Funeral Consumers Alliance - Website
Transcription
Funeral Consumers Alliance - Website
Funeral Consumers Alliance of East Tennessee 2012 Annual Newsletter P.O. Box 10507, Knoxville, TN 37939. [email protected] Tel: 865-951-8515; 865-483-4843 http://fcaeasttn.homestead.com, or chapter listing at www.funerals.org A Few Words From Your FCA-ET President Having recently become both the President of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of East Tennessee and a member of the National FCA Board I want to let you know about the many great things that we have been up to on both the local and National level. To say that we have been busy is an under statement! I realize that we all have a great many opportunities in the various ways that we decide to allocate our charitable giving, and that there are hundreds of worthy causes to support. Yet the Funeral Consumers Alliance is the only charitable organization that has a focus on helping those who are facing the death of a loved one, or planning for their own funeral. Our focus on providing education, support and advocacy regarding all aspects of making final arrangements is simply not available from any other national organization. FCAET is one of over 100 local FCA affiliates across the country that work together to monitor the funeral industry and expose abuses. We also are working hard now to lobby for a federal law that will force cemeteries to provide consumers price lists up front with a law similar to the General Price Lists required by the Federal Trade Commission. The funeral Rule law requires funeral homes to give families prices prior to making funeral arrangements. The Funeral Rule went into effect in 1986, thanks in part to FCA lobbying. Our work is ongoing. Did you see the recent Sixty Minutes story with Josh Slocum and Anderson Cooper? If not, look it up on Sixty Minutes to watch the episode shown on May 20, 2012. The FCA has also been quoted in the three-part Money Magazine articles, starting with the November issue, on the high cost of dying in America. And, lastly, FCA national has a part in a story on CNBC to be aired next January. Did you know that you can be part of the FCA mission to provide consumer education and advocacy? Did you know that we have speakers that would love to come and talk to your group about FCA and affordable funeral planning? Did you know that we accept donations and bequests to further our ability to provide community education about FCA and affordable funeral planning? Please contact me directly if you would like any further information: Karen Smith, Ph.D. Phone: (865) 951-8515, email: [email protected] Electronic Newsletter By David Bluford The Funeral Consumers Alliance of East Tennessee seeks to be good stewards of the resources available for us. One way to facilitate such practice and allow for effective communication is with utilization of available technology. As you read this message, most likely in printed form, we are seeking to transform our communication with you from printed mailings to email newsletters. This will greatly reduce our printing and mailing expenses, allowing for more timely and effective processes in sharing information with you. We are therefore requesting you to send us your e-mail address so we can send you our newsletter and any other appropriate communication. Our goal is to eliminate the printed newsletter in three years, except for those who specifically request to receive a printed copy. We do not want to eliminate anyone from receiving the newsletter or other items we might forward, but to communicate such information effectively and efficiently, and to better use our limited resources. If you have questions or concerns, please communicate them with us at the contact numbers/email addresses on page 7 of this newsletter. If you wish to receive our future newsletters via email, please send an email with “Electronic Newsletter” on the subject line of your email, and address it to our FCAET gmail account at, [email protected]. We will add you to our electronic mailing list next year. Thank you for your ongoing support and consideration of our mailing costs. Recent Changes to Laws Governing the Funeral Industry By Hannah Tippett During the 107th General Assembly, the Tennessee Legislature passed amendments to a few of the laws regulating the funeral industry. The changes became effective on April 25, 2012; a brief summary of these legislative amendments follows. T.C.A. 62-5-201; Concerning the requirements for the state board of funeral directors and embalmers. Members of this board are to be appointed by the governor. In addition to requirements concerning the professions of the seven board members, each member must be residents of Tennessee and they must possess good moral character. The Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and Tennessee Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, as well as any other interested funeral director and/or mortician groups, submit lists of nominees to the governor for review. The amendment authorizes, instead of requires, the governor to select some board members from this pool of nominees. T.C.A. 62-5-701 - 708; Concerning the disposition of human remains 701 defines the following terms: - "Disposition directions" - a legible written document signed by the decedent and acknowledged by a notary or two qualified adults; - "Qualified adult" - a person 18 or older and of sound mind; - "Right of disposition" - the right to determine the disposition of the remains of a decedent. 702 states that a qualified adult may determine the disposition of his or her remains by entering into disposition directions or a pre-need funeral contract. Once the adult has entered into such an agreement, the contract shall not be cancelled or greatly altered unless ordered by the person authorized to act as the lawful representative, or unless the resources set aside to fund the directions or contract are insufficient to do so. 703 establishes the right to control the disposition of the decedent's remains in the absence of disposition directions or a pre-need funeral contract. It lists priority, in descending order, beginning with the person who holds a durable power of attorney for health care for the decedent to anyone who is willing to assume the responsibility, including the funeral director. 704 gives the circumstances in which a person who has the right 2 of disposition under 703 forfeits that right, and it passes to the next person down the line. 705 states that if two or more people hold the right of disposition and they cannot agree on the disposition, any of them, or the funeral establishment, may file a petition in the probate court for the county in which the decedent lived. The court may then award the right if disposition to the person it determines to be the most fit and appropriate to carry out the right of disposition. 706 limits the liability of funeral establishments when two or more people cannot agree, as explained above. The funeral establishment is not liable for refusing to accept the remains of the decedent or complete the arrangements until it receives a court order, or other written agreement signed by all parties to the dispute, determining the final disposition of the remains. 707 states that a person who signs an authorization of disposition, such as a funeral service agreement or a cremation authorization form, is deemed to be truthful in all facts surrounding the agreement, including the identity of the decedent. (Continued on next page) A Funeral Story Recently Mary Lea Hall, our FCA-ET secretary, shared the following story of how FCA knowledge helped her daughter and son assist in the simple burial of their uncle, who had become quickly terminally ill with pancreatic cancer. He died without funds or life insurance to cover a traditional funeral. He was well loved and had many friends, but had little money. Mary Lea’s daughter went to the FCA website to gather information prior to talking with funeral homes. She then went to several local funeral homes armed with the knowledge that she could transport the body and supply the coffin for her uncle and save thousands of dollars. When the first funeral home staff said they had no space to store the coffin, she continued to “shop” for one that would accommodate the. She found Crossville Memorial Funeral Home had a building where they stored homemade coffins for family use. She had the coffin made for free by Tom Moles, her fatherin-law who owned a sawmill in Andersonville .When the uncle died his coffin was lined with a homemade quilt and he was tucked in with “his most prized possession,” a quilt made by his deceased Aunt who had raised him. The body was transported to a family plot in Dayton, Tennessee, and a simple service was held graveside to honor his passing. (See photo below.) Legal Update Continued from Pg. 2 The funeral establishment has the right to rely on the information and is not responsible to conduct an independent investigation. 708 limits the liability of funeral establishments and funeral directors by stating that if they relied reasonably in good faith on the instructions of a person claiming to have the right of disposition, they are not subject to liability or disciplinary action unless they knew or had reason to know that the person did not have the right of disposition. The 2011 Price Survey by Martha McKnight, Member of the FCA-ET Board of Directors Note: Prices quoted were obtained during July 2011. The immediate burial includes basic services of funeral director and staff, removal of body from place of death, transfer of body to cemetery. It does not include a casket, embalming, visitation, cemetery lot, opening & closing a grave, or any other services or items. The direct cremation includes the basic services of funeral director and staff, removal of body from place of death, transfer of body to crematory, the least expensive container quoted by the funeral home (usually of cardboard or fiberboard) and the crematory charge. There may be state or local tax. We tried our best to get accurate figures, but there may be times when errors were inadvertently made. There is wide variation of pricing among funeral homes. And price is not the only criterion to consider. Ask for a price list, but consider other factors. It is important to know that the customer must be provided with a General Price List and a Casket Price List at the beginning of an interview. 3 2011 Survey of some East Tennessee Funeral Home prices, page 1 County Immedi- Direct Create Burial mation Anderson Anderson $2,375.00 $2,600.00 $2,370.00 $2,650.00 Hatmaker Funeral Home Holley-Gamble Funeral Home Lake City Stan Hatmaker Lake City, Clinton John Gamble Anderson $1,275.00 $1,000.00 Jackson Funeral Services Oliver Springs Rhonda & Larry Oliver Anderson $2,570.00 $3,070.00 Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home Oak Ridge independently owned Anderson $1,865.00 $1,745.00 Weatherford Mortuary Oak Ridge Weatherford family Blount $1,970.00 $1,595.00 Foothills Funeral Home Maryville Robert Davis Blount $2,750.00 $2,095.00 McCammon-Ammons-Click FH Maryville Thomas Click Blount $1,965.00 $1,645.00 Memorial Funeral Home Maryville Gale Waters Blount $2,595.00 $2,245.00 Miller Funeral Home Maryville Vivian & Kent Stafford Blount $1,795.00 $1,940.00 Sherwood Chapel... Alcoa Serv. Corp. Intl. Blount $2,630.00 $2,298.00 Smith Funeral & Cremation Services Maryville Smith family Bradley $2,285.00 $1,370.00 D.M.D. Dotson & Sons Cleveland Marcus Dotson Bradley $1,995.00 $2,600.00 Fike Funeral Home Cleveland locally owned Bradley $2,290.00 $2,290.00 Grissom Funeral Home Cleveland Mark Grissom Bradley $1,725.00 $1,545.00 Jim Rush Funeral Homes Cleveland Jim Rush Bradley $2,400.00 $1,500.00 Patton Funeral Home Cleveland Brian Buckmon Bradley $1,995.00 $2,600.00 Ralph Buckner Funeral Home Cleveland Kim Randolph Campbell $1,000.00 $1,800.00 Cox & Son Funeral Home Jellico Charles Cox Campbell $1,550.00 $2,100.00 Cross-Smith Funeral Home La Follette Locally owned Campbell $1,845.00 $1,870.00 Harp Funeral Home Jellico L. Meadors, Inc. Campbell $1,900.00 $2,005.00 Martin Wilson Funeral Home La Follette Campbell $2,295.00 $2,279.00 Walters Funeral Home La Follette Carriage Services Charles & Debra McNeeley Claiborne $1,065.00 $2,735.00 Claiborne Funeral Home New Tazewell Foundation Partners Claiborne $1,775.00 $1,775.00 Coffey Funeral Home Tazewell Serv. Corp. Intl. Claiborne $1,830.00 $1,385.00 Costner-Maloy Funeral Home Newport Donald Costner Claiborne $1,490.00 $1,585.00 Reece Funeral Home Harrogate Reece family Cocke $1,125.00 $1,250.00 Manes Funeral Home Newport Chris Austin Cumberland $1,000.00 $1,950.00 Bilbrey Funeral Home Crossville Frank Bohannon Cumberland $1,520.00 $1,575.00 Crossville Memorial Funeral Home Crossville Robert Grimsley Cumberland $2,075.00 $1,925.00 Hood Funeral Home & Crematory Crossville Garry Hood Funeral Home Name 4 City Ownership 2011 Survey of East Tennessee Funeral Home Prices, page 2 Direct crem. Funeral Home Name City Ownership County Imm. Bur. Grainger $2,425.00 Greene Greene Greene Hamblen Hamblen Hamblen Hamblen Hamblen Hawkins Hawkins $2,425.00 $ 925.00 $1,895.00 $1,650.00 $2,425.00 $ 850.00 $2,795.00 $1,495.00 $2,635.00 $3,375.00 $1,745.00 $1,675.00 $2,040.00 $1,475.00 $1,990.00 $1,095.00 $2,095.00 $1,195.00 $2,685.00 $2,270.00 Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home Broome Funeral Home Bulls Gap Funeral Home Rutledge Greeneville, Mosheim Greeneville Greenville Morristown Morristown Morristown Morristown Morristown Rogersville Bulls Gap Hawkins Hawkins Hawkins Hawkins Jefferson Jefferson Knox Knox Knox Knox Knox $1,850.00 $1,978.00 $2,680.00 $1,655.00 $1,850.00 $3,595.00 $2,595.00 $2,340.00 $1,985.00 n.a. $1,785.00 $2,000.00 $1,995.00 $1,990.00 $2,975.00 $1,910.00 $1,970.00 $2,740.00 $2,440.00 $1,995.00 $1,495.00 $1,850.00 Carter-Trent Funeral Home Christian-Sells Funeral Home Colboch Price Funeral Home Johnson Funeral Home Farrar Funeral Homes Fielden Funeral Home Berry Funeral Home Bridges Funeral Home Click Funeral Home Cremation Options Gentry-Griffey Funeral Chapel Church Hill Dean Trent Rogersville James Sells Rogersville family owned Church Hill H. L. Johnson Jefferson City, etc. Britt & Jack Farrar New Market Gene Fielden Knoxville Serv. Corp. Intl. Knoxville Dennis & Kim Bridges Knoxville, Farragut Tim & Larry Click Knoxville James Safewright Knoxville Evergreen Services Knox Knox $3,850.00 $ 950.00 $1,995.00 $1,295.00 Highland Mem. Park Fun. Homes Knoxville Knox Knox Knox Knox Knox Knox Knox Loudon Loudon Loudon Loudon Marion $2,595.00 $2,495.00 $1,430.00 $2,855.00 $2,395.00 $1,330.00 $2,595.00 $1,985.00 $2,865.00 $2,025.00 $2,225.00 $2,435.00 $2,715.00 $2,040.00 $1,625.00 $2,460.00 $2,395.00 $1,525.00 $2,740.00 $1,995.00 $2,996.85 $2,300.00 $1,960.00 $2,610.00 $1,990.00 Smith Funeral Home Jeffers Fun. & Cremation Service Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home Allen Funeral Home Mayes Family Services Stetzer Funeral Home Stubblefield Funeral Home Westside Chapel Funeral Home Jarnigan & Son Mortuary Knoxville Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel, Berry FH Knoxville McCarty-Evergreen F.H. Knoxville Mynatt Funeral Homes Knoxville Rose Mortuaries Knoxville Stevens Mortuary Knoxville Unity Mortuary, Inc Knoxville Weaver Funeral Home Knoxville Click Funeral Home Lenoir City Kyker Funeral Home Sweetwater Loudon Funeral Home Loudon McGill-Karnes Funeral Home Loudon Rogers Funeral Home S. Pittsburgh 5 Buddy Mayes Paxus Services of TN Jeffers family Serv. Corp. Intl. Allen brothers Buddy Mayes Steve Bales Serv. Corp. Intl. J. B. Gulley Don Broome Serv. Corp. Intl. Stewart Enterprises Beal Bourne Serv. Corp. Intl. Serv. Corp. Intl. Buddy Comer locally owned Bernice Stevens JAD Inc. Serv. Corp. Intl. Tim & Larry Click Neal Kyker Malcomb Williams McGill family Jim Rogers 2011 Survey of East Tennessee Funeral Home Prices, page 3 County Immed. Direct Funeral Home Name Burial Crem. City Ownership Marion $1315 $1720 Standefer Reed Funeral Home Dunlap Reed family Marion $1535 $1730 Whitwell Memorial Funeral Home Whitwell Dwight & Donna Kilgore McMinn $2325 $1730 Bordwine Funeral Home Etowah Bud Myers McMinn $1695 $1700 Ralph Buckner Funeral Home Etowah Donna Randolph McMinn $2150 $2310 Smith Fun. & Crem. Serv. Of Athens Athens Jerry E. Smith McMinn $1910 $2275 Ziegler Funeral Home Athens Tim McDonald Monroe $1575 $1615 Biereley-Hale Funeral Home Madisonville Douglas Hale Monroe $1870 $1850 Myers Funeral Home Tellico Plains Frank Myers, Jr. Morgan $1767 $1777 Schubert Funeral Home Wartburg Wayne Solomon Rhea $2135 $1735 Coulter-Garrison Funeral Home Dayton family owned Rhea $2470 $2765 Vanderwall Funeral Home Dayton Tom & Jan Vanderwall Rhea $2195 $2270 Vaughn Funeral Home Spring City Donna Vaughn Roane $2915 $2385 Davis Funeral Home Harriman locally owned Roane $2600 $2245 Fraker Funeral Home Kingston Ernie & Rebecca Fraker Harriman, Kingston, Sweetwater Neal Kyker Roane & Monroe $2865 $2996.85 Kyker Funeral Home Scott $1505 $1030 Four Oaks Funeral Home Huntsville family owned Scott $760 $1150 Jones & Son Funeral Home Oneida Dennis Jones, Sr. Scott $750 $1160 West-Murley Funeral Home Oneida Dennis Jones Sevier $2135 $2073 Atchley Funeral Home Sevierville, Seymour Reed Atchley Sevier $1695 $1370 McCarty Funeral Directors Sevierville David McCarty Sevier $2425 $1965 Rawlings Funeral Home Sevierville Buddy Mayes Sullivan $900 $1299 Ailor Mortuary Maynardville Clarence Byrd Sullivan $2190 $2650 Akard Funeral Home Bristol David Akard Sullivan $1850 $2000 Carter-Trent Funeral Home Kingsport Dean Trent Sullivan $3195 $2990 East Lawn Funeral Home Kingsport Serv. Corp. Intl. Sullivan $2280 $2465 Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home Kingsport Harold Childress Monroe $2865 Kingston Neal Kyker Sullivan $3435 $2494 Oak Hill Memorial Park Kingsport Stewart Enterprises Sullivan $4015 $3190 Oakley-Cook Funeral Home Bristol Heritage Fam. Fun. Services Sullivan $4015 $3190 Tetrick Funeral & Cremation Services Elizabethton Richard Tetrick Sullivan $1900 $2200 Tri-Cities Funeral Home Blountville Gasperson family Sullivan $1828 $1993 Weaver Funeral Home Bristol Brenda Bowers Union $770 $1045 Cooke Mortuary Maynardville Ruby Cooke Washington $1795 $2270 Appalachian Funeral Home Johnson City family owned Washington $1695 $1750 Birchette Mortuary, Inc. Johnson City Fletcher Birchette Washington $2015 $2445 Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home Jonesborough Howard Alexander Washington $1635 $1935 Gray Funeral Home Gray Eula Johnson Washington $2280 $2465 Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home Fall Branch Harold Childress Washington $2985 $2790 Morris Baker FH & Cremation Johnson City Preston McKee Washington $3015 $2765 Tetrick Funeral & Cremation Services Johnson City Richard Tetrick Washington $1395 $1995 Woodall-Anderson & Dugger F.H. Al Dugger $2996.85 Kyker Funeral Home Johnson City 6 Thank you, and please do it again! We depend on you. On-line sources of information Log on to www.funerals.org. Another good source of information: www.funeralethics.org. Subscribe to the FCA online discussion list! You can join by sending an e-mail to: [email protected] The Hamilton County Medical Examiner web page has some excellent information: www.hamiltontn.gov/medicalexaminer and select “frequently asked questions.” Your contributions are what keep us going. An envelope is included for your monetary vote of confidence and support in our mission of funeral consumer education. Please consider adding FCA as part of your annual charitable giving. Your membership is for life but we appreciate any level of ongoing support. New memberships are our only other source of income to cover the cost and postage of the membership package, printing and mailing the annual newsletter to 650 members, our website monthly fee, annual meeting programs, post office box rental, Tennessee nonprofit corporation annual fee, literature supplies. All Board members are volunteers, and we are grateful for the use of Ann Mostoller’s law office for our quarterly Board business meetings. Our website: go to www.funerals.org, click on “Find a local FCA”, scroll down to Tennessee, and open the web page under FCA of ET. Superb source: Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning. Just “google” that. Every two years we survey funeral homes in East Tennessee, requesting the prices for immediate burials and direct cremations. The survey is a snapshot of how prices differ, and is intended as an impetus to more research on your part. FREE Ticket $10.00 value Funeral Consumers Alliance of East Tennessee Board of Directors Come see us at the Healthy Living Expo a the Knoxville Convention Center. FREE ticket included in this newsletter! Cut out ticket on Left and bring for free admission. President: Karen Smith, 6816 La Christa Way, Knoxville, TN 37921; 865-951-8515 Vice President: Annette Mendola, 505 Hayworth Dr., Knoxville, TN 37920; 865-573-4135. Secretary: Mary Lea Hall, 108 Everest Circle, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. 865-482-2671. Treasurer: David Bluford, 1245 Cedar Circle, Lenoir City, TN 37772, 865-803-8024. Hannah Tippett, 136 S. Illinois Ave.Ste. 104, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, 865-482-4466 x31. Rev.Jenny Arthur, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN.37919, 865-363-4302 Martha McKnight, P.O. Box 272, Pleasant Hill, TN 38578; 931277-5853. Marty Adler-Jasny, 128 Indian Lane, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 , 865483-9455. Collaboration Team Publications: Richard J. Raridon, 111 Columbia Dr., Oak Ridge 37830; 865-483-4843. Corporation Registered Agent: Karen Smith, as above. Supporting member: Ann Mostoller, 115 Indian Lane, Oak Ridge, All board meeting are open to the public and you are welcome to attend and participate in FCA and learn what we are up to! Also, coming in early 2013 is the new Big Book “Before I Go, You Should Know” packet available to purchase soon. It is a FANTASTIC resource for funeral planning! To print out the Tennessee Advance Care Plan form & Appointment of Health Care Agent form, go to:http://health.state.tn.us/Boards/ advancedirectives; or google Tennessee advance directives. 7 Funeral Consumers Alliance of East Tennessee C/o Karen Smith, Ph. D. 6818 La Christa Way Knoxville, TN 37921 [email protected] LITERATURE ORDER FORM __my contribution to help FCAET print and mail this newsletter $_______ ___copy(ies) of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of East Tennessee information brochures Free ___copy(ies) of I Died Laughing, by Lisa Carlson. Jokes & cartoons will keep you chuckling. Useful information interspersed with humor. (Retails at $8.75) Price to FCA-ET members: $7.50 each, postpaid) $_____ ___copy(ies) of “Personal Inventory” 12-page set of forms to record important information for your survivors: your wishes for funeral arrangements, information to complete death certificate and obituary, locations of important documents, etc. ($2.00 postpaid) $_____ ___Pamphlets (check the titles desired from the list below. 4 pamphlets for $1.00 postpaid. $_____ __ “Common Funeral Myths __ “Cremation Explained: Most Frequently Asked Questions __“Death Away From Home” —- “Four-step Funeral Planning“ __ “Did You Forget: The Most Important Part of Funeral Planning __ “What You Should Know About Embalming” __ “Recycle Your Medical Devices” __ ”No One Wants to Talk About Death: How to Help” __”Viewing and Visitation: The Difference” __ “Organ, Eye, Tissue and Whole Body Donation” __”How to Plan a Memorial Service __”Eco-Friendly Death & Funeral Choices” __ “Prepaying your funeral in Tennessee Total amount enclosed $_____ Name______________________________________________________________Telephone_________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________________________ Make checks payable to Funeral Consumers Alliance of East Tennessee (or FCA-ET), and mail with this form to FCA-ET, attn. Richard Raridon, 111 Columbia Drive, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Thank You for your kind donation!