Six States, four companies, Green Cremation Possible-yourfuneralguy

Six states and four companies make alkaline hydrolysis, resomation, water resolution or Green cremation possible.

The Four companies and individuals who have n alkaline hydrolysis machine are:
1.Resomation Ltd, Scotland via Sandy Stevens.
2.Cycledlife, Via Joe Wilson Bio Response Solutions, Inc
3.Natural Cremation, Via Joel Collins, Eco-Green Cremation Systems, Inc
4 Water Resolution, Via BioSafe Engineering Inc, Russell Cooper Director of Business Development.

The six states that have permitted alkaline hydrolysis machines are:

While resomation is gaining popularity in Europe it is currently only approved in six U.S. states – Maine, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon and Maryland – with reviews being conducted in several more.via www.gizmag.com

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

A Major Funeral Corporations Numbers Point To Funeral Industry Decline|Your Funeral Guy

Again A Major Funeral Corporation’s Numbers Point To Funeral Industry Decline, and the rise of cremation and  lower cost funerals.

If you dig deep into Matthews International NYSE:MATW)Numbers you find More Funeral Industry decline. Matthews is honest in  reporting their numbers and has a long history of  doing business outside the funeral industry. Hillenbrand Inc, has recently sent almost half a billion dollars in it’s purchase of K-Tron, a non funeral business. Hillenbrand is the parent Company of Batesville Casket Co which is the largest casket company in North America.

Profit did rise significantly but this was due to asset acquisition and other adjustments and  readily admitted by the CEO. Not real growth, The honesty on the part of Matthews International is greatly appreciated. It is a contrast to that of Service Corporation International, Stewart Enterprises Inc, and Batesville Casket  Co.

For the fiscal 2010 second quarter, reported sales for each of our Memorialization segments were higher than a year ago.  For the Bronze and Casket segments, acquisitions were the primary factor in the improvement.  Excluding acquisitions, sales for both of these businesses declined, reflecting a lower casketed death rate.  Based on available data, U.S. death rates were estimated to have declined approximately 4% compared to the same quarter a year ago, with the casketed death rate (non-cremation) estimated to have declined over 6%.  Second quarter sales for the Cremation segment increased over the prior year primarily as a result of growth in European equipment sales.

via www.prnewswire.com

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

Matthews International Corp. saw profit jump 25 percent in the second quarter over the same period a year ago beating Wall Street expectations…….

Sales in the quarter were also up slightly by 1.8 percent to $200.9 million, due primarily to acquisitions and a favorable currency exchange, the company said in a statement.

via pittsburgh.bizjournals.com

IL Gov Campaign-Quinn Cries Hynes Cover Up in 2 Funeral Scams|YourFuneralGuy

In the Last Day of the Democratic Campaign for Illinois Governor Quinn is screaming  at Hynes “Cover up” in 2 Illinois Funeral Scandals. Scandal #1: The Burr Oak Cemetery Grave Desecration.  Scandal #2 the Illinois Funeral Directors Preneed Ponzi Scheme.

The smoking gun for Dan Hynes appears to be a memo that surfaced Friday(Jan. 29th)  in  Channel 7 news report. The memo shows that  Comptroller Hynes office knew of body desecration and grave stacking at Burr Oak Cemetery in 2003.

Hynes had no regulatory authority in “Cemetery Operations” but could have turned the matter over to law enforcement.

The same is true in the Great  Illinois Funeral Directors Association  Preneed ponzi scheme. Hynes had limited authority in that insurance scam  and choose not to turn the matter over to law enforcement or prosecution early on.

Funeral  and Cemetery fraud should always be prosecuted, That said the memo shows that the perpetrators(coverup) in Burr Oak are  Perpetua and  Manager Silvy Cotton.

In The IFDA Preneed Trust Scam the perpetrators(coverup) was done by the association ‘s leadership.

Unfortunately For Dan Hynes the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal may well be the most horrific in the nations history, and the IFDA Preneed Insurance scam is the greatest insurance scam in the history of the State of Illinois.

These scandals spelled well publicized catastrophe and happened under the Comptrollers watch. He had limited regulatory authority in each matter which makes it look like a coverup.  This situation for “Hynes” may  cost him the governorship. Quinn knows knows these facts but is using them to his advantage…..

State of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn

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

All summed up at the Capitol Fax Blog.…quoting Quinn’s spokesperson.

“Over the past months, as the scandal at Burr Oak Cemetery and the $100 million collapse of a statewide pre-need funeral trust fund have unfolded, Comptroller Hynes has repeatedly covered up,

Ten Top INFO Links on New Funeral and Cemetery Legislation-YourFuneralGuy

The Bereaved Consumers Bill Of Rights is being considered in Congress.

Here are then ten top  info Links on the New Funeral And Cemetery Reform Legislation. The Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights Act of 2009 was proposed by Congressman Bobby Rush in response to the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal.

For the  first time in many years there is hope that consumers ill not be ripped off when someone dies.

Legislation

Congressman Bobby Rush Hearing OpeningStatement

FCA | STATEMENT

Order of the Golden Rule|Statement

NFDA Statement

NFDA|Testimony

Illinois Cemetery Oversight Testimomy

ICCFA Testimony

FTC |Testimony

Summary Of Committee Testimony

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

Illinois Gov. Quinn Ad puts Burr Oak Cemetery in Governors Race(Video)-YourFuneralGuy

The  Race for Illinois Governor  is heating up. A recent ad by Governor Pat Quinn is putting the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal Front and center. In This ad Quinn challenges Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes Competence.

The Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal which broke in 2009 may be the worst in The nations history. In the money Making Funeral and Burial Scam over three hundred graves were desecrated as graves were moved and Bones scattered all over the Cemetery.

Although The Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal got much press, It is Comptroller Dan Hynes Handling Of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association IFDA Ponzi Scheme that sends the message of “Hynes Incompetence” to the Citizens of the State of Illinois.

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

New Cemetery Law In Illinois leaves No (grave)Stone Unturned-YourFuneralGuy

The New Cemetery Law In Illinois leaves no Gravestone unturned. Every Burial site in the state will be mapped out and put into a statewide database. It will be next to impossible to desecrate a grave or move a headstone. Grave sites will not be able to be resold while occupied.

Illinois is now a National Leader in Cemetery Reform with the Cemetery Oversight Act. The Law was signed by Governor Pat Quinn on Sunday, January 17th 2010

There are five main reforms:

1.Cemetery owners, managers and customer service employees will have to be licensed.

2.Regulatory agency will conduct audits

3.Regulatory agency will issue fines of up to $10,000 for violations such as poor grounds upkeep or failing to keep burial maps.

With the Cemetery Oversight Act Illinois has become a National Leader in Regulating Cemeteries and Cemetery Reform

4. There will be a State Wide Burial Database keeping track of every burial in the state. This will prevent desecration of graves and reburials.

5. There will be a place for consumers to file  complaints. This is important in preventing abuse. Consumers and Whistleblowers will be protected.

HB 1188 came in response to the Burr Oak cemetery scandal in July. Investigators revealed that bodies buried in Burr Oak, a historic African-American cemetery in Alsip, were moved and dumped into a mass grave in an apparent scheme to resell individual grave sites. Four cemetery employees have been charged in connection with the scam.

via illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com

Click Here to View The Cemetery Oversight Act

The Illinois Cemetery Oversight Act Leaves no Gravestone Unturned

Below is a video Link explaining the new cemetery law in Illinois, the Cemetery Oversight Act. This law was created in response to the Burr Oak  Cemetery scandal. This law is the first of it’s kind in the United States of America and promises Illinois Residents that there never will be a Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal again. It is a shining light in a dark place in our society.

Click Here for Illinois Cemetery  Oversight Act Video courtesy of WGN TV channel 9 Chicago

Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal brought cemetery reform to Illinois

Snippet on the current status of Burr Oak Cemetery:

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, whose office first brought the scandal to light, said investigators are still sorting out records but there are concerns the cemetery is over capacity. He said his office has suggested the current cemetery operators slow the pace of burials as the investigation continues.

“Especially at this cemetery, there’s no room for error any more,” Dart said.

via www.chicagobreakingnews.com

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

Casey Johnson Funeral|autopsy to come-Yourfuneralguy

Autopsy Report Example

Casey Johnson’s Funeral arrangements have not been made public. She is having an autopsy today at the LA’s Corners Office. There appears to be no foul play. The La Coroner’s office was the focus of  media attention last year with the death of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett.

Casey Johnson,a heiress to the Johnson & Johnson fortune died yesterday, her funeral will be soon. Her  father is  a Johnson and Johnson owner who directs the NewYork Jets.

No Funeral Arrangements  announcing a public or private funeral at this time.

Los Angeles County Chief Coroner Investigator Craig Harvey says the examination will be held Tuesday for the 30-year-old Johnson.

He says he cannot provide other details and didn’t immediately confirm police statements there were no signs of foul play.

via www.ajc.com

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

Your Funeral Guy Featured In Washington Times on Indigent Burials

Your Funeral Guy has been Featured in the Washington Times

A Your Funeral Guy blog  story has been referenced in the Washington Times in early 2010. The blogpost is about the Rise of Indigent Burials in 09. The article is titled  “Rising Public  Costs for Cremation and  Burial”  The  Funeral Cost and News Story talks about how local governments are paying for Funerals for the Poor in the UnitedStates.

Snippet:

The recession has increased the number of poor people in the United States.

‘Indigent burials are on the rise’ according to Your Funeral Guy.

Indigent, according to the Encarta Dictionary, means ‘extremely poor’ or ‘destitute person.’

via communities.washingtontimes.com

Funeral Industry| Funeral News Blog By Your Funeral Guy

Washington Times Photo from flickr under the creative commons license. from

NCinDC’s photostream

Here are some relate Your Funeral Guy blog posts.

1. Chicago:30% rise in Indigent Burials-
2. Green Burials May Come to main Street
3. Average Cost of a Funeral: Burials down, Funerals 
4. Bodies pile up around U.S. Families lack Burial funds

Top 10 Funeral Scandals (Year by Year)of the Last decade-YourFuneralGuy

Top Ten Funeral Scandals of the past decade

Revealed Here are the top ten Funeral Scandals of the Last Decade presented on a year by year basis. Funeral Scandals come in in three ways,:Funeral Director|provider (NPS, IFDA) takes your money, The Funeral Director|provider does not perform agreed upon services and/or the Government and politicians get involved!

No matter how it happens Funeral Scandal  is not good for the funeral consumer and funeral cost! Funeral Scandal occurs in the USA daily. It is very difficult to keep up with funeral scandal  news reported in the Media.

Service Corporation International is reported in over half of the Top ten Funeral Scandals in the Last Decade.

2000– Funeralgate George W  Bush barely gets the Presidency not because of the vote counting hanging chads in Florida but because a judge Rules he does not have to testify in a Service  Corporation International  Embalming.Scandal

2001 Menorah Gardens Florida. the manager at one of the main desecration sites later committed suicide.

From Wikepedia.

“The Menorah Gardens cemetery chain, owned by SCI, was accused of desecrating vaults, removing three bodies from two cemeteries in Florida, and dumping the remains in woods in 2001. In one case, a cemetery superintendent took it upon himself to remove an occupied vault to make room for an adjacent burial that would not fit because the 1st vault was buried at an angle, preventing the burial.”-via en.wikipedia.org

2002-2003 Georgia TriState Cemetery Scandal Over three hundred remains were found on the site unburied left to rot. many Americans are aware of this Scandal.

In the 100 Million dollar National Prearranged Services Scandal The main tool was White Out!

2004 The Texas Funeral Commission Scandal Service Corporation International Again

2005 Katrina Body count outsourced to The Scandal Ridden Service Corporation International, SCI

2006 Clayton Smart -Forest Hills Funeral Home 20 million preneed trust fund Scandal, Memphis.

2007 The  National Prearranged Services (NPS) Preneed Insurance Scandal was first brought into the light.  approximately 100 million dollars was stolen. The Main Tool in the Crime White Out!

2008 The Illinios  Funeral Directors Association Theft and  Insurance Ponzi Scheme was was first reported in February 2008 in a Springfield Newspaper. All Reports in One Place Illinois Funeral Fund Scandal This scandal spread to the National Funeral Directors Association through it’s Treasurer, Randall L Earl. This was also the largest Insurance Scandal in the History of the state of Illinois. Sadly:

Demaine Funeral Home in Alexandria,Va one of the SCI Funeral Homes in the Corpse Abuse Scandal

The New reform focused IFDA President resigned in Late 2009.

2009 -The funeral scandal Year of the decade. The top funeral scandal in 2009 occured  at the Burr Oak Cemetery outside of Chicago. The company owner Perpetua essentially escaped consequence for their neglect. Over 300 Graves desecrate and 4 people in the grave robbing money scam. This Scandal deeply hurt the black community in the Chicago Area.An initial report: More than 100 graves dug up in Cemetery Horror Burr Oak Cemetery.

The Eden Memorial Park Scandal was reported outside of Los Angeles. The scandal broke when a lawsuit was reported by the press.  Click Here for details of the Eden Memorial Park Lawsuit Again this was a Service Corporation NYSE: SCI Cemetery

National Funeral  Home  and  Demaine Funeral home, two SCI Funeral homes were found to be involved in Veterans Corpse abuse in early 2009.  This shocked veterans and the public.Sadly|Pics,Places,Logo Virginia SCI Body Desecrations

Funeral Industry|Funeral News Blog By Your Funeral Guy|Funeral  Director, Illinois and Virginia.

SCI  DIGNITY LOGO from flickr uner the Creative commons license

Jeremy Brooks’ photostream

Demaine Funeral Home pic from FLICKR uner the creative commons license

NCinDC’s photostream

In Lieu of Flowers did not mean In Lieu of Flowers at the end of 09-YourFuneralGuy.

The Funeral Industry is trying to change the Meaning of in Lieu of Flowers

To Most Folks In Lieu of Flowers means do not send flowers-Instead Make a donation here. In 2009 The Walter Cronkite Family, Ted Kennedy Family  and Other celebrities used in lieu of flowers as a means to provide donation to their Favorite charity.

It seems that the funeral and floral industry has funded a study that concludes In Lieu of Flowers does not mean In Lieu of Flowers. This was called important at ConnectingDirectors.com and published in the Earth times!

Funeral Flower sales were significantly down in 2009.

Where will Funeral Spin stop! To spend money on a study that attempts to increase Funeral Flower Sales is indeed sad.

Many Funeral Homes sell their own flowers. It is usually best  not to purchase flowers from a funeral home! The best place to Purchase flowers is from wholesalers on and off the Internet. This is a little wedding floer secret as well.

For some Families in Lieu of Flowers sometimes contains a request for donation to the family. For some those funds go to help pay for the Funeral.

Flowers may momentarily comfort BUT THEY ARE NOT AN INTEGRAL PART OF the Grieving Process.

The study was sponsored by ta Floral society and conducted at Harvard University.

Funeral Industry| Funeral Blog by your funeral guy.