In writing Funeral Director Daily I take pride in keeping up with what is happening in the Death Care profession and industry.  And, even though the occupation and the choices it has for consumers faced with death of a loved one moves along at a fairly slow and methodical pace, there are changes to keep up with everyday.

But sometimes things happening in the industry escape me for a time.  That’s why it was interesting for me to read this recent article from D Magazine (“D” for Dallas) that was published online last week.  Here’s a teaser from the first page of the online article to tell you about the article entitled “The worst part about Dying”:

“(A) Funeral Home produces services so flamboyant that they were featured in their own reality show. But now dozens of families have come forward with claims of mishandled bodies and lost cremains. As much as they want justice, they also want answers.”

This is an interesting article that I will let speak for itself – and it is about much more than just one funeral home.  It does, however, bring on the following elements that will be interesting to see march through the process to answers that may be both interesting to funeral service and death care consumers:

• A whistleblower

• Allegations and multiple lawsuits against a funeral home and their care of remains entrusted to them

• Allegations of too close of ties between the Texas funeral industry and the Texas Funeral Service Commission that is charged with regulating it.

• Allegations of industry and profession “favored treatment” because of industry and profession campaign contributions to the campaigns of multiple Texas governors, including George W. Bush, Rick Perry, and Greg Abbott

I offer no opinion on the article other than to mention enough of what is in it to stimulate your interest in reading it.  I think you will find it very interesting.

Article — “The Worst Part about Dying”  D Magazine (TX)

Article — “How a New York Writer found her way to a story about a South Oak Cliff funeral home”.  D Magazine (TX)

More news from the world of Death Care:

• Funeral alternative turns corpses to garden soil.  Video report.  Voice of America
• Direct-to-Consumer casket business is taking off.  Mental Floss

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