Why do I support FCA?
I have been involved with the decent death movement for over a decade. I don’t just show up to feel younger than most. I bring energy to helping people get the end of life wishes they want most by helping them to open up the conversation with their families and to get their paperwork in order.
Funeral Consumer’s Alliance (FCA) is a unique watch-dog organization that operates on a shoe strong and helps to herd local organizations in most every state.
Ever dream of calling all 200+ funeral homes in Nebraska? I never did, but I thought it was important to get the pricing survey done in an ignored state so I started dialing. It was not an easy task, but I was a woman on a mission. These funeral directors were not so happy to talk to me, but I gathered the information with professionalism and sometimes with humor. There was one undertaker who told me that if I was so interested in his pricing I could come to his funeral home in person to find out. “I smiled and told him I’d made over 200 calls and he was the first person who invited me to his funeral home, I was so flattered!” that caught him off-guard.
FCA keeps an eye on an industry that is not adequately regulated and takes advantage of people’s recent losses to help perpetuate the idea that families need to spend a lot to show they loved the one who died.
Josh’s humor helps tackle these delicate topics and his newsletters are always informational.
I joke that I must have a sign on my forehead that says, “will talk about death” since people even in the DMV line start talking to me about it. I often remind people that; “Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die.”
I am my friend’s “go to” person when someone is on hospice or someone has died. It is with the support of many small organizations like FCA that I can guide people in various states to the most practical death services without all the potentially hidden charges. Grieving families are vulnerable and FCA helps to protect consumers from an industry that is sometimes not as transparent as most.
I am a regular donor to FCA and was proud to help with the matching grant for their annual conference. It takes a certain kind of person to step up with a funding for such a cause, but I am that type of person — rooting for the little guy and funding worthwhile organizations others might be repelled to consider.
Thanks FCA for always speaking for those dealing with loss who may not know what or how to ask.
-Kay, Washington
