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47 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, January 24, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 2, 2004 When Somebody Dies ... Means to an end By BILL VARBLE Mail Tribune For those seeking funeral alternatives, including ways to save money, help is available. The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Oregon, a consumers group, supports "dignified, meaningful, affordable" funerals. The Portland-based non-profit affiliated with the national Funeral Consumers Alliance contracts with mortuaries for discount services. Members pay a one-time fee (in Oregon, $30 for a family, $15 for an individual), part of which supports the alliance, and reap savings. The funeral home in Jackson County is Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary in Medford. Deanna Hare of Hillcrest says many members choose savings on cremation. "And for those who want a burial, it’s even more substantial," she says. Hillcrest charges members $565 for cremation, versus a regular price of $775. The regular price for a simple graveside service and a casket with no embalming or visitation is $3,671. The price to members: $1,125. Advertisement The Vermont-based Funeral Consumers Allicance recommends planning funerals ahead. It does not recommend paying in advance through one of the pre-payment plans the funeral industry sells. "We strongly discourage, that," says FCA Executive Director Joshua Slocum. "We get more complaints on that than anything. It sounds like a great deal, but the law about how well consumers’ money is protected state-to-state is a hodge-podge." He offers these tips: Funeral directors are not clergy. They are business people in business to make a profit. Do family members want visitation and embalming? It’s not required in Oregon. A sealed coffin does not preserve a body. Look into ceremonies at your church or fraternal lodge. Some people rent meeting rooms, even state parks. For funeral consumers’ rights, call Funeral Consumers Alliance of Oregon at 888-475-5520. For funeral alternatives, visit www.funerals.org . Under the law The Funeral Rule provides federal protection of your rights as a funeral consumer. The Federal Trade Commission is responsible for enforcement. The law provides that: You may choose to buy only those funeral goods and services you want and not be forced to buy a package. The funeral home must state this fact on a written price list. If local law requires you to buy anything, the provider must itemize it and refer to the law. The funeral home may not refuse to handle a casket you bought elsewhere, or charge to do so. A funeral provider that offers cremations must make alternative containers available. For more, visit www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/services/funeral.htm , or search with a browser for "the Funeral Rule." Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers