FTC's Funeral Rule
This is your guide to purchasing a funeral. It outlines the Funeral Rule (the collective name given to FTC funeral regulations) so you can enter the funeral business transaction knowing your rights under the law.
Michigan Anatomical Donation Programs
Wayne State University Body Bequest Program
The WSU School of Medicine Department of Anatomy Body Bequest Program does NOT require families to hire the services of a licensed funeral director to transport the body of the donor to the university. For more information, click the link above, call (313) 577-1188, or e-mail
brosso@med.wayne.edu.
Michigan State University Willed
Body Program
For information, click the link above or call (517)353-5398.
University of Michigan Anatomical Donations Program
For information, click the link above or call(734) 764-4359.
Home Funeral Resources
Undertaken With Love
Undertaken With Love is a step-by-step home-funeral guide for congregations and communities. This book was written by home funeral advocates from across the United States, including two FCIS board members. Visit the Web site to download a free PDF copy. If you prefer a hard copy, professionally published versions are available from FCIS for $15.
Crossings
Crossings is a home funeral and green burial resource center that fosters the integration of dying and after-death care back into our family and community life.
Final Passages
Final Passages provides educational materials, consultations, in-services, presentations, referrals and seminars that prepare and support individuals and the community to carry out a home or family-directed funeral.
Miscelleneous Resources
The Natural Death Centre, London, England
The Natural Death Centre is the only independent funeral advice service in the U.K. It provides information on all types of funeral choices, but it is especially known for advice and support on family-organized, environmentally friendly funerals and natural burial grounds. It has a more general aim of helping to improve the quality of dying.
Death &
Dying
A source providing information on
planning, grief support, legal issues and a number of other
helpful topics
AARP
American Association of Retired Persons offers information
about programs, benefits, research and advocacy work for seniors.
Hospice of Michigan
Hospice of Michigan is the largest nonprofit hospice in
the United States, serving more than 6,000 patients a year.
Alternatives to the "typical" funeral
This is a blog by FCIS's college intern, John Locklear, that talks about a variety of different ways to go-literally.
Don't let the "F" Word Scare You
John Locklear talks to young adults about funerals
Life Before Death Exhibition in London, England
Nothing teaches us more about life than death itself. Journalist Beate Lakotta and photographer Walter Schels asked 24 terminally ill people if they could accompany them during their last days. From these vigils came a series of insightful descriptions and photographic portraits taken before and after death. Far from being gloomy, these intimate concerns of the dying reveal the preciousness and transience of life and make us question what we often take for granted. In this video the photographer and journalist behind the exhibition talk about their experiences of meeting and photographing terminally ill patients and what this taught them about life and dying.
