SHOULD I CHOOSE AN INDEPENDANT FUNERAL PROVIDER OR A NATIONAL CHAIN OPERATION?

Over the past several years, large multi-national organizations have been purchasing funeral homes at an alarming rate. The earlier nineties seen hundreds of family operated funerals homes across North America brought into the fold of large multi national firms such as Arbor, SCI, Alderwoods (formerly Lowen Funeral Homes) and Trillum to name a few. Recent reports by 60 minutes, CBC Market Place and US News conclude that these death care business operations. while trying to maintain the facade of a family operation, quickly increase prices considerably and enforce merchandising policies on employees geared to significantly increase their bottom lines.

In the Rainy River District and Kenora District, Brown Funeral Home of Kenora, Rainy River Funeral Home of Rainy River, and Green Funeral Home of Fort Frances are all owned by the former Alderwood Firm.

Northridge Funeral Home and Kenora Community Funeral Home are the only two providers that are privately operated within the two communties.

In an annoucement made April 3, 2006 Service Corporation International (SCI) annouced the proposed take over of Alderwood's. In Novemeber 2006 the competition bureau allowed the merger to take place. SCI holdings include to date 1,712 funeral homes and 490 cemeteries world wide. Which includes Rainy River Funeral Home, Green Funeral Home and Brown Funeral Homes. It is estimated by SCI that the 2007 revenue expectations will exceed 1.5 Billion. Link www.sci-corp.com With large firms such as these often the decision making process has been taken away from the funeral director that you are dealing with personally. Often these directors are members of our own communtiy and want to go the extra mile for the clients they serve but ultimately they must answer to a higher power. An independant funeral home has the flexiability to carry out policies that are flexiable and meet the various needs of their local communities.

Other interesting articles are:

www.cbc.ca   Then search Market Place Funerals