brain is often tossed to the wind during this time period (and after when reflecting on the moment). Additionally, some people who should be considered very trustworthy during this time (like church leaders and members of the funeral industry) actually take advantage of the situation. Additionally, some crackpots blow these unfortunate incidents out of proportion for their own gains (personal and/or financial).
One retired priest has made himself the defender of the public with his anti-funeral industry crusade. Although he cites a few examples of real problems (ones that need to be addressed), it is difficult to take him too seriously when his premise is "All in the funeral industry work together nationally and in every community to enable their "fleecing of America" to continue and expand." He argues that every one involved in the funeral industry is out to gouge the public. One of his arguments is that different funeral homes charge different prices for the same caskets, and that all the prices are above wholesale. The same can be said for supermarkets and for the products they sell. This retired priest needs to take lessons in economics and basic business practices. The concept of overhead never seems to enter his rage-filled mind. Additionally, some of the more gruesome details of events listed on his site are ones that I have never heard of in my life (since I grew up in a funeral-business family and briefly worked in one on a part-time basis while in college about 20 years ago). He argues that the problems are common and persistent, but that is doubtful; so, I question just how bad "the problem" really is.
Nevertheless, he is correct in that some entities charge excessive prices, and he argues that people should compare prices. He is correct. But this assumes that the prices do differ for the entire funeral process, and that the prices may differ so dramatically that shopping around would be worthwhile. This, of course, directly contradicts his thesis that "all in the funeral industry work together" to gouge the public. Rather, at best, he can argue that some in the funeral industry work together to raise prices although this conclusion is not proven either. His research is not substantive enough to support his thesis.
However, there is some truth to what he claims. A few years ago, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, led by Roger Cardinal Mahony, entered into a contract with Stewart Enterprises (the third largest operator of funeral homes and cemeteries in the United States) to build and operate "Catholic" funeral homes on the cemetery properties owned by the Archdiocese (without consulting or soliciting offers from locally owned funeral homes including ones owned and operated by Catholics). The article linked early in this paragraph shows that Stewart Enterprises generally charges much more than local mortuaries for its services. (This is based upon research done by the aforementioned priest, so kuddos to him for pointing it out while at the same time no-kuddos for destroying his own thesis.) A clear example is provided on the website of Utter-McKinley San Fernando Mission Mortuary (not affiliated with the Archdiocese; my uncle does own it, but I have no financial ties to this mortuary, and he is not Catholic whereas I am) where the price of a funeral service (not including a casket) is about $1,000 less than at the Stewart run mortuary across the street located in the Archdiocese's cemetery. It appears that the Archdiocese and the cardinal are more interested in the bottom line than in operating a cemetery that is affordable, hence accessible, to the vast majority of the Catholics in the Archdiocese regardless of their financial state.
The best thing that you can do for you and your loved ones is to compare prices now (and perhaps even "pre-need" your funeral today). Do it when you are not emotional. Make decisions that are rational. If you don't do this, and your family is gouged later, shame on that funeral home; but, more importantly, shame on you for allowing it to happen.
One retired priest has made himself the defender of the public with his anti-funeral industry crusade. Although he cites a few examples of real problems (ones that need to be addressed), it is difficult to take him too seriously when his premise is "All in the funeral industry work together nationally and in every community to enable their "fleecing of America" to continue and expand." He argues that every one involved in the funeral industry is out to gouge the public. One of his arguments is that different funeral homes charge different prices for the same caskets, and that all the prices are above wholesale. The same can be said for supermarkets and for the products they sell. This retired priest needs to take lessons in economics and basic business practices. The concept of overhead never seems to enter his rage-filled mind. Additionally, some of the more gruesome details of events listed on his site are ones that I have never heard of in my life (since I grew up in a funeral-business family and briefly worked in one on a part-time basis while in college about 20 years ago). He argues that the problems are common and persistent, but that is doubtful; so, I question just how bad "the problem" really is.
Nevertheless, he is correct in that some entities charge excessive prices, and he argues that people should compare prices. He is correct. But this assumes that the prices do differ for the entire funeral process, and that the prices may differ so dramatically that shopping around would be worthwhile. This, of course, directly contradicts his thesis that "all in the funeral industry work together" to gouge the public. Rather, at best, he can argue that some in the funeral industry work together to raise prices although this conclusion is not proven either. His research is not substantive enough to support his thesis.
However, there is some truth to what he claims. A few years ago, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, led by Roger Cardinal Mahony, entered into a contract with Stewart Enterprises (the third largest operator of funeral homes and cemeteries in the United States) to build and operate "Catholic" funeral homes on the cemetery properties owned by the Archdiocese (without consulting or soliciting offers from locally owned funeral homes including ones owned and operated by Catholics). The article linked early in this paragraph shows that Stewart Enterprises generally charges much more than local mortuaries for its services. (This is based upon research done by the aforementioned priest, so kuddos to him for pointing it out while at the same time no-kuddos for destroying his own thesis.) A clear example is provided on the website of Utter-McKinley San Fernando Mission Mortuary (not affiliated with the Archdiocese; my uncle does own it, but I have no financial ties to this mortuary, and he is not Catholic whereas I am) where the price of a funeral service (not including a casket) is about $1,000 less than at the Stewart run mortuary across the street located in the Archdiocese's cemetery. It appears that the Archdiocese and the cardinal are more interested in the bottom line than in operating a cemetery that is affordable, hence accessible, to the vast majority of the Catholics in the Archdiocese regardless of their financial state.
The best thing that you can do for you and your loved ones is to compare prices now (and perhaps even "pre-need" your funeral today). Do it when you are not emotional. Make decisions that are rational. If you don't do this, and your family is gouged later, shame on that funeral home; but, more importantly, shame on you for allowing it to happen.
