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Welcome
Taphophilia (dot) Com...
A repository of morbid curiosities:
Thanatology and Taphophile Issues, Cemetery,
Funeral Industry and Death Related News.
A Taphophilia Thank You...
Taphophilia (dot) Com would not be possible without the knowledge, experience and talent of DarkestWeb. From its conception and early development, DarkestWeb was faced with many challenges; from inspiring and motivating, to providing guidance and direction. The continued dedication and support has produced results greater than ever expected, and for this, I owe a huge debt of gratitude.
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Graveyards of Chicago:
The People, History, Art, and Lore of Cook County Cemeteries
By Matt Hucke And Ursula Bielski. Discover a Chicago That Exists Just Beneath the Surface - About Six Feet Under! Take a tour of Chicago's permanent residents! Please visit the Lake Claremont Press website to purchase your copy of Graveyards of Chicago today!
Green-Wood Cemetery Arcadia Publishing announces the release of Alexandra Mosca's historic account of one of New York's most famous cemeteries. Aracdia Publishing's Images of America series has an extensive catalog of many cemetery publications! Please visit Arcadia Publishing to purchase your copy of Green-Wood Cemetery and to browse other available titles!
Men of Mortuaries Calendar
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Epitaphs: The Magazine for Cemetery Lovers By Cemetery Lovers
For information regarding subscriptions, single issues, submission guidelines, deadlines, classifieds or advertising for future issues, please visit The Cemetery Club.
Guardians of the Soul: Angels and Innocents, Mourners and Saints, Indiana's remarkable cemetery sculpture
with photography by John Bower and foreword by Claude Cookman is now
available. Please visit
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West Springfield Massachusetts: Stories Carved in Stone by Rusty Clark features information on early New England gravestone carvers with more than two hundred photos and illustrations. Please visit the Dog Pond Press website.
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Read fine print or prepaid funeral deal may haunt you |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Wednesday, 07 June 2006 |
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IRIS TAYLOR TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
It was to be the celebration of a loved one's life. Instead, at the height of the family's grief -- and despite all the planning involved -- blunders, miscommunications and mishaps turned a loving memorial service into a funeral gone bad.
It happened to 88 Virginians last year -- and 92 in 2004 -- whose complaints went before the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, part of the Department of Health Professions.
It can happen to you, too.
Here, in response to complaints received from readers, are a few of many bad things that can happen before and after funerals, and what can be done about it:
- The funeral home demands a new contract for more money even though your deceased loved one prepaid via a pre-need contract. "If the items were guaranteed through that particular funeral home, it must abide by the guaranteed prices," said Elizabeth Young, executive director of the funeral board.
File a complaint, if warranted, with the enforcement division of the Department of Health Professions at (804) 662-9579.
However, not all prices on a "Guaranteed Funeral Goods and Services" contract may be guaranteed. Young said funeral homes cannot guarantee the cost of certain items, such as flowers, programs and death certificates, which are priced "by outside forces dependent on the market."
Items that can be guaranteed include a casket and basic funeral services.
- The funeral home said it is required by Virginia law to fill out a new contract with the current pricing at the time of death. "I disagree," said Young. "I don't know where the law requires them to fill out a new contract."
- The funeral home never showed you its general price list. "That's a clear violation of the general regulations and law of the funeral board and the [Federal Trade Commission's] 'Funeral Rule,'" said Young. File a complaint.
- The funeral home has not refunded the leftover insurance proceeds. "There's a requirement that they return unused proceeds," said Young.
But the law does not specify when. Typically it's within 30 days. File a complaint with the funeral board or pursue it in civil court.
- You were told they have to embalm the body. Embalming, which costs about $600, is not a required procedure in Virginia, said Young. "It's only recommended if there is to be a viewing."
- The funeral home director is not licensed. The funeral board cannot act on the consumer's complaint if the funeral home director is not licensed.
"If we were to receive a complaint about a nonlicensed person who made a funeral arrangement, we would refer it to the commonwealth attorney," Young said.
- The headstone or marker was never installed. Many headstones are purchased through the funeral director, said Young. Contact the director to see if it's in the contract, she said.
"If it was their responsibility" to provide one, but they didn't, file a complaint with the funeral board. If the funeral home or cemetery closed, the only option is a civil action against the owner.
. . .
An additional 66 Virginians last year -- and 80 in 2004 -- filed complaints before the Virginia Cemetery Board, which is part of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.
Here are some cemetery-related complaints:
- The cemetery where your loved one is interred is unkempt. If it is a licensed, private, for-profit cemetery, file a complaint with the cemetery board at (804) 367-8504.
But "if it is owned by a church, family or other entity, or is unlicensed, call the zoning office of your locality to file a complaint," Young said. Unkempt property may be a violation of local zoning laws.
- Your loved one was buried in the wrong plot. If the cemetery won't make good, file a complaint with the cemetery board.
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Taphophilia?
taphophilia (taf′ō-fil′ē-ă)
ORIGIN:
From the Greek words taphos, meaning "tomb" or "sepulcher" and philia, meaning "attraction or affinity to something, in particular the love or obsession with something"
DEFINITION: 1. An excessive interest in graves and cemeteries. 2. A love or fondness for funerals, graves, and cemeteries. 3. In psychiatry, a morbid attraction to graves and cemeteries
Quote Repository
“Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly! O grave! where is thy victory? O death! where is thy sting?” Sir Walter Scott
Shirtless and Sculpted
The Men of Mortuaries 2008 Calendar is now available! All sale proceeds benefit KAMMCARES, a breast cancer foundation.
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