Illinois Funeral Directors Association-Are they gone? Your Funeral Guy

The Illinois Funeral Directors Association appears not do be doing so well. They have are searching for a new trustee, for their Scandal ridden trust fund, The IFDA Preneed Trust. They have not been updating their member website. (latest info has been from June 2009 ) After Losing and stealing up to 100 million dollars of  preneed trust funds(according to Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes and reports in the State Journal Register) one would think that would be the least they could do.

Instead The Executive Director Duane Marsh has been busy conducting tours of the Museum of Funeral Customs. directed by the embattled National Funeral Directors Association Executive Secretary Randall L Earl.( yes he is still listed as the Director of the Museum pf Funeral Customs at The NFDA website)

The press seems to have forgotten about the Illinois Funeral Directors Association and their great preneed insurance  swindle in the State of Illinois

Funeral industry| Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

The IFDA has received an important resignation, yours truly.

Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal |Horror|Incompetent owners in Control-your funeral guy

There is more horror in the Burr Oak Cemetery, Perpetua the old owners are back!

OUTRAGE-The incompetent owners  whose questionable (criminal?) behavior brought on the great Burr Oak Cemetery Grave desecrations are back in Control.

The Cook County Sheriff has vowed to do what he can to wrestle the keys away from Perpetua, Inc. The Cemetery is still closed. How do the owners think they will operate here in Illinois. All Hell is about to break lose!

Snippet From the Chicago Tribune:

“Roman Szabelski, the receiver appointed by a court to sort out the Burr Oak mess left the cemetery shortly after 9.30 a.m. after handing the cemetery keys to Perpetua spokeswoman Trudi Foushee. Perpetua is now in charge of clean-up operations at the cemetery.”

The problem with settling sca ndals like burr Oak cemetery in court is that the wheels of justice turn way too slowly.

The two other active Perpetua Scandals happening are

Wade Funeral Home  in St. Louis and from another Chicago Newspaper:

“Reports show Slivy Edmonds Cotton, who remains listed under Perpetua management, and Portico LLM Enterprises took over the Pet Cemetery of Tucson in 2008.

Portico sued the former owner this summer, alleging fraud and misconduct, including selling headstones that were not provided and breaking into Portico offices to delete files.

At Perpetua, Edmonds Cotton oversaw Cedar Park, 12540 S. Halsted St. She told the Daily Southtown in 2000 she was inspired by Cedar Park’s uniqueness and beauty.——-Daily Southtown. http://www.southtownstar.com/burr-oak/1723194,081909perpetua.article”

Funeral Industry|Funeral blog by Your Funeral Guy

Burr Oak Cemetery Task Force REPORTS-your funeral guy.

Burr oak Cemetery Report completed

The  Burr Oak Cemetery Task Force has reported to the Governor of the State of Illinois on CEMETERY REFORM. Specific recommendations have been given. In the session last hearing Thursday the politics of the Race for Governor  was front and center, Gubernatorial candidate Dan Hynes went on for an hour defending his actions..

In the Governors Press  Release  there appears to be no statement on what will be done for the families that were victims of the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal.

The focus is the prevention of Future scandals like the one that happened at Burr oak cemetery in 2009

Snippet from “Governor Quinn Receives Final Cemetery Oversight Task Force Report
Will Review Plans for Tougher Industry Regulations”

“Among the Cemetery Oversight Task Force recommendations:

• Consolidate regulatory authority of funeral and burial practices into the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
• Enact the Cemetery Oversight Act, which will ensure that only qualified persons can own, operate or work in a cemetery in Illinois.
• Amend and consolidate existing statutes to strengthen industry regulation and enforcement.

The Task Force heard testimony from families with loved ones buried at Burr Oak, other cemetery and law enforcement experts, industry professionals, and government officials. Each provided insight into the type of laws, regulations and oversight needed to protect the dignity of loved ones after death.”

DOWNLOAD THE FULL CEMETERY TASK FORCE REPORT HERE

Funeral Industry Funeral Blog by R.Brian Burkhardt

Second Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal-Your funeral Guy

Another Cemetery Scandal in the Chicago Area

A Second  Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal Has been revealed in  the Chicago Area. This was revealed Last Thursday at the the Cemetery  Oversight Task Force and Meeting.  The Scandal is located at Mount Hope Cemetery in south Suburban  Chicago.

From: The SouthwestObservor

“A day after reports that four bodies at Mount Hope Cemetery may have been buried in body bags in a single grave, concerned families flooded the Morgan Park cemetery hoping that their loved ones had not been disturbed.

The secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Brent Adams, has asked Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes to investigate reports of misconduct that were raised during a hearing of the newly formed Cemetery Task Force, formed by Gov. Pat Quinn after the scandal at Alsip’s Burr Oak Cemetery.”

More Info on Mount Hope Cemetery:

Mt Hope Cemetery Association
11500 S Fairfield Ave
Chicago, IL 60655-1999
(708) 371-2818‎

News reports state that this cemetery scandal will not be the size of Burr Oak.

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

$50,000 for Burr Oak Cemetery Released-yourfuneralguy

A judge has released $50,000.00 USD for the operation of Burr Oak Cemetery. This is good news for those who are seeking more information on loved ones whose graves may have been dug up.

In July 2009 it was discovered that over 200 graves were desecrated at the cemetery  in Alsip, IL. Other investigations are continuing. Bones were found discarded around the cemetery.Four People have been arrested.

Although the owner “Perpetua Inc” reported the scandal they have been not given public answers about their role in the matter.

Recently operations at the Cemetery had to cease due to lack of funds.

This is a cemetery and burial disaster|Scandal of the worst type.

Snippet from the Southtown Star

This morning a group of 15 lawyers representing Szabelski, the sheriff, Burr Oak owner Perpetua Inc. and others were in court for a hearing on the issue.

A judge agreed to give Szabelski $50,000 from the still-frozen accounts with which to continue his work Burr Oak.

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

Illinois Funeral Directors Assoc.above the Law-yourfuneralguy

The Illinois Funeral Directors Association believes it's gentleman's agreement with politicians places it above the law.

The Illinois Funeral Directors Association believes they are above the Law. This is according to details of their lawsuit reported last Friday. The Comptroller of the State of Illinois says that they stole the money out of the IFDA Preneed trust. Rather than face up they have decided to do a lawsuit against the Comptroller.

Now the average working stiff when caught stealing  10-100 million dollars does not usually get to sue the police. It’s the jail house right away.

Illinois Comptroller Press Release:

“An audit by Hynes’ office determined the entity took more than the legally allowed amount of fees from 2000 to 2006.”

So the  IFDA leaders took the money. They try to justify their theft of money in a lawsuit:

via the State Journal Register, Newspaper:

“After Hynes demanded in May that IFDA return the fees, the association sued the comptroller in Cook County, saying it was entitled to the money. In its lawsuit, IFDA says former Comptroller Roland Burris in 1980 set the fee limit at 5 percent of principal for the trust, and the principal swelled to as much as $300 million.

However, the General Assembly amended the Burial Funds Act in 1989, limiting fees to 25 percent of earnings. There was no guarantee that the trust would earn any money, so the association turned to another section of state law governing trusts that allows trustees to collect “proper expenses” and “reasonable compensation.”

IFDA says it was trying to protect consumers when it collected fees larger than allowed by the Burial Funds Act.

“Without reasonable compensation, IFDA Services would have been forced to cease operations and place thousands of Illinois consumers in the precarious and frightening position of losing the trustee of the funds they depended on for proper burial services,” IFDA said in its lawsuit.”

Now just because you have a gentleman’s agreement with likes of Roland Burris (D){Or a gentlewoman’s agreement with  Dawn Clark Netsch (R)} does not put you above the law.

William Statler An expert lawyer in these matters wrote an interesting article on the IFDA being above the law. Here is a snippet from his article:

“the IFDA sought to enforce their gentleman’s agreement. Unfortunately for consumers and funeral directors, that agreement was flawed from the start”

The Illinois Funeral Directors Association failed to declare that it was taking more money out of the trust than allowed by law. They choose to fail  and operate above the Law.  Will the courts say the the IFDA is above the Law?

I HOPE NOT. Some high powered folks  in the funeral industry, the State of Illinois and the US Senate hope so.

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

You can read more on this here:

Illinois Funeral Directors Possible Felons

Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal:No term burials at Burr Oak-yourfuneralguy

The good news is that Burr Oak cemetery did no term burials. This is according to cbs2 in Chicago. Term Burials or term graves as they are sometimes called are grave sites that are rented for 20 to 25 years. After that the headstone can be removed and a a grave sold on top of the older one. In this type of contract a new headstone can be placed.

It should be noted that caskets, bodies  and graves cannot be dug up without the family being notified. When it happens a Funeral Director has to be present.

The things that went on at Burr Oak Cemetery is an unspeakable crime.

Snippet from CBS2 local news

“Burr Oak Cemetery has never conducted term burials.“

You can search for headstones at Burr Oak Cemetery here: www.burroak.net

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

Historical Casket At AA Rayner and Son-YourFuneralguy

The historical Emmet Till Casket is at the AA Rayner & Son Funeral Home in Chicago. This is where the civil rights, martyrs casket is now located. There the casket will be restored and moved to a new location.

The family chose this funeral home partially because that is where the slain teenager lied in state after he was murdered in 1955.

The current owners of Burr oak cemetery were the casket was left to rot are directly responsible for this act of disrespect to the black community. The corporation is Perpetua Inc.

Charles Childs Jr is the co owner of the Funeral Home AA Rayner and Son.

The fact that his funeral home holds this historical relic should not bring Mr. Childs immunity from investigation in the IFDA Preneed Trust Ponzi Scheme. (see previous post).

Charles Childs Jr, was president of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association Trust Fund tanked in 2006 and 2007.

Reports now are that the fund, has now lost 100 million dollars.

Funeral Industry|FuneralBlog by YourFuneralGuy.

ponzi tidbits graphic from Ponzi Website.

Emmit Till

From Source Wikepedia

“In July 2009, while his gravesite appeared undisturbed, his original casket, in which his battered body was famously displayed, was found rusting in a run-down shack on the [Burr Oak]cemetery grounds.”

Born	Emmett Louis Till July 25, 1941(1941-07-25) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	August 28, 1955 (aged 14) Money, Mississippi, U.S.

Ex-IFDA President-Illinois Funeral Directors Burr Oak Victims-YourFuneralGuy

Charles Childs ia an ex-IFDA President involved in the IFDA Preneed Trust Ponzi Scheme

Ex-IFDA President Charles Childs spoke to Governor Quinn’s Task Force yesterday.  He stated that funeral directors in Illinois are victims of the Burr oak cemetery. Complaining that they he has to spend extra time and resources to help his clients is not becoming, if not unprofessional for a Funeral Director.  Plus, the State has requested records.

In fact Child’s and other Funeral Directors have been served with an “Order Compelling Production of Books and Records.” from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. All contact with Burr oak cemetery must be reported from 2004 t0 2009.

Snippet from the Chicago Tribune:

“To this date, that’s basically all we’ve been doing is trying to find records for families who are unfortunate victims in this,” Childs said. “We ourselves are victims.”

Charles Childs Jr of A.A. Rayner & Sons Modern Funeral Service transferred 2 million $$ out of the IFDA Preneed Trust Fund to Management.

Charles Childs  Jr,is a defendant in multiple lawsuits in the Illinois Funeral Directors Preneed Ponzi Scheme. There is also a federal criminal investigation into him and other Ex-IFDA Presidents. How can his testimony be credible  before the Cemetery Oversight Task Force?

“Under Child’s watch 2 million dollars was transferred from the IFDA Preneed Trust to IFDA Services  for management fees according to the State Journal Register newspaper in Springfield, Illinois.” $250,000.oo was also transfered to the Museum under his watch from 2006 to 2007. From the SJR: Article:

“According to an IFDA-commissioned audit, the foundation that ran the museum received at least $250,000 annually in 2006 and 2007 from the association, which got more than $2 million each of those years from management fees generated by the trust fund.”

Charles Childs was president of the IFDA from  2006 to 2007.
The grief and hurt caused by the Burr oak cemetery scandal is beyond comprehension. This is a horrific tragedy.

Ex- IFDA President Charles Childs Jr, defends loans out of trust fund.

Charles Childs Jr Illinois Funeral Regulator at heart of IFDA Ponzi Scheme

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral  Guy

Burr Oak Cemetery owners have another Scandal-YourFuneralGuy

Perpetua Inc has two property crime scenes, Burr Oak Cemetery, Illinois and Wade Funeral Home in Missouri

The owners of the Burr Oak Cemetery have another scandal on their hands. This one occurred in Missouri at the  Wade Funeral home near St. Louis Missouri. Perpetua, Inc  owns that property. They also own Burr Oak Cemetery.

Ironically while Burr Oak Cemetery is closed  as a crime scene. The lady responsible for the theft of $200,000 in preneed funds at Wade FH, Deborah Kellom, will be sentenced on July 24th 2009. The Burr oak cemetery a  Perpetua property will still be a crime scene during her sentencing.

St.Louis From KMOV

“St. Louis, MO: Debora Kellom pleaded guilty to mail fraud involving her embezzlement of more than $200,000 from Wade Funeral Home, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today…..Kellom knew that the Pulaski account was a local account, and not routinely scrutinized by Perpetua management in Arizona.

It is more than obvious that Perpetua is  more than negligent in managing it’s personel and it’s properties. How many times will this Arizona Company be allowed to repeat it’s attrocities?

Funeral Industry|Funeral blog by Your Funeral Guy.