My daughter suddenly died, money was an issue but it was more than that. I didn’t want anyone else handling her body but us, especially some cold, impersonal strangers at a funeral home. When I found out that legally I could care for her body just like a funeral home does, it made her funeral so special to us. We had a viewing in our home and buried her on my father’s ranch. I never thought it was possible to do this, let alone legal.

-G. Lutz

Dear Susan,

When my grandmother was dying no one in the family had a clue how to handle the funeral let alone how to pay for it.

Grandma had no money of her own and I had been out of work for the last year struggling with my own credit card bills, and no one else in the family was stepping up to the plate. Because of the information in your book, we were able to have an amazing ceremony and even a full burial for Grandma – all but $100 paid for.

Thank you for passing this information on.

Sincerely,

Katie H.

Plano, Texas

Hi Susan:

I can honestly say we located, purchased and downloaded your book just in the nick of time.

Sadly, in March of 2013 my mother got really sick really fast after 87 years of pretty good health.  When I began interviewing funeral homes in our area (Lancaster, a suburb of buffalo NY), I could not believe how expensive it was going to be just to have her body removed from the nursing home and taken to be cremated when the time came – no viewing at the funeral home.

My mom had already purchased her plot next to my dad, and they had chosen cremation, so at least that part of the problem was solved and paid for. But, the proposals ranged from $4000 to $6500 and each funeral director said that with a straight face.

I interviewed four different places to get those prices.  I was demoralized.

My husband and I talked about the situation and he got online and located your book for me.  After purchasing and downloading it, it took us less than 10 minutes to zero in on the information for NY State.  Lo and behold, your book sent us to The Greater Buffalo Memorial Society.  We called, expecting to get an answering  service, because we were calling on a Saturday.

Instead, the person who directs the organization picked up the call and spent about an hour with us, explaining his organization and the benefits of membership in great detail.  We signed up my mom and ourselves as soon as we got the membership forms.  This opened the door to services that were severely discounted.

We were fortunate to move as quickly as we did, because my mother died shortly after that weekend.  But, thanks to your book and the local information we obtained, we had everything in place to take care of the next step.

The entire expense was about $1000 with about 1/3 of that going to the death notice in the newspaper.

The director of the funeral home we worked with could not have been nicer and treated us with the utmost respect. So, I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to compile the book and make it so easily available.

I have many friends who are in the same position, helping elderly parents through their final days.  One of their concerns is that so many of their parents’ contemporaries have died, another is that their parents’ funds dwindle fast due to  nursing home care, making the idea and the expense of a funeral overwhelming.  As a result, I have suggested your book to them.    (Many times people move away from their hometowns and one value of your book is that you provide information that can be used across the country.)   My friends also do not want to have this burden fall onto their own children and would prefer to make plans ahead of time and leave detailed instructions so their families can maximize their inheritance and use the money for more things that will help the family more after the death. Once again, your book was the right thing at the right time.

Thank you for taking the time to write it.

Best, Carolyn Gierke