World’s Largest Funeral Corp,Wrong Body,Wrong Grave Scandal-yourfuneralguy

Seal of Brookline Massachusetts where the scandal took place Image via Wikipedia

The World’s Largest Funeral Corporation Service Corporation International, NYSE:SCI has found it self in a wrong body wrong grave scandal. Worse yet it involved a  Jewish Burial. This all took place in  Massachusetts.

The article entitled in the Boston Herald  “Funeral BigWig recuses Self on Burial Inquiry”

The scandal has wide significance because the Individual Involved Kim L Perry, who is (was)the Chairperson of the Massachusetts Funeral Board.

Snippet

Kim L. Perry said she is a New England manager for Houston-based Service Corporation International, which owns Stanetsky Memorial Chapel in Brookline. Perry has been on the board since 2005. Her five-year term expires next month.

Stanetsky(memorial Chapel  buried one body on Aug. 26 in a grave meant for someone else, then exhumed it the next day and replaced the remains with the right body – all without ever pulling permits at the city’s health department, as required by state law, or notifying authorities, according to Stan Kaplan, executive director of the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts. JCAM owns the Chevra Kadusha Cemetery in Woburn, where the burial mix-up took place. Jewish law prohibits burying a body where another has been, because the ground is then considered desecrated. SCI said it is cooperating with the state.

via news.bostonherald.com

Funeral Industry|Funeral News|Funeral blog by Your Funeral Guy

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Chicago-Skokie SCI Cemetery Flag, Memorial Mess-Your Funeral Guy

Image via Wikipedia

Service Corporation International has a created another graveside flap, this time it is not just over grave momentos but flying flags, at a war hero’s grave. A new Manager came to Memorial Park  Cemetery in December 2009 and has told the mother and father to take (at least one of the )flags at the site down.

Skokie, Ill. – The father of a soldier from Skokie has made a deal with a cemetery that will allow him to continue to fly an American flag over his son’s grave.

Last week, Memorial Park in Skokie told Elie Bitton that he had to remove the ten foot flag poles that bookended the monument to his son Albert Bitton, or the cemetery would do it for him.

Army Corporal Bitton was killed by a roadside bomb in 2008, and for the past two and a half years the poles have flown an American flag and an MIA/POW flag on either side of the black granite headstone.

His father visits the grave three times a day, and there has never been a problem until last week when the cemetery’s new manager Ron Graeff told him the flags and the flowers around the grave site would have to go because they didn’t conform to the rules and regulations.

Graeff had only been in charge since December 2009, so he could not say why no one told Bitton the flag poles were too tall when he put them in. The cemetery’s regulations do not permit any memorials taller than four feet.

“After two and a half years, you’re gonna tell me what to do, the flag is down or not. He’s an anti-American, it’s an anti-American, because if it was really an American he would never said that,” an outraged Elie Bitton told Fox Chicago News at the cemetery.

via chicagopressrelease.com

After 2.5  years and telling the family to take the graves down? The world’s largest funeral corporation continued inconsistent enforcement of their  cemetery policies. The Illinois Cemetery Oversight Act will not be much help this matter, although the family has contacted the Department Of Veterans Affairs. Service Corporation International, NYSE:SCI is known by some as big death and the evil funeral empire.

This story was featured on July 28th 2010, on the Fox News Channel Americas News room. Death care Scandals at SCI Have become quite common over the past Several Years.

Funeral industry, Funeral News, Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

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• Family Reaches DealOn Cemetery Flags (foxnews.com)
• Cemetery Wants Flags Down at Soldier’s Grave (foxnews.com)

World’s Largest Funeral Corporation sweeps away Baby Momentos|YourFuneralGuy

The World’s Largest Funeral Corporation has been caught up in a local grave scandal. This time the Company NYSE:SCI has been caught sweeping up and throwing away memorabilia, left  at baby’s grave in Vancover, Canada.

This is a classic case of not enforcing the rules for quite some time, then all of a sudden enforcing them- Momentos at dead Baby’s Graves. One would think just because dead babies are involved an exception would be in order to avoid poor publicity. NOPE not the multi million Service Corporation International Inc, SCI.

Another case of The World’s Largest Funeral Corporation, “Too Big too Care.” And Per the normal SCI and funeral scandal  News coverage  is not going beyond the local media.

Yolaine Dupont felt she found the perfect spot for her little girl, Ella, to spend eternity when she laid her to rest at Burnaby’s Forest Lawn Memorial Park last spring.

The Lullaby section, where eight-month-old Ella was buried after a heroic battle with end-stage emphysema, had soul, said Dupont. It felt peaceful and happy.

A year later, however, and Dupont said she’s considering her options following enforcement in March of Forest Lawn’s rule concerning site maintenance.

It’s a rule, Dupont said, that’s seen the gravesites in the Lullaby area stripped of mementos — such as pinwheels, figurines and stuffed animals — left there by loved ones.

“I’m incredibly distraught, to be honest,” said Dupont, a native of Quebec. “It is traumatic enough to lose a child. To have to deal with this at the same time is horrendous.”

Dupont said flowers, three miniature flags, a teddy bear and guardian-angel figurines were taken from Ella’s gravesite and thrown away by Forest Lawn’s staff during the cleanup.

via www.theprovince.com

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

Ten Funeral | Funeral News predictions for 2010-YourFuneralGuy

Here are the Top Ten Funeral and Funeral News predictions for 2010.

Ten top funeral predictions for 2010.

1Cremation rate will rise at  Faster Rate in 2010 than 2009.bringing down the average cost of a funeral.

2.Funeral home,closings mergers, and Bankruptcy’s will grow.

3. The big three Service Corporation International, Stewart Enterprises Inc  and Batesville Casket  Company will  continue to have revenue decline.

4. The  Bereaved Consumer Bill of Rights Act  bringing cemeteries under the funeral rule will. die in committee in the United States Congress.

5. The digitizing of all aspects of the  funeral will continue including webcasting, online obituaries as well as video tributes.

6. Service Corporation International  NYSE SCI will continue to Exposed in Scandal  as “big death” and the often whispered about Houston “Enron Evil”

7. Funeral Alliances among Funeral Industry Corporations.will grow as the industry tries to stop it’s decline.

8. Consumers will catch on to the New FTC Ruling and negotiate the basic service fee when purchasing Alternative  Funeral Services.

9. The handling of digital assets will continue to grow as an important  part of the Funeral arrangement process.

10. As he unemployment remains high in 2010 Mortuary School enrollment will Continue to grow.

There are more funeral predictions that will be made but this will do for now.

Congrats You made it to 2010 into the 2nd decade of the 21st Century. It has been a rough couple of years for most everybody.

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

Here are the top 25 Funeral News Stories of 2009-Your Funeral Guy

Top 25 Funeral Stories of 2009

Here are the Top 25 Funeral Stories of 2009:

1 .Walmart Selling caskets online

2. When someone dies setup a Facebook Memorial

3.Sadly|Pics,Places,Logo Virginia SCI Body Desecrations-rbrianburkhardt

4.Michael Jackson Memorial

5.Average Cost of a Funeral-Average Funeral Home

6.President Obama Stirs the soldiers At Fort Hood Memorial Service-

7.More than 100 graves dug up in Cemetery Horror Burr Oak Cemetery.

8.Digital Assets need to be a part of Every Funeral Arrangement

9.Funeral Preneed is Dead Even in the Richest Towns

10.Service Corporation International’s Burr Oak Cem. Scandal

11.Brittany Murphy Death and Funeral|has celebrity death gone too far n 2009?

12. Farrah Fawcett Memorial

13. SCI  Denies wrong doing in Veterans Corpse Abuse Scandal

14.Chicago Cubs Cemetery is for Burned Fans.

15 So Where is Farrah Fawcett Buried?

16.Ted Kennedy Funeral | Mass- Full Program-Your Funeral Guy

17. Burr Oak Cemetery  owners have a funeral home scandal

18. NFDA Exec Sec Earl Should Resign with Fed Investigation of IFDA

19.Neptune Society fined for Preneed Violations

20.Walter Cronkite Memorial Service: Video of President Clinton’s Eulogy-R.Brian Burkhardt

21. Senator Ted Kennedy Funeral Mass|Program-from Mission Church.

22. Funeral Preneed is Dead.

23. Service Corporation International, mishandled the Kennedy Funeral

24.Oral Roberts Funeral arrangements|Live Streaming Video-

25.Missouri Legislature passes reform in response to National Prearranged Services Scandal

Funeral Industry Funeral blog by Your Funeral Guy

Be sure to Check Out the Top 100  Funeral News Stories of 2009.

Government Allows SCI to Buy Palm Mortuary-Your Funeral Guy

The worlds largest funeral corporation will soon be in control of the Las Vegas Market

The government has allowed Service Corporation International to buy Palm  Mortuary in Las Vegas. This will allow SCI to Control the Funeral Market in Sin City.

Service Corporation International (SCI) is the worlds largest and cemetery and funeral corporation.

SCI has had poor financial reports in 2009 and terrible scandals, veterans corpse abuse in Falls.Church,VA at National Funeral Home and massive Grave Desecration at Eden Memorial park in the Los Angeles Area(500 graves).

This is sad news for the funeral consumer and the people of Las Vegas Nevada.

A Texas company has agreed to sell some of its Las Vegas funeral home operations to settle an antitrust lawsuit filed by the state over its purchase of Palm Mortuary Inc.

Service Corporation International (SCI) will sell Davis Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 6200 South Eastern Ave. (Sunset Road), the Nevada Attorney General’s office said.

SCI must also sell the pre-paid funeral business from that home and the pre-paid business from Davis Funeral Home, 2127 West Charleston Blvd. (Rancho Road); to settle a complaint filed by the state so it can proceed with the purchase of Palm Mortuary.

via www.lasvegassun.com

Both the State Attorney General of Nevada, and the FTC (Federal Trade Commission)  are  behind the legal agreement.

There is more information on this here

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

Service Corporation International to pay 4 million in damages-yourfuneralguy

The World’s Largest Funeral Corporation is to pay 4 million in damages for moving a body from one grave to another. This case was upheld on appeal but the amount of the Settlement was reduced. NYSE:SCI, Service Corporation has been involved in multiple Funeral Scandals and financial difficulty in 2009.

SCI will have to pay nearly four million dollars in damages. That’s two million dollars less than the original settlement.

The 13th Court of Appeals upheld the verdict, but it lowered the pay out for mental anguish.

SCI can still ask for another appeal.

via www.krgv.com

The Service Corporation International, SCI  also known as Big Death dug up and moved the Body of Marcos Guerra without his family’s permission.

Marcos Guerra was buried at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito, Texas.

More Info

Funeral Industry | Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy-

Funeral Industry has Gone Insane-YourFuneralGuy

The Funeral Industry has gone insane with Greed.

The Funeral Industry has gone insane with greed. Next week  the National Funeral Directors Association NFDA will  probably elect a Treasurer(Randall L Earl) who is a possible felon in the Illinois Funeral Directors Association Preneed Scandal. In order to put money in their coffin(coffers), they are adding allied members.

Service Corporation International NYSE: SCI  has had Scandals of Greed all Year. This week they announced  “the Keystone purchase”where the # 1 Funeral and Cemetery Provider takes over the #5

From Kathy Jackson.

It seems that the industry has lost its mind to greed. Nothing good came from SCI taking over Alderwood and nothing good will come from this takeover. The biggest losers will be the public , second biggest losers will be the directors who will become SCI. The only winners are the board members who will vote yes based on money rather than SCI ability to provide a high standard of service to the new homes. How sad for everyone in the industry. Clearly no one has learned anything from the previous takeovers or the number of law suits against SCI.

via www.connectingdirectors.com

There is also the Cemetery Greed in the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal (Perpetua) and Eden Memorial Park Cemetery Scandal(Service Corporation International)

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy|Funeral Director, Illinois Virginia

A look Inside SCI Houston #1-YourFuneralGuy

Comment on theWorld's Largest Funeral's Corporation Employee Culture

Here is a recent comment from a post on this blog. Interesting enough it gives a practical list of things the consumer can do to avoid the deceptions coming from Service Corporation International. Please note the commentator is calling the Corporate Culture at SCI Evil-not your funeral guy. Currently I have no direct knowledge of what goes on at SCI CORPORATE Headquarters In Houston. To be fair the person commenting here lost their job.

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

New comment on your post #1741 “Five Grave Scandals in 2009|SCI-yourfuneralguy”

Comment:
I recently lost my job with the corporate office of SCI in Houston, and I will testify that the corporate culture there is evil. If you are going to warn people to avoid SCI funeral homes, they need to know that these funeral homes have different names like “Smith and Sons Mortuary” because SCI buys up mom and pop businesses but leaves them with the orginal name.

People looking to avoid SCI locations should avoid their brand names: Dignity Memorial (as in “Smith and Sons Mortuary, a Dignity Memorial provider”), Advantage (for the low-cost side of the funeral business) and Del Angel (which is exists in markets with large Hispanic populations, to get the corner on them).  If you aren’t sure which locations in your area are owned by SCI, go to DignityMemorial.com and enter your zip code.  They will conveniently provide you with a list of funeral homes to avoid.

SCI(Big Death) to Buy Canadian Funeral Company

The World’s Largest Funeral Corporation Service Corporation International -is trying to expand it’s power base in North America. This time it is Canada.
NYSE:SCI has been plagued with Financial problems(Quarterly Reports), scandal,(Eden Memorial Park)and incompetence (Ted Kennedy Funeral) in 2009.

SCI has proposed to buy Keystone North America for 208 Million dollars.

The Toronto-based company, which operates 199 funeral homes and 15 cemeteries across the United States and Ontario, said Thursday the $8 per share offer represents a 34 per cent premium over its 20-day volume-weighted average share price.

via www.google.com

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

Dignity Logo Pic on flickr under the creative commons license

Jeremy Brooks’ photostream