Thanks for the comment, Walter! We really appreciate your insights, and we want to thank you for your 47 passionate years in the funeral profession!

I retired in 2012 after 47 years of service to bereaved families. I am proud of the service I rendered, but the SCI commitment to profit at any cost was foremost in their model of what the company demanded. I felt it was time to retire.

As an example, SCI hires people off the street to do pre-need after a brief training period, it took me a year before I was allowed to see families, period. Even then I made some mistakes, as have all new Funeral Director’s. Lest I be considered a malcontent, I am not anti pre-need, in fact, I support it wholeheartedly if done by well trained persons without the pressures to sell in order to get a commission to live on, which in itself, is recognized by anyone that has experienced this charade. I can’t blame these pre-need people, they need to make a living. I have a problem with the system.

The results are there for anyone to evaluate, cremation has increased many times over since this situation has existed. In talking to many people, they all say the same, too expensive to have traditional services. This situation will continue to haunt funeral service in the future due to acceptance by society as the most cost effective.

I hope the this letter is received in a positive light as intended.