FUNERALS and RIPOFFS

      THE FOUR MOST IMPORTANT STEPS
            TO PREVENT BEING CHEATED
1.  KNOW WHAT A FAIR PRICE IS
          for funerals, caskets, cremation, cemetery plots.
      Then FIND a FAIR-priced mortuary - regardless of
          its distance - up to 75 miles away or more.
       In Arizona, use a Good Shepherd Program mortuary.
       In other states, phone mortuaries until you find a
          fair-priced one.  OR phone your local FCA.
       Your local FCA (Funeral Consumer Alliance) is a non-profit,
          volunteer consumer group that surveys mortuary prices in
          your area. It can give you a short list of the lower-priced
          mortuaries affiliated with it. It monitors these to make sure
          that families are happy with the prices and services.
       Go to www.funerals.org or phone 1-800-765-0107, the
          national office, to obtain the phone number of your local
          group. There is usually a membership fee of about $30 to
          pay for their phone, printing and mailing expenses.

2.  Have viewing and ALL services in your nearby church,
          synagogue, or home - so that you're not forced to use
          a high-priced mortuary nearby.
       The industry works hard to maintain the myth that you should
          use a nearby mortuary - so that you will use it and pay its
          outrageous prices because you believe the myth.
       High-priced mortuaries give gifts/bribes to many clergy to coax
          them to not permit you to use your church for some of the
          services - to force you to use a nearby mortuary. If your pastor
          does this, call your denomination, bishop, newspapers and TV
          to stop the bribery and injustice.

3.  Don't buy costly, fraudulent "Protective seal" gasket
          caskets that bloat and severely damage every body.
      MOST families are tricked into buying them because
          morticians make a huge profit from each one. Morticians
          force families to buy them by displaying only these, and few
          or none of the hundreds of the beautiful, non-gasket caskets.
      Buy a beautiful, less-costly, safe, non-gasket casket.
      Many models and colors are offered by wholesale distributors
          in every community, delivered free in two hours.)

4.  "Don't Prepay for Your Funeral" is the warning of
          MONEY magazine in its "Retire With Money" newsletter.
      Be cautious with "pre-arranging" a funeral because many
          mortiicans try coax you to change this to "prepay" and
          perhaps lose every cent of thousands of dollars you prepay.

  ►Introducción a los ataúdes y tácticas deceptivas.> (en poco tiempo)

FRAUDULENT CASKET TACTICS
             used by most mortuaries

1)  "Top Secret" WHOLESALE Casket Prices, Outrageous
        MARKUPS and PRICES = the MAIN RIP-OFF TACTIC
        of mortuaries. Secret for 100 years. FIRST revealed here.

2)  "PROTECTIVE SEAL" GASKET Caskets. MOST PEOPLE
        BUY THESE, not knowing they BLOAT and DAMAGE
        EVERY body. Secret for 100 years. Revealed with photos.

3)  "VULGARIZED" (ugly) caskets manufacturers create for
        use in "BAIT-and-SWITCH" tactics with all families who
        phone for prices. Secret for 100 years. Revealed, photos.

====================================

FRAUD #1:  LOW WHOLESALE Casket Prices
    and HIGH MARKUPS - which produce
    EXORBITANT HIGH PRICES and PROFITS..

This is the PRIMARY RIP-OFF TACTIC of mortuaries.
      It produces HALF of the $8 billion rip-off yearly.

Wholesale prices have been kept ABSOLUTELY SECRET
      for more than 100 years, to prevent the media from ever
      exposing the massive rip-off of all U.S. families.
      Of the more than one trillion sites on the Internet, this is
      the FIRST and ONLY site to reveal these secret prices.

This absolute secrecy is to prevent you and media from judging the
      prices of caskets - and from judging the honesty of your local
      mortuaries. The secrecy has prevented the media from informing
      public and stopping the unjust high prices and profits.

FRAUD #2: "PROTECTIVE SEAL" GASKET CASKETS,
    the type sold to MOST FAMILIES, are a cruel fraud that
    don't protect, but BLOAT and DAMAGE every body. This
    has been kept SECRET for more than 100 years.

In 1995, this site uncovered and exposed this fraud for the
    first time. This is ONLY site that clearly explains this
    intentional destruction of bodies by your "honest, caring"
    local mortuaries. See photos and explanation in the
    notepad below.

These caskets are listed on mortuary price lists as "GASKETED".
    The thin, inch-wide neoprene rubber seal activates the anaerobic
    bacteria in the body that begin destroying the body the moment
    that the casket is closed.
Most morticians highly-promote them for exorbitant prices
    to obtain the highest-possible profit. They are "Gentlemen
    bandits" -- with no consciences -- STEALING hundreds or
    thousands of dollars from you, yet not going to prison.

How to remove the seals if you don't want mortuaries to destroy
    the bodies of your loved ones is explained in the notepad below.

SAFE, LESS-COSTLY CASKETS.  There are hundreds
    of beautiful, less-expensive, SAFE, non-gasket caskets
    that every mortuary has in stock -- but many mortuaries
    don't display them so that they can coax or force you to
    buy their high-priced, fraudulent "Protective seal" gasket
    caskets for high profit. This is the ONLY site that shows
    and tells you about

Ask to see these non-gasket caskets - and photos that they
    have of dozens of models and colors of these caskets - which
    they can obtain in a few hours. If they won't cooperate or charge
    high prices for these caskets, contact another mortuary.

CASKET FRAUD #2:  "VULGARIZED" CASKETS
    that are made ugly by manufacturers and made more
    ugly by mortuaries - to be used for "Bait-and-Switch"
    tactics with families who call for prices. MOST mortuaries
    have one or more of these caskets. They give a low price
    on the phone for this "BAIT" casket - to attract families to
    their mortuary.
But, when people see its defects, the mortician can easily
    coax or force them to "SWITCH" to a non-vulgarized
    version of the SAME casket priced $500-$1,000 higher.
    See photos and more explanation in the notepad below.

IN THE NOTEPAD BELOW ARE:
    - LOW 2008 WHOLESALE PRICES that mortuaries pay for
           all caskets,
    - EXORBITANT PRICES that mortuaries charge you,
    - HIGH PROFIT that mortuaries obtain from each casket,
    - BEAUTIFUL, LESS-EXPENSIVE, SAFE CASKETS in many
           models and colors, quickly available to all mortuaries.

(Astral, Aurora, Batesville, and York, the largest casket companies,
    have warehouses in most cities, with free delivery in 2 hours.)

PHONE many mortuaries for their prices. Compare them
    with these - to decide if you should to go elsewhere.

       THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY AND YOUR
    LOCAL MORTUARIES COOPERATE TO
  MAINTAIN ABSOLUTE SECRECY ABOUT:

  1)  Low wholesale casket prices that mortuaries pay:
          All mortuaries can obtain many beautiful metal caskets for
            $400-$550 wholesale from local distributors, and then
            charge up to $4,000 or more, to obtain up to $3,500 profit
            on each casket. The "Top Secret" wholesale prices of
            caskets are available ONLY on this one Internet site.

   2)  Extortionate markups, prices and profit:
        Mortuaries charge markups/profit many times higher than
            other industries.

  3)  Costly, fraudulent "Protective Seal" GASKET caskets
             that bloat and damage every body
        MOST FAMILIES buy these destructive caskets,
            not knowing about the serious harm to every body of
            their relatives.
        The fraud of the "Protective Seal" gasket caskets, kept secret
            by every U.S. mortuary throughout the past century,
           was uncovered and revealed by this web site in 1995.
        This is the ONLY Internet site that provides an exact
            explanation of the seal's action and effects on the body
            that begins immediately upon closing the caske
        Mortuaries try to coax or force every family to buy these
            high-priced, fraudulent, destructive caskets instead of the
            hundreds of SAFE, less-expensive, beautiful, non-sealer
            caskets available in every city.

  4)  More than 130 Deceptive Practices to cheat families:
         Mortuaries use several of these tactics to cheat
            nearly every family.
         These are used nationwide by state funeral boards,
           National Funeral Directors Association, casket
           manufacturers, mortuaries, cemeteries, prepay
           plans and their salespersons, contract wording and
           "fine print" - to obtain millions of dollars rip-off daily.
         The more than 130 Deceptive Tactics are listed and
           described ONLY on this site on the entire Internet.

  5)  Dishonest advertising, leaflets, talks to groups,
          testimony to congress, state legislatures, etc.

  6)  Gifts/"bribes" to many denominations,
          ministers, bishops, priests, social workers and
          hospital/hospice workers - to coax them to:
            - distribute high-priced mortuaries' advertising
                 calendars, leaflets and other materials;
           - not warn families about rip-off tactics; and
           - send families to their high-priced mortuaries.

   Secrecy enforced: Throughout the industry the fear of punishment is
maintained for any mortician who reveals any of its secrets about
wholesale prices, high markups and deceptive tactics to reporters or
churches - because the industry does not want families to know:
     1) what tactics are being used to rip them off,
     2) how to avoid these tactics and high funeral prices,
     3) how much money is being stolen from them.
.

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1)  "SISTEMA de GANANCIAS" injustas de la industria.

2)  PRECIOS INJUSTOS y 130+ TÁCTICAS FALSAS de
     funerarias, cementerios y planes prepagados,
     listados y explicados SOLAMENTE en este sitio.

3)  Ataúdes con "Sellos Protectores" (gasket) fraudulen-
     tos que dañan los cuerpos, expuestos por este sitio.

4)  Precios secretos de MAYOREO de ataúdes que Ud.
     necesita -- están SOLAMENTE en este sitio.

5)  Nombres de funerarias con precios JUSTOS en
     varios estados.  (La lista estará aquí en un poco tiempo.)

6)  ENCUENTRE una funeraria con PRECIOS JUSTOS.

7)  PRECIOS JUSTOS de ataudes, funerales, cremación.

8)  FOLLETO EN COLOR con fotos de ataudes y precios
      JUSTOS por varios servicios. Llamen por copia.

9)  FUNERAL ALEGRE, CREATIVO con decoraciones,
      musica para celebrar la NUEVA VIDA de su amigo.

10)  LEAN articulos de Consumers Digest, AARP, Money,
       U.S. News & World Report, TV investigaciones y
       periodicos acerca del fraude nacional de funerales.

PRIMERO
Clic
aquí

NOTAS,
AVISOS

► What most people don't know about the funeral industry. > English

LO QUE LA MAYORÍA DE
LA GENTE NO SABE ACERCA
DE LA INDUSTRIA FUNEBRE

Todas las funerarias reclaman "reputación y honestidad."

Pero, casi toda funeraria,
incluyendo la más-conocida y cercana a Ud., hurta
$2,000 a $8,000 de casi todas las familias
para gran ganancia.

Este rip-off iguala $8-9 billones cada año
de 2 millones de familias que tienen funerales,
causando daño serio financiero y emocional.

Éste es el ÚNICO Sitio en el Internet que provee a Ud. los
precios "Ultra Secretos" POR MAYOREO, y precios JUSTOS,
y 130+ TÁCTICAS FALSAS usadas por las funerarias,
cementerios y planes prepagados.
Ud. necesita comprender esta información para obtener
un funeral con precio justo en los E.U.

COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS
THROUGH THE CENTURY
about funerals and the funeral industry

These statements show how, from its very beginning until
now, the funeral industry has been greedy and corrupt,
caring more about money than about families.

1903
"As early as 1903, social workers were complaining that the
undertakers invariably managed to find out the amount of
industrial insurance carried by the deceased, and then
make sure that their bills were sufficiently large
to ABSORB ALL of the insurance money available."

--The American Way of Death, the famous investigative book
by Jessica Mitford, 1963

1928
"... as long as the public is IGNORANT of what
funeral service and merchandise SHOULD COST
and as long as (it is) possible for inefficient and
superfluous (mortuaries) to continue
there is LITTLE HOPE of lowering funeral prices
to the public or correcting the flagrant abuses."

--Funeral Costs, John Gebhardt, 1928 (examination of 15,000
funeral invoices -- Metropolitan Life Insurance Company)

1958
A 1958 nationwide survey of clergymen found that 51% of
Protestant clergymen and 41% of Catholic clergymen
believed that morticians exploited their congregations.

(However, most denominations and churches have done little to
stop the rip-off or protect their own congregations.)

1961
"It is highly probable that the most satisfactory funeral
service for the average family is one in which the
COST has necessitated some degree of sacrifice.
This permits the survivors to atone for any real or
fancied neglect of the deceased prior to his death."

-- National Funeral Service Journal, August 1961

(This idea enables morticians to NOT FEEL GUILTY about
cheating every family. The MORE MONEY a mortician ROBS
from a family, the more he helps them with their grief.)

1978
"In Florida, the most outrageous misrepresentation,
intimidation, and harassment of bereaved survivors are a
matter of frequent public record. ... (the unfair practices are)
not isolated occurrences confined to the unethical few.
There is no significant movement from within the business,
however, even from the ethical practicioner, to reform what
has become a ghoulish, profit-above-all , final ripoff. ..."

-- "Final Ripoff Can't Last Forever" Editorial, Miami Herald,
June 20, 1978

1972-84
1972-75:  Federal Trade Commission's nationwide
investigation of the funeral industry.
1976:  526 page Report proposes "Funeral Rule" regulations
to prohibit hundreds of abuses.
1976-1982:  FTC is forced to "water down" the proposed
regulations four times by industry lobbying.
1984:  FTC's "Funeral Rule" goes into full effect.

1985
"What is the greediest, most rapacious industry in America?
... Mortuaries are the most rapacious industry ... Many pad
costs in a unconscionable manner, inflating the wholesale
price of caskets by up to 900 percent, charging exorbitant
fees for minimal services ... [W]ith a handful of exceptions,
much of the industry takes advantage of  people at their
most vulnerable time. The clergy bear a special
responsibility for this state of affairs ... [They] often make
recommendations based on the myth that all mortuaries
charge the same prices or on little real knowledge of costs.
... price gouging, exorbitant prices and deceptive practices
should be held up to public scorn."

-- The American Way of Death is Unnecessarily Expensive."
The Arizona Republic newspaper, December 29, 1985

1992
"There are so many horrible things happening in the
industry here that I can't honestly tell consumers where they
can go to get a funeral in California done properly."

-- Member of the California Cemetery Board, 1992

1993
"Nearly every family in nearly every community is ripped off
by nearly every mortician in the U.S."

-- 90 million television viewers saw and heard these words three
times - during the 1993 Super Bowl broadcast, spoken by Rev.
Henry Wasielewski, in previews for NBC-TV's "DATELINE"
funeral investigation program a few days later.

           ► Lea articulos de los periódicos y revistas nacional.

                          READ
    MAGAZINE and NEWSPAPER
                     ARTICLES
      about funerals and the funeral industry

      Articles about the funeral industry, prices, unfair tactics
and other aspects. (TO READ: Below this condensed list,
click on an article's site address to read the article. Use your
BACK arrow to return to this window.)

1)  Cover: "Don't Die Until You Read This",
  U.S. News & World Report magazine, March 23, 1998.
     Article: "The Deathcare Business: The funeral
industry goliaths make lots of money off your grief."
Extensive national article describes the industry;  huge
chains raising funeral prices by buying mortuaries and
cemeteries in most U.S. cities;  church participation in the
rip-off;  and the years of reform efforts of Rev. Henry
Wasielewski, one of the founders of our IFIC.

2)  Article: "Funerals: Confusion, high prices",
The Arizona Republic newspaper, May 18, 2008

3)  Cover: "Dead Wronged: Shocking mistakes by
area funeral homes have left some grieving families with
few answers and little recourse", Times newspaper,
Phoenix, Arizona, July 2008.
     Article: "Dead Wronged", Times, July 2008.
     Article: "Dead Wronged II", Times, August 2008

4)  Article: "Last Wrongs", Commonweal, a national
Catholic magazine, August 13, 2004.

5)  Article: "Funeral Industry Colludes With
Clergy to Fleece Laity", Insight on the News,  Dec. 11,
2000,  by Armstrong Williams, nationally syndicated radio
host

6)  Articles in the Los Angeles New Times newspaper -
regarding the contract for the Stewart chain to build its own
mortuaries on nine archdiocese cemeteries; and the new
cathedral.

=============================================
ARTICLES:

1)  Cover:  "Don't Die Until You Read This", U.S.
News & World Report magazine, March 23, 1998.
     Article: "The Deathcare Business: The funeral
industry goliaths make lots of money off your grief."
Extensive article. To read the article, click:
www.interment.com/articles/goliaths.html -- Click your
BACK arrow to return to this window.

      In the article, Fr. Wasielewski of our Interfaith Committee
is quoted as condemning LA Cardinal Mahony's actions as
"sinful" for contracting with Stewart Enterprises. Metairie,
Louisiana to build its Stewart mortuaries on the Los Angeles
Catholic Archdiocese's nine cemeteries (now increased to
nine mortuaries over the six in article). (Type "henry
wasielewski" into Yahoo, Google).

      The director of the archdiocese's cemeteries says
"Cemeteries are a big revenue generator for the diocese."
The cathedral's final cost is $200 million, up from the
projected $100 million in article.

      To estimate Stewart's markup and profit, the writer asked
Wasielewski for the wholesale price of the Batesville
"Kensington Green" casket, priced at $3,495. The wholesale
cost was $675, thus a markup of 5.17 times wholesale, for a
profit $2,820. This is TWICE as much markup and profit as
the "2.5 times wholesale" that morticians often say is the
most that any mortuary would charge.

      In the "POINT system code" that morticians use (so that
people and reporters won't know what they are talking about
if they overhear them), morticians would say: "Our mortuary
charges SIX POINTS on this casket," which means a "6
times wholesale" markup. This means charging $3,000 for a
$500 wholesale casket, for a high profit of $2,500 on the
$500 box. "Point" comes from the point in "2.5 times
wholesale", which they refer to as "two point five" markup in
their code.

      The article has photos of the cardinal digging the first
shovelful for the new cathedral, of Wasielewski in the Yaqui-
style cemetery in Guadalupe, and of Eddie Chavez. Chavez,
retired but selling caskets from Tempe, was a funeral director
and was manager of a casket distribution center in Phoenix.
Because he was supplying caskets to Botimer's fair-priced
mortuary, sugar was put into his trucks' gas tanks to destroy
the motors, and a casket manufacturer cut off its supply of
their caskets to him. It resumed supply when Botimer
threatened a lawsuit.

2) Article: "Funerals: Inconsistant costs, wide
confusion",  The Arizona Republic newspaper, May 18,
2008. To view the article, click:
www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/18/20080518
priceofdeath0511.html -- Click your BACK arrow to return
to this window.

      The article is followed by many readers' comments.
Notice that Greer-Wilson Mortuary's price of $1,305 and
Phoenix Memorial Park's price of $4,700 DON'T include a
casket, so increase their prices by $1,500+ and $2,500 to
include a casket like the Good Shepherd program's -- and
compare the totals with the Good Shepherd's $1,952 funeral
with the casket.

      Angel Mortuary's Direct Cremation at $475 doesn't
include all that is needed. This shows how mortuaries
mislead families, and how much a family needs to know
about cremation, prices and mortuary tactics in order to
figure out what the price really is when trying to compare
various mortuaries by phone.

3)  Cover: "Dead Wronged: Shocking mistakes by
area funeral homes have left some grieving families with
few answers and little recourse", Times newspaper,
Phoenix, Arizona, July 2008.
     Article: "Dead Wronged", Times, July 2008.
     Article: "Dead Wronged II", Times, August 2008
To view the articles, click:
www.timespublications.com/july08-feature1.asp and
www.timespublications.com/aug08-feature2.asp -- Click
your BACK arrow to return to this window.

4) Article: "Last Wrongs", Commonweal, a national
Catholic magazine, by John Cort, August 13, 2004. To view
the article, click:
www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1252/is_14_131/
ai_n9505388 -- Click your BACK arrow to return to this
window.

      (The article also mentions Laderman 's books "Rest in
Peace" and "A Cultural History of Death and the Funeral
Home in Twentieth-Century America"

5)  Article: "Funeral Industry Colludes With
Clergy to Fleece Laity", Insight on the News,  Dec 11,
2000,  by Armstrong Williams, nationally syndicated radio
host.  To view the article, click:
www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_46_16/ai_72329022?tag=rel.res4
-- Click your BACK arrow to return to this window.

6) Articles in the Los Angeles New Times. To view the
articles, click:
www.bishop-accountability.org/ca-la/mahony-2001-12.htm --
Click your BACK arrow to return to this window.

      Here are two articles in the LA New Times regarding
funerals, cemeteries and the new cathedral. Cardinal Mahony
said the archdiocese couldn't afford $20 million to repair
previous cathedral after the 1994 earthquake (however,
experts said repair would only be $2.5 mil). But he later
announced his plan for a $100 million cathedral; with the final
cost: $200 million.
      The articles tell of the contract with the Stewart chain to
build its own mortuaries on nine archdiocese cemeteries; and
the new cathedral. Stewart's lease at the nine cemeteries is
for 40 years. The article mentions Stewart's other money-
making deals, Simplicity Plan, and Western Sequoia.
      Pastors of parishes in low income areas wrote complaints
against the new high-priced Stewart mortuaries. The cardinal
threatened them with removal from their parishes if they
didn't write retractions of their complaints.

► Summary of important information about the industry > English

SUMARIO DE INFORMACIÓN BASICA IMPORTANTE
                      acerca de la industria funeraria
    (► ◄: Nota aparece cuando su cursor está sobre las flechas.)
   (Vea explicación completa en los topicos listados a la izquierda.)

    La industria funeraria es diferente a todas las otras,
porque dicha industria se fundamenta en el TEMOR y el
SECRETO ABSOLUTO que son dados fuerza nacional para
habilitar grandes ganancia.

  1. SECRETO ABSOLUTO - Todas de las ►funerarias◄ de su
vecindad son forzadas a cooperar con todas de las otras
funerarias en los EE.UU. en manteniendo el SECRETO ABSOLUTO
acerca de cada aspecto de la industria funeraria. El secreto
habilita a CADA funeraria robar (“rip-off”) casi toda familia en
cada comunidad de los EE.UU. – por previniendo los medios de
las publicaciones y TV juzgar y EXPONER los aumentos
altos, precios exagerados y tácticas cruentas utilizadas por
las funerarias. (Más aquí - En poco tiempo vamos a tener más
aquí acerca de las muchas maneras que el secreto absoluto es
usado para frustrar los esfuerzos de los medios de comunicación
para alertar a las familias sobre el rip-off, y la manera de cesarlo.)

  2. TEMOR en todas partes de la industria - Desconocido al
publico, todas funerarias tienen TERROR del daño al cuerpo;
daño a los vehículos, edificios y equipo; terminación de su
surtido de ataúdes; y otras amenazas usadas contra
cualquiera que revela cualquier información acerca del
fraude, precios al mayoreo, altos aumentos y cualquier acerca de la
más que 130 prácticas engañosas que son las HERRAMIENTAS
esenciales por obteniendo las ganancias la más alta
posible.
      Algunos miembros de nuestra Comité Interfe y sus familiares
han sufrido daño serio y amenazas de muerte - un resulto de
nuestra revelación continuamente de los precios secretos al
mayoreo de ataúdes y prácticas engañosas de la industria - en las
publicaciones y TV locales y nacionales.

    En el vacuo causada por su secreto, la industria da los mitos e
información falsa a los reporteros, iglesias y familias. La industria
"UTILIZA" el medio de TV y publicaciones y las iglesias para
pasar los mitos y información falsa y guíar a las familias al
alta-preciada funerarios y planes prepagados para robar millones
de dólares cada día, en cada comunidad.

   PRECIOS ULTRAJANTES son la PRINCIPAL TÁCTICA
DE RIP-OFF (robo) usada para hurtar el dinero de CADA FAMILIA,
causando daño serio a millones de familias que piensan que ellos
pueden confiar en los medios y las iglesias para advertir y los
protegen - no para extraviarlos y para conducirlos a las funerarias
con precios altos.

   Más de 130 PRÁCTICAS ENGAÑOSAS son la
SECUNDARIA TÁCTICA DE RIP-OFF usada con familias para
crecer la ganancia sobre la grande ganancia obtenida por medio
de precios altos - por casi toda funeraria, cementerio y plan
prepagado, incluyendo la más-conocidas y los operados por
denominaciones religiosas y diócesis Católicos.

   LOS MEDIOS de comunicación necesitan informar a las familias
cuales son PRECIOS JUSTOS por los servicios y ataúdes, como
buscar una funeraria JUSTA, y como REDUCIR el rip-off por
todas las otras funerarias.

    Pero, en lugar de dar la información de precios justos que las
familias necesitan, la mayoría de los medios dan a las familias
los mitos y información falsa, o habla de los problemas que
solamente pocas familias encuentran (como: revuelto de piedras de
las tumbas o ceniza, tratamiento insultando, prisa, información
engañosa, etc.)

   Así, el publico se mantiene mal informado y confuso -
exactamente lo que las funerarias necesitan para facilitar el rip-off
a cada familia.

   La industria esfuerza su secreto importante por castigando
cualquier empleado que revela cualquier cosa a los reporteros -
porque ésta no quiere que las familias sepan acerca de sus
aumentos injustos - y las tácticas engañosas usadas para crecer el
rip-off de cada familia.

    Pero, este sitio del Internet le da a Ud. y a los reporteros la
información crítica que NINGÚN OTRO sitio del Internet provee:
los "Altamente Secretos” precios de mayoreo; los precios justos
al menudeos; y la más de 130 tácticas engañosas que todas
familias necesitan saber para evitar un daño financiero serio.

                 ► How to plan a joyful, creative funeral.> English

              COMO PLANEAR UN
FUNERAL JUBILOSO, CREATIVO
           e invitar amigos e hijos para ayudar.

            (Clic aquí para leer un artículo de una revista nacional
                  acerca de una familia y amigos que prepararon
              un funeral realmente alegre y creativo por su Papá.)

    Su familia debe querer un funeral alegre que celebra la
NUEVA VIDA, ALEGRE que su Papá le gusta en el Cielo (o
en una "Felíz Tierra de Montería", o otro nombre por la vida
próxima en que crea la mayoría de la gente del mundo).

    Las funerarias NO QUIEREN LOS FUNERALES ALEGRES
porque ellos obtienen un mitad de su mucha ganancia de cada
familia por medio de instando la familia concentrar su atención
en el cuerpo y gastar mucho dinero por un ataúd costoso para
el cuerpo que su amigo tiró al lado.

    Las escuelas de la industria enseñan a los estudientes:
      1) desplegar muchas ataúdes costosas y desplegarlos con
luces especiales;  desplegar pocos o nada de los muchos
ataúdes menos-costosos, muy bonitos que ellos tienen, y no
mostrar fotos en colores que ellos tienen de estos;
      2) tell families falsely that the many beautiful, less-
expensive caskets are not available because they "come from
Indiana", although they can obtain them in two hours from local
distributors;
      3) tell families that a costly casket "proves how much you
love" your dad; that your friends will think that you didn't love
your mother is you buy a less expensive casket;
      4) tell families that "if you don't buy the best casket you can
afford" you will feel guilty ("have the guilties") in the years
ahead.
      5) tell families that spending money on a costly casket is
"the last thing you can do" for your dad - although your dad is
not in the casket, and isn't interested in money wasted on a
casket for a body that he tossed aside. (People aren't interested
in their hair and fingernails after they cut them off and don't use
them any more.)

    Su Papá está CELEBRANDO y QUIERE QUE UD. CELEBRA
con el. When you go to heaven and are celebrating, you will
want your friends to be celebrating, not crying.) Your Dad
doesn't want any tears. And he isn't interested the body that he
left behind, and doesn't want money wasted on a costly casket
for it, instead of the money being used for family needs. His
death is now in the past; he wants you to celebrate what is
happening NOW, his joyful NEW LIFE.

    From the Christian perspective:  Saint Paul said: "When
someone dies, DO NOT CRY, unless you have no hope" (as: no
hope if you don't believe in a next life, or no hope if you think the
person lived a bad life and is not going to heaven).

    Jesus told the thief on the cross: "Today, you will be with me
in PARADISE", not in a grave.

    Jesus said that heaven is like a great WEDDING BANQUET
(not like a storage shed or other boring, inactive place). He must
have chosen "wedding banquet" to make us think about a
lively, joyful wedding celebration, with balloons, crepe paper,
music, dancing, cake, refreshments, joyful conversation among
lots of colorfully-dressed guests, celebrating and welcoming all
the newcomers.

    Your Dad would love for you to be at the "Welcoming Celebration"
for him, but, at least you can have a joyful celebration of his New
Life - imitating his celebration.

1)  Unjust "PROFIT SYSTEM" of the funeral industry.

2)  UNFAIR PRICES and 130+ DECEPTIVE TACTICS of
        most mortuaries, cemeteries and prepay plans --
        listed and explained ONLY on this Internet site.

3)  Fraudulent "Protective seal" GASKET caskets, that
        MOST families buy, BLOAT and DESTROY every
        body. SECRET for 100 years. Revealed, photos.

4)  "Top Secret" WHOLESALE casket prices needed by
       you and the media -- but kept SECRET for more
       than 100 years -- now revealed ONLY on this site.

5)  Names of FAIR mortuaries in various states; prices.
         (List is being compiled.)

6)  FIRST STEPS when death occurs or is expected, or
         considering a prepay plan.

7)  HOW TO FIND a FAIR-PRICED mortuary near you.

8)  FAIR PRICES for caskets, funerals and cremation.

9)  COLOR BROCHURE with photos of caskets and FAIR
        prices for various services. Obtain a free copy.

10)  JOYFUL, CREATIVE FUNERAL with decorations,
        music to celebrate your relative's NEW LIFE.

11)  Read articles from Consumers Digest, AARP, Money,
        U.S. News & World Report, TV investigations and
        newspapers about the nationwide funeral fraud.

► Que la más de la gente no saben acerca de la industria funebre. > Español

WHAT MOST PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW ABOUT
ABOUT THE FUNERAL INDUSTRY

All funeral homes claim "good reputation and honesty."

However, nearly all funeral homes,
including the best-known and those near you,
overcharge (rip-off) most families $2,000 to $8,000
for huge profit.

This rip-off totals $8-9 billion a year
from 2 million families having funerals,
causing serious financial and emotional harm.

This is the ONLY Internet site that provides you with the
"Top Secret" WHOLESALE prices, FAIR mortuary prices,
and 130+ DECEPTIVE TACTICS used by mortuaries,
cemeteries and prepay plans. You must understand
this information to obtain a fair-priced funeral in the U.S.

► Send us your questions and suggestions. > English

MANDENOS SUS PREGUNTAS
Y SUGERENCIAS.

E-mail a:
funerals@funerals-ripoffs.org

Vamos a poner las preguntas y sugerencias abajo.

INFORMACIÓN FAMILIAR ESENCIAL LL

Como PLANEAR un funeral - y EVITAR los PRECIOS y TÁCTICAS INJUSTAS de la mayoría
de las funerarias, cementerios y planes prepagadas para robar a casi todas las familias.

De un trillón de sitios en el Internet, éste es el ÚNICO Sitio en el mundo que expone sobre los
$8 billones defraudados (rip-off) a las familias y las TÁCTICAS DAÑOSAS de la industria -- como :
Los precios "Altamente Secretos" al mayoreo de los ataudes; ataudes "sellados" que destruyen todos los cuerpos; y más que 130 tácticas engañosas.

Comité Interfe de Información de Funerales (IFIC)
Organización de Investigación por Consumidores, No-lucrativo
Fundador del Programa de Funerales Buen Pastor para asistir a todas las familias de E.U.

English

► Mande sus preguntas y sugerencias por e-mail. > Español

SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS
AND SUGGESTIONS.

E-mail to:
funerals@funerals-ripoffs.org

We'll put the questions and answers below.

                           ► Here are Fair Prices to Seek > English
-
  PRECIOS JUSTOS PARA BUSCAR

   ● $1,952-$2,400 total por un Funeral "Tradicional"
        con un Ataúd Bonito de Metal (varios colores)
           NO $4,000-$10,000 - para gran ganancia de la funeraria.

   ● $650-$800 por Ataudes Bonitos de Metal, muchos
          colores por $200 ganancia justa - ($452-$600 por mayoreo)
          NO $1,800-$4,000 ($3,500 ganancia del ataúd)

    ● $645-$800 total por "Cremación Directa" completa,
          incluyendo todos los cargos y cualquier refrigeración.
          NO $1,200 a $3,000 muchas funerarias. (Muchos añaden^
             cargos injustos de refrigeración hasta $300 cada día).

     Precios del Programa Funeral del Buen Pastor:

   ● $1,952 total por un Funeral "Tradicional" completo
            con un Ataúd Bonito de Metal (varios colores, modelos
            (incluye cremación si quiere)
       CLIC aquí por ataúd y servicios incluido en precio del funeral.

   ● $650-$800 por muchos Ataudes Bonitos de Metal, seguros

   ● $645 total por Cremación Directa complet

   OBTENGA el FOLLETO gratis
     del Programa
     Buen Pastor
      (Español o Inglés).

   EN TODOS ESTADOS,
       el folleto da AYUDA
       PARA PLANEAR.
       Fotos en colores
       de ataúdes, precios
       secretos al mayoreo
       y JUSTOS menudeo.

   Y: Precios JUSTOS por
       todos los servicios
       funerales - también
       avisos e información.

    CLIC aquí para ver
         cuatro páginas más
         largas del FOLLETO
         en Español y muchos fotos colorados de ataúdes.

    PARA OBTENER folleto con otras materiales, CLIC aquí.

                            ► Precios Justos para Buscar > Español

  HERE ARE FAIR PRICES TO SEEK

    ● $1,952-$2,400 total for a "Traditional" Funeral
        with a Beautiful Metal Casket (various colors, models)
          NOT $4,000-$10,000 - for huge profit by most mortuaries
           for the SAME funeral and casket.

    ● $650-$800 for Beautiful Metal Caskets, many colors
          for $200 FAIR profit each - ($452-$600 wholesale prices)
          NOT $1,800-$4,000 - for $3,500 profit on many caskets

    ● $645-$800 total for "Direct Cremation" complete,
          including all fees and any refrigeration needed.
          NOT $1,200 to $3,000 at most mortuaries (Many add
             outrageous refrigeration fees of up to $300 a day).

     Our Good Shepherd Funeral Program prices:

    ● $1,952 TOTAL for a Complete "Traditional" Funeral
            with a Beautiful Metal Casket (various colors, models)
            (includes cremation if desired)
  ► CLICK here for casket and services included in funeral price.

    ● $650-$800 for many safe, Beautiful Metal Caskets

    ● $645 TOTAL for Direct Cremation complete

     OBTAIN our free Good Shepherd
        Funeral Program
          COLOR BROCHURE,
          English or Spanish.

      IN ALL STATES, it
          HELPS YOU PLAN
          with color photos
          of caskets, secret
          wholesale and
          FAIR retail prices.

       Also: FAIR prices for
          all types of funeral
          services - plus
          advice and useful
          information.

     CLICK here to see
          LARGE versions
          of brochure pages,
          including color photos of many available caskets.

     (To RETURN here, click your browser's BACK arrow.)

     TO OBTAIN the brochure and other materials, CLICK here.

              ► First Steps when a death occurs or is expected > English
                                      (or considering a prepay plan)

                  PRIMEROS PASOS
      cuando hay una muerte o espera una
                    (o si considera un plan prepagado)

  1. BUSQUE FUNERARIA - PRECIOS BAJOS
          Escojer una funeraria es la DECISIÓN MÁS IMPORTANTE
          que una familia hace -- porque las funerarias diferentes cargan
          $1,950 a $9,900 por exactamente el MISMO ataúd y funeral.
         LLAME a muchas funerarias por sus precios HASTA que
              Ud. encuentra una con precios justos como abajo, aunque
              esté 50 millas más lejos.
         O LLAME a su FCA local por recomendaciones.
              Su Alianza de Consumidores de Funerales (FCA), no lucrativa,
              hace estudios de precios y satisfacción de las familias. Por
              telefono, llame 1-800-765-0107 (oficina nacional) o visite
              www.funerals.org (tiene Español).

         Arizona: Llamenos al 480-303-0857 para contactar a las
              funerarias que ofrecen los precios del Programa Buen Pasto
         (Hay más informacion en el fondo de esta lista.)

  2. TODOS SERVICIOS EN SU IGLESIA
              o casa. No necesita una funeraria cerca con precios
              injustos para usar su capilla. Use una funeraria justa.
          NO use una funeraria cerca, un error que sus vecinos
              hacen. La mayoría de funerarias cerca tiene precios altos.
               (Hay más informacion en el fondo de esta lista.)

  3. NO COMPRE UN ATAÚD CON UN
          "SELLO PROTECTIVO" (GASKET).
          El sello HINCHA y DESTRUYE cada cuerpo en pocos
              meses.
          Embalsamando no cesa la destrucción. El sello es delgada,
              pulgada-ancho neoprene goma en la cima del lado del ataúd,
              creado para defraudar la gente.
          La MAYOREA de ataúdes en las funerarias son de este tipo
              para obtener GRAN GANANCIA, a $3,500 MÁS de cada
              ataúd.
          MOST families are tricked into buying them by morticians
              because they make a huge profit from each one.
          Demand to see some of beautiful, safe, less-costly,
              non-gasket caskets - or color photos of them. They
              are available from local distributors, delivered free in two hours.
          If a mortuary does not show these, go to another mortuary.
          (Hay más informacion en el fondo de esta lista.)

  4. "NO PREPAGE POR UN FUNERAL"
           is the warning of MONEY magazine in its "Retire With
           Money" newsletter.
      There are many reasons, including:
         1) You usually pay more for the funeral, cremation, or cemetery
              plot or crypt at the time of need because of deceptive tactics
              in the contracts, or tricks by salespersons.
         2) Many mortuaries have gone broke and families' money
              disappeared. (Recently, the bookkeeper of a mortuary
              informed us that the manager had put her to work revising
              the accounting books to indicate that families had made
              only half as many payments as they had actually paid.);
         3) Many contracts have "fine print" that is nearly impossible
              to read (tiny, light-grey letters on pink paper) to hide
              words that make it difficult or impossible to use the
              contract (words like: non-refundable, non-transferable,
              non-revocable) if you move or need money for an emergency.
         4) Many salespersons LIE about what is in the "fine-print"
              or about prices and anything else in order to coax families
              to sign the contract or buy money than they intended. Many
              contracts give salespersons permission to lie - by saying:
              "Salespersons' statements or promises are not valid."
         5) Salespersons often show families only high-priced
              items in order to obtain higher commissions.
         6) Salespersons intentionally write on contracts incorrect
              model numbers or insufficient descriptions of items so
              that mortuaries and cemeteries can give families inferior or
              less-costly items at the time of death.
      See additional tactics in the "130+ Deceptive Practices"
            notepad.

      Be cautious with "pre-arranging" a funeral because many
           mortiicans try coax you to change this to "prepay" and
           perhaps lose every cent of thousands of dollars you prepay.

====================================

              MÁS INFORMACIÓN
           acerca de los pasos arriba

  1. BUSQUE FUNERARIA - PRECIOS BAJOS
    Additional information.
     NOTE: The FCA (Funeral Consumer Alliance) is a non-profit
           group of consumer volunteers that surveys mortuary prices
           in your area. It can give you a short list of the lower-priced
           mortuaries it recommends. It monitors these to make sure
           that families are happy with the prices and services. Most
           FCA's have a membership fee of about $30 to pay for the
           phone, materials and mailing of a regular newsletter.

  2. HAVE ALL SERVICES IN A CHURCH,
          synagogue or home so that you're not forced to use
          a high-priced mortuary nearby to use its chapel.
      High-priced mortuaries give gifts/bribes to many clergy to
          coax them to not permit you to use your church for
          some of the services - to force you to use a nearby mortuary.
      If your pastor does this, phone your denomination, bishop,
          newspapers and TV to expose and stop the bribery/injustice.

      NOTE:  The industry works hard to spread its myth that you
          should use your nearby mortuary. This enables every
          mortuary to charge ridiculous prices, and yet expect
          to rip-off every neighborhood family because they will
          believe the myth that they should trust and use the nearest
          mortuary, rather than phoning to find a fair-priced mortuary.

  3. DON'T BUY A "PROTECTIVE SEAL"
         (GASKET) CASKET.
      They bloat and severely damage every body.
      Daily, MOST families are tricked into buying them by
          morticians because they make a huge profit from each one.
      To force families to buy them, morticians display only these,
          and display none of the hundreds of SAFE, beautiful,
          less-costly non-gasket caskets.
      Demand to see some of beautiful, safe, less-costly,
          non-gasket caskets - or color photos of them. Every
          mortuary has large color photos of the many models and
          colors. They are available from local distributors in every
          community, delivered free in two hours.
        If a mortuary does not show these, go to another mortuary.

  4. "DON'T PREPAY FOR YOUR FUNERAL"
          is the warning of MONEY magazine in its Retire With
          Money newsletter, and many consumer groups.
      Be cautious with "pre-arranging" a funeral because many
          mortiicans try coax you to change this to "prepay" and
          you may lose every cent of thousands of dollars you prepay.

     See additional items in the "130+ Deceptive Practices"
          notepad.
.

     ► Primeros Pasos cuando hay una muerte o espera una > Español
                                                  (o considera un plan prepagado)

            FIRST STEPS TO TAKE
    when a death occurs or is expected
             (or if you are considering a prepay plan)

   1. FIND A MORTUARY WITH FAIR PRICES
          Picking a mortuary is the MOST IMPORTANT DECISION
          that a family makes -- because different mortuaries charge from
          $1,950 to $9,900 for exactly the SAME casket and funeral.
          DON'T pick a mortuary nearby. They have highest prices.

      ► PHONE many mortuaries for their prices UNTIL you find
            one with fair prices (below), up to 50 miles or more away.

      ► Or PHONE your local FCA for recommended mortuaries.
            Your local, non-profit Funeral Consumers Alliance group (FCA)
            does surveys of funeral prices and family satisfaction. For the
            local phone number, call 1-800-765-0107 (the national office)
            or visit www.funerals.org.

         Arizona: Phone us, 480-303-0857, to contact the mortuaries
            offering fair funeral prices of the Good Shepherd program.
         (See more information at the bottom of this list.)

   2. HAVE ALL SERVICES IN A CHURCH
            or home so you don't need a nearby high-priced
            mortuary to use its chapel. Pick a fair mortuary anywhere.
         Don't use a nearby mortuary, a mistake that most of your
            friends make. Most nearby mortuaries have high funeral prices.
         (See more information at the bottom of this list.)

   3. DON'T BUY A "PROTECTIVE SEAL"
         (GASKET) CASKET.
         They bloat and severely damage every body.
         MOST families buy these, not knowing of the damage,
            because morticians promote them because of huge profit.
      ► DEMAND to see some of beautiful, safe, less-costly,
            NON-GASKET CASKETS - or color photos. They are
            available from local distributors, delivered free in two hours.
         If a mortuary does not show these, go to another mortuary.
         (See more information at the bottom of this list.)

  4. "DON'T PREPAY FOR YOUR FUNERAL"
           is the warning of MONEY magazine in its "Retire With
           Money" newsletter.
      There are many reasons, including:

         1) You usually pay MORE for a funeral, cremation, or cemetery
              plot or crypt using a prepay plan (than buying at the time of
              death) because of deceptive tactics in cruel "fine print"
              of contracts, and tricks used by most salespersons.

         2) Many mortuaries have gone broke and all families' money
              disappeared. (Recently, the bookkeeper of a mortuary
              informed us that the manager had put her to work revising
              the accounting books to indicate that families had made
              only half as many payments as they had actually paid.);

         3) Many contracts have "fine print" that is nearly impossible
              to read (tiny, light-grey letters on pink paper) to hide
              words that make it difficult or impossible to use the
              contract (words like: non-refundable, non-transferable,
              non-revocable) if you move or need money for an emergency.

         4) Many salespersons LIE about what is in the "fine-print"
              or about prices and anything else in order to coax families
              to sign the contract or buy money than they intended. Many
              contracts give salespersons permission to lie - by saying:
              "Salespersons' statements or promises are not valid."

         5) Salespersons often offer families only high-priced items
              to make the total price higher - to get a higher commission.

         6) Salespersons intentionally write on contracts incorrect
              model numbers or insufficient descriptions of items so
              that mortuaries and cemeteries can give families inferior or
              less-costly items at the time of death.

      See additional tactics in the "130+ Deceptive Practices"
            notepad.

      Be cautious about "pre-arranging" (different from "prepaying")
           a funeral because many mortiicans try coax you to CHANGE
           to "prepaying" and the possibility of losing every cent of
           the thousands of dollars that you prepay.

====================================

            MORE INFORMATION
               about the steps above

  1. FIND A FAIR-PRICED MORTUARY
     Additional information.
     NOTE: The FCA (Funeral Consumer Alliance) is a non-profit
           group of consumer volunteers that surveys funeral prices
           in your area. It can give you a short list of the lower-priced
           mortuaries it recommends. It monitors these to make sure
           that families are happy with the prices and services. Most
           FCA's have a membership fee of about $30 to pay for the
           phone, materials and mailing of a regular newsletter.

  2. HAVE ALL SERVICES IN A CHURCH,
          synagogue or home so that you're not forced to use
          a high-priced mortuary nearby to use its chapel.
      High-priced mortuaries give gifts/bribes to many clergy to
          coax them to not permit you to use your church for
          some of the services - to force you to use a nearby mortuary.
      If your pastor does this, phone your denomination, bishop,
          newspapers and TV to expose and stop the bribery/injustice.

      NOTE:  The industry works hard to spread its myth that you
          should use your nearby mortuary. This enables every
          mortuary to charge ridiculous prices, and yet expect
          to rip-off every neighborhood family because they will
          believe the myth that they should trust and use the nearest
          mortuary, rather than phoning to find a fair-priced mortuary.

  3. DON'T BUY A "PROTECTIVE SEAL"
         (GASKET) CASKET.
      They bloat and severely damage every body.
      Daily, MOST families are tricked into buying them by
          morticians because they make a huge profit from each one.
      To force families to buy them, morticians display only these,
          and display none of the hundreds of SAFE, beautiful,
          less-costly non-gasket caskets.
      Demand to see some of beautiful, safe, less-costly,
          non-gasket caskets - or color photos of them. Every
          mortuary has large color photos of the many models and
          colors. They are available from local distributors in every
          community, delivered free in two hours.
        If a mortuary does not show these, go to another mortuary.

  4. "DON'T PREPAY FOR YOUR FUNERAL"
          is the warning of MONEY magazine in its Retire With
          Money newsletter, and many consumer groups.
      Be cautious with "pre-arranging" a funeral because many
          mortiicans try coax you to change this to "prepay" and
          you may lose every cent of thousands of dollars you prepay.

     See additional items in the "130+ Deceptive Practices"
          notepad.
.

► Some of the Contents of this "Family Information Page" > English

====== Algunos de los Temas y Topicas de la Pagina de Informacion Familiar ======

     ► Resumen de la información basica importante.> Español

SUMMARY of IMPORTANT BASIC INFORMATION
                           about the funeral industry

(►words◄: Explanation appears when cursor passes over.)

    The funeral industry is different from all others in that
the industry is built on  FEAR  and  ABSOLUTE SECRECY
   enforced nationwide to enable highest-possible profit.

   1. ABSOLUTE SECRECY - All your neighborhood mortuaries
(►funeral homes◄) are forced to cooperate with all other U.S.
mortuaries in keeping ABSOLUTE SECRECY about every aspect of
the funeral industry. The secrecy enables EVERY mortuary to
rip-off every family in every U.S. community - by preventing the
media from judging and EXPOSING the high markups,
funeral prices and tactics used by mortuaries. (Click here to
read about many ways secrecy is used to thwart efforts of media
and families to avoid the rip-off, and to work to stop it.)

   2. FEAR throughout the industry - Unknown to the public, all
mortuaries FEAR bodily harm; damage to vehicles, buildings
and equipment; boycott of their casket supply; and other threats
used against anyone who reveals anything about the fraud,
wholesale prices, high markups and the more than 130 deceptive
practices that are the essential TOOLS for obtaining the
highest-possible profits.
    Members of our Interfaith Committee and their relatives have
suffered serious harm and death threats for our continual revealing
of the secret wholesale casket prices and deceptive tactics of the
industry - on local and national TV and in national publications.

    Into the vacuum caused by secrecy, the industry delivers
myths and false information to reporters, churches and families.
The industry "uses" the media and churches to pass the
myths and misinformation to families - and funnel their
families into high-priced mortuaries, cemeteries, and prepay plans
- to be easily ripped off of millions of dollars every day in every
community.

   OUTRAGEOUS PRICES are the MAIN RIP-OFF TACTIC
used to steal families' money, causing serious harm to millions of
families who think they can trust the media and their churches to
warn and protect them - not to mislead them and funnel them into
high-priced mortuaries.

   More than 130 DECEPTIVE PRACTICES are the
SECONDARY RIP-OFF TACTIC used on families to increase the
profit above the extortionate profit obtained by means of high
prices for funeral services and caskets - by nearly every mortuary,
cemetery, and prepay plan, including the best-known ones and
those operated by religious denominations and dioceses.

   Media must tell families what are FAIR PRICES for services
and caskets, how to find a FAIR-priced mortuary, and how to
REDUCE the rip-off by all the other deceptive tactics.

    But, instead of giving the fair price information that families need,
most media either pass on to families the industry's myths and
false information, or talk about problems that only a few families
encounter (as: mix ups of grave stones or ashes, insulting
treatment, pressure, deceitful information, etc.).

   Thus, the public is kept misinformed and confused - exactly
what mortuaries need in order to easily rip-off every family.

   The industry enforces the important secrecy by punishing any
mortician who reveals anything to reporters - because it doesn't
want families to know about unjust markups - and deceptive
tactics used to increase the rip-off of every family.

    However, this Internet site gives you and reporters the
crucial information that NO other Internet site provides: "Top
Secret" wholesale prices, FAIR retail prices, and deceptive
tactics that all families must know about to avoid serious
financial harm.

      LATEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

List of topics covered below:

  1) Problem: High cemetery prices for items needed at the
time of burial but not included in the prepay plan
  2)

Note:  Shortly we will be placing here some of the questions
and problems we've received in the past years by phone,
letter and e-mail from nearly every state - that would seem to
be the most interesting and helpful to visitors, reporters and
researchers.
==============================================
                  LATEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1) Problem:  High cemetery prices for final items not
included in prepay plan (E-mail from Patricia M, Sept. 15/08).
    My parents have already purchased their plots at a
cemetery in Scottsdale AZ - this cemetery is telling me we will
have to pay for the opening and closing of the earth - $1400!
THEN the cheapest "OUTER" container is $1000!  then $250
to install the outer container,  then $100 permit fee,  then
about $2000 for a headstone!  This is NOT even the mortuary
costs - this is the cemetery cost without the cost of the plot.
    A:  One of the problems with prepaying is that mortuaries,
cemeteries and plans, and their salespersons, often
intentionally don't tell you about everything that you will be
required to buy - or don't allow you to pay for everything that
eventually will be needed.
    One reason for this is that they think that they can coax
you to spend MORE on each item if they allow you to buy
only HALF of the items needed - because you won't be
thinking about how much the final TOTAL might be. Then,
later or at the time of death, they can charge you really HIGH
PRICES for the other things needed because you're stuck
with their mortuary, cemetery or plan.
    This kind of rip-off is one of the reasons that MONEY
magazine says "Don't Prepay For Your Funeral".
    An elderly couple in Sun Lakes, Arizona, thought they had
a good deal for two cremations and burial of the ashes
("cremains") for  $1,713. However, after several visits by the
salesman, each time telling them that some things had been
left out, their final total rose to $6,644.

2) Q:
     A:

     ► DON'T BELIEVE federal booklets of FTC and GSA. > English

                        NO CREE
INFORMACIÓN FRAUDULENTO
1)  en federal FTC "Funerales: Una Guía por los
        Consumidores"   escrito por la Federal Trade
        Commission (FTC),
2)  en federal "Manual de Acción por Consumidores"
3)  declaración: Sen. Dodd, lider de Sesion U.S. Senado
4)  declaraciones: Maestros de las TV programas.

=========================================

The FTC and GSA published FALSE prices and FALSE
      approval of "most" morticians' honesty. They used false
      information from funeral industry to DECEIVE you and
      coax you to pay high prices & trust dishonest morticians

  Federal consumer agencies and U.S. Senators have a duty
      to PROTECT you -- not to help the industry to DEFRAUD
      families (perhaps in return for favors from the industry).

The senator, radio and TV hosts of national programs, and
      many community leaders have used false statements
      from the industry to deceive families.

  Both federal agencies published this FALSE statement:
          "MOST (false) funeral providers (morticians) are
           professionals (false) who work to serve their clients'
           needs and best interests (false)."

  The senator and TV hosts (as on ABC-TV's "Home" show)
       used similar words, "MOST [false] morticians are
       honest [false] professionals [false]". These words were
       designed by the industry to deceive the public.
           The senator went further at the Senate Hearing nationally
       televised by C-SPAN, naming three mortuaries in his home town,
       stating that the owners were some of the most upstanding
       people he knew (possibly as a payback for donations received).

  At the televised hearing and on the TV show, Fr. Wasielewski
       of our IFIC, contradicted the statements and stated that
       federal studies, AARP studies, and others have shown
       that MOST morticians do not treat families honestly and
       have too little training and skills to be classed as
       "professionals" -- like doctors or teachers who are
       required to have many years of training and skills many
       times greater than the little skill needed by morticians.

  The Arizona Auditor General told the legislature that funeral
      directors and embalmers did not need mortuary school,
      but could learn all that is needed for their tasks "on the
      job" and by helping with a dozen embalmings. Colorado
      has not required mortuary school nor licensing for funeral
      directors and embalmers.

  The FTC's "Funerals: A Consumer Guide" and the GSA's
      "2008 Consumer Action Handbook" tell families that a
      funeral, casket and vault will cost $6,000 - a RIP-OFF price
      promoted by the industry to deceive families to think that
      this is a fair price and be ready to by robbed by this much.

  PRICE TRUTH:  A FAIR price is about $3,000. The FTC and
      the GSA should have said that a fair price would be about
      $3,000. The false price has helped mortuaries throughout
      the U.S. to rob families of more than $3,000 each.

      $1,950 to $2,400 is a fair price for a complete funeral
      and beautiful casket. See the fair prices in the notepad
      below.

  Here is list of the false prices and statements - and where to
          find them in the two books.

      "$6,000-$7,000 funeral price" [false]":  FTC, pg. 1; GSA, pg. 49;

      "Most morticians are professional" [false]:  FTC, page 4:
          GSA, page 49;

      "Most morticians strive for clients' best interests" [false]:
          FTC, page 4; GSA, page 49;

      "Professional [false]" funeral home: FTC, pg. 8; GSA, pg. 50;

      "Average casket price $2,000" [rip-off price]: FTC, pg. 12;

      Fraudulent "Protective seal-gasket" [No warning about the
          severe body damage]: FTC, pg. 12;

      "Most morticians are honest" [false]: Sen. Chris Dodd,
          C-SPAN; ABC-TV "Home" show.

  To see these false statements in the two publications on
          the Internet, go to the pages indicated above,
          click the underlined locations below:
      FTC Funerals: A Consumer Guide:
                 www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro19.pdf

      GSA 2008 Consumer Action Handbook:
                 www.consumeraction.gov/pdfs/Consumer_Topics.pdf

      Click your BACK button to return here.

  (GSA stands for "Government Services Administration"
      and its "Federal Citizen Information Center".)
.

      ► NO CREA los folletos federales de FTC y GSA. > Español

                 DON'T BELIEVE
   FRAUDULENT INFORMATION:

1)  in federal FTC "Funerals: A Consumer Guide"
2)  in federal GSA "Consumer Action Handbook"
3)  stated by: Sen. Dodd, chair of U.S. Senate Hearing
4)  stated by: Hosts of various national TV programs
5)  on Suze Orman's website that helps the funeral
         industry to RIP-OFF every U.S. family.

=========================================

  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the General
      Services Administration (GSA) publish FALSE prices
      and FALSELY state: "most morticians are honest".
      They used false information given them by the funeral
       industry - designed by the industry to DECEIVE you and
       trick you to pay high prices and trust cheating morticians

  Federal consumer agencies and U.S. Senators have a duty
      to PROTECT you -- not to help the industry to DEFRAUD
      you (perhaps in return for favors from the industry).

The senator, radio and TV hosts of national programs, and
      many community leaders have used false statements
      from the industry to deceive families.

  Both federal agencies published this FALSE statement:
          "MOST (false) funeral providers (morticians) are
           professionals (false) who work to serve their clients'
           needs and best interests (false)."

  The senator and TV hosts (as on ABC-TV's "Home" show)
       used similar words, "MOST [false] morticians are
       honest [false] professionals [false]". These words were
       designed by the industry to deceive the public.
           The senator went further at the Senate Hearing nationally
       televised by C-SPAN, naming three mortuaries in his home town,
       stating that the owners were some of the most upstanding
       people he knew (possibly as a payback for donations received).

  At the televised hearing and on the TV show, Fr. Wasielewski
       of our IFIC, contradicted the statements and stated that
       federal studies, AARP studies, and others have shown
       that MOST morticians do not treat families honestly and
       have too little training and skills to be classed as
       "professionals" -- like doctors or teachers who are
       required to have many years of training and skills many
       times greater than the little skill needed by morticians.

  The Arizona Auditor General told the legislature that funeral
      directors and embalmers did not need mortuary school,
      but could learn all that is needed for their tasks "on the
      job" and by helping with a dozen embalmings. Colorado
      has not required mortuary school nor licensing for funeral
      directors and embalmers.

  The FTC's "Funerals: A Consumer Guide" and the GSA's
      "2008 Consumer Action Handbook" tell families that a
      funeral, casket and vault will cost $6,000 - a RIP-OFF price
      promoted by the industry to deceive families to think that
      this is a fair price and be ready to by robbed by this much.

  PRICE TRUTH:  A FAIR price is about $3,000. The FTC and
      the GSA should have said that a fair price would be about
      $3,000. The false price has helped mortuaries throughout
      the U.S. to rob families of more than $3,000 each.

      $1,950 to $2,400 is a fair price for a complete funeral
      and beautiful casket. See the fair prices in another
      window.

  SUZE ORMAN's deceptive website FALSELY SAYS that
      filling out her chart of funeral items will enable you to
      obtain a FAIR-priced funeral.
    FACT: This chart will cause NEARLY EVERY family to
      LOSE THOUSANDS of dollars each.
    Is Ms. Orman ready to REPAY every family all of the
        money they lose from using her dangerous chart?
        (Morticians must be thrilled that they have misled and/or
        coaxed her and several other nationally-known "advisors"
        to provide false, harmful industry advice to families.)
    Her chart gives the WORST POSSIBLE ADVICE when
        it tells people to get the prices of two funeral
        homes and choose one of them.
    Secondly, the chart gives more BAD ADVICE by
        merely saying "Casket _________". This will
        cause families to LOSE THOUSANDS more.

    DANGER of her chart:  Families will probably pick two
        mortuaries near them or names they have heard.
        Getting the prices of two mortuaries near them
        means they will get get the HIGHEST-PRICES in
        town because 90% of mortuaries charge outrageous
        prices. When they choose one of the two, they will
        be RIPPED-OFF by Ms. Orman's chart and by the
        mortuary they choose.
    This IFIC website gives WARNINGS that we have
        presented in U.S. Senate Hearings, FTC Hearings,
        C-SPAN, national TV, and in national publications
        about
        the industry-wide tactics of outrageous markups,
        prices and more than 130 deceptive tactics used
        daily in every U.S. city. Ms. Orman's chart misleads
        every family to think there is no reason to worry
        about any of these dangerous industry tactics.

    DANGER of casket non-warning:  Her chart gives
        more BAD ADVICE by merely saying
        "Casket _________".
    This will cause families to LOSE THOUSANDS more
        because it does not warn about thousands of
        dollars rip-off on most caskets and does not warn
        about the most-commonly displayed casket, the
        fraudulent "Protective Seal" GASKET casket that
        BLOATS and DAMAGES EVERY body, with many of
        these caskets EXPLODING in mausoleums.
    Ms. Orman may know something about other topics,
        but she apparently knows nothing about funerals
        and should immediately REMOVE THE CHART from
        her website and should give no funeral advice on
        any TV or other program until she learns something
        about it - or stops taking false, harmful advice from the
        funeral industry and passing it out, harming families.
    It is amazing that she promotes herself as an expert
        and then gives advice that surely cheats thousands
        of families of millions of dollars a year, and damages
        most of their bodies.
    Does she not care how much she hurts families?

  Here is list of the false funeral prices and statements - and
          where to find them in the two books.

      "$6,000-$7,000 funeral price" [false]":  FTC, pg. 1; GSA, pg. 49;

      "Most morticians are professional" [false]:  FTC, page 4:
          GSA, page 49;

      "Most morticians strive for clients' best interests" [false]:
          FTC, page 4; GSA, page 49;

      "Professional [false]" funeral home: FTC, pg. 8; GSA, pg. 50;

      "Average casket price $2,000" [rip-off price]: FTC, pg. 12;

      Fraudulent "Protective seal-gasket" [No warning about the
          severe body damage]: FTC, pg. 12;

      "Most morticians are honest" [false]: Sen. Chris Dodd,
          C-SPAN; ABC-TV "Home" show.

  To see these false statements in the two publications on
          the Internet, go to the pages indicated above,
          click the underlined locations below:
      FTC Funerals: A Consumer Guide:
                 www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro19.pdf

      GSA 2008 Consumer Action Handbook:
                 www.consumeraction.gov/pdfs/Consumer_Topics.pdf

      Click your BACK button to return here.

  (GSA stands for "Government Services Administration"
      and its "Federal Citizen Information Center".)
.

► The funeral industry is based on Fear and Absolute Secrecy. > English

La Industria Funebre

Necesita saber que la industria funebre es DIFERENTE a cualquiér otro negocio. Esta industria es basado en
1) TERROR mantenido entre todos miembros para 2) mantener un SECRETO ABSOLUTO acerca de todos aspectos.

Éste mantiene a USTED y todos los medios ignorantes de sus precios secretos del mayoreo y más que
130 tácticas engañosas -- para facilitar todas de las funerarias defraudar a CADA familia.

Éste es el ÚNICO sitio del Internet que explica lo que las familias necesitan saber para protejerse.

                   MORE THAN
    130 DECEPTIVE PRACTICES
       designed to increase profit far above
       the profit obtained from high prices.

  130+ DECEPTIVE PRACTICES:  Of the 130+ tactics used in every
community by mortuaries, cemeteries and prepay plans, here are
more than 50 of the most commonly-used tactics. Notice how
much money can be made from just one tactic - explained
here in detail. Often, a dozen or more tactics are used on a family.

● Example:  Several dfferent price lists: Some mortuaries use
five or more different price lists. Each list might have a total price
$1,000 higher than the previous list for the same services and
caskets. The mortician asks family members about their address,
kind of work, number of workers in the family, etc., to estimate how
much he can coax them to spend, and which list to use with them.
    He then gives the family the list with the highest prices he thinks
they can afford. He secretly asks the secretary to change price
tags on all caskets to match the prices on the list he will use (to
obey the FTC "Funeral Rule").
    The family with price list A pays $4,000.  B pays $5,000 for the
same funeral and casket.  E pays $9,000 total for the same funeral
and casket as all the others. The mortuary rips off an EXTRA
$5,000 from family with list E.

  AMOUNT FAMILIES LOSE:  Trusting families lose $8-9 billion
each year from the outrageous prices and deceptive tactics.

=====================================================

10 CATEGORIES OF DECEPTIVE PRACTICES:

      This document lists the 130+ deceptive tactics used by
manufacturers, National Funeral Directors Association, industry
lobbyists, public relations firms, state funeral board members,
mortuaries, cemeteries, prepay plans, insurance companies,
conglomerates and chains, mortuary schools, representatives of all
of these groups, and tactics that the industry coaxes churches and
others to use.

      In this window, we have divided tactics into 10 categories in the
approximate chronological order in which they occur or in which
families encounter them. Here we include more than 50 of the most
common or most harmful tactics in the categories below to
give you an idea of the various types of tactics in each category.

      A number of these tactics are described, with photos, in
various colored notepads on this page.

      Many of the tactics are illegal: against FTC regulations and
federal, state, and local laws but they are used because
companies don't think that they will be caught.

   1) MANUFACTURERS, CONTRACTS, LEGISLATION: 6
     ► Manufacturers' tactics:
          a) No IDs are put on caskets so that families and reporters
can't compare caskets seen at various mortuaries;
          b) Some caskets are made ugly/"vulgarized" for
mortuaries to use in "bait-and-switch" price-gouging;
          c) Destructive "Protective seal" gasket caskets are
produced;
          d) Fraudulent warranties are designed;
     ► Deceptive contracts are designed for mortuaries, cemeteries
and prepay plans;
     ► Design of sales closers, and other tactics for salespersons;
     ► Lobbying for legislation to benefit the industry and cripple the
media and families (U.S. congress/FTC/states/counties/cities);
     ► Religions: Contracts are made with denominations/bishops to
build/operate mortuaries/cemeteries that use HIGH profits,
DECEPTIVE practices, DECEPTIVE prepay plans. (Baptists, LA &
Montreal archdioceses, Tucson & other dioceses;);
     ► Dioceses operate mortuaries, cemeteries and prepay plans
with HIGH prices and DECEPTIVE tactics. (Denver archdiocese,
Pittsburg, Phoenix)

   2) MISINFORMING THE PUBLIC: 8
     ► Coaxing U.S. Senators, federal agencies, radio and TV
hosts, and reporters to give false prices and false
statements in hearings, national TV programs, and publications.
(False comments such as: "Most morticians are honest", "Choose
a mortuary near home", etc.)
     See notepad above: "Don't Believe" for examples and names.
     ► Diseminate misinformation to influence the entire public;
     ► Appearances on radio/TV to deceive the public;
     ► Misinformation in national/local TV/radio programs,
magazines, newspapers, books;
     ► Produce advertising/press releases/books/pamphlets;
     ► Planted stories;
     ► Public seminars for families, elderly (at churches; food at
restaurants, etc.);
     ► Hundreds of local presentations every day to church and
senior groups, nursing home residents, nursing and social work
classes;

   3) COAX/BRIBE CLERGY AND OTHERS TO FUNNEL FAMILIES: 6
     ► Large gifts to religions, institutions (a funeral chain's free
hotel for visiting U.S. bishops in Rome);
     ► Gifts/bribes to churches/clergy/medical staff/agency staff;
(pave parish parking lot; cars to bishop, clergy; $5,000 each to four
pastors in Mesa; golf memberships; vacation trips; full-day
entertainment; color TVs);
     ► Coax/bribe churches to distribute advertising calendars,
prepay fill-ins/leaflets/business cards at Sunday services;
     ► Mislead clergy/medical/ICU staff to sign and give letters
promising low prices or business cards to families to take to high-
priced mortuary;
     ► Mislead/coax/bribe churches/media/hospitals/police to funnel
families to high-priced mortuaries and make vulnerable to deception
and high prices;
     ► Deceive hospital/hospice/police to allow mortuary to take
body;

   4] FUNERAL PREPAY TACTICS: 7
     ► Deceptive wording in prepay contracts (3-worst: non-
refundable, non-transferable, non-revocable; 16" unreadable fine
print; valid only after all paid; don't give person a copy; etc.);
     ► Deceptive tactics of salespersons in homes:
     ► Offer ONLY high-priced items;
     ► Lie about contract words/fine print;
     ► Write wrong model numbers/descriptions on contract; write
non-valid words;
     ► Rough tactics: Use rough mental and physical tactics with
the customer, especially with elderly in home (such as: disconnect
phone and refuse to leave until contract is signed);
     ► Changing cemetery zoning and regulations after a contract is
signed;

   5) CEMETERY PREPAY TACTICS:
     ►  See the funeral prepay tactics above;
     ►  (more tactics will be added)

   6) MISLEADING FAMILIES THAT PHONE: 2
     ► Misleading answers to persons who call with questions;
     ► False price information;
     ► (more tactics will be added)

   7) MORTUARY SERVICES TACTICS: 5
     ► SET HIGH PRICES -- the PRINCIPAL rip-off tactic;
     ► DOZENS of tactics with families at the mortuary and cemetery
to deceive and increase final price;
     ► Several different price lists (explained in detail at the
beginning of this notepad).
     ► Coax families to allow mortuary name to be prominent in
obituary;
     ► Tactics that degrade funeral and religious ceremonies;
     ► Morticians try to be SEEN fraternizing with clergy at funeral
(such as: inviting pastor to ride in a mortuary car or special
limousine (so that families will think the pastor is a close friend of
mortician and recommends him) (Some pastors refuse to be seen
talking with a mortician so that they don't give the "close friend"
impression. Industry and other publications report about
Wasielewski asking morticians to leave or sit in a back pew
because of their attempts to insert themselves into the ceremonies
or pass out mortuary literature to families.)

   8) MORTUARY CASKET TACTICS: 5
     ► SET HIGH PRICES (the PRINCIPAL rip-off tactic);
     ► URGE FRAUDULENT "PROTECTIVE SEAL" gasket caskets with
high prices that destroy bodies (the next most frequent rip-off tactic
of all mortuaries.) (Phoenix diocese cheats its people and destroys
their bodies by displaying ONLY this type of metal caskets, all at
high markups; doesn't warn families of the harm.);
     ► "BAIT AND SWITCH" tactic of mortuaries - giving the price of
their lowest-priced casket on phone, but families find at the
mortuary that this casket has been "VULGARIZED"-[an FTC term] by
ugly, rough "Hammertex"-[referring to rough texture] paint sprayed
over the entire casket and over its DECORATIONS, and perhaps
also scratching the casket, by breaking a handle or hinge, and by
filling the pillow with shredded-wood (the excelsior used in
evaporative coolers) and rubbing the scratchy pillow against a
family member's face to "feel the difference".
   [See the "vulgarized" Trindex casket at lower left in our Good
Shepherd brochure; it is the "vulgarized" version of the SAME
"copper" casket in the photo below it, the ''Sierra". The ONLY
reason that we only show the Trindex is so that families can see
how this tactic is used by nearly every "honest"-claiming mortuary
in the U.S.
   [See the up to $2,500 markup/profit of mortuaries (claiming to
be "honest, caring") for an ugly-color/"vulgarized" casket and the
up to $5,500 markup/profit for a pleasing-color version of the
SAME casket (column 1 and column 2 of the Houston survey.]
      ► Display only high-priced caskets, although they have others.
     ► Embarassing the family by saying that a costly casket is "the
last thing you can do for your Dad if you loved him"; "Wasn't
your husband worth $3,000?"; etc.

   9) CEMETERY TACTICS: 6
     ► Salesperson states/writes false information about
cemetery/burial/grave location (as: false grave location; not
including all items needed;);
     ► Changing cemetery regulations or zoning to higher-price after
a contract is signed;
     ► Require buying high-priced vault and marker from cemetery;
     ► High-fee to use vault or marker from outside source;
     ► Burying several bodies in same grave;
     ► Discarding or moving bodies;

   10) AFTER FUNERAL: 4
     ►  Visiting families to sell them "bereavement sessions" aimed
at getting the persons to coax relatives and friends to buy prepay
plans;
     ►  State funeral boards are composed of all funeral industry
persons or a majority of majority so that consumers have little or no
chance of getting relief;
     ► Tactics to derail families' efforts at state board meetings to
obtain corrections of deception, abuse, errors and unfair charges;
etc.;
     ► Chains fly in a group of their lawyers to state board meetings
to frighten and overpower families who come to complain.

(Many more tactics will be added to this list.)
.

► La industria funebre es basada en Terror y Secreto Absoluto. > Español

The Funeral Industry

You need to know that the funeral industry is DIFFFERENT than every other business. This industry is built on
1) FEAR maintained among all morticians to 2) enforce ABSOLUTE SECRECY about all aspects of its operations.

This keeps you and all media ignorant of its "Top Secret" wholesale prices and 130+ deceptive tactics -- to
enable all neighborhood funeral homes to rip-off every U.S. family.

This is the ONLY Internet site that explains what all families need to know to protect themselves.

► Algunos de los Temas y Asuntos de esta "Página de Información para la Familia" > Español

========= Some of the Contents of this Family Information Page =========

Precio del funeral del Programa Buen Pastor incluye:
   Ataúd ("Clair" modelo o similar, varios colores) Vea un
foto en notepad: "Ataúdes con Fotos");
   Todos cargos normal de la funeraria; toda transportación
local y preparación del cuerpo;  todos documentos
necesarios;  visitación/servicio (dos horas) en iglesia, hogar o
funeraria;  servicio o Misa en cualquier lugar;  y entierro o
cremación si quiere (refrigeración y todo necesario).

   Precio: $1,752 total si todos servicios están en un día;
$1,952 total si los servicios están en dos días. Tax adicional.
                      Clic aquí para cerrar esta nota.

Good Shepherd Program funeral price includes:
   Casket ("Clair" model or similar casket, various colors).
See photo in the notepad entitled: "Caskets and Photos".
   All normal mortuary fees;  all local transportation and
preparation of the body;  all needed documents;
visitation/service (two hours) at church, home or mortuary;
funeral service at any location;  and burial or cremation if
you wish (includes refrigeration and all else needed).

   Price: $1,752 total if all services are on one day;
$1,952 total if services are on two days. Tax is extra.
                  Click here to close this note.

Hay 21,000 funerarias en los EE.UU. Cerca un tercer parte es la propriedad de pocas grandes compañías.

L23
There are more than 21,000 mortuaries/funeral homes in the U.S. About one-third are owned by large chains.

PARA OBTENER el folleto con otras materiales (acerca
de: los contratos deceptivos de los planes prepagados,
cremación abusa, etc.):
     Mande un sobre de 9" x 12" con su dirección en la
frente (no necesita la porte). Ponga éste adentro un
sobre normal y escriba esta dirección:
     Folleto en Español,  P.O. Box 939, Tempe, AZ 85280.
     Pedimos un donativo de tres dolares (no cheque)
para ayudar con la porte y la imprenta. Ud. va a recibir
los materiales en cerca dos semanas.
                               Clic aquí para cerrar.

            ► Como planear un funeral alegre, creativo.> Español

               HOW TO PLAN A
JOYFUL, CREATIVE FUNERAL
        and invite friends and children to help.

(Click here to read a national magazine article about how a family
and friends prepared a really joyful, creative funeral for their Dad.)

    Your family should want a joyful funeral that celebrates
the NEW, JOYFUL LIFE that your Dad is now enjoying in
heaven, or "happy hunting ground" or other name for the
next life that most people believe awaits us.

    Morticians DO NOT WANT JOYFUL FUNERALS because
they make half of their money by coaxing each family to
concentrate their attention on the unused body and spend as
much money as possible to buy a costly casket for it.

    Morticians are taught in mortuary school to:

      1) display many costly caskets and display them with special
lighting;  display few or none of the many of the beautiful, less-
expensive caskets that they have in stock, and not show the color
photos they have of them;
      2) tell families falsely that the many beautiful, less-expensive
caskets are not available because they "come from Indiana",
although they can obtain them in two hours from local
distributors;
      3) tell families that a costly casket "proves how much you
love" your dad; that your friends will think that you didn't love
your mother if you buy a less-expensive casket;
      4) tell families that "if you don't buy the best casket you can
afford" you will feel guilty ("the guilties") in the years ahead.
      5) tell families that spending money on a costly casket is "the
last thing you can do" for your dad - although your dad is not in
the casket, and isn't interested in money wasted on a casket for a
body that he tossed aside. (People aren't interested in their hair and
fingernails after they cut them off and don't use them any more.)

    Your Dad is CELEBRATING and WANTS YOU TO
CELEBRATE with him. (If you go to heaven and are
celebrating, you will want your friends to be celebrating, not
crying.) Your Dad doesn't want any tears. And he isn't
interested the body that he left behind, and doesn't want
money wasted on a costly casket for it, instead of the money
being used for family needs. His death is now in the past; he
wants you to celebrate what is happening NOW, his joyful
NEW LIFE.

    From the Christian perspective:  Saint Paul said: "When
someone dies, DO NOT CRY, unless you have no hope" (as:
no hope if you don't believe in a next life, or no hope if you
think the person lived a bad life and is not going to heaven).

    Jesus told the thief on the cross: "Today, you will be with
me in PARADISE", not in a grave.

    Jesus said heaven is like a great WEDDING BANQUET
(not like a storage shed or other boring, inactive place). He
must have chosen "wedding banquet" to make us think
about a lively, joyful wedding celebration, with balloons,
crepe paper, music, dancing, cake, refreshments, and joyful
conversation among lots of colorfully-dressed guests who
are celebrating and welcoming all the newcomers.

    Your Dad would love for you to be at the "Welcoming
Celebration" for him, but, at least you can have a joyful
celebration of his New Life - imitating his celebration.

                                   (Clic aquí para cerrar este artículo.)
        (Ud. puede copiar este artículo para imprimirlo por medio de su cursor
                para colorear el artículo y luego "Copiar" de su navegador.)
   Puede ver más de la iglesia y capilla hermosa al fin de este articulo.

“UN FUNERAL ALEGRE, CREATIVO”
           del artículo: “EN LA HORA DE LA MUERTE”
          en el periódico nacional U.S. CATHOLIC, Febrero 1998.

        El artículo provee información de como asistir a los que están
cerca de la muerte; como arreglar un funeral bonito, creativo (sin la
ayuda costosa de una funeraria) en que la familia y amigos ayudan
con los planes, preparaciones, decoraciones y ceremonias.

        Hay una sección acerca de la muerte de un bebé, quien muere
antes o después del nacimiento. Y, respuestas a preguntas que causan
mucho sufrimientoa los padres y la familia. Las respuestas pueden
cambiar el dolor entre a gran alegria en lugar.

        Un sacerdote, Padre Enrique Wasielewski, un fundador de la
Comité Interfe de Información Funeral (IFIC), dice que la familia es el
“DIRECTOR DEL FUNERAL” de sus funerales (no los empleados de
las funerarias que se denominan a ellos mismos “DIRECTORES de los
funerales”) y que las familias pueden areglar todo, de la manera que
ellos quieran sin el permiso o costosa ayuda de una funeraria.

        Así, las familias están libre para planear funerales alegres,
creativos con decoraciones, musica, refrescos - juntos con ceremonias
religiosas jubilosas. Esperemos que el pastor va a cooperar, en la
manera como usted disponga las decoraciones y otras ideas que
muchas familias incluyen en las bodas.

        (Otra información en el artículo acerca de precios justos por
funerales y ataudes, como a descubrir una funeraria con precios
justos, y otras cosas han sido movido al fin de esta columna.

UN FUNERAL ALEGRE, CREATIVO

        Cualquiera que sea tu religión, te recomendamos planear un
funeral alegre, creativo para celebrar la Nueva Vida de su familiar,
quizás usando algunas de las ideas descritas aquí. El artículo describe
el funeral del padre de una familia que decidió tener su funeral en la
iglesia famosa y bonita, La Capilla Brophy*, en Phoenix, que él y su
hermano construyeron cuando él era un constructor en los años del
pasado, y en que la familia fueron a las Misas dominicales cada
semana cuando los niños crecieron.

        La familia arregló tener el funeral al anochecer por ser el tiempo
más conveniente para que la gente no necesitara dejar de asistir a su
trabajo, el entierro fue la mañana siguiente, la gente fue invitada a
reunirse en el cementerio, eliminando una procesión con escoltas de
motocicletas pagadas). El obituario anunció: “La Reunión de los
Amigos a las 7 p.m. La Misa de la Resurrección a las 8 p.m.”

        Los amigos usualmente llaman para expresar “su condolencia”, y
terminan con “Si podemos ayudarlos, llamenos.” La familia dijo a los
que llamaron que no estaban en dolor sino en alegría porque su papá,
estaba celebrando el nacimiento a una "NUEVA VIDA" en el cielo. La
familia invitó a los visitantes a ayudar trayendo refrescos y pasteles
con palabras que decían: "Bienvenido al Cielo, Papá" y
"¡Felicitaciones! Lo hiciste". Ellos pidieron a las visitas no llegar
vistiendo ropas de luto o negro, sino ropas de colores alegres para
celebrar el evento jubiloso - ropas que proclamen que su papá esta en
el Cielo.
        En el patio herboso, adjunto a la iglesia, los visitantes fueron
bienvenidos por varios cantantes y m usicos jubilosos, muchas mesas
con refrescos, renovación de conocimientos y conversación, un
despliegue de fotografías de la vida del recién venido al cielo, y un
estandarte ancho encima de las puertas de la iglesia: "Bienvenido a la
Celebración de la Nueva Vida de Papá". En su hogar, en el patio y
dentro de la iglesia globos con la frase "Felíz Cumpleaños" flotaron
para ayudar a celebrar el nacimiento de su padre como un santo nuevo
en el Cielo.

        Su esposa había muerto aproximadamente 20 años antes de él.  Un
folleto de la celebración, con cuatro páginas coloridas fue creado por
la familia, no con el estílo funesto de las funerarias, sino con una
fotografía a colores de los rostros sonrientes de la mamá y el papá
juntos, en años más tempranos, con las frases:

   "Finalmente, juntos de nuevo.  Alegremente CELEBRAN su NUEVA
VIDA con Dios y con nosotros -- nos INVITAN A CELEBRAR CON
ELLOS hoy. Orando por nosotros, y nos esperan para estar al final
todos juntos."

        Los primeros que llegaron temprano y los nietos recibieron rollos
de crespón y globos color de oro y plata, y fueron invitados a ir en la
iglesia y decorarla, asi como al ataúd, en cualquier manera que
desearan.  Ataron globos de "Felíz Cumpleaños" a cada extremo del
ataúd y al altar.  (Anteriores huéspedes llegaron, se pidió al director
del funeral mover el coche fúnebre lejos de la entrada después de que
entregó el cuerpo a la iglesia de manera que la carroza no distraería a
los participantes de la atmósfera jubilosa de la Celebración de Vida.)

        Los familiares, vestidos con ropa alegre, sirvieron como
anfitriones fuera del patio de la iglesia, en lugar de sentarse en los
bancos delanteros dentro de la iglesia, con el usualmente triste,
vestido negro.  La familia en luto, padece cada uno de los abrazos
tristes de los visitantes). Estuvieron de pie en la gran entrada, arcos
vistosos, al patio cubierto de hierba al aire libre, saludando a los
visitantes con la frase "Bienvenidos a la Celebración de la Nueva Vida
de nuestro Papá”.

       Introdujeron a los visitantes, uno tras otro y los invitaron para que
empezaron a celebrar en el patio con una hora de canciones jubilosas,
refrescos y conversación. Se planeó ayudar todos los huéspedes para
crear una “comunidad y familia” que podrían participar juntos en
crear celebraciones jubilosas, para asistir a parientes, amigos, al
obispo, sacerdotes, monjas, y visitantes de otras iglesias y fés.

         Antes de que cualquiér huésped llegara, se puso el ataúd cerca
de la pared del lado interior de la iglesia, en lugar de en el pasillo del
medio, de manera que la celebración podría enfocar en la "Nueva Vida"
del papá, en lugar de su cuerpo que no usaría más.

        A las 8 p.m., todos siguieron a los músicos entre la iglesia,
luminosa, decorada, junto a la ataúd del metal simple, azúl, ya que no
se había gastado en un ataúd caro ni en flores costosas; el dinero en
cambio ir ia a caridades y a familia con necesidades.

        Al principio de la Misa, el sacerdote, un hijo del recien nacido a la
vida en santidad explicó que la familia creyó que su papá celebraba su
"Nueva Vida" y quería que todos alegremente celebraran con él.
Mencionó que la familia creíaque el cielo no es un lugar muy lejos,
sino una vida nueva con Dios, que está en todas partes del universo,
incluso en la celebración y creían que su papá celebra con ellos allí
mismo.

        Introdujó miembros de la familia y grupos de visitantes, y explicó
los símbolos católicos por ilustrar a los visitantes. La Misa del funeral
incluyó canciónes jubilosas escritas que fueron modificadas para
mencionar al papá en harmonía con la celebración y sentimientos de la
familia. Había lecturas de la escritura, poemas cortos y reflexiones en la
vida del papá por familiares y amigos. La hija narró una presentación
con fotos de color de la vida de su papá, que proyectaron en una
pantalla.
        Después de la celebracíón de la Misa continuó en el patio con
conversación, música, canciones, pastel y helados.

                                                         ***
    Precios. El sacerdote dice: “La cosa la más importante por cada
familia es: SABER QUE ES UN PRECIO JUSTO, entonces BUSCAR
UNA FUNERARIA con ese precio.” Precios bajos, justos en pocas
funerarias en la mayoría de comunidades son: Un Funeral Completo
con un ataúd bonito de metal disponible en varios colores por $1,700 a
$2,400 total. Cremación Directa por $645 a $750 completa. Pero la
mayoría de las funerarias cargan dos a cinco veces más por los mismos
funerales y la cremación.

        Llamen a varias funerarias hasta que Ud. encuentre una con
precios justos como los indicados arriba, y con visitación y todos los
servicios en su iglesia o sinagoga local para que pueda usar una de las
pocas funerarias de su area,con precios justos, no importa donde se
localize, asi sea a 50 millas de distancia.

        Las iglesias deben llamar para investigar los precios de todas las
funerarias cercanas e incluso las que se localizan en sectores o
comunidades vecinas aunque mas distantes, y proveer los resultos
impresos a todas en sus congregaciones. El articulo habla del ejemplo
de la “rip-off” (robo) de una familia y el daño financiero causado por
pastores que distribuyen los calendarios con anuncios y otras
materiales de las funerarias con precios altos.

        Nuestro IFIC proporcionó ayuda a la revista y aparece en el
artículo. Nuestro Programa de Funerales Buen Pastor proporciona
ataudes y asiste a familiaspara preparar celebraciones del funeral,
canciones, y un recuerdo impreso a color, y libros del registro de
concurrentes. El FOLLETO EN COLOR del programa Buen Pastor, que
está disponible por correo, da muchas sugerencias para asistir y
ayudar a prepara funerales que requieren, una muy minima
participación de la funeraria, eliminan el uso de la capilla funebre y no
requiere una dirección del funeral por parte de la funeraria, a excepción
de un embalsamamiento barato y la transportación del cuerpo a la
puerta de la iglesia o del hogar, y al cementerio, en total mucho menos
que $1,000 en valor de tiempo de la funeraria y de los documentos,
ahorando miles de dólares;  funerales en los que muchos niños y
adultos pueden ayudar, y que pueden ser celebraciones jubilosas y
creativas como la descrita parrafos arriba.

** Folleto en Color: www.funerals-ripoffs.org; 480-303-0857.

*  Visite Brophy Capilla:  CLIC estas lineas para ver la capilla.

       1) Capilla:  www.brophyprep.org/escuela/capilla/chapel.html

       2) Aéreo:    www.brophyprep.org/aca/aerial.html
           Un lente de aumento mostra el patio donde la celebración comenzó.

       3) Historia:  www.brophyprep.org/aca/history.html

     CLIC su BACK botón para volver aquí después visita los fotos.

                                                                   * * *

CELEBRATION FOR A BABY
        For a baby who dies before or after birth (including babies who
are die only a few weeks or months after conception), many parents
suffer terribly about "losing" a baby (Nobody "loses" a baby.), who's
fault it is the death?, what happens to a baby who dies, what kind of
funeral service to have, and mortuaries who charge up to $2,000 or
more for taking care of the body (a criminal fee). The greatest fault is
that nobody ever explained or explains anything about these
questions that cause so much suffering.
        So, we provide answers here that can turn grief into great joy.
(The answers will be here in a few days.)
.

                                   (Click here to close this article.)
         (You can copy this article in order to print it - by using your cursor
         to paint through the article and then click your browser's "Copy".)
See more of the beautiful church and chapel at the end of this article.

“A JOYFUL, CREATIVE FUNERAL”

             from the article: “AT THE HOUR OF DEATH”

    in  U.S. CATHOLIC  national monthly magazine, February 1998.

        The article provides information on how to assist the dying; how
to arrange a beautiful, creative funeral (without the expensive help of
a mortician) in which family and friends help with planning,
preparations, decorations and ceremonies.

        There is a special section regarding the death of a baby, who died
before or after birth. And answers to questions that cause great
suffering to the parents and family. The answers can turn their grief
into great joy instead.                   .

        A priest, Fr. Wasielewski, a founder of the Interfaith Funeral
Information Committee (IFIC), points out in the article that the family
is the “FUNERAL DIRECTOR” of its own funerals (not morticians
who have decided to call themselves “funeral DIRECTORS”) and that
families can arrange their funeral activities in any way they wish
without permission or expensive help of a mortician.

        So, families are free to plan joyful, creative funerals with
decorations, music, refreshments - along with joyful religious
ceremonies. Hopefully, the pastor will be cooperative, just as he/she
is with the decorations and other ideas that many families include in
weddings.

        (Other information in the article about fair prices for funerals and
caskets, how to find a fair-priced mortuary, and other items have been
moved to the end of this column.)

A JOYFUL, CREATIVE FUNERAL

        Whatever your religion, we suggest that you plan a joyful,
creative funeral to celebrate the new life of your loved one, perhaps
using some of the ideas described here.

        The article describes the funeral for the father of a Catholic family
which decided to hold his funeral in the famous and beautiful church,
Brophy Chapel*, Phoenix, which the father and his brother had built
when he was a contractor in earlier years, and where the family had
gone to weekly Sunday Mass as the children grew up.

        The family arranged to have the funeral in the evening so that it
would be at the most convenient time for people (not requiring people
to skip their jobs), with burial the next morning (people were invited to
meet at the cemetery, eliminating the need for a procession and paid
motorcycle escorts). The obituary announced: “Gathering of friends
at 7 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection at 8 p.m.”

        Friends usually call to express “regrets and sorrow”, and finish
with “Let us know if there's any way we can help.” The family told
callers that they were not in sorrow but were excited for their dad,
and celebrating his “NEW LIFE” in heaven. The family invited
callers to help by bringing refreshments and sheet cakes with
wording like: “Welcome to Heaven, Dad” and “Congratulations! You
Made It.” They urged  callers to wear colorful clothing, not black, to
celebrate the joyful event.

        In the grassy, enclosed patio in front of the church, visitors were
welcomed by several joyful singers and musicians, many tables of
refreshments, renewal of acquaintances and conversation, a large
display of photos of the life of the newcomer to heaven, and a wide
banner over the church doors: “Welcome to the Celebration of Dad's
New Life.” In their home, church patio and church “Happy Birthday”
balloons floated to help celebrate their father’s birth as a new saint in
heaven.

        His wife had died about 20 years before, so a colorful four-page
celebration folder was created by the family (not the usual, bland
mortuary type) with a color photo of the smiling faces of the mom and
dad together in earlier years, with the words:

  “Finally, together again.  Joyfully CELEBRATING their NEW LIFE
with God and us -- INVITING US TO CELEBRATE WITH THEM
today. Praying for all of us, and waiting for us to join them.”

        Early arrivers and grandchildren were given rolls of gold and
silver crepe paper streamers and gold and silver balloons, and invited
to go into the church and decorate it and the casket in any way they
wished. They attached “Happy Birthday” balloons to each end of the
casket and to the altar. (Before guests arrived, the mortician was
asked to move the hearse far away from the entrance after he
delivered the body to the church so that the hearse would not distract
the attendees from the joyful atmosphere of the Celebration of Life.)

        Family members, wearing joyful clothing, served as hosts and
hostesses outside the church patio (instead of sitting in the front
pews inside, as the usual sad, black-clothed, bereaved family,
suffering from each of the tearful embraces from visitors). They stood
in the huge  Spanish-style archway to the grassy outdoor patio and
greeted arriving visitors with “Welcome to the Celebration of our
Dad’s New Life.”

       They introduced visitors to one another and invited them to
begin celebrating in the patio with an hour of joyful song,
refreshments and conversation.

        All was planned to help all guests to become  a “community and
family” which could better participate together in creating a really
joyful celebration. Attending were relatives, friends, bishop, priests,
nuns, and visitors from other churches and faiths.

         Before any guests arrived, the casket was placed near the side
wall inside the church, rather than in the middle aisle, so that the
celebration could focus on the “New Life” of the dad, instead of on
his now unused body.

        At 8 p.m., everyone followed the musicians into the church which
had been brightly-decorated, along with the simple, blue metal casket
(without money wasted on an expensive casket and costly flowers;
the money instead going to charities and family needs).

        At the beginning of the Mass, the priest (a son of the dad)
explained that the family believed that their dad was celebrating his
“New Life” and wanted all to joyfully celebrate with him. He
mentioned that the family believed that heaven is not a place -- but is
a new life with God, who is everywhere, including at the celebration --
and believed their dad was celebrating with them there.

        He introduced family members and groups of visitors, and
explained Catholic symbols for the benefit of visitors. The funeral
Mass included joyful songs written or modified to mention the dad
and to fit the celebration and feelings of the family. There were
scripture readings, short poems and reflections on the dad's life by
family and friends. The daughter narrated a color slide presentation of
the life of her dad.

        After Mass, the celebration continued in the patio with
conversation, music, song, cake and ice cream.

                                                          ***

        The article began with information about prices and other
information about funerals. Below is that information:

     Prices.  Fr. Wasielewski says: “The most important thing for every
family is: KNOW WHAT A FAIR PRICE IS, then FIND A
MORTUARY with that price.” Low, fair prices at a few mortuaries in
most communities are: Complete funeral with beautiful metal casket
available in several pleasing colors for $1,700 to $2,400 total; Direct
cremation for $645 to $750 complete -- although most    mortuaries in
these communities probably needlessly charge two to five times more
for the same funerals and cremation.

        Phone mortuaries until you find one with fair prices like the
above, and have viewing and all services at your local church or
synagogue so that you can use one of your area's few fair-priced
mortuaries, regardless of where it is located (even up to 50 or more
miles away).

        Churches should phone for the prices of all nearby mortuaries
and the prices of some fair, low-priced mortuaries in nearby areas or
cities, and provide the surveys to all parishioners. The article
provides an example of the rip-off of a family and the financial harm to
families caused by pastors who distribute advertising calendars and
materials of high-priced mortuaries.

                                                           ***

        Our IFIC provided assistance to the magazine and is featured in
the article. Our Good Shepherd Funeral Program provides caskets and
assists families to prepare funeral celebrations, songs, and colorful
visitors' folders and guest registration books.

        The program's COLOR BROCHURE, available by mail, gives
many suggestions to assist you to help prepare funerals which
require almost no morticians' activity (no mortuary “chapel,” and no
“funeral directing,” but only inexpensive embalming and delivering
the body to your church door or home, and to the cemetery -- totaling
much less than $1,000 worth of mortuary time and paperwork), thus
saving  thousands of dollars.

        Families can have funerals in which many children and adults can
help, and produce joyful, creative funeral celebrations like the one
described above.

** Color Brochure: www.funerals-ripoffs.org; 480-303-0857

* View Brophy Chapel:  CLICK these underlined URLs to view.
     1) Chapel:  www.brophyprep.org/school/chapel/chapel.html

     2) Aerial view:  www.brophyprep.org/aca/aerial.html
         A magnifying glass shows the patio where the celebration began.

     3) Hiistory:  www.brophyprep.org/aca/history.html

   CLICK your BACK button to return to this window.

                                                             * * *
CELEBRATION FOR A BABY
        For a baby who dies before or after birth (including babies who
die only a few weeks or months after conception). Many parents
suffer terribly about "losing" a baby (Nobody "loses" a baby.).
Whose fault is the death? What happens to a baby who dies? What
kind of funeral service to have? Mortuaries charge up to $2,000 or
more for taking care of the body (a criminal price). The greatest fault is
that nobody ever explained or explains anything about these
questions that cause so much suffering.
        So, we provide answers here that can turn families' grief into
great joy. Many of the answers are in the joyful funeral description
above. (More answers will be here shortly.)
.

                            (Click here to close this window.)

     Secrecy is used in many ways:

    ABSOLUTE SECRECY enables EVERY U.S. mortuary to rip-off
every family in its community - by preventing the media from
judging and EXPOSING to the public all the outrageous
markups, prices and deceptive tactics that are used by
nearly all mortuaries, cemeteries and prepay plans.

    Because the media cannot obtain from any source the
casket wholesale prices and deceptive practices that they
need in order to make any judgements about price levels and
honesty, this enables mortuaries to rob every family in every
community. Mortuaries can continue robbing everyone because
nobody can pin down or substantiate markups on specific caskets,
nor recognize specific deceptive tactics being used.

     Manufacturers start the secrecy process at their end by not
putting any model names or numbers on the caskets (unlike
cars, appliances, cans of beans, light bulbs and apples, which all
carry identifying numbers) so that reporters and families cannot
compare caskets in various mortuaries (nor with a wholesale price
that they see on this Internet site).

    In the information vacuum created by the secrecy, the NFDA
(National Funeral Directors Association, with its budget of several
million dollars), the 21,000 mortuaries in every community, prepay
plans, insurance companies and others (via leaflets, TV ads, "Six
Feet Deep" TV program, church advertising calendars, talks to
church and senior groups, gifts to clergy and hospice workers) keep
the myths and false information flowing.

    One of the most important tactics and goals is to keep the public
misled into thinking that $6,500 is currently the average honest
price for a funeral (without a casket in many minds) so that families
will expect to pay this much without complaint. In this way, the
industry prepares families to be easily fleeced - and not to think
about phoning a number of mortuaries for funeral prices or
complaining - ready to borrow money, or to beg money from their
friends, or to coax as many as possible to spend hours washing
cars to fill the mortician's pocket.

   >> Some families even think highly of a mortuary that gives them a
list of gas stations that will allow car washes, not realizing that the
mortuary is tricking the family to assist the mortuary to steal
thousands, not only from the family, but also thousands from dozens
of their relatives and from volunteer families throughout the
neighborhood.

                 ART and PHOTOS
from TV programs, articles, magazines
  The pictures are mostly from articles and TV programs in
cities throughout the U.S. and other countries that our IFIC
                     helped with, or we have appeared in.

1)  BRIBE:  A mortician secretly gives a gift (payoff,
       kickback) to a minister/priest as a casket is carried
       to a grave.
      Click here.  This is from several articles in The Arizona
       Republic newspaper about bribes (cars, $5,000, trips)
       offered by mortuaries to bishops, priests and ministers -
       in return for passing out the high-priced mortuary's
       advertising calendars to all families at church services
       (to give families the impression that the pastor
       recommends the mortuary and its prices), for sending
       families to the high-priced mortuary, and for not warning
       families about unjust high prices and deceptive practices.
       This picture was more than a half-page tall, one of the
       largest editorial drawings ever published in a newspaper.
      Click the picture to close it.

2)  GRAVESTONE:  On national TV, in a short movie clip, a
        gravestone, with a "$" on it, represented a price tag
        that popped up in a window of old-fashioned registers to
        show the price.  Here, a gravestone slowly rose up out
        of the grave to indicate the high prices of funerals, as
        viewers heard the ringing of a cash register bell.
     Click here.  In the bottom photo, Fr. Wasielewski (at
        right) explained how mortuaries cheat families.
        This is from the national ABC-TV's "HOME" show (now
        "Regis and Kelly") that explained about funeral rip-offs -
        and about our IFIC research and activities.
           Fr. Wasielewski showed pictures of cask