31 • TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015 Funeral Directors Help Plan Before The Time Comes There is no need to add to your anxiety while prearranging or arranging a funeral. In keeping with their long-standing tradition of caring, funeral directors remain dedicated to helping families cope with end-of-life matters with quiet professionalism and attention to detail. Schwille Funeral Home, Inc. Owned And Operated By The Schwille Family Since 1957 1-718-821-2616 66-32 MYRTLE AVE. • GLENDALE WWW.SCHWILLEFUNERALHOME.COM Lighthouse Assembly of God 71-29 68th Place (bet. Myrtle Ave. & Central Ave.) Glendale, N.Y. 11385 To ALL The Family) ©Times Newsweekly - 2014 - LIGHTHOUSE 1-718-456-1203 Rev. Deo Geer, Pastor Sunday School for all ages 9:45 am Morning Worship (& Children Church) 11:00 am Sunday Evening Service 6:00 pm Friday-Prayer, Bible Study And Youth Meeting-7:30 pm (Preaching ALL The Gospel ©Times Newsweekly 2014- SCHWILLE Serving Our Neighbors In Their Time Of Need Let Us Assist You Regarding Pre-Plan Funerals & Cremations Hess-Miller Funeral Home ANTHONY J. MARTINO, Lic. Mgr. DAVID L. MARTINO, Director 1-718-821-6660 or 1-800-479-6419 79-22 Metropolitan Avenue Middle Village, NY 11379 1-718-894-5500 www.michaelsfuneralhome.com © Times Newsweekly 2014 - MICHAELS Michaels Funeral Home Inc. Owned By Martino F.H., Inc. Since 1982 Serving Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village & Glendale ~With~ • Affordable Cremations And Burials • Parking Facilities • Handicapped Facilities • Pre-Arrangement And Pre-Funded Funerals Available • Convenient To All Major Highways And Public Transportation 64-19 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, N.Y. www.hessmillerfuneralhome.com ©Times Newsweekly 2014 - HESS Funeral directors undergo rigorous college-level training in mortuary arts and sciences, and funeral service. Before being licensed by the New York State Department of Health to operate as a funeral director, the would-be funeral director passes examinations on funeral directing and the laws, rules and regulations governing funeral directing. As with many other suppliers of consumer goods and services, the funeral industry is subject to both federal and state laws. One important regulation to protect consumers is the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, which requires funeral homes to make available a general price list detailing the cost of all funeral products and services being considered. Unfortunately, this requirement currently does not extend to other providers of funeral goods and/or services such as casket stores, cemeteries and companies selling on the Internet. The rule may soon be amended to include these other providers in giving consumers useful information and the appropriate protection, no matter where or how consumers purchase funeral products. Because of legislation passed in New York State in 1993, all funds paid in advance for a funeral must be deposited in an investment backed by the United States government such as FDIC insured certificates of deposit (or a New York State bank). Account statements showing interest earned must be reported annually to the consumer, or within 30 days after the consumer’s request. All funds are completely portable to any funeral home anywhere at any time; all funds must be repaid to the consumer upon their request (with the exception of Medicaid recipients). The law also requires that there be no commission, fee or other monetary consideration of any kind paid to a funeral firm or funeral director because of where the consumer’s dollars are placed in trust. Although pre-need insurance that would allow funeral firms to be named as beneficiaries of dedicated pre-need life insurance policies exists in some other states, New York State does not allow this form of payment for funerals—and for good reason. This type of insurance is usually expensive; does not keep pace with inflation and has few if any protections for consumers’ money. For instance, if the purchaser stops paying premiums for pre-need insurance, they lose all benefits. Even though arranging a funeral occurs at a stressful time, the wise consumer should remember to ask questions. Funeral directors expect questions, and are always ready to consult with families as partners to ensure a dignified and appropriate remembrance of a loved one’s life. Reprinted with permission of the New York State Funeral Directors Association.
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