Posts Tagged ‘Burr Oak Cemetery’

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The Bereaved  Consumers Bill of Rights Act, HR 3655  Land Mark Cemetery legislation has made it through the House Energy Commerce Committee by a vote of 15-12.

This is a significant step forward to ending Future Scandals like those that occurred at Burr Oak Cemetery, Eden Memorial Park, in 2009.

Amendments to the legislation where allowed for religious and non profit cemeteries.

This legislation  if Passed  by the United States House of Representatives will require that the large cemetery corporations like Service Corporation International and Stewart Enterprises will have to disclose Their prices to customers asking for cemetery and crematory services.

H. R. 3655, the “Bereaved Consumer’s Bill of Rights Act”

(ordered favorably reported to the House, amended, by voice vote)

via http://energycommerce.house.gov/

This is good news for the funeral and Cemetery Consumers  for the enactment of Funeral Rule 2.

Prices will have to be disclosed in advance  at for profit cemeteries. Folks who have  a complaint on how they have been  mistreated at cemeteries. may soon be able to complain to the Federal Trade Commission.

This legislation is also known as the Rush Bill. It was presented by Congressman Bobby Rush.


Funeral Industry| Funeral News|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy.


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Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
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There is one good Result of the The Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal ONE YEAR LATER- Illinois has a cemetery law with some teeth.

Snippet From the Southtown:

“The Cemetery Oversight Act includes a toll-free help line for complaints about cemeteries, 1-888-RLOVED1 (756-8331) and a Consumer Bill of Rights.

Consumers also now are entitled to:

• Protection from deceptive or unfair practices by the cemetery.

• A standardized price list disclosing prices for all cemetery related products, and a receipt for any services purchased.

• A burial contract that describes the exact location of the burial and lists contact information for the cemetery manager.

• Notification that the term limit for a grave is about to expire

For the first time, cemetery owners must keep cemetery grounds reasonably maintained to the standards of inspectors from the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Cemetery managers and customer service personnel also must:

• Acquire licenses similar to those already held by funeral directors and embalmers.

• Pass a background check.

• Undergo continuing education.

• Risk paying a fine of up to $10,000 per infraction if found in violation of the Cemetery Oversight Act by the state. Among prohibited activities: unprofessional conduct, charging for services not rendered and failure to maintain the cemetery grounds.via www.southtownstar.com”

The Cemetery Oversight Act does not apply to religious cemeteries.  The real tragedy 1 year later is that there is not National Cemetery Reform, no Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights Act.


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Sunday, July 11th, 2010
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It has been less than a year since the Burr Oak Cemetery Grave Scandal was exposed. Today the Cemetery has been sold. A Bankruptcy Judge has authorized the sale Of the Cemetery from Perpetua, Inc To Cemecare with a catch.

The Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal brought about National Legislation moving through Congress, the Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights Act of 2009.

Snippet on the condition of sale
There is a catch to the deal: It’s contingent on obtaining permission to perform burials in 9 acres on the northern side of Burr Oak Cemetery. It’s the area the workers allegedly used as a dumping ground for human remains. via abclocal.go.com

Over 300 graves were desecrated at Burr Oak, and bones were piled up around the cemetery.

Funeral Industry|Funeral  News Blog|By Your Funeral Guy


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Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
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April 9th, 2010 is the deadline to file a claim in the Burr oak Cemetery Scandal. This scandal was exposed in July 2009. Over 300 Graves were desecrated and preneed funds (the money people paid for funerals) were stolen.

2009 Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal

“A deadline is approaching for families affected by the Burr Oak grave desecration scandal.

The desecration of hundreds of plots at the Alsip graveyard made national headlines last summer

Relatives of loved ones buried there now have until April 9, 2010 to file claims against the Alsip Cemetery.

Burr Oak Cemetery was shut down for several months after the discovery of a grisly scheme.

Four former cemetery workers are charged with digging up and re-selling graves.

The United States Congress is considering national cemetery reform in response to this scandal. The Legislation is called the Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights Act of 2009(HR 3655).

Funeral Industry|Funeral News|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy.


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Monday, March 29th, 2010
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Congressman Bobby Rush(D-IL) will be a Speaker at the The Funeral Consumers Alliance 2010 Conference. Congressman Rush is the sponsor of the Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights Actof 2009-Funeral and Cemetery and Reform Legislation written in response to the tragic Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal.of  July 2009.  The conference is scheduled for June 2010.

Congressman Bobby Rush

Early in March 2010, Congressman Rush spoke at the NFDA Advocacy Summit a meeting of Funeral Industry Lobbyists in Washington DC. Interestingly,  both the Funeral Consumers Alliance and the National Funeral Directors Association support the Funeral and Cemetery Reform  legislation, which will set up a second “Death Care” Industry Rule regulating Cemeteries and Third parties that sell Funeral Goods and Services to the public. Click HERE For Details of the this legisation

These organizations, FCA and NFDA are traditionally opposed to one another.

The Funeral Consumers Alliance(FCA) is the premier Funeral Industry Consumer watchdog group. The National Funeral Directors Association,NFDA is the primary Organization For Funeral Directors in the USA.

Funeral Industry|Funeral News| Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy, Funeral Director Illinois and Virginia.

Your Funeral Guy i supports the Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights Act.

Disclaimer- Your Funeral Guy  is formerly a member of both the NFDA and the FCA but has no current affiliation with either organization.

Congressman Rush has displayed great courage in being the main sponsor of this legislation.


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Sunday, March 28th, 2010
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