Yesterday I read of two cases where funeral homes faced examiners because of problems at their mortuaries and in both cases both funeral homes have had their licenses revoked for a period of time from the respective examining boards. While the funeral homes may have the chance to plead their case and appeal, much of the damage will have been done by being publicly closed for a period of time.

The first case – which you can read about and see in a news video here – happened in Bartlett, Tennessee.  In that case the proprietor admits to casketing and burying the wrong body.  “We were not dong anything illegal, we were not doing anything wrong.  We were not doing anything unethical,” Alfred Tacker, owner of Bartlett Funeral Home explained.  Mr. Tacker admits that it was an honest mistake and he plans to appeal the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors ruling that has suspended his funeral home’s license for six months.  As a matter of fact, Mr. Tacker explained that he was able to exhume the body and get it to his funeral 15 minutes before the funeral was to begin.  According to the article, there are two families planning to file lawsuits at this time in the case.

The second case comes to us from the Salt Lake City Tribune.  The article pertains to the Carver Mortuary that had its license suspended last week after a committee of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing heard testimony from two former employees.  Among other allegations are that the funeral home placed more than one body in a retort chamber at once.  Carver Mortuary denies these and other charges and is planning an appeal.

Funeral Director Daily take:  There is no doubt in my mind that each of these businesses will take a financial hit whether they are guilty of these charges or not.  Simply being on the local news with these types of allegations will hurt even the most reputable mortuary immensely. There is no doubt that the stakes in funeral service have never been higher — great services and a great reputation can earn great respect and high profits.  On the other hand, a single high profile mistake can, potentially, be a disaster leading to bankruptcy.

It’s interesting, I am a small minority ownership partner in my funeral business at this time.  I now like it that way.  During my working life – when I owned the mortuary — I was always on “pins and needles” making sure that there was never a slip-up. . . .and there is so much that you don’t control in funeral service, but your good name and reputation is on the line.  One thing that comes to mind is the vault set-up at the grave — it was more than likely put in place by the vault company or the cemetery — but if it collapsed everybody at the funeral would tell their friends that it collapsed at a funeral put on by ABC Funeral Home – I’m not so sure that the vault company or cemetery would face the consumer wrath that the funeral home would.  The business’ reputation was always on the line.

A friend of mine recently sold his funeral business after about 50 years of his family being involved and building up a great business.  One thing he told me was that in this day of social media he was always worried about something that could come across social media from his mortuary that could go viral and really hurt his business.  He had no idea what it could be, but the thought that he could not control it really worried him.

So, be careful out there. . . maybe it is good to stay on “pins and needles” if you are running funeral services.  In today’s world, you cannot afford not to.

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