I helped a friend today at the funeral home, her Mother passed.

[texanwitch]

My friend's mother had a pre-payed plan but it doesn't cover everything.

I hate funeral homes.

The mother was ill so it wasn't a major surprise.

I was glad I was there, my friend was in no shape to handle this.

[SeattleGirl]

1. You're a good friend, tw

Doesn't matter how much is done beforehand, or how prepared we think we may be, it's still devastating to lose a loved one.

[texanwitch]

2. All I can say is take someone with you outside the family.

I won't go into details but some people in some funeral homes try to sell you things you don't want or need.

:mad:

[SeattleGirl]

3. That's very true.

Someone not in the midst of deep grief can be so helpful in those situations.

[texanwitch]

4. My friend and her sister are not made out of money.

You wouldn't believe what the person at the funeral home tried sell my friend.

My friend's mother had everything picked out and planned, that is what she wanted.

I wanted to kick some serious butt today.

My friend is at my house, finally sleeping.

Her sister will get here tomorrow.

[SeattleGirl]

5. My mom chose cremation, and in her will, she said everything was

to be divided among her 5 children. So, we used that as an absolute literal statement, and decided that one sister would be the keeper of the ashes. One attempt was made to sell us mausoleum space, but that was overruled quickly by my BIL (who would brook no nonsense).

[texanwitch]

6. Good for your BIL.

My friend was in tears, and this jerk was trying to sell her extra services.

I put my foot down and said I wanted to talk to the head funeral director.

Everything changed after that.

This isn't the first funeral I have helped with, I know the ropes.

[SeattleGirl]

7. No wonder some people think of them as ghouls.

:grr:

[texanwitch]

8. Ghouls is right.

I so mad right now.


My friend was upset to begin with and then we had to deal with this.


Spending money you don't have isn't showing respect to your loved one.


It was good thing my friend's sister wasn't there, she has a temper.


She helped her mom arrange the preplan.


I stayed calm.

[Vidar]

9. Well done!

[texanwitch]

10. I am not saying everyone who works in the funeral home business is like this.

I have helped in a least 30 funerals over the years and it seems to be getting worse every time.

[Are_grits_groceries]

11. My brother and I had an aunt go with us

when my Mama died. I had just read a magazine article about funeral homes, and I was in a mood to say the least. My

brother was having a very hard time, and he really is a softie. He would have done anything. I gave them the stank

eye and asked lots of questions. Everything costs so much, and you feel guilty if you don't buy the most expensive

items. We got something decent and it was still a lot of money. I can't afford to die. I told my brother to have my

body released to him if something happens and bury me way deep on the family farm if he can.

[texanwitch]

12. Used to be that way.

Family or friends would built pine box, and dig a grave.

Seems a lot better the highway robbery that we deal with now.

My mother and father have pre-pay.

My Mother as a plot and my father will be buried at a veterans cemetary.