Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why a funeral consumers group like
the Memorial Society?
A: At a time of emotional stress, grief,
social pressures and lack of time, very few families are prepared to
make important funeral decisions and often make hasty and expensive
arrangements you yourself would not select. The Memorial Society
supports advanced planning for minimum cost, dignified, funeral
arrangements, and emphasizes the spiritual rather than the material
aspects of death.
Q: What is the procedure when a member dies?
A: When death occurs, the only responsibility of the family is to phone the funeral director. Since all other decisions and choices have been made, the funeral director carries out the wishes and handles all the details. The family then pays for the services rendered at the reduced contracted price.
Q: Is a member
of the Memorial Society required to pay in advance?
A: No. We encourage people to preplan but not to
prepay. No payment is required until the specified services have been
rendered by the funeral home.
Q: What if I wish to have a service
in another state?
A: Affiliates of the
Funeral Consumers Alliance have a reciprocal agreement. Funeral consumer
groups such as ours are located in major cities in most states and are
usually willing to carry out your wishes at their reduced cost
arrangements with their affiliated funeral director. If you move to
another state, you may transfer your membership, usually for a small
fee. A statewide directory of funeral consumer groups is available
online at:
http://www.funerals.org.
Q: How are our donations and contributions spent?
A:
We are a not-for-profit volunteer Society. Primary
costs are for postage, computer supplies and printing costs. We pay
annual dues to the national Funeral Consumers Alliance who provide us
with a quarterly newsletter containing current funeral legislation and
updates, brochures, etc. A financial report is made at the annual
meeting.