Friday, July 4, 2008

NCBVA Member Portal Service Corp. Int'l Hires President Five days after its president and chief operating officer resigned to pursue "personal interests," Service Corp. International — the world's largest funeral and cemetery company — said Tuesday it has hired a replacement. More Mich. Man Finally Hires Funeral Director HOUGHTON, Mich. (AP) - A man who lost a court battle to bury his mother's body without help has hired a funeral director. More Cemetery Tries to Make Every Life Remarkable LOS ANGELES - In just four years, death business maverick Tyler Cassity has transformed a decaying graveyard with a who's-who cast of eternal celebrity residents into a lush and hip final stop. More Florida Sues Funeral Firm for Alleged Deception TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Reuters) - Florida sued the world's largest funeral company on Friday for allegedly deceiving customers by destroying caskets and remains and overselling space in two of its south Florida cemeteries. More Georgia County OKs Islamic Cemetery LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Over the objections of some residents, Gwinnett County commissioners voted unanimously to allow the creation of an Islamic cemetery — with several restrictions. More Advocates Seek Cremation Reform The ghastly discovery of scores of bodies discarded in the woods near a Georgia crematory has illustrated what consumer advocates say is a lack of state regulation and oversight of the industry. More Funeral Homes, Cemeteries Get Little Fla Scrutiny Alleged misburials and grave tampering at two South Florida Jewish cemeteries highlight a unique reality in regulating the death-care industry: Consumers seldom complain when services fall short, removing a key factor regulators usually depend on to find problems. More Fla. Knew of Misplaced Graves WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - State officials reportedly knew three years ago that bodies were buried in the wrong places at a private cemetery, but failed to fully investigate. More Hicks Elected FAMIC Secretary NCBVA Member Dan Hicks, President of Hicks Industries of Miami, has been elected secretary of the Funeral and Memorialization Information Council (FAMIC) at its biannual meeting held recently in San Francisco. More Burial reef -- A Final Sleep In The Deep You are dead. The bottom of the ocean is your final resting place. Fish swim about. Coral grows. Your cremated remains are encased in concrete and in this watery grave for all eternity. More