For years Frank A. Patti and Kenneth Mikatarian Funeral Directors have been actively campaigning for education of the funeral consumer. Today’s changes in funeral service further stresses the need for professional guidance in making difficult choices during a stressful time.

Many issues have recently arisen on the topic of funeral merchandise. While others in our industry may be uncomfortable with the new changes in funeral service, we welcome this new era of enlightenment. Why not, after all, for years we have advertised and publicly spoke about the consumers’ interest. Consumer education only makes our profession more valuable.

The consumer should know that they have certain rights. Any family we have ever counseled knows that disclosure and retention of prices is not only our personal practice, it is the law. In addition, families know who manufactures all of our caskets, the materials that are used in manufacturing them, and their retail price. This, too, has been our practice for years before the Federal Government made it the law. A law, which we applaud.

With the recent surge in alternative sources for funeral merchandise we will again take the lead in educating the consumer. Whereas we disclose all information about the merchandise you are buying, many of these facilities focus on scaring the public rather than providing quality merchandise and comforting service. We welcome comparisons and offer the following information in helping you make your decisions. Make sure you know who manufactures the merchandise. Is it of quality craftsmanship and truly made of the materials you are lead to believe it is. A solid wood casket with an oak finish is not a solid oak casket. Are you being charged additional fees for delivery of the casket? Can you change the interior at no cost or are you being charged for special ordered caskets?

You also have the right to know that third party casket retailers are currently under no obligation to inform you of the name of the manufacturer or model number of the casket. We offer caskets from a variety of national casket manufacturers, many of which warrant and standby the quality and craftsmanship of the casket they sell. Most of our manufacturers offer personalization of both the interior and exterior of the caskets they sell. We use these manufacturers because we believe they offer the best value to our consumers. We make a conscious attempt everyday to provide the best value for your money.

Have you consulted your local funeral director to make sure you are getting your moneys worth? A salesman is trying to sell you something; a funeral director’s role is to counsel and guide.

Frank A. Patti

Kenneth Mikatarian

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

327 Main Street Fort Lee, NJ 

(201) 944-0100

Frank Patti Senior Director License No. 2693

fpatti@frankpatti.com

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