A proper send-off to the great beyond.

• Author: Clarke, George C.
• Position: Life in America

WHEN A DEATH OCCURS, those responsible for the funeral arrangements often do not know where to begin. Emotions, fears, and lack of experience in funeral planning all combine to produce confusion, apprehension, and feelings of vulnerability. By taking the following steps, however, it is possible to reduce the stress and arrive at decisions that meet your spiritual, cultural, emotional, and economic needs and preferences.

The first step is learning your rights as a consumer. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission regulates the funeral industry through its Funeral Rule, which requires a number of disclosures and actions on the part of the funeral provider, including:

* Provide price information by telephone when the caller requests it.

* Provide a copy of the funeral home's "General Price List" to anyone who inquires in person about funeral arrangements.

* Present casket and outer burial container (burial vault) price lists prior to review or selection of those items.

* Provide the purchaser with a "statement of funeral goods and services selected" prior to finalizing any purchases and payment.

* Disclose the fact that embalming rarely is required by law, and purchasers usually have the right to choose arrangements that do not require them to pay for it.

The FTC also mandates that the general price list be distributed at the beginning of any discussion about funeral arrangements.

In years past, the decision about which funeral home to call when a family member died probably was not a decision at all. For generations, one funeral home in the community had provided funerals for most, if not all, members of a given family, and the loyalty that developed was strong and enduring.

While such circumstances still exist, the mobility of today's society has left many people without a designated "family" funeral home. People may find themselves in a new community, suddenly faced with the unexpected death of a spouse, child, or other family member, and are completely unfamiliar with the reputations and abilities of the funeral homes in the area.

If you have not determined which funeral home you would call in an emergency, consider the following steps:

* Do not wait. Start the process today, while you have time and before the need arises.

* Ask friends, coworkers, clergy, and other community professionals about their experiences.

* Telephone several funeral homes in your area. Ask questions, and try to get a sense of the staff's attitude, knowledge, courtesy, and professionalism. You also...