Educating our community about funeral planning

Funeral Directors sometimes get a bad rap. Ignoring the significant role they play in the lives of families, some accuse funeral directors of exploiting families based on the family’s lack of knowledge, or emotional state. With a desire to educate people in our community about funeral planning and related matters, Francis offers a great deal of free advice and wisdom.

“The family is always in control. The police are not, the funeral home is not, the justice of the peace is not-the family is in control, you (the family) tell them what you want and don’t let anybody talk you out of what you want because you are in control. It’s that simple. “ Don’t let anybody out, that you don’t want involved, direct your traffic with your loved one.” Francis says families should call the funeral home of their choice when a family member dies.

If families want to feel confident and comfortable about the decision that must be made when burying a loved one, they should learn more about the process and the costs involved before they have to do it. It makes matters easier on the family and perhaps even on the pocket book. “We educate all the time, especially with churches. We try to get our ministers, who have a captive audience, to encourage members of their church to prepare to die,” says Francis. It’s a though message to receive, but it makes good sense. “Perhaps to die, it’s the only way you’re getting out of here,” says Francis.