2010 Saw the Rise of the Part Time(USA) Funeral Director-YourFuneralGuy

Picture of  Cremation URNs Image via Wikipedia

Funeral Homes as a small business(USA) in 2010 saw the rise of the part time Funeral Director. With the recent  (Obama’) administration not so subtle opposition to small business,  the funeral industry decline, the rise of cremation and folks wanting to pay less for funerals  this is an expected result.

The administration  in the United States may change their position on this( small business). But for 2011 at least the rise of the part time funeral director will continue.

Over the Year I have spoken to many funeral home owners who are avoiding paying benefits(Health mainly) by using part time funeral directors.

This is consistent with documented  rise of health care rates, at the end of 2010 and the slow  recovery from the great recession.

The great Baby Boomer Die off( death trend) is not likely to occur in 2011)barring a  major national disaster or Armageddon scenario.

The use of Part Time Funeral Directors will grow in 2011 alongside the trend to lower funeral cost

Funeral Industry| Funeral News| Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

This is an original your funeral guy post, the opinion of Your Funeral Guy, and not based on scientific data.

Michael Jackson Funeral|Death|CHANGES ONLINE MEMORIALS-yourfuneralguy

The Michael Jackson Death, Twitter and other online memorial sites have changed the internet for ever.

The Michael Jackson Death and Funerals have changed online memorials and tributes forever. People around the globe have left millions online  memorials on the web. Twitter was a major place for these memorails.

Tributes have been left at Legacy.com, tributes.com, respectance.com and many others in many nations.

TMZ.com the celebrity website that broke the Michael Jackson death was overwhelmed. Twitter as well came close to a meltdown.

It will continue because MJ Funeral Arrangements have not been finalized  both private and public. Joe Jackson MJ’s Father and spokesman Al Sharpton have promised public and global funerals.

From webpronews.com

“AOL, owner of TMZ, released the following statement about the downtime…

“Today was a seminal moment in Internet history. We’ve never seen anything like it in terms of scope or depth. Historically, celebrity news prompts a worldwide outpouring with several key consumer behaviors – searching, sharing and reacting to the news followed by online tributes has become the modern way to mourn. Princess Diana was the first notable Internet example. Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett are the latest.”

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

Those memorial tweets just keep on coming

IN HIS DEATH IS MICHAEL JACKSON THE MOST POPULAR MAN ON THE PLANET?

Farrah Fawcett|Funeral|Jailed Son allowed to attend-yourfuneralguy

Farah Fawcett's son will be able to leave jail to attend the Stars Funeral

6.25.09 News Farrah Fawcett Funeral-Redmond O’Neal the son of Farrah Fawcett will be able to the Actress’s Funeral service . He will be able to leave his jail cell.

The family has not made a statement on funeral arrangements. Farah’s son now plans to make good on his sobriety promise to his mother.

As of now there is no date for funeral services.

According to RadarOnline.com

Sources close to Redmond O’Neal reveal exclusively to RadarOnline.com that Commissioner Jane Godfrey has signed a removal order allowing Redmond to attend the funeral of his mother Farrah Fawcett.

Redmond will be allowed to wear a suit and not his jail issued attire…..The date of the funeral has not been determined.

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

Farrah Fawcett  died of cancer on 6.25.09 after a long struggle.

Ed McMahon Funeral Information-YourFuneralGuy

Ed McMahon has died. Ed is pictured in center of crowd.

Here is the latest Ed McMahon Funeral information. Ed McMahon died Tuesday, Ed McMahon, was a icon of  late-night television for 30 years  the  sidekick for Johnny Carson on NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” He always laughed at Carson’s Jokes no matter how good or how bad.

The family has issued no  statement on a  funeral arrangement  or funeral service at this time. There  is more info on the death of Ed McMahon here: Ed McMahon dies

A couple of ways  ways you can honor the life of Ed McMahon are mentioned  below:

Ed McMahon|guestbook leave memorials and condolences

Light Candle for Ed McMahon.

From the Washington Post

“Ed McMahon died on Tuesday at 86 after battling a series of illnesses in recent months. The veteran TV personality best known for his nightly introduction of Carson in a deep, booming voice with the drawn-out line, “Heeeeeeeeere’s Johnny!” died at a Los Angeles-area hospital, and was immediately hailed by friends and former colleagues as an icon of American popular culture.”

Funeral Industry|Funeral blog by Your Funeral Guy

Photo of Ed McMahon from flickr under the creative commons license from  Alan Light’s photostream

Funeral Director Leaves Body in Basement, 12 years-YourFuneralGuy

Corpse was left in a casket in the basement of Indiana Funeral Home for 12 years istockphoto rf license

A Funeral Director has left a corpse in the basement of a Funeral home for 12 years.  This is flat out disrespect for the dead and humanity. The reason is the funeral director gave for doing the  heinous deed is that he did not get paid.

The life of a human being  dead or alive is more important than money. The highest cost at a funeral is the death of the person involved. There is no excuse for treating a body in this manner. The deceased was left in a casket.

This all went down in Indiana.  Check out the Snippet and click on for more information.

From: news-tribune.net

“On Sept. 2, 1997, 96-year-old Irene Jackson died in Indianapolis, according to coroner records. The woman had family in Southern Indiana, so she was taken to Baity’s Funeral Home at 911 State St. in New Albany. However, her body was not buried until last week.“

Funeral Industry| Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

Jack Kemp State Funeral for a Hero?-yourfuneralguy

National Cathedral where Jack Kemp's Funeral Service will take place Friday.

It appears that  New Funeral precedent maybe set Friday. A  possible State funeral for a Congressman, Cabinet Secretary, Presidential candidate, football hero.  Maybe it will not be a full State funeral with a riderless horse and caisson.  The man  to be honored is Jack Kemp. The time 2pm,  Friday, 5/08/2009 National Cathedral, Washington DC. This is just part of the funeral arrangements for Jack Kemp.

The man with ideas for all seasons is Jack Kemp the bleeding heart conservative, and civil rights champion.. In Football he went from $100 dollar draft pick to the most valuable player in the AFL. I first saw him on the football field  in 1960 when I was 8yrs old. By  In 1965 I was a big fan and was amazed as he threw the football to fame  with the Buffalo Bills.

I remember the compassion in his voice. Compassion i heard my teenage year and compassion I heard in the election of 2008.  Not being a supply sider in the Reagan years I lost touch. Hailing from Chicago I was floored by what he  did as HUD Secretary and his compassion for the poor under George H.W.Bush.

Last fall the look on his face will never be forgotten. It was the look he gave Sean Hannity when he insisted on attacking the character of Barack Obama. Liberals and conservatives alike were in awe.

Jack Kemp is a hero and deserves a “State Funeral” not because of what he stood for but how he stood. Another Hero of mine, Jim Wallis  said it well in the Huffington Post

“I thank God for Jack Kemp, perhaps one of the earliest pioneers of  compassionate conservatism.In his passing, I pray

Jack Kemp 1988 in his run up to the Presidential Primaries.

that his legacy would increase….Jack will be remembered as both a lesson and an example for political leaders of the future.

Watch I will on Friday to see if there will be a State funeral for my hero.

Funeral Industry| Funeral blog by Your Funeral Guy, Funeral Director, Illinois and Virginia.

This is not political commentary, only a statement on funerals and heros. Hope Obama shows.

“Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio a nation turns it’s lonely eyes to you”-Paul Simon

National Cathedral pic from Flickr under the creative commons license from  ~MVI~’s photostream

Kemp run up to the Presidential Primary pic from flickr under the creative commons license  from Ray Gronberg’s photostream

Now Funeral Fund Government Task Force Investigation-YourFuneralGuy

A cartoon from the State Journal Register Shows a prophecy on the Illinois Funeral Directors Association’s Death due to unanswered questions. That death has been predicted elsewhere. Guess Who?

The IFDA. Wonder what will be the the cause of Death on The IFDA’s Death Certificate? Is a Funeral Fund  Government Task Force Investigation going to make a  difference?

Does this mean the IFDA has had a funeral and a burial. Is Roland Burris's Political Burial Next?

The Illinois Funeral Directors Association Historic Preneed Fund Ponzi scheme ultimatetly will cost Funeral Directors and funeral purchasers money. Every time the administrators of a Funeral Preneed fund misappropiate money someone has to pay!

It does appear that Roland Burris has not paid his price for Lobbying for this scam. The Illinois legislature has set up  a government task  force to investigate the Funeral Fund Ponzi Scheme. This acccording  to a  SJR article entitled:

The Illinois House has set up Task Force to Investigate the HISTORIC ILLINOIS FUNERAL DIRECTORS TRUST FUND SCANDAL

Snippet from the  Springfield,IL State Journal Register Article.

“The Illinois House Wednesday agreed to set up a task force to investigate a troubled pre-need funeral trust fund and to recommend improvements in how the state regulates the pre-need funeral industry…….A report is due from the panel. by year’s end.”

The situation now is causing thousands of questions to be asked. The Britt Cartoon from the State Journal Register is almost prophetic showing a grave with the Tombstone Inscribed “IFDA UNANSWERED QUESTIONS RIP”

Here are some unanswered Questions:

What happens with this mess till years end?

Is Every one  at the IFDA under a gag order?

How is the IFDA TRUST being funded under Merrill Lynch?

Where are the promised new Merrill Lynch funding vehicles?

Why is not the current IFDA President James Bosma NOT speaking?

Why is the current NFDA(national funeral directors association) Secretary Randall L Earl, a National Funeral leader a key player in this mess not

May the Illinois Funeral Directors Association Rest in Peace

mentioned?

How can Funeral Director Charles S.Childs Jr continue as a REGULATOR for the STATE OF ILLINOIS when he is at the heart of the IFDA Ponzi Scam?

It seems to me that the only ones who know for sure what is going on at the IFDA are State Regulators.

Hopefully the Illinois  House Task Force will be aggressive in their investigation.

Funeral Costs| Funeral Industry Blog by Your Funeral Guy

The Britt Cartoon from the State Journal Register has some rights reserved.

randall l earl

nfda

New Affirmations on the Death, a Dying of Preneed- Your Funeral Guy

Traditional Preneed has appeared to have an abrupt death due to decapitation in 2008 Too much time on the unsafe teeter totter of death-funeral director greed.

Breaking News-March 15- The Chicago Tribune gave some   new affirmations to the death and dying of  preneed or prepaid funerals. As the death of  preneed continues the average cost of a funeral will go down.

In a post on March 10( “IFDA SPEAKER says Preneed is terminal,it will die.“) I stated that preneed will die or be dead by January1st 2010.

The Tribune Article came up with statements by  funeral directors and several experts who stated preneed was no longer profitable for the funeral director.

‘David Nixon, an Illinois financial consultant to funeral homes…..The (IFDA) debacle has given Nixon more reason to advise Illinois funeral directors to stop selling guaranteed funeral contracts. “It really doesn’t make sense in the long run to guarantee things that are beyond your control,” he said.’

“In Rockland, Mass., Robert Biggins stopped offering guaranteed contracts six months ago at his funeral home. Some funeral costs increase by more than 5 percent a year, but banks are not paying that much for deposits, said Biggins, past president of the National Funeral Directors Association.“

Also quoted was Bonnie McCullough, executive director of the New York State Funeral Directors Association. She said  ” We’re in unprecedented times right now,” she said. “Can you guarantee what something is going to cost 15 years from now?”

The main reason over the years that Funeral Directors collected and hung on to large numbers of preneed policies was they received the interest on the folks money. Large Funeral Homes and funeral groups, corporate funeral homes, in actuality  during many years received more money in preneed commissions than they did from doing funerals each year!  Just like Wall Street it all came down to greed.

The evidence for this also comes from the two big Funeral Corporations, Service Corporation and Stewart Enterprises who showed extensive losses in  their cemetery preneed in there last financial reports.

This  was  a bubble for funeral directors and  it gave funeral home owners lots of dollars.  Like all bubbles this one has burst.

Traditional Preneed in effect was decapitated in 2008 by the economic down turn, the NPS and the IFDA scandals. In spite of efforts to reattach the head, it cannot be done.

Thanks to the Chicago Tribune for some affirmations on the death of preneed.

Your Funeral Guy thanks the Chicago Tribune for the affirmations on the Death and dying of preneed, or prepaid funerals.

Funeral Industry| Funeral Cost blog by Your Funeral Guy, R.Brian Burkhardt

Sources :The Chicago Tribune Article here and the research and funeral experience of your funeral guy.

Decapitation picture from flicker creative commons license from Old Scool’s Photo stream

President Obama the Dead Need a Bailout too.-yourfuneralguy.

President Obama the Dead need a bailout because of too much Debt.

One of the unknown secrets in the funeral industry is that the Dead need a funeral cost bailout. So President Obama instead of bailing out mortgages please consider bailing out the dead after their funeral. This is not political satire. It is the honest to God Truth. Many a dead person has left their family with extreme financial death: a large amount of debt.

I have had some personal experience with this. When I almost died in 2007 i wrote the book Rest in Peace: Insider’s Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral

One of the big fears at the time was that I would leave my family with too much debt.  So I wrote the work at a supersonic speed. The threat of death gave me an almost divine laser focus. The book helps folks but is not a big money maker. It has not helped in the elimination of my debt.

I bring this up because tough economic times have  given rise to a a funeral industry spin off the “DEATH DEBT COLLECTOR” it is something to keep in mind when planning for a funeral or when someone dies. Death debt collection  is big business now.

These folks really exist and they are devilish folks. This according to a  New York Times article:

“Collecting from the dead, however, is expanding. Improved database technology is making it easier to discover when estates are opened in the country’s 3,000 probate courts, giving collectors an opportunity to file timely claims. But if there is no formal estate and thus nothing to file against, the human touch comes into play.”

Funeral Industry| Funeral Cost Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

Mmmm…I wonder if these new funeral industry guys will collect from the IFDA?

Your Funeral Guy: Chris Rock Funeral?

No  as far as I know Chris Rock did not die. This guy however can be quite funny. Many times the best way to think about a funeral is through humor. One should not go so far as to take on the role of the Joker. Chris has put his head together on funerals. He will be doing a movie. In fact he co-wrote the  remake of “Death at a Funeral“

Laughter is one of the best ways to put some distance between you and death, grim reaper, vampires, your funeral  etc. The movie bucket list did a good job with this last year. In fact it has been said that laughter can reduce funeral cost because it puts more time between you and your final event.

The entertainment magazine Variety reports that the American version will be directed by Neil LaBute. The comedy will be done by Screen Jems. The film centers on a dysfunctional family where arguments, tension and stress reign.

Anyone working in the funeral business sees this sort of thing all too often. I look forward to “Death at a Funeral”

Blog by Your Funeral Guy.