American Funerals

American Funerals
Student Name
Tutor
Course
2 May 2014
A Re–look at the America Funeral Process
Funerals are some of the most difficult activities for most individuals to experience, especially when
they involve the death of a loved one. Over the years, there has grown a common and yet distinct
American custom when it comes to how funerals are perceived and conducted (James 348).
However, most Americans still hold unto the traditional funerals as opposed to modern ones.
Unfortunately, the American funeral customs put a lot of more emphasis on some activities that turn
out to be very costly. Worst of all, the economic burden that this traditions put on the bereaved
families is even more detrimental.
Most of the old folks are the greatest defenders ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Identified by the majority as "funeral directors" in America, these specialists have transformed the
twentieth–century experience of death and body disposal. On the flip side though, this does not
mean that they have made things any easier.
Since the funeral expense plans have become a part of the American funeral custom, here is a look
at how this plans may not be a good investment after all. First of all, such plans usually accord the
client negligible interest of their money, and in some cases the interest goes into their pockets
therefore meaning that they do not over individual the control of the money they have invested in
them (Nash). Secondly, the funeral plans will always cost more than they claim that it will cost for
them to offer their services fully during the death of an individual. In that regard, I would like to
point out that this is my utmost to both funeral homes and American funerals since the two are
intertwined. According to Nash , most commercial on American televisions currently advertise the
services of funeral plans, saying that it costs just around $6,000 for and individual to get a full cover.
However, this is a huge lie. This could have been true a few decades ago, not today.
When factoring in additional expenses that funeral plans do not often disclose, the total figure of an
entire funeral process ends up doubling. Nash
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

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The Loewen Group, Inc. (Abridged)
In March 1999, John Lacey and the management team at the Loewen Group, Inc., had to decide
what course of action to take in light of the company's imminent financial difñculties. On January
22,1999, Lacey, a renowned turnaround specialist, was appointed chairman of Loewen, the
second largest death care company in North America. Headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia,
Loewen owned over 1,100 funeral homes and more than 400 cemeteries in the U.S. and Canadá; it
also owned 32 funeral homes in the United Kingdom. The company had come a long way since its
modest ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
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on hand However, this would not be sufficient to meet several large interest and principal payments
Loewen had not yet missed any payments on its debt, and had approximately $30 miliorof–cash
that were due over the coming months. Apayment default would only make negotiations with
creditors more difficult, and increase the likelihood of bankruptcy. This possibility would no doubt
company's debts.
weigh heavily on the managers' minds as they turned to the important task of restructur.ng the
The Death Care Business
Services; and related producís like cemetery plots, caskets, urns, and gravesite markers Funeral
services and cemetery plots can be sold either on an "at–need" basis (i e., at the time of death) or on
a "prearranged" or "pre–need" basis. In the latter case, payment for afuneral service or cemetery pío
is made in advance, and the proceeds are either held in trust or invested in an insurance policy (that
ñames the death care firm as beneficiary).

The primary activities of death care firms include the provisión of funeral, burial, and

The Inequality Between Men And Women
Throughout the history of mankind, women have not been in the workforce until recently. A woman
's place has mainly been at the home, until only about sixty years ago. Women would take care of
the children, cook, clean, care for the sick, and when needed, they would be extra labor around the
farm. Women first started to work in large numbers during the industrial revolution, mainly in the
textile industry. Since then, most women have gone into the workforce. Today a family cannot
survive on the wages of the man alone. However, even though women are needed to work, they still
do not make as much as men. There are still inequalities between men and women, and there is still
a large wage gap. Women today make about eighty cents on the dollar that a man makes. Some
careers have a higher wage gap, and the careers that are dominated mainly by women, like nursing,
have a more equal wage to men. The mortuary science field is not different than the other careers.
Women are not currently dominating this field, so they are not paid as much as men are. Women
have faced bias through history, and women in the mortuary science field still face it today. There
are many different reasons bias remains in this industry. One reason is that women are thought of as
not being strong enough to physically lift the dead. However, women can be as strong as any man,
and if not they will find a way to complete the job. Another reason there is bia, is because women
are thought of as emotional. With

Is the Funeral Industry Affected by Recession
How the funeral industry is being impacted and changed by the Global Recession? Benjamin
Franklin's old adage "in this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes" has
never been truer. However, if he was around today he might change his spelling of "death" to "debt".
Taxes in Ireland have increased recently and the forthcoming emergency budget looks certain to
bring further misery to the population. So while governments are busy collecting whatever taxes
they can, people are still dying! You are born and then you die, it is a simple fact of life. In fact the
portion in between we call life is the uncertain part. When you die you will require the services of an
undertaker / funeral director. They are there to tax you one ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Laurence Shatkin seems to think that the industry is recession proof. He ranks a funeral director at
number 84 in his recent book "150 Best Recession Proof Jobs". Yes the work will continue to come
and as the baby boomers come of age, so to speak, the funeral industry doesn't look like slowing
down. However, it is not just the people that are dying, the profits are too! People have become
more cost conscious as a consequence of the recession and even in their time of grief they are
starting to shop around for the best deal to bury their loved ones. Remember, death can be sudden
and unplanned and a costly funeral will rarely be budgeted for. A funeral is a celebration of
someone's life and often the extravagance is a reflection of the respect for that person. Irish people
are famed for their funeral celebrations otherwise known as a "good send off". Nobody wants to cut
back on any of the customs associated with a traditional funeral, however, Dermott Jewell of the
Consumers Association of Ireland has said "I don't think anyone can underestimate the difficulty of
asking questions or querying things at the time of a funeral but the fact is, you are availing of a
service that comes at a cost and it can be quite extreme. There are alternatives and you do have a
choice. There is a personal barrier there that you may be seen as being mean but nobody should
think in that vein" The alternatives are straight forward. Choose a less ornate coffin;

Funeral Home Interview
Question #1 Where did you do your funeral home visit assignment?
In the morning on Sunday the 29th 2017, my husband Christopher and I went to Barnes Friederich
Funeral home in Midwest City. I had made prior arrangements to meet with a funeral director
through e–mail and phone. I was told that Sunday would be the best day for the funeral director to
give me some time for my assignment. Since this type of business is unpredictable, there was a
family there making funeral arrangements when Christopher and I walked into the Funeral home.
We were asked if we wanted to stay and wait, or come back at another time. We decided to wait for
the funeral director quietly and respectfully in an empty viewing room. I then met a funeral director
named ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In their lifetime they may have paid a funeral home to take their body in, and if not their family will
have to pay for their stay at the funeral home. At the funeral home the body stays for a small time
and is taken care of be the people who work at the home. They are nice to the body and prepare it
for a funeral and/or wake. A funeral and/or wake are where and how family and friends say good
bye to the person who passed away. I would also then try to answer any questions as best as I could
for the child to understand and feel comfortable about the

Linda's Death: A Monologue Of An Obituary
The next morning I didn't want to get out of bed but I knew I had to. Whispering a prayer Lord don't
let me go down into the grave with my husband take me through this let the hurt– hurt until it's over
just get me through it day by day. Let me not be bombarded by people who mean well but say the
wrong things during times such as this.
Getting started writing out the obituary and believe it or not that is when the devil really showed his
head more trouble started with the family. Mantis daughter Linda came over and helped me with the
obituary stating, "You know everybody is going to want to be mentioned in the obituary just letting
you know." This program is only so big they will all come under nieces, nephews, cousins and that's
it Linda. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Your Aunt Betty isn't in control of nothing and I'm not going to let you control anything either Anna.
If you want to pay for the funeral you can have it any way you want to and I want say a word but as
long as I'm paying for this funeral it will be as I say. She and her daughter huffed and stormed out of
the house. Linda said don't worry about that she'll calm down. I'm not worried I have other things to
be concerned about Linda. Thank you Linda for helping me, closing the door as she walked out.
Later that evening Anna's son called me asking, "Why is my mother crying?" How would I know
you're there ask her? If she don't go to the funeral there will be two funerals, he blurted out. Are you
calling your young–self trying to threaten me? I'm repeating myself if she don't go to the funeral
there will be two funerals. Let me tell you something you little wet behind the ears snotty nosed
boy! You do what you do and you'll get what you get remember that have a nice day! Allen walked
in who is that mom? Anna's son call himself threatening me. What Allen exclaimed, I'll be right
back mom, hurrying out the door. An hour later Allen came back to the house, you don't have
anything to worry about he want bother you again. Allen I wasn't worried I was concerned what you
might do the way you went out of here in a hurry. Mom I didn't beat him up..... this time but I made
it very clear if he open his mouth twisted to you again he would find himself spitting out teeth after
he remove my foot. He can get crazy if he wants to but "Real Crazy" will meet him right where he

Why I Chose A Fitting Career Choice For Me
The most asked questions throughout everyone's young adulthood or childhood is "what career have
you decided on?" or "What are you going to college for?". For me, the question that comes after
announcing my career choice is "What made you decide to enter that field?". My response is always
the same. The answer I give is because of my passion for helping others and the satisfaction of
knowing I succeeded in assisting families and the deceased. I believe I have skills which are ideal
for employment in the field. My skills include: organization, dedication, time management,
compassion for others and my work, adaptability, responsibility, detail oriented, professional, and
self–motivation. I believe I chose a fitting career choice for me. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The profession also has negatives. One of the negatives is dealing with emotional families and
difficult cases. Each family has their different ways of grieving, some are not the greatest ways. The
hardest part is having to watch them go through the pain they are in. As a funeral director, it is part
of the job to help them cope as best as you can and to make sure the funeral runs smooth while
having all the components the family wanted. The second negative is trying to make the hard wishes
of the deceased family come true. Sometimes their religion or preferences requires extraordinary
tasks in which you may have to find a way to make them happen or find an alternative to the wishes.
The third negative is planning your personal schedule and not being able to have time off to do
personal tasks, like spending time with family or going to events. This will affect me more when I
decide to have children. Although this is a negative, I knew about the circumstance before entering
the field. Death does not occur just because the time is convenient for me. The fourth negative is
having early mornings and calls throughout the middle of the night. This is a profession where
constant alert is required at all times. Services and deaths do not stop just because I had a call in the
middle of the night. Others lives still go on and the world does not revolve around when I need
sleep. Although the career has negatives and positives, I

Building an Ethical Organization
Turn on hit highlighting for speaking browsers by selecting the Enter button
Building An Ethical Organization
Part 2
Michael Cottone
HSM/230
Tara Horn
01/18/2015
As the newest business owner in my town I feel that it is my duty to write a mission statement and a
value statement for our organization as well as an explanation of each and how they tie together. The
basis of the organization is to provide strength and support to our local community. We want to be
there for the families in the hardest trials of their lives. We want to give them hope for tomorrow. By
eagerly accepting this challenge, we need to create a strong code of ethics, define the role of
leadership, and create a ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Whereas cost can be an issue for people now days, I do not wish it to be a problem when putting that
loved one to rest. My mission statement would be to provide exceptional funeral or cremation
service with a smile and a hug if necessary. Our mission here is to see you through your difficult
time without breaking your bank. I want to see to the needs of not only your bank but your heart as
well. Our mission statement supports the ethical system by offering a loving service to the
community at a very affordable price. We are not trying to take advantage of someone who is
hurting instead giving them an opportunity to grieve without the fear of not being able to afford a
decent funeral for their loved one. Surprises often happen when death is involved, and it is our duty
to step up and give a hand to those in need. Our message sends a very clear statement about the
community. It is telling them that we are there to help not hinder or take from their pockets or the
mouths of their children. We are a locally owned, family run, funeral home where concern lies in
minimizing your funeral cost and not maximizing our bottom line. We strive to help our families
through the difficult loss of a loved one without causing financial hardship. Our Mission is to be a
blessing to you at the most emotional,stressful time of your life and to provide the choices to you
and let you make the decisions as to how those choices

A Short Story : A Story?
The sky was dark and threatening rain as I pulled up to Moore Family Funeral Home. I had passed
by the old white building many times, but I never thought I'd be attending a funeral here. And I
never thought it would be one for my best friend.
The building was constructed of old boards that were painted white, and it had ivy and other vines
growing wild on its sides. The half–paved road dipped down from the town highway and curved
sharply in front of the building, then rose back up. A dark and dreary aura filled the air. It was
simple, I plain didn't want to be here.
I waited in my idling car for a few moments, trying to muster the courage and strength to get out. I
hadn't planned on even coming today, and I told myself this was just for Alex's family. But the more
I thought about it, the more I realized we were like family. Alex is like a brother to me. Was. He was
a brother to me. I still couldn't get it through my head he was gone. Alex, the happy–go–lucky guy,
the one who could brighten anyone's day, was dead.
With a heavy heart, I stepped out of my car and slammed the door behind me. I still didn't feel right
being here. I spotted his parents surrounded by flowers and friends paying their respects. I gulped,
took a deep breath, and walked over.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, I'm so sorry about what happened," I said. "It truly was an honor to know
and work with your son. I really am going to miss him," I said.
Mrs. Lawrence nodded, and I watched as she,

Funeral Home Rule
Most people contact funeral homes whenever a relative of theirs has passed. In most cases, the
family gets good services and everything goes right, but there are also scenarios where things go
totally wrong. The sad truth is, in many cases, many families do not find out the truth that happens
inside the funeral homes. Bodies have been misplaced, cremations have been done wrong or not
done in some cases, and body parts have been stolen (FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY ABUSE).
That is just some of the few things that have happened. Funeral homes are known for charging a lot
for funerals and in many cases use their knowledge to convince people to buy more expensive
things. Funeral homes have their ways where they outsmart people and they also in some ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This rule "was enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and it makes it possible for you to choose
only the goods and services you want or need" (Consumer Information). Before this rule was
introduced, funeral homes could have charged you more for caskets and add unnecessary services
that were not needed. Funeral homes would find sneaky ways to make money off the people who
were in need of these services. With this rule, funeral homes are limited to what they do. They are
not allowed to put surprise deals in that you did not know about, or charge you unfair prices. They
have to provide you with listings of prices and allow you to search around other deals as well. The
unethical issue around this situation is that the workers that sell the caskets and services have
learned the psychological thoughts people have when buying caskets and these services. They know
people are vulnerable and will feel guilty if they don't buy caskets that are nicer. They use certain
language around customers, and the customers fee that they need to spend more in order to release
and guilt and grief easier (Hill, Richard). This is a very unethical act because people should be
treated with the most outright respect when they are in such a situation. In my opinion, it is very
unethical to charge such high prices and basically play games with people's minds to make more
money. These people who do this take advantage of the customers because they know they will get
away with it, but just because you can get away with something doesn't make it right. Customers
have to act fast because for the most part the death is

Funeral Planning At Adzima Funeral Home
Have you recently lost a loved one? It can be difficult to imagine living life without that special
someone, but there's no need for you to deal with this alone. The funeral planning professionals at
Adzima Funeral Home are here to help. As a family–owned funeral home in Stratford, CT, they
understand that there are several ways to deal with grief and will do all they can to make this
process as easy as possible. Everyone deals with the loss of a loved one in their own way. While
some may shut themselves away for days on end, others may throw themselves into activities that
keep them busy enough to forget their pain. After serving Milford, Bridgeport and Stratford for over
100 years, there are four tips that the funeral planning professionals at Adzima Funeral Home
recommend for starting the healing process: ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
A support system is important to the healing process in that it surrounds you with caring people who
are there for you when you need

The Death Of The Funeral
The Death of the Funeral Business Rough Draft
In the essay "The Death of the Funeral Business", the author Sandy Hingston repeatedly illustrates
the different roles that technology plays in constructing modern funeral rituals. Over the past years,
technology has become such a big part of our daily lives, that now funeral homes are changing
rapidly to fit in with all of the technological advances that have been happening to the world around
us. I believe that in "The Death of the Funeral Bussiness" Hingston works to describe how
technology has changed the values society has towards death and decay writing about how
technology has changed funerals and societies view them.
"The Death of the Funeral Business" is an article explaining why the traditions of having a funeral
have declined over the past years. According to some of the research that Hingston made, in 1998,
only 24 percent of Americans were cremated compared to in 2012, where over 43 percent of
Americans were cremated. Throughout the article Hingston explains why technology has been a
huge impact on the decline of funeral traditions.
Technology has advanced right before our eyes and most of us fail to realize, but now we revolve
around technology. When people died years ago, they didn't leave much behind. For example, the
only thing that Hingston's mom left behind was a single photograph that she wanted all of her
grandchildren to have. Hingstons writes, "Mom got her wish; her grandkids all have copies of that

Financial Report of Loewen Group Inc.
Financial Report of Loewen Group Inc.
The Loewen Group Inc. was founded in 1969. The company has two major headquarters in North
America, one in Burnaby, British Colombia and a second in
Cincinnati, Ohio. Loewen Group Inc. (L.G.I.) is the largest funeral services enterprise in Canada and
is the second largest company in the North American
Funeral Services Industry. L.G.I. owns 918 funeral homes and 269 cemeteries and also engages in
the pre–need selling of funeral services including cemetery and cremation services. The company
strives on respecting its Eagle Principle, which is displayed on the first page of its 1995 Annual
Report:
"To soar to heights of possibilities one needs two equally healthy, strong wings – one being ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
S.C.I. Take–over Attempt
On September 17, 1996 Service Corporation International (S.C.I.), the largest
Funeral Service Company in the world, placed a $ 2.5. billion take–over bid for
Loewen Group Inc. The bid's share value is equivalent to US $ 43 each. Houston based S.C.I.'s bid
was considered to be fair by many analysts like Todd Richter of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. (New
York) and Ivar Leipens of Moss, Lawson & Co.
(Toronto). Another analyst, Dean Martin of TD securities Inc. (Toronto), stated that the bid was too
low and that the a bid of US $ 50 would be fair. He noted that Chairman Ray Loewen and his
management team retain 20 % (15 % + 5 % respectively) of the company's stock. Canadian
institutional holders of the company's stock would be more likely to support the company because
they must follow constraints such as a cap of 20 % on foreign holdings in regards to
Canadian Pension funds. Therefore S.C.I. will has had a difficult time gaining the support of 75 %
of Loewen Group Inc. shareholders needed as per the Canadian securities law.
In the week following the announcement of the take–over bid, the fourth largest company in the
industry, Equity Corp. International, based in Lufkin,
Texas had contacted the Federal Trade Commission in regards to how to become eligible to bid for
divested properties if the

Funeral Home Essay
– There was more than enough room to travel around the rooms. Every room had extra space if the
person was in a wheelchair, scooter, or had a walker. This extra room allowed accessibility to all
individuals who visited the funeral home. Other special problems/issues you noticed? – I did notice
one other issue. After a person entered the funeral home, there was a place to hang his/her coat.
However, the coat rack was for people without disabilities. It would be possible for the funeral home
to put in a low coat rack for people with disabilities and children. A low bar coat rack could be a
small inexpensive fix which, would assist many in a positive way. I think that many times, people
forget how many people there are in our community with disabilities. We all could do our part in ...
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If everyone voiced their opinion, concerning inaccessible buildings in our community, would be a
small step to correcting this problem in our society. These inaccessible buildings are a big deal to
people with the disabilities. The buildings can be a major obstacle in their life. I have worked with
disabled individuals and elderly individuals for about 15 years. I discovered the lack of accessibility
to many places when, I assisted them in the community. Usually, these individuals were in
wheelchairs as I pushed them into stores to do some shopping. So, I am aware of how many places
in our community was not wheelchair friendly. Before, I went into the community with these
individuals, I had to pre–plan everything. Some of the plans included, parking, accessible
bathrooms, drinking fountains, and if we were able to even enter into the building (if the building
did not have a ramp, elevator, and so on). This planning occurs on a daily basis for people with
disabilities. I feel that every place should be accessible for everyone whether they are in a
wheelchair, stroller,

Funeral Home Misconceptions
Death is an evitable part of everyone's life and therefore in the modern world the use of a funeral
home is typical after the end of someone's life. Nevertheless, rarely do individuals seek or have the
opportunity to see and understand how a funeral home operates from day to day. This avoidance,
however leads to a lack of knowledge surrounding funeral homes which aids in the perpetuation of
fear. Furthermore, it adds to the misconceptions by the public about aspects of a funeral home such
as, the crematorium room and the demeanor of staff. I was amazed by the different variations of urns
available at the Wilkerson Funeral Home & Crematory. Ashes could be stored in traditional urns,
clocks, watches, and even jewelry. Scattering urns are meant to easily allow ashes to flow from the
container whereas other boxes are biodegradable and meant to be placed in the ocean. Nevertheless,
traveling urns were the most interesting to me as they resembled the traditional urn style, but just in
a smaller size. Travel sized urns would allow for a great number of people to be able to have the
ashes of one particular loved one in a family. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The media frequently depicts funeral directors and fellow staff to be almost gothic like individuals
with a morbid sense of humor. They appear on television to be a misunderstood part of our
population that is not accepted by society. However, upon meeting Douglas Coward, our tour guide,
I found the staff at Wilkerson's to be empathetic, relatively normal and friendly in comparison to
their portrayal through the media. This clarified that funeral home employees are like everyday
people with family and friends. Through the tour I watched my preconceived notions change and by
the end of the tour started viewing the funeral home profession as a compassionate field to be

Grieving for Children and Adults
"Grief can't be shared. Everyone carries it alone. His own burden in his own way" (Lindbergh).
Grieving the loss of a loved one can be the most emotionally draining time of any human being's
life. Not only is this a time for saying good bye to the ones we hold dear in our hearts, but it is also a
time for change, change that is not seen as pleasant or embraced. This change is continuing on in life
without the ones we have lost. For the majority, this experience is difficult but most have the support
and love of family to make it through, but for others, this can be a lonesome and maybe even an
impossible task. This experience will affect a person both emotionally and physically, but it is
important to learn how to cope with the pain, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
But if a child does wish to participate, it is helpful to them in getting closure. During grieving
children will feel the same pain, confusion, and fear just as any adult will. Family and those that are
close to the deceased are not the only ones who feel anguish. They aid in grief counseling and
handling the departed. Funeral directors may help a family deal with a loss through grief counseling
themselves or refer families to a grief therapist. Either way, a huge part of a funeral director's job is
to show compassion and empathy towards families during this difficult time. It is a fine line when
dealing with emotions while being a mortician or a funeral director. They have to show sympathy
and support to the family, but they cannot let their emotions get in the way of their work because
they still have a job to do. Morticians or embalmers might not deal with loved ones of the deceased
directly, but they also are affected. Witnessing tragedy after tragedy and attending countless funerals
can take a toll on any mortician's mental and emotional health. A mortician's degree of sympathy
may also vary depending on the circumstances of the death. Andrew Weeks, a director of his own
funeral says ""I hate senseless death." Old people are expected to die, children are not"" (Weeks).
While death is upsetting in any situation, a mortician might feel more saddened by the death of a
younger person, such as a

Funeral Home Industry
Introduction:
There has always been a death industry but as the industry changes from product based purchases to
experience based there is a growing need in the industry to accommodate for how the industry is
doing to shift in the upcoming generations. The existing funeral homes are the traditional style
interiors that the previous generation got accustom with the product base design, but more funerals
are become more personal and deviate from the previous funeral ideas. Just like every funeral
service is unique, the grieving process is different from one person to the next. With providing a
service that takes into account of different techniques, whether through the space, social interaction
or counselling helps process the grief of the individual. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The funeral industry is changing from product based to experience based, and from burial to
cremations (National Funeral Directors Association [NFDA], 2015; Koop & Kemp, 2007; Wolfelt,
2004). Traditional funeral homes started off as having funerals in the deceased homes, then creating
buildings that have a home like interiors. The generation at the time was all about the price of the
required products; like the price of the casket, what was the casket made of, wood or metal, what
was the best price for the burial lots (Steven & Kemp, 2007). The industry was previously mostly a
product driven industry but, as the industry is changing the "funeral service must focus on being
customer– and experience–driven" (Wolfelt, 2004). The baby boomer generation is coming, they are
"sceptical of traditional funerals" but want "some sort of service" and "want more information about
the entire funeral process and more ideas for personalizing the service"(Wolfelt, 2004). Through the
generation difference and the changing market that allows for more of an experience customizable
space that depends on tradition, customs and beliefs of the customer (Wolfelt, 2004; Parkes &
Laungani & Young, 2003). The baby boomers are "more likely to choose cremation for body
disposition"(Wolfelt, 2004; NFDA, 2015) which provides a market change within the industry. "The
business of the past is not, and cannot be, the business of the future. But there is a future in funeral
service"(Wolfelt, 2004). "Today's funeral director must consciously work to create a package of
experience to offer families in conjunction with – or even instead of – the product" (Wolfelt, 2004).
Through bundling of products, it allows for easier understanding of the products but still allows for
customization of the service that the client

Funerals, Ruals And Funerals
Funerals and the accompanying ceremonies and rituals are as diverse as the people who perform
them. I was raised Roman Catholic and have had first–hand experience with the tradition of
receiving the Sacrament of Last Rights before a person dies. When I was seven years old, I had an
emergency appendectomy that was done laparoscopically. Ten days after surgery, I became very ill
with a high fever, vomiting, and intense abdominal pains. My mother rushed me to the hospital
where I was admitted and taken to the operating room for an emergency surgery. While in surgery,
they discovered I had a surgical infection in my lower right quadrant. They ran my bowel and found
a lump in my mesentery, but they could not biopsy it because it was too close to a major artery. After
surgery, I was recovering well and looking forward to going home. On my third day post–operation,
I was difficult to rouse and eventually became unresponsive with my heart rate dropping to eight
beats per minute. I was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit where I was given Last Rights by the
hospital priest because they did not think I was going to make it through the night. I do not
remember receiving the sacrament that night, but I do remember the second time. Things got a little
better, but then I started hemorrhaging from my nose. That, combined with my blood loss from
surgery, resulted in me needing a blood transfusion. I received Last Rights for a second time after
the central line was placed. I remember the priest making a cross on my forehead and the palms of
my hand. He prayed and blessed my soul so that if I were to die, I could go to Heaven. I remember
feeling a sense of calm, but that could have been the narcotics. The idea of blessing someone before
death to ensure that they get to heaven is interesting to me. It almost seems as though you can live
your life as sinfully as you want to but when the time comes, if you confess and repent, then all is
forgiven. That is quite odd to me. It is interesting to have had Last Rights twice and still be alive. It
makes me wonder if God decided it was not my time. Despite the priest's best attempts to bless my
soul for the journey to heaven. Funeral costs are something that I do not think I will ever

Cultures Showing Respect and Honor
Attention Getter: Have you ever thought what other cultures do for traditions when it comes to
showing respect and honor to the one that has died? The Hmong have many traditions that may
surprise or even shock you.
Motivation Step: We love our family and friends and every culture will have some sort of funeral
services to honor their loved ones passing on. The Hmong are no different.
Claim: A funeral service is personal and reflects a families beliefs, culture and traditions.
Preview step: During this speech I will be telling you traditions of the Hmong culture that are
different than the ones in America. But in the end they are traditions that show honor and respect to
our loved ones who died.
The cultural traditions of Hmong funerals goes way back to Asia. More particularly Laos. However
there have been some changes in the practices with those Hmongs living in the United States. Some
things that have changed or even done away with.
It was this past fall that my mother's father, or my grandfather passed away. I will tell you of the
traditions that we do and how they differ from some of the old traditions of the past. First off one
thing that you will need to know is that our funeral services will last three to four days. Old
traditions say that a funeral service should last about seven days.
http://www.hmongfunerals.com/site/hmongfunerals/content_services.html. Not only do the services
last many days the family stays up for those days without sleep or at

Monitoring System
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Many companies today use information as a basis to increase productivity, producing quality
products, providing quality services, creating customer confidence, and making timely decisions.
As such, information technology has become the prime reason for the success and failure of a
company to compete in business. This illustrates the impact of information technology on business
operations today. As a result, designing an information system of high quality is important so that
organisations can compete successfully in the global market.
Information systems experts need to understand the business operation of a company before they
can design a comprehensive system. Every business is likely to be different. ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
The purpose of the design phase is to determine the specified problem and plan a solution for the
specified problem. We used the data flow diagram to show the flow of data within the existing
system and the proposed system. Once the design is complete, most of the major decisions about the
proposed system have been made.
Chapter 4.0
THE EXISTING SYSTEM
An information system commonly refers to a basic computer system but may also describe a
telephone switching or environmental controlling system. The IS involves resources for shared or
processed information, as well as the people who manage the system. People are considered part of
the system because without them, systems would not operate correctly.
There are many types of information systems, depending on the need they are designed to fill. An
operations support system, such as a transaction processing system, converts business data (financial
transactions) into valuable information. Similarly, a management information system uses database
information to output reports, helping users and businesses make decisions based on extracted data.
In a decision support system, data is pulled from various sources and then reviewed by managers,
who make determinations based on the compiled data. An executive information system is useful for

Wilson Orwosky Funeral Home: Case Study
Wilson–Orwosky funeral home was the location chosen for my visitation because my parents and I
would like for the visitation to take place in my hometown. Our options were limited because
Wilson–Orwosky is the only funeral home in Emory. Thursday evening at 6:00 pm –8:00 pm was
chosen after my dad suggested picking an evening towards the end of the week. This time will
hopefully allow more people to attend since it is after a normal work day. Friday at 2:00 pm was
selected for the funeral service because a mid–day service will allow people to travel to and from
Emory if needed, and Emory Baptist Church was selected as the location because of the sentimental
value it holds for me. White mixed florals were chosen my mom and myself. I enjoy the color white
because I perceive it as uplifting and a clean color. My mother liked the ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Literature review was not extensive for the purposes of this project, but future research may shape
the results of this study. An important limitation to consider is that the financial aspect was not
researched in depth. It was undetermined how much of the funeral cost would be covered by my life
insurance policy, and prices I received from the funeral directors and former pastor were only
general estimates. Some funeral expenses were likely not accounted for because of the brevity of the
interviews. Another factor to consider is that the interview with my family members was conducted
in a single group sitting. Individuals may not have felt comfortable expressing their opinions
amongst the group, and group think may have played a role in the answers received. Wishes for my
funeral services may also change with the course of time, and some aspects of the funeral may have
been forgotten in the initial interview process. Private interviews should be conducted in the future,
and the dialogue about death should be ongoing to account for these

Funeral Home Descriptive
Fluorescent lights beam down at me from the ceiling, and the air is masked with the smell of
cleaner. A tall vase of white carnations sits on the table in the middle of the waiting room, stacks of
magazines perfectly placed in a row. Framed pieces of artwork are scattered across the cream walls,
quite depressing artwork for a funeral home I might add. I'm sitting in an uncomfortable, poorly
cushioned plastic chair, watching the clock hands go around slowly. A petite woman with a black
pixie cut is sitting behind the front counter, typing annoyingly loud on her computer. Beside from
me sits a bald, pudgy man with pedophile glasses and a ginger handlebar mustache. He wears a
black suit that's obviously way too small for him. The seams are threatening ... Show more content
There's a sort of laziness to it, as if it can't be bothered to conform to the laws of gravity. Tiny rivers
flow down the windows of my Honda, separating into little creeks as they go down. The rhythmic
swiping of the windshield wipers paired with the percussion of raindrops, creates a soothing
symphony that echoes throughout my car. I grab my lighter from the cupholder, flicking it back and
worth, watching the tiny flame dance. Glancing up at the clock, orange letters glare back at me. 4:53
pm. I rummage through my pockets, searching for the paper carton to ease the pain. My chest burns
as I inhale deeply, my lungs becoming wrapped in a warm blanket of nicotine and smoke. With
every inhale, all of my worries are gradually exhaled away–for a bit. I crank the window down an
inch or so, raindrops sneaking their way into the car, and I toss the cigarette butt into the gravel.
Before I leave the car, I close my eyes and lean my head against the headrest. I imagine myself
taking my grief, and balling it up tightly. So tight that there is no possible way any pain, or grief, or
loss can seep out. And I toss it far away behind me, and don't look

Ryan Funeral Home Case Study
RYAN FUNERAL HOME CASE
INTRODUCTION
On a warm Chicago evening in August 2005, Regina Ryan leaned back in an overstuffed armchair in
her brightly lit apartment above Ryan Funeral Home. Seventy–five years old and a widow, Regina
smiled as she looked at the sons and daughters gathered before her: Maureen, Patrick, Sean,
Brendan, Conner, and Siobhan.
Finally she spoke: "Your father was proud to own his own funeral home. He built this from nothing
to what it is today. By serving local families so well, the name Ryan Funeral Home has come to
mean compassion, integrity, and quality to those in this area. Reputation is everything in the funeral
business.
"He's gone now, and I must decide what's to become of all this. I always ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Until the 1970's, funeral directors used what was called all inclusive pricing, which meant that
families paid one price for most elements of the funeral. The elements included: the casket, removal
of the deceased from the place of death, embalming, dressing, application of cosmetics and place in
the casket, arrangement conference with funeral director, two nights of visitation (also known as the
wake) at the funeral home, directing the funeral, and the use of automotive fleet (including hearse
and limousine) to transport family and the deceased to the church and/or the cemetery, and the
register book, memorial folders, and acknowledgement cards. The elements of the funeral that were
excluded from this all inclusive price were the grave, flowers, the opening and closing of the grave,
the burial vault, the honorarium for the clergyman, and the grave maker.
There have been tremendous changes over the past few decades as a result of FTC mandated
changes in funeral service pricing, changes in consumer preferences, and consolidation of funeral
service providers. Beginning in 1984, the FTC required funeral homes to provide consumers with a
general price list (See exhibit #1) which breaks down the prices of each element of the funeral. For
example, instead of charging one price of say $9,000 for all the merchandise and services listed
above, the funeral home must break the charge down into elements, such as $3,450 for the casket,
$540

Adzima Funeral Home
When a loved one dies, it can be hard to focus on practical matters, such as funeral planning.
Arranging a funeral can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be a difficult process. With the
right funeral home and some simple things to keep in mind when making the arrangements, the
process can be healing. Adzima Funeral Home, based in Stratford, CT, has handled funeral services
for the community for over 100 years. Their compassionate and professional staff has come up with
a list of some things to consider when arranging a funeral:
Ask Questions: Don't be afraid to ask the funeral director as many questions as you need to make
you feel at ease. Feel free to bring a list to your meeting if that helps you gather your thoughts. Most
are also readily available by phone to answer additional questions. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
While you're discussing these options, ask about cost and payment. funeral – Stratford, CTMake
Decisions In Advance: Be prepared to make decisions and organize details in advance of your
meeting. Perhaps gather with close family members ahead of time and decide together how to best
honor you loved one.
Plan A Personalized Funeral: This step is the most important. Planning a funeral that truly honors
your loved one's unique personality and all the memories you shared with them will help you and
your family with the healing process.
Adzima Funeral Home in Stratford is here to help you plan funeral arrangements, no matter what
religious denomination or type of service. They always work with honesty and integrity through
each step of the process. They'll help you plan a personalized funeral that will celebrate your loved
one's

Persuasive Essay On Funeral Home
When faced with the loss of a loved one, careful and considerable attention needs to be paid to
making the necessary arrangements; it's a difficult but incredibly important task. One of the most
important considerations to weigh is that of the kind of funeral service that will best honor the
deceased, while allowing the survivors to grieve and support one another. According to the funeral
and burial services leaders at Washington Funeral Home, which has served the North Haven, CT
area for four generations, there's a great deal that you should keep in mind when thinking about
funeral services.
So what options are out there for you and your family? Let's take a look:
Traditional Services: The more traditional approach includes an open casket

History of the Funeral Rule Essay
HISTORY OF THE FUNERAL RULE
The roots of the Funeral Rule are found in two books that were published in the late 60's – – Unsafe
At Any Speed by Ralph Nader and The American Way of Death by Jessica Midford. In the late
1960's, the FTC was a paper tiger. Ralph Nader, who began the consumer protection movement in
this country with the publication of Unsafe At Any Speed, was a sharp critic of the Federal Trade
Commission for its lack of consumer protection. Specifically, the FTC was criticized because it
relied too heavily on consumer complaints and brought enforcement actions only on a case–by–case
basis. The consumer protection movement wanted the FTC to proceed against entire industries
rather than individual businesses. The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In March, 1976, the FTC received over 9,000 comments on the proposed rulemaking. The Final
Notice of Rulemaking was published in 1976 and identified 30 disputed areas of fact. These were
the focus of six public hearings that were held from April through August of 1976. There were 315
witnesses, many of which provided anecdotal evidence. There was very little empirical data such as
surveys and valid economic studies. Following the hearings, the presiding officer issued his report.
Additional comments were submitted by the public and the Final Staff Report was delivered to the
Commission in 1979. The FTC tentatively approved the Funeral Rule in March, 1979. The funeral
industry went to Congress and was able to obtain some relief in the form of the FTC Improvements
Act of 1980. That statute imposed new procedural safeguards in the FTC rulemaking process. It also
required the FTC to republish the Funeral Rule and take additional comments using the new
procedural safeguards. In 1981, the FTC republished the Rule and began a new proceeding. That led
to the promulgation of the Funeral Rule in 1982. After the NFDA unsuccessfully appealed the Rule
to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Rule took effect on January 1, 1984. The Funeral Rule
which was finally adopted was less onerous then the one originally proposed. NFDA was successful
in having certain provisions deleted from the original Rule such as a requirement to have written

Death Is Inevitable And Death
Death is a part of life no matter which way you look at it. With death, there is a lot to consider.
Death is not inevitable but in a way it is a sort of burden on the loved ones left behind. There is grief
and a ton of planning involved which only leads to extra stress. One of the most important parts of
the death ritual is for most people the obituary. When looking at obituaries and the styles and
formats that they are in, you can compare and contrast the traditions and values of both newspaper
and memorial website obituaries.
Like mentioned before, death is inevitable and death is also a heartache and disaster for the loved
ones left behind. Not only do your loved ones have to grieve over the decease, but during this time,
they also have to plan a wake, funeral, and some type of resting place. The resting place can be in a
cemetery in a coffin, or it can be cremation. With death comes a lot of burdens especially if the
deceased was not prepared to die. Even today with the all technology we have people still die and
we still have a conventional way of dealing with it.
During the grieving process and preparing everything, it is also customary for the person who is still
here to write an obituary for the deceased. In an obituary, people can write a story about the person,
describe their accomplishments, or in some cases, just have the announcement of the death.
Obituaries are usually written so that people who were close to the deceased can know what this
person died from,

Essay on Loewen Group Case Study
Executive Summary of Case
External Environment Analysis
Opportunities
Threat of new entrants:
The barriers to entry are high due to high fixed costs, lack of history in the local community, zoning
regulation, and "not–in–my–back–yard" protests.
Power of suppliers:
Funeral consolidators such as Loewen group can put a great deal of pressure on suppliers to reduce
prices.
Power of buyers:
The funeral home is usually the buyers first point of contact, therefore the funeral home has first
chance at selling all related services and supplies.
Product substitutes:
The small family owned funeral homes cannot compete with ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Threats
Threat of new entrants:
Not a great threat due to high barriers of entry into the market.
Power of suppliers:
Because of the Internet, suppliers can now sell their products online directly to the consumer
virtually eliminating the funeral home from the bereavement process.
Power of buyers:
Buyers are becoming a lot more educated in the costs of funeral homes and itemized expenses.
Because of this funeral homes cannot mark–up their costs the way they used to.
Product substitutes:

Today there are companies that offer caskets that one can make by themselves. They can use the
casket as a coffee table until it needs to be used for its other purpose.
Intensity of rivalry:
The threat of being bought out by SCI is very intense and the price they were offering shows how
greatly they wanted to incorporate Loewen Group into SCI.
Competitor general analysis:
a. Future Objectives:
b. Current Strategy:
c. Assumptions:
d. Capabilities:
Economic:
Because of the increasing education of the consumer, many may choose to bypass the funeral home
as a way of lowering costs.

Funeral Home Coping
Losing someone you love is a very painful experience and one that's deeply personal. We at Abriola
Parkview Funeral Home are here to help you honor your friend or family member's life in a
wonderful way, something we've assisted Trumbull, CT and surrounding–area residents with for
over four generations. Let us help with funeral plans so you may grieve as you see fit, and know we
are always ready to lend a compassionate ear. Take the following tips on coping with grief into
consideration to deal with this difficult time: Everyone Is Different: Remember, no two people
grieve the same way. Give yourself time to grieve and heal, and keep in mind there's no set schedule
regarding when mourning should be "over." We encourage finding healthy ways

Funeral Planning A Funeral Home Research Paper
Planning a funeral for a close family member or loved one is difficult, but for many people, making
these arrangements is an important part of the grieving process. While the loss often feels
overwhelming, knowing that you are carrying out your loved one's final wishes can bring a sense of
comfort and peace. The professionals at Bolton & Lunsford Funeral Homes, in Cincinnati, OH have
helped many families through this tumultuous time and have some tips to make funeral planning a
little easier. Here are three ways to prepare for a funeral service: Contact A Funeral Home:
Depending on the situation, the deceased may have already pre–planned funeral services with a
particular home. If not, you'll need to contact a funeral home to start the process.

Amish Funeral Home Essay
The aspects of an Amish funeral service are steeped in customs that vary largely from that of an
English funeral. Though the ideals and customs of an English funeral service change with the new
trends of the region. While the Amish funeral service has changed very little from the Amish
deviation from the Quakers. In most branches of the Amish church, the rituals and traditions
surrounding death are held in the highest regard. These sacred teachings are known to very few
members of the church; generally, by the bishops, or by the Amish funeral director. The funeral, as
seen from the English perspective, is a celebration of life or the mourning of a life; while, the
funeral seen from an Amish perspective, is a celebration of the gift of God.
In general, when a member of the Amish community dies, their body will be embalmed. Unlike
most of the more conservative religions, the Amish believe in using both arterial embalming (The
process of injecting chemicals into the arterial system of the body) and visceral embalming (The
process of injecting chemicals into the viscera or organs). In most modern circumstances, the Amish
family will use an English funeral home (There are VERY few Amish funeral home) for the
preservation of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Unlike most communities or religions, the Amish choose to make arrangements with the funeral
home then and there. The arrangements are made regardless of the hour of death. Generally, English
funeral arrangements take hours for the funeral director to explain the choices and customization of
an English funeral. When in an arrangement for an Amish funeral, the family and clergy will be
informing the funeral director about the traditions and customs that MUST be followed. Most Amish
families will handle informing the cemetery, ordering and paying for the coffin, and ordering the
rough box (The Amish equivalent of a vault or outer burial liner). (Beerman,

Mortician Job
A mortician is when a person's business is preparing dead bodies for burial or cremation and making
arrangements for funerals. I would like to take place in this business because my father and my
grandfather are in this particular profession. Even though this is just an idea I would like to carry
down the profession and help families during their hard times. I like to help people and their
families, so I believe that this would be a good job for me. My dad has taught me a couple of things
in the profession, like how to embalm, one thing you use is formaldehyde which helps preserve the
bodies. My personality fits this job because I am loyal, hardworking, and determined worker who
will give the best in the business and try to make the best of ... Show more content on
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The yearly average salary for this job is around 45,000; this is for a person in North Carolina in
statistics the yearly salary is close to 45,000 dollars to me this is a lot of money for a person who has
just started a job and is a young worker in North Carolina. My dad makes a little more because he
has been in the business for about 30 years and is known around North Carolina in the business.
Even more so jobs are open over North Carolina but in the next 10 years the funeral director job
expectations throughout North Carolina is supposed to increase a small amount of just a little of
10% which is 12%. I would like to get a job in the Hickory, Granite Falls, or Lenoir area so I can be
close to home and will not waste gas mileage as I drive to and from work. A couple funeral homes
that offer a decent salary are Pendry's Funeral Home, Bass–Smith Granite and Hickory Locations,
Hickory Funeral Home, Edwards Funeral Home–Mt Gilead, Drum Funeral Home, Trice Funeral
Home, Piedmont Funeral Home, Catawba Funeral Home Inc., Burke Mortuary, Miller Funeral
Services, Adams Funeral Home LLC, Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Allen Mitchell
Funeral Homes, Dirk M Thompson Mortuary Inc., and several other well know services throughout
North Carolina

Mourning and Grief
Sigmund Freud, born on May 8th, 1856, was the founder of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysts
believed that human behavior, experience, and cognition were largely determined by irrational
drives which were mostly unconscious. Freud further developed the mechanisms of repression and
established a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and
their respective psychoanalyst. Though psychoanalysts are not very common in our current day,
other forms of psychotherapy have developed that employs diverging ideas, originating from Freud's
original thoughts and approach to studying the mind (Boeree). Freud went on to later synthesize a
theory of what he believed happened during grief. According to his theory, we ... Show more content
The book insinuates that repeating the story is a way of processing and accepting the death, claiming
that with each retelling, the pain lessens (Smith and Segal). Another primary reconciliation need of
mourning is the development of a new self–identity that follows the conclusion of decathexis and
precedes the beginning of cathexis. Decathexis and cathexis, both terms coined by Sigmund Freud,
define the process of withdrawing energy from an idea or instinctual object and the latter explaining
the gradual weakening and separation of an emotional bond (Boeree). Freud believed that energy
that was gained after conquering the two phases of death acknowledgement can be gradually
reinvested into new people, objects, or activities. After people lose a loved one they feel as if a part
of them died. Society has molded us to give ourselves meaning in relation to the lives of those
around us (i.e. I am a father, a brother, a friend). But, after the conclusion of the loved ones life, we
no longer know who we are or what we are supposed to do. Self–help groups attempt to fill
bereaved ones lives with activities that may interest them in the hopes that these activates will either
get their mind off the recent death or aid in helping the individual reinvent themselves.
Works Cited
Boeree, C. George. "Sigmund

Tax Memorandum 1
May 3, 2010
Tax File Memorandum
Subject Peaceful Pastures Funeral Home Incorporated prepaid income treatment.
Facts
Peaceful Pastures Funeral Home Inc. is an accrual basis taxpayer who sells prepaid goods and
services to clients that will be provided for them at the time of their death. Goods and services are
refundable upon the purchasers request at any time until the contracts are fulfilled. Peaceful Pastures
Funeral Home Incorporated is in need of determining the period of recognition for income provide
from a prepaid service for which they are an accrual basis taxpayer.
Issue
Does Peaceful Pastures Funeral Homes Inc. realize prepaid income in the period in which it was
received or can Peaceful realize the income in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Rev. Rul. 72–519, 1972–2 Cum. Bull. 32 "Deposits intended to secure income–producing covenants
are advance payments taxable as income upon receipt, while deposits intended to secure non–
income–producing covenants are not." From the information not given it appears that the funds
received were comingled with the direct funds of Peaceful and Peaceful had the right to exercise the
funds as Peaceful sees fit. There is no mention that these funds were kept separate or in an escrow
designated for the sole purpose of being a deposit. Furthermore the prepayments were specifically
made in conjunction of securing future goods and services and not in the express obligation of return
of funds.
Secs. 1.446–1(c)(1)(ii), Under the accrual method, income is to be included for the taxable year
when all events have occurred that fix the right to receive the income and the amount of the income
can be determined with reasonable accuracy. 1.451– 1(a), Income Tax Regs. Typically, all events
that fix the right to receive income have occurred upon the earliest of the following to take place:
The income is (1) actually or constructively received; (2) due; or (3) earned by performance. When
Peaceful receives prepaid income it has constructively received payment for further goods and
services and the income

Modern Funerals In The Modern Funeral
The modern funeral is something that everybody experiences either through death of an
acquaintance or by direct necessity to arrange a funeral yet so many people know so little about
funerals and the industry behind it. This lack of knowledge is the main cause of consumer's issues
with the modern funeral. Arranging a funeral is at least problematic and in most cases is a harrowing
experience. This clearly indicates that fundamental problems exist in the funeral industry. The
funeral should be a hallowed event but is one overshadowed by the depressing and stressful ordeal
of arrangement. A majority of these issues could be resolved if the general public knew about
funerals but unfortunately this knowledge is not common and has many affects on the consumer.
The average consumer knows almost nothing about the average funeral in the United States, even
the most common things, such as embalming. Embalming is a method of preserving a dead body.
This is an oddly grotesque method is the standard in the United States. This indicates that this
process has had the largest effect on the funeral industry and this is certainly true. Embalming is
something that has formed the American funeral industry since its proliferation since the American
Civil War. This is also why the funeral industry in the United States is vastly different than almost
anywhere else in the world. In Europe an American funeral is seen as a very strange ritual. Putting a
preserved dead body on display is not

The Loewen Group Case Summary
rP os t
9–201–082
REV: MARCH 4, 2002
op yo The Loewen Group, Inc. (Abridged)
In March 1999, John Lacey and the management team at the Loewen Group, Inc., had to decide
what course of action to take in light of the company's imminent financial difficulties. On
January 22, 1999, Lacey, a renowned turnaround specialist, was appointed chairman of Loewen, the
second largest death care company in North America. Headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia,
Loewen owned over 1,100 funeral homes and more than 400 cemeteries in the U.S. and Canada; it
also owned 32 funeral homes in the United Kingdom. The company had come a long way since its
modest beginnings in Canada, where Ray Loewen, the founder (and, until recently, ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
This document is authorized for use only by Lawrence He until February 2012. Copying or posting
is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860.
rP os t
201–082
Loewen had not yet missed any payments on its debt, and had approximately $30 million of cash on
hand. However, this would not be sufficient to meet several large interest and principal payments
that were due over the coming months. A payment default would only make negotiations with
creditors more difficult, and increase the likelihood of bankruptcy. This possibility would no doubt
weigh heavily on the managers' minds as they turned to the important task of restructuring the
company's debts.
The Death Care Business
op yo The primary activities of death care firms include the provision of funeral, burial, and
cremation services, and related products like cemetery plots, caskets, urns, and gravesite markers.

Funeral services and cemetery plots can be sold either on an "at–need" basis (i.e., at the time of
death), or on a
"prearranged" or "pre–need" basis. In the latter case, payment for a funeral service or cemetery plot
is made in advance, and the proceeds are either held in trust or invested in an insurance policy (that
names the death care firm as beneficiary).
tC

Humorous Wedding Speech: A Narrative Of My Life
"Good morning Ms. Britney, how are you?" Good morning, Mr. Douglas, I am doing well. Thank
you." I responded with a partial smile on my face. I just started a hot pot of coffee, it should be
ready when you get settled. He said as he was walking down the hall. Douglas is one of our
embalmers at the mortuary. He has been with me for about five years now and he really does a great
job. It's funny because I would never have guessed that I would be owing and running my own
funeral home business. It's been almost 6 years since I opened my door and 10 years since I have
been involved in the funeral home business. I remember like it was yesterday, I was out of college
and needed a job. I ran into Mr. Edwards at the gas station and ended up getting ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
I said to Justin as I brought dinner in the house. I wanted to spend all my time with Justin tonight
and plan on getting pregnant if it goes my way. I didn't want to waste time in the kitchen. Lately, I
feel Justin has been looking right throw me. He doesn't even turn his head toward me when I am
leaving or coming home. He speaks but seems so preoccupied with the game, or checking emails, or
talking to his boys and planning to go somewhere. I put the items on the counter and quickly plated
our food. As I brought it to the dinner table, I yelled to the living room sweetheart, dinners ready.
Justin didn't respond. Sweetheart, dinners ready I yelled slightly louder while walking to the living
room entry way. Justin was no longer sitting on the couch and the Television was not off. I stood
there for a minute, then walked back to the bedroom where he was not lying in bed watching TV.
Hey sweetheart, you alright, dinner is ready. Oh yes babe, I didn't want to disturb you so I came
back here. He said while still watching the game and not turning his head. Well okay, I wish you
would have told me. You want dinner in here. I hesitated. "sure", he said. Okay. We made small talk
while eating and watching the game. When we finished I went to the freezer and fixed him one of
his favorite alcohol beverages even though he did not ask. It always calms him down and he is more
open and free to say what is truly on his mind. I walked back in the room with my glass of red wine
and his drink while saying here "sweetheart". He looked up at his drink, looked at my glass of wine
then at me. I flashed him a smile then pushed my left hand out which is the hand I was holding his
drink with. "What's wrong", he said while grabbing his drink. Nothing I said while smiling. "Brit,
what's wrong" he said again while taking a sip from his drink. Sweetheart, nothing is wrong I said
while sipping my wine. He sat up, Brit, what's wrong. You almost

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