Beckett-Brown & Hodges Funeral Home

*** ***
2:PM (hour ago)
to me
Please see attached and keep me abreast of any updates around this assigned IDOn Thursday, April 10,2014, *** ** *** transitioned at the *** Nursing Home and Rehabilitation HomeThe
Beckett-Brown & Hodges Funeral Home was contacted at 5:p.mby *** ***, granddaughter, concerning handling the arrangements for the final dispositionThat contact was made by *** *** *** via the ASD answering service that receives our after-hours callsThe call was readily returned by *** Hodges, funeral home owner to *** *** *** promptly made the transfer of *** *** from the nursing home, into the care of the funeral home*** and the funeral home met on Friday, April 11, and resolved that the service would be Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 11:a.mServices were held at the *** *** Church of ***; viewing 9-11, worship service a.mInterment, *** *** CemeteryA Statement of Funeral Goods and Services was generated and contractually agreed to on April 11, (see copy attached)After a funeral home services discount in the amount of $311, the final bill amounted to $8,Of that amount, $was to be paid to the *** *** Cemetery.The Beckett-Brown & Hodges Funeral Home originated in Since Handy Beckett, Ruth Beckett, Paul Brown now *** ***, its sole position and purpose has been the offer of grace and professionalism to the community at largeWe believe that this is more than a mortuary experience, it is ministryToward that end, we extended these courtesies and services for *** ***:•Original Death Call-April 10, 2014•Arrangement conference-April 11,2014•Printing announcement cards-April 11,2014•Arrangement and work to complete all agreed upon services by Wednesday, April 16, 2014.•The policy of the funeral home is that all services are to be paid in full hours prior to the service, i.eApril 14, Because of the history and legacy of the relationship shared with both the *** family and the *** *** Church, there was an extension of grace from this policy at no distress to the funeral homeThese amounts were collected:o $4,151.90-*** ***o $1,136.56-*** *** Church Credito $3211.54-*** Nursing Home (Received on ) the period of graceOn April 29, contacted *** to inform her that the check from the nursing home had not been received as agreedWe communicated via both text and telephone.As of that communication there was no knowledge of any concern or complaint regarding the day of burial.On April 30, I texted that the check had been received for the balanceShe responded: “Good, thanks and take care”On Monday, May 5, 2014,was contacted by *** regarding her concerns around this matter as detailed in her complaintOur conversation centered on this not being a funeral home matter, but a cemetery issueI did attempt to explain the circumstancesThis funeral home and most funeral homes in the *** area conduct burials at *** *** cemetery given extreme inclement weather conditionsI concluded the conversation with an apology for what transpired that day, given her expression of disappointmentI expressed a commitment to reach out to the cemetery, in the event there was any suggested course of action I might offer as an intermediary between the *** family and *** *** Cemetery.On Wednesday, May 7,10:a.m*** reached out to me querying that she had not heard from me and wondered about the status of things as I had left themAs of the timing of that call, I was unable to communicate with the cemetery.On Thursday, May 8, forwarded a text, 8:a.mapologizing for the delay, noting that a call would be made to *** ***I was able to call on Friday, May 9, 2014, and was informed that *** *** was unavailable and would likely call me on SaturdayI promptly texted *** “Hi ***Expecting to hear from *** at *** *** tmrwI will follow up with you afterHave a blessed day.” Neither on the 8th or 9th did she respond.On, I received a letter from *** informing me of the course of action she was planning to take.Consistent with her letter, I received a complaint from the Revdex.com on and a phone call from the Consumer Action division of WPVI Channel of *** PA on from *** challenging this funeral home on its involvement at the mock burial at *** *** Cemetery.This funeral home is committed to ensuring that every family has a “good” funeral experienceThe fulfillment of that goal is seen in the relationship between each party involved in the arrangement of the funeral serviceIt is with regret and sadness that the *** family has endured an experience that is anything lessAfter the phone conversation the Consumer division of Channel news, I understand that the desired resolution is that the casket and outer burial container be disinterred from the grave location at *** ***.Please know that on Wednesday, April 16, the *** family was informed of the need to conduct a graveside “mock” burial out of the safety and concern for the family and those gathered that dayBy no means was there any manufacturing of the day so as not to make certain that *** ** *** would be interred in the grave location preparedBy PA Law, the funeral director is committed to seeing the casket and outer burial container is lowered into the grave, which we did, along with the cemetery personnelWe believe there was an element of trust established between the funeral home and *** that would have given her a level of comfort with the our coordination of her grandmother’s burial.I called *** to let her know that I would be responding to the complaint, had called the cemetery as wellI am committed to being in attendance at the disinterment when it is scheduledHowever, in the interest of protecting the integrity and legacy of this funeral home will no longer avail myself of serving in any capacity as an agent or intermediaryAt this point the cemetery and family are to be engaged as is the rightful position for the interment and now disinterment
*** ***
2:PM (hour ago)
to me
Please see attached and keep me abreast of any updates around this assigned ID
*** ***, F.D & Owner
Beckett-Brown and *** Funeral Home
5616-Baynton Street
Philadelphia, PA
215-438-9170 Telephone267-439-9312 cell
"I will bless you so that you can bless others"
Attachments area
Revdex.com Complaint.docx