Comments on: The death merchants scam you to the very end http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/ Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:36:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: robert@guardian http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-514560 Fri, 09 May 2008 22:11:34 +0100 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-514560 i've been an industry insider (mortuary science college graduate, funeral director) long enough to know more than a few things about the industry. my grandparents ran their own funeral home for over thirty years; but it was a "mom-n-pop" funeral home; my grandfather once said that if you hurt your reputation you might as well close the doors, because it's over. the days of the "mom-n-pop's" are long gone. enter the giant corporate monoliths; SCI, Stewart Corp., etc. i have experience at the former. they are so brazen, they will push for pre-need sales within days of a family losing a loved one. it's completely unconscionable what they do. so, by design i hope to become the most hated man in the funeral industry, you can see why over @ www.guardianoffunds.com . it's time someone went on a crusade to fight back against this type of thing. so, ladies and gentlemen, i have mounted my horse... i’ve been an industry insider (mortuary science college graduate, funeral director) long enough to know more than a few things about the industry. my grandparents ran their own funeral home for over thirty years; but it was a “mom-n-pop” funeral home; my grandfather once said that if you hurt your reputation you might as well close the doors, because it’s over. the days of the “mom-n-pop’s” are long gone. enter the giant corporate monoliths; SCI, Stewart Corp., etc. i have experience at the former. they are so brazen, they will push for pre-need sales within days of a family losing a loved one. it’s completely unconscionable what they do. so, by design i hope to become the most hated man in the funeral industry, you can see why over @ www.guardianoffunds.com . it’s time someone went on a crusade to fight back against this type of thing.

so, ladies and gentlemen, i have mounted my horse…

]]> by: Erika http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472890 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:56:15 +0000 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472890 Gawd. That pisses me off. What's a more secure, steady investment than funeral services? You'll never be lacking in clients. But that's not enough for those kinds of greedy bastards. They want to get rich quick on little to no work and they don't care who gets hurt in the process. Gawd. That pisses me off.

What’s a more secure, steady investment than funeral services? You’ll never be lacking in clients. But that’s not enough for those kinds of greedy bastards. They want to get rich quick on little to no work and they don’t care who gets hurt in the process.

]]> by: Caroline http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472885 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:00:44 +0000 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472885 I haven't made any written wishes, though I've discussed it with my parents and my boyfriend. I want my organs donated. I thought of donating my body to science until a doctor friend of mine stressed that donating the organs is much more important and does much more good. If they have to cremate the rest then so be it, although I'd really rather have the rest buried in a burlap sack with a tree planted on it. I won't be using it; it might as well return to nature as fast as possible. Ever since I read "Speaker for the Dead" I kind of wanted my death spoken. Otherwise, though, I'd just like people to get together and remember me, tell stories. This weekend I went to a memorial service that was just like that. People read poems and pieces that reminded them of the deceased, and told stories, laughed and cried. I think that's the best way. I haven’t made any written wishes, though I’ve discussed it with my parents and my boyfriend. I want my organs donated. I thought of donating my body to science until a doctor friend of mine stressed that donating the organs is much more important and does much more good. If they have to cremate the rest then so be it, although I’d really rather have the rest buried in a burlap sack with a tree planted on it. I won’t be using it; it might as well return to nature as fast as possible.

Ever since I read “Speaker for the Dead” I kind of wanted my death spoken. Otherwise, though, I’d just like people to get together and remember me, tell stories.

This weekend I went to a memorial service that was just like that. People read poems and pieces that reminded them of the deceased, and told stories, laughed and cried. I think that’s the best way.

]]> by: Tina H http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472715 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:42:15 +0000 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472715 My mom said that she wants us to have a wake for her on the shores of Lake Superior. (It's a Yooper thing.) However, she's not convinced we'll do it right, so we have to have a practice wake first so she can supervise. I suspect it's simply an excuse to have a good rollicking party on the shores to Da Lake, eh? My mom said that she wants us to have a wake for her on the shores of Lake Superior. (It’s a Yooper thing.) However, she’s not convinced we’ll do it right, so we have to have a practice wake first so she can supervise. I suspect it’s simply an excuse to have a good rollicking party on the shores to Da Lake, eh?

]]> by: Louise, Bringer of Party Platters and Heinekens http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472563 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 08:41:15 +0000 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472563 Salem, my heart goes out to you and your family... My parents buried my younger sister this past year. Her death occurred unexpectedly right before Xmas last year and I've tried to help them all I can- but I think losing a child and the aftermath must be the single most difficult event a person can endure. May many happy memories replace the pain... Salem, my heart goes out to you and your family…

My parents buried my younger sister this past year. Her death occurred unexpectedly right before Xmas last year and I’ve tried to help them all I can- but I think losing a child and the aftermath must be the single most difficult event a person can endure. May many happy memories replace the pain…

]]> by: Louise, Bringer of Party Platters and Heinekens http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472562 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 08:37:04 +0000 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472562 Ravaj, per request we all sang "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" at my beloved gram's burial in May, and had a large party at her house, decorated with all of her Christmas decorations. It was that or "Ding Dong, The Witch Is Dead"- she was long lovingly referred to as a witch an collected dozens of them. My mom and I do genealogy together- she bought me cemetery plots for my family in Gram's cemetery years ago for Christmas. Won a local newspaper's contest of "Strangest Gift Ever" one year with THAT entry! Ravaj, per request we all sang “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” at my beloved gram’s burial in May, and had a large party at her house, decorated with all of her Christmas decorations. It was that or “Ding Dong, The Witch Is Dead”- she was long lovingly referred to as a witch an collected dozens of them.

My mom and I do genealogy together- she bought me cemetery plots for my family in Gram’s cemetery years ago for Christmas. Won a local newspaper’s contest of “Strangest Gift Ever” one year with THAT entry!

]]> by: Left_Wing_Fox http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472531 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:53:41 +0000 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472531 Aside from life insurance so no-one has to deal with my debts, and making sure my organ donor card is filled out, I really don't care what happens to my body. I have suggested throwing it in a burlap sack and planting a tree over it. Aside from life insurance so no-one has to deal with my debts, and making sure my organ donor card is filled out, I really don’t care what happens to my body. I have suggested throwing it in a burlap sack and planting a tree over it.

]]> by: ravaj http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472513 Sat, 08 Dec 2007 21:41:50 +0000 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472513 my aunt has requested that we play the wedding march at her funeral since it will be the only time she will be going down the aisle :-) my aunt has requested that we play the wedding march at her funeral since it will be the only time she will be going down the aisle :-)

]]> by: mythago http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472506 Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:57:14 +0000 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472506 Salem, I am so sorry that you lost your daughter. Salem, I am so sorry that you lost your daughter.

]]> by: Red Queen http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472491 Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:37:37 +0000 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/12/08/the-death-merchants-scam-you-to-the-very-end/#comment-472491 Burn me the cheapest way possible, split the ashes into numerous ziplocks for friends and family. Have them sprinkle my ashes in various places around the world when they travel Burn me the cheapest way possible, split the ashes into numerous ziplocks for friends and family. Have them sprinkle my ashes in various places around the world when they travel

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