06/30/2025
Standing Up for Families: Why Funeral Advocates Matter
Recently, I received a one-star Google review from a manager at one of the largest funeral service companies in the country. His comment read, “Did you know you you can save thousands of dollars by talking directly with the funeral home?” (Yes, he actually wrote “you you.”)
This is the same manager who once told one of my clients they didn’t need my services and that he would have offered them a 20% discount—if they had come directly to him. The client’s response was powerful:
"Then why didn’t you give my wife that same 20% discount last year when she buried her son through your funeral home?"
I called the funeral director that same afternoon to ask why he would undermine the services I provide. In our conversation, he admitted that families who don’t pre-plan often end up spending nearly 40% more in “at-need” situations.
I told him, “That is exactly why families need my protection and guidance—because they’re often in crisis and vulnerable to overspending on funeral goods and services.”
In another instance, this same manager was dismissive and uncooperative when I helped a family purchase two cemetery plots on the secondary market for $700 each, while the cemetery was selling adjacent plots for $6,595.
The plots were inherited by a grandson in South Dakota who had no intention of using them. I facilitated the sale to ensure both the buyer and seller were protected, and that all paperwork was completed correctly. The manager objected, saying, “That’s not how we do things here.”
But thanks to a helpful junior associate, the transaction was finalized properly—because that’s exactly how it should be done.
In his now-deleted one-star review, the manager even went so far as to direct people to his company’s funeral home and another—both owned by the same parent company—for “fair treatment.”
One of my trusted clients suggested I ignore the review and let the manager’s own words speak for themselves. Fortunately, Google agreed and removed the review, recognizing it as unethical and inappropriate.
Let me be clear:
I will not stand by while the “big boys” in the funeral industry mislead, overcharge, or intimidate the families I serve.
If you or someone you love is facing end-of-life planning, don’t go it alone. Call Funeral Advocates for honest, transparent, and ethical guidance—before you need it. We’re here to protect your interests and ensure you're treated with the fairness and dignity you deserve.
