End-of-Life Arrangements: A Resource List


checklist

Quick summary

Rather than wait until the last minute to make final arrangements for your loved ones, it makes good sense to prepare in advance. The following organizations can provide much of the information you'll need.

  1. Cremation Association of North America

    401 N. Michigan Ave.
    Chicago, IL 60611
    (312) 245-1077
    www.cremationassociation.org

    CANA is an association of crematories, cemeteries, and funeral homes that offer cremation.

  2. Funeral Consumers Alliance

    33 Patchen Rd.
    South Burlington, VT 05403
    (800) 765-0107
    www.funerals.org

    FCA is a nonprofit educational organization that supports increased funeral consumer protection. Its website has free pamphlets on funeral planning, plus a directory of local volunteer funeral planning groups.

  3. Funeral Ethics Organization

    87 Upper Access Rd.
    Hinesburg, VT 05461
    (802) 482-3437

    www.funeralethics.org

    FEO, an independent nonprofit educational organization, promotes ethical dealings in death-related transactions and provides mediation assistance to resolve consumer complaints.

  4. Green Burial Council

    8 Estacada Ct.
    Santa Fe, NM 87508
    (888) 966-3330
    www.greenburialcouncil.org

    GBC, an independent nonprofit that encourages environmentally sustainable death care practices assists consumers in identifying "green" cemetery, funeral, and cremation services.

  5. International Cemetery and Funeral Association

    107 Carpenter Dr., Suite 100
    Sterling, VA 20164
    (800) 645-7700
    www.icfa.org/

    ICFA is a nonprofit association of cemeteries, funeral homes, crematories, and monument retailers that offers informal mediation of consumer complaints through its Cemetery Consumer Service Council. Its website provides information and advice about funeral arrangements, dealing with grief, and other end-of-life issues.

     

  6. International Order of the Golden Rule

    PO Box 28689
    St. Louis, MO 63146-1189
    (800) 637-8030
    www.ogr.org

    OGR is an international association of about 1,300 independent funeral homes.

  7. Jewish Funeral Directors of America

    150 Lynnway, Suite 506
    Lynn, MA 01902
    (781) 477-9300
    www.jfda.org

    JFDA is an international association of funeral homes serving the Jewish community.

  8. National Funeral Directors Association

    13625 Bishop's Drive
    Brookfield, WI 53005
    (800) 228-6332
    www.nfda.org/consumerresources.php

    NFDA is an educational and professional association of funeral directors that provides consumer information on its website. NFDA also sponsors a help line designed to aid consumers in resolving complaints about NFDA members.

  9. National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association

    3951 Snapfinger Parkway, Suite 570
    Decatur, GA 30035
    (800) 434-0958
    www.nfdma.com

    NFDMA is a national association primarily of African-American funeral providers.

  10. Selected Independent Funeral Homes

    500 Lake Cook Rd., Suite 205
    Deerfield, IL 60015
    (800) 323-4219
    www.selectedfuneralhomes.org

    SIFH is an international association of funeral firms that have agreed to comply with its Code of Good Funeral Practices.

Was this checklist helpful?

6 Comments So Far. Add Your Wisdom.

Anonymous said 12 months ago

how about in california


about 1 year ago

Nothing for CT???????


about 2 years ago

My wife of 64 years is dieing of kindey cancer and you pages of infomation have been a great help with something that I know very litle about,Thanks alot


almost 3 years ago

When my husband died a few years ago it was a little daunting to make the arrangements and give information for the obit. Becayuse of that I immediately paid for my funeral, picked out everything and wrote my own obit. Now my kids have nothing to do but give the funeral home the necessary papers that are presently in my son's safe.


over 3 years ago


Anonymous said about 5 years ago

I am in New Yourk and cant seem to fing anything to help me plan for by life long friends funeral. Ray C in New York


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