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Sandy’s Blog

Here you will find commentary about matters of potential interest to FCAWM members and friends.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions expressed here in “Sandy’s Blog” are written by FCAWM volunteer Sandy Ward and may or may not reflect the views, opinions or positions of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Western Massachusetts.

Sandy's Blog

Green Burial film showing

A Will for the WoodsFeature Documentary “What if our last act could be a gift to the planet – a force for regeneration? Determined that his final resting place will benefit the earth, musician, folk dancer, and psychiatrist Clark Wang prepares…

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Sandy's Blog

Befriending Death

Those words, “befriending” and “death,” are not usually put together. The phrase sometimes causes startled looks when I mention that I’m attending a discussion group called “Living Fully, Aging Gracefully, and Befriending Death.” That group, led by Martha Johnson, started August 6th…

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Sandy's Blog

Discussing options

Talking about end-of-life issues and final arrangements is a healthy process. Getting the conversation started can be tricky, but the outcome is usually rewarding, revealing priorities and deeply-held values. Peace of mind, or a sense of relief on dealing with…

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Sandy's Blog

Prepay? Preneed?

For years consumers advocates have cautioned against paying in advance for funeral arrangements. Pre-planning is highly recommended, but pre-paying carries risks.   Setting aside funds (e.g., in a Totten Trust, a Payable-On-Death account at a bank) to pay for your…

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Sandy's Blog

Books on my mind

This morning I opened a new book, which began, “Nobody wants to die badly.” I  continued reading for several chapters, delaying my breakfast because I was so engrossed in the book, and inspired by what I was learning. Fran Smith…

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Sandy's Blog

Closure of a funeral home

Ryder Funeral Home in South Hadley was closed abruptly by the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation on May 28, 2014, after an inspection revealed significant problems. The license of the funeral director, William Ryder, was immediately suspended. Other local funeral directors have…

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Sandy's Blog

Deceptive Ad

 I’m suspicious about a mailing that came to my home recently. It is a very official-looking notice titled, “F u n e r a l   A d v a n t a g e  Program Assists Seniors.”   I’ve…

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Sandy's Blog

Supply & Demand

Conventional funerals run by funeral homes cost thousands of dollars, often $7,000 – $10,000 or higher.  Why are prices so high? One reason is that there are TOO MANY funeral homes.  Surprised?  You might think that extra competition would lead…

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Sandy's Blog

Death Certificates, an article

“There is a positively fascinating article on death certificates in the April 7th issue of the New Yorker,” wrote Lisa Carlson* in a 2014 note to FCA’s email-based discussion list.  “The author, Kathryn Schulz, begins with the history, the early ‘Bills of…

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Sandy's Blog

A Matter of Life & Death

Northampton Community TV and WHMP hosted a community forum February 25, 2014, entitled “A Matter of Life and Death.”  It was attended by a standing-room-only crowd and televised live!  The panelists all had personal connections to people who planned their deaths. You can…

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