Sandy’s Blog

On a beautiful morning in August 2024 I visited Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst. I’ll share a few photos to illustrate a variety of different settings in this large cemetery established in 1887. Rebecca Fricke, general manager of Wildwood Cemetery, greeted…

“Stop spreading ashes on idyllic Bridge of Flowers” was a news headline last summer. (News413, June 29, 2023). Gardeners at the beautiful Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, were asking the public to stop putting cremated remains of pets…

I’m learning new words (e.g., terramation) and options in death care, and optimistic about changes now underway. I’m eager to help share the news. On Saturday morning May 6, 2023, I attended a Zoom program hosted by the FCA of…

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been paying attention to comments from consumers, and is taking steps to strengthen the Funeral Rule. We are delighted that FTC now proposes requiring ONLINE posting of itemized prices. This is a major victory….

Today, April 1, 2022, is a day to be cautious. You might be tricked by an April Fool’s joke. But the news article published today in the Daily Hampshire Gazette about our organization is no joke. The headline “Funeral Consumers…

What is Aquamation? That question leads the headline in recent news about the final arrangements requested by Bishop Desmond Tutu. For example: The Washington Post 1/2/22:  “What is aquamation, the burial practice Desmond Tutu requested instead of greenhouse gas-emitting cremation?”  The Guardian…

On the evening of November 18, 2020, a ZOOM meeting co-hosted by FCAWM and FCAEM focused on the challenges presented by “unclaimed bodies” and by indigent cases in Massachusetts. We titled this virtual event “Raising the Alarm about Bodies in Limbo: Delays in…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit Massachusetts hard this spring, many adjustments have had to be made. Large gatherings are not allowed, and even small gatherings require extra spacing for safe “distancing” between people, so conventional full funeral services are not possible…

The “Funeral Rule” protecting consumers’ rights is up for review. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) seeks COMMENTS now, before the deadline (which  was April 14, then extended to June 15, 2020).  YOU can help by telling the FTC your thoughts on these…

Good news: Human composting has been approved in the state of Washington. Legislation signed by the governor on May 21, 2019, will take effect in May 2020.  I call this good news because I’ve long supported the concept; see my…