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Regarding funeral service practice: |
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Americans believe in funerals and gives high
ratings to funeral directors according to a recent national survey |
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A response concerning the media’s
criticisms of funeral practices |
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Federal Trade Commission publishes a new
consumer guide |
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| Americans believe in funerals and gives high ratings
to funeral directors according to a recent national survey |
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| In a 1999 survey conducted on a national level, 96% of
those surveyed preferred to attend a funeral or memorial service as the way to show their
feelings after a death. There also has been an increase in the number of people who prefercasket funerals. Approximately 75% of the respondents preferred ancasket. This
figure is up six percent from a survey given five years ago. |
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| Cremation is growing in popularity. Over the past ten
years, the increase of people desiring cremation has seen a 10% increase. Of those
choosing cremation, approximately 75 % preferred cremation for reasons other than cost.
Nearly 80% choosing cremation want to have a traditional funeral service, memorial or some
other type of service. |
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| Job performance ratings for funeral directors are higher
than what is considered healthy for a typical industry. Respondents gave a five to one
ration of positive to negative comments. A typical healthy industry standard is considered
three to one. This demonstrates the high standard funeral service aspires for and backs
the assertions that the funeral service as a whole is serving the public in an exemplary
manner. |
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| A response concerning the media’s criticisms of
funeral practices |
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| Much has been said in print and on the television about the
cost of funerals and of the practices of a few unscrupulous funeral homes. For the most
part, there has not been much of a response by funeral directors to stand for their good
reputations. While absence of a response may be seen as a sign of guilt, a response can
also be seen in a negative light which is why we believe that some funeral directors
remain silent. That being said, Sheenan Funeral Home offers its own view on what has been
printed and said about funerals and business practices. |
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ANSI Z308.1-2003 . spanish for iphone
In an article which appeared in Modern Maturity magazine
titled "R.I.P. OFF", a family who is in need of a funeral and is told they must
buy more than they want. The person they were dealing with said: "Don’t you
think your mother deserves the best?" The family resisted and got what they want.
They did not receive the price list that is required by law and they were charged for
items they had not been informed about. In another article appearing in a national
magazine it was inferred that a family was led to believe they needed to pay for a
hairdresser to do the hair on a man who hardly had any hair left! At Sheenan Funeral Home,
the needs and wants of the families who call on them are what is important. There is no
pressure put on people to select more than they want. Every line of the Statement for
Goods and Services is explained up front and there are no hidden or "extra"
charges added on later. |
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| What has made Sheenan Funeral Home what it is today is
"trust." Trust is not built overnight, though it can be lost overnight. Tom
Sheenan is very sensitive to the issue of maintaining trust. He has built a quality staff
of people who he has the utmost confidence in, and trusts them with providing the best
care a family can receive. When people put their trust in Sheenan Funeral Home, they can
count on receiving everything they have asked for – and nothing less. It is a great
responsibility being trusted with the process of conducting a meaningful funeral. The
funeral can only be completed once and every person at Sheenan Funeral Home is very
mindful of that. |
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| Casket sellers are a relatively new entity, and they are
diligently trying to change consumer buying patterns. They are encouraging people to do
more work in arranging a funeral than they have previously done before by first buying
merchandise through them and then going to the funeral home to select services. The reward
for this is measured by a large savings in dollars. Yet, one will not see a difference if
they compare Sheenan Funeral Home’s caskets to that of the local casket stores.
Sheenan Funeral Home offers name brand caskets with a wide range of styles, materials and
prices. Sheenan Funeral Home is very concerned that all families who call on them get the
best value for their dollar. They offer only quality caskets of all price ranges. There
are no bad choices to be made because Sheenan Funeral Home will not offer anything of
questionable quality. |
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| Currently, the Federal Trade Commission is reviewing their
rules and the U.S. Senate has had their own hearings on funeral service practices. During
these hearings, most of the talk has focused on problems While problems and complaints get
aired, those people who have received quality care and adjust to living without their
loved ones only infrequently tell others about their good experiences with a funeral home.
Of course this is human nature and people sometimes only take notice when a problem
arises. Also Senate hearings are about solving problems and better helping the public. The
Senate’s focus on problems does seem to have neglected the fact that most
people’s experiences with funeral service have been good ones. |
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| There is also the misnomer that funerals are one of the
largest expenses of a lifetime. This is simply not true! Some higher ranking costs a
family will encounter include weddings, private schooling, college education, daycare for
younger children, home buying, cars (not only new, but used as well), hospital stays and
even some vacations! |
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| The problem with funerals is that no one really wants a
funeral. The death of a loved one is most likely the worst experience the average person
has During the rough time immediately after a death has occurred, survivors put their
trust in a funeral home and for the most part, they are well served. There are
undoubtedly, some unscrupulous individuals (as there are in other professions as well) who
have taken advantage of people in grief. This abhorrent behavior should not go unpunished.
The fact that the number of good experiences, by far, outweigh the bad cannot be stressed
enough! |
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| Sheenan Funeral Home is one of the best funeral homes a
family can place their trust in. They are not merely a place that cares for families when
someone dies. Sheenan Funeral Home pro-actively helps families in planning for their
future, assisting their families in anyway they can when someone dies and continues to be
of aid to their families long after the funeral is over. Sheenan offers a variety of
seminars for those interested in learning more about funerals, grieving, other timely
topics and also holds workshops for professional care providers. "Sensitive
Service" is not just a phrase on their stationary. "Sensitive Service" is
what is given to every family that comes through their doors. |
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| Federal Trade Commission publishes a new consumer
guide |
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| Each year Americans arrange over two million funerals for
family and friends. Since more people are planning in advance and more consumers are
comparing prices before selecting a funeral home, the FTC has published a new consumer
guide. This guide in addition to being an update of the previous (1996) version also
incorporates information on caskets and burial vaults which previously were available in a
separate document. |
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| This guide is well organized and includes a glossary of
important terms, names of additional organizations that can provide information on
funerals and a page to help compare costs between different funeral homes. The guide is
easy to understand. The emphasis is on letting the consumer know what is required by law
or regulation and to help them make more informed decisions. |
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| It seems that the FTC is treating funerals more as a
product than as a service. They also place a large emphasis on cost without mentioning
quality and value. Price can not be the sole issue when choosing a funeral home. It is
important people find a funeral home staffed by caring responsible individuals whom a
person feels comfortable in placing his or her trust. People need a place where they can
go and get what they want done well and without hassle. Price, cannot and should not be
entirely ignored either. Those who place their trust in Sheenan Funeral Home receive an
outstanding value for their dollar. |
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| For over 70 years, the Sheenan Funeral Home has received
and continues to receive the trust of countless families who call for help during a most
difficult time. In addition to helping those suffering a death in their family, Sheenan
Funeral Home offers advance planning services and bereavement programs for its families
plus seminars on a variety of topics for the community and workshops for care providers.
Sheenan’s strives to provide a meaningful service for each individual they care for
and to constantly raise the standard of care each family receives. "Sensitive
Service" is not an empty phrase but the true maxim of the Sheenan Funeral Home. |
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| "Funerals: A Consumer Guide" is available from
the FTC at (877) FTC-HELP and is also available online at www.ftc.gov.bcp/online/pubs/services/funeral.htm |
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