It is well known that an overwhelming majority of all those that retire in the Sunbelt states are constantly solicited by funeral homes and cemeteries to purchase funeral packages. At times seniors are intimidated and coerced into believing that returning to a New York or New Jersey cemetery costs many thousands of dollars. What is not known by the unsuspecting consumer is that a large portion of the money they spend to pre-arrange these funerals is spent as commissions for the salesmen, the funeral director, and the funeral homes. Should they change their mind, they will never get back all of the money they may have paid. The loss can run into thousands of dollars per funeral.

Furthermore, in Florida, over a hundred million dollars was recently taken by well-known corporate owners of funeral homes and cemeteries so that they could pay debts and Law suit losses. Newspapers have also reported other burial atrocities that have befallen the Jewish Community in Florida because the State is lax in regulating the funeral industry.

In New York State, there is a Law that forbids any money to be taken by funeral directors, funeral homes, and cemeteries from any trust fund that is set up for pre-need funerals and the care of graves.

Our organization’s Participating Funeral Directors and Funeral Homes entrust 100 percent of the money pre-paid for funerals into an FDIC-insured fund in Albany. In fact, the payment is made directly to the fund. This money is first paid to the funeral home only after the funeral is completed.

Thus, there are glaring advantages to making arrangements to return to the New York area by enrolling as a member to receive the valuable savings of our benefits. Likewise, there are New York State Laws that make it certain that all the money invested in pre-planning a funeral will either be returned or available to pay the bill.

In New York State, there are two different types of Pre-Need Funeral Contracts (Trusts); "Revocable" and "Irrevocable."

The most commonly used Pre-Need Contract (Trust) is the "Revocable" Pre-Need Funeral Contract (Trust). This allows the consumer the option of having all the money paid plus all the accrued interest returned to them upon request.

The other option is an "Irrevocable" Pre-Need Funeral Contract (Trust). A great advantage of this type of contract is that all monies paid can never be taken back to be used for nursing home or other medical expenses after one has spent all their other funds and assets on this type of care. Medicaid, thereafter, will pay these healthcare expenses leaving all that was spent for the pre-need funeral intact. This assures a family that there will be little or nothing to pay at the time of a funeral. Medicaid also permits the pre-purchase of a grave, planting, perpetual care, and a monument. The only disadvantage to an "Irrevocable" Contract (Trust) is that the money will never be returned and can only be used for the contracted funeral expenses. However, the return of the money if one is “spending down” for Medicaid is not an issue.

For more information regarding Pre Need Contracts (Trusts), click here and/or contact our office.

Yes, New York State Law requires every Chapel, when called, to quote their entire list of charges and fees on the telephone. They must provide you with all the prices which are printed in their General Price List (GPL) for the type of funeral you choose, ie, Chapel Service, Graveside Service, Direct Burial, etc.

Furthermore, New York City Law requires every chapel to have in their lobby copies of their GPL, which anyone, anonymously, can take from the building. You do not have to give your name, address, or telephone number to the chapel or any funeral director when requesting prices. A GPL will list the Funeral home charges as well as a menu of the potential Cash Advances.

If called, the staff at the United Hebrew Community of New York will assist any consumer upon verbal request to obtain a GPL.

These charges may include some, if not all, of the following:

• Transfer of Remains (removal from the place of death to the funeral home)
• Refrigeration
• Use of Preparation Room
• Arrangements (of the funeral)
• Supervision (by licensed personnel and other staff in the funeral home and at the cemetery)
• Funeral Home (use of the building for the funeral service as well as for other family gatherings requested)
• Casket/Coffin selection by the family
• Shroud
• Livery (use of hearse or alternate vehicle to transport the coffin to the cemetery)
• Limousine(s) or alternate passenger car(s)
• Temporary Grave Marker
• Candles
• Sign In Registry
• Talis
• Additional Shipping Equipment as may be required
• Concrete Grave Liners that may be requested or required by a cemetery

and any other merchandise or services that may be offered by the funeral home.

There are other Funeral Home Charges listed on most General Price Lists (GPL). Every person who arranges a funeral should be attentive to the details and should ask for an explanation of any additional charges. As only one example, funeral homes charge additional fees for livery beyond a certain distance.

Members of the United Hebrew Community of New York always have the benefit of our advocating for them and for their families when arranging a funeral.

• Grave Opening (cemetery charges)
• Transcripts (copies of death certificates)
• Shomer (watcher)
• Rabbi
• Obituaries
• Tahara (ritual washing and dressing)
• Out of Town funeral Director (when shipping from out of State)
• Air Freight

and any other charges and fees that are paid to others by the funeral home on behalf of a family

There are other Funeral Home Charges listed on most General Price Lists (GPL). Every person who arranges a funeral should be attentive to the details and should ask for an explanation of any additional charges. As only one example, funeral homes charge additional fees for livery beyond a certain distance.

Members of the United Hebrew Community of New York always have the benefit of our advocating for them and for their families when arranging a funeral.

All cemeteries charge a fee for digging a grave ("Grave Opening") as well as for all other services they provide. The fees in New York are approved by a New York State agency that oversees cemetery operations. New Jersey fees are set by each cemetery and are only monitored by their State.

"Grave Opening" fees include the cemetery digging and filling of the grave, as well as carrying and lowering the coffin. Families have the option, upon request, of participating in the actual burial should they want to carry and lower the coffin or fill the grave.

Cemeteries may also charge for the removal of obstructing trees, shrubs, beds, benches, and previous family monumental work.

They most often charge for the use of a mechanical lowering device, artificial grass covers, tents, and chairs if available.

Prices may vary considerably in each cemetery, and the current average charges are generally in the range of $1,000.00+.

Many cemeteries charge extra for Sunday burials.

Overtime charges must be paid in all cemeteries if the funeral procession arrives after a specific time. This time, in the afternoon, varies according to each cemetery. Some will charge extra if those attending the burial remain after the regular time of closing. The time of closing may also vary according to the cemetery.

All the prices must be publicly posted in the cemetery office.

Contact our office should you want to obtain specific cemetery charges.

All New York “Non-Profit” cemeteries are also required to secure every dollar paid for perpetual grave care into government audited accounts under the control of the New York State Department of State.

The cemetery must also permit the return or resale of graves for the original purchase price plus no less than 4% simple annual interest.

Absolutely not. In the past few decades, many of the independently owned funeral homes, which were also operated by the owners along with family, were sold to large public corporations. None of these corporate boards are controlled by Jewish families. In fact, each funeral home’s General Price List (GPL), its management team, and its policies, as well as all of the staff, are approved or selected by the corporate entity. In New York, New Jersey, and Florida, many Jewish chapels were bought by either Service Corporation International (SCI) of Houston, Texas, or the Lowen Group of British Columbia, Canada.

A few years ago, the Lowen Group filed for bankruptcy and was reorganized under the name Alderwoods Group. SCI, the larger of the two corporations, has also suffered financially in past years, and its stock price has plummeted to just a few dollars.

In many funeral homes, the families that sold may remain under contract for a few years to run the facility for the corporation. All the funeral homes retain their original names, which continue to identify them as Jewish to the general public.

In New York City only, these corporate-owned funeral homes must, by Consumer Affair’s Law, prominently identify the corporate name on a sign in the entrance lobby and also identify actual ownership in smaller type on their funeral contracts and printed advertisements.

The most popularly known funeral homes owned by these corporations are the following:

Riverside Memorial Chapels: Manhattan / Westchester / Brooklyn / Queens, Boulevard Park West, Schwartz Brothers, Jeffers Chapel, Forest Park Chapel, Parkside Memorial Chapels, Sinai Chapels, Nassau North Chapel, Gramercy Chapel, Blau Chapel, Zion Chapel, Nevsky Chapel, I.J. Morris Chapels: Brooklyn / Dix Hills / Hempstead, Gutterman Musicant Chapels, Wein and Wein Chapel, Boulevard-Riverside Hewlett Chapel, Hellman Chapel, Yablokoff Kingsway Chapel, and Hirsch and Sons Chapel.

There are others with lesser-known names. Even though the same corporation is the owner of multiple funeral homes, their “Funeral Home Charges” have been known to vary. The N.Y.C. Department of Consumer Affairs claimed that the theory of the price differential is based on the location of the funeral home and the economic expectations of the neighborhood by the corporation.

Most family-owned and operated funeral homes that still exist proudly advertise that they are “family.” However, it is the consumer families that must ask if they are interested in knowing, before making decisions, about the ownership of any funeral home.

Magazine, newspaper, and online advertisements briefly describe the special relationships between organizations and funeral homes that claim to reduce the price of a standard orthodox funeral. Some are known to use a well-known organization’s famous logo in their ads.

It is true that these funerals may cost less than the same funeral at the same funeral home if the consumer does not request the discount. However, most other funeral homes, if requested, will match the prices.

Ironically, some well known orthodox organizations have contracted with funeral homes for these funerals knowing they are not owned or operated by Torah observant or even Jewish families. Tragically, what is not disclosed by the orthodox organizations is that most of these funeral homes also arrange funerals that are not k’halacha or even traditionally Jewish.

 It is incumbent upon every family member, Rabbi, or friend who assumes the responsibility of contacting these “organizational” funeral homes first to confirm that there are no other available options for the same or lesser prices. (See: Can anyone get a price list for a complete funeral?)

The United Hebrew Community of New York prides itself in knowing that it offers the opportunity, to those they assist, to pay a funeral home at least $1,000.00 less than the OU prices for the same “stringently supervised” funeral or for most other organizational funerals being offered to the public.