Resources: Last Rites

The American Association for Death Education and Counseling
A professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence in death education, bereavement counseling and care of the dying.

342 North Main St.
West Hartford, CT 06117-2507
(860)586-7503

Beliefnet
Billing itself as the "source for spirituality, religion and morality", Beliefnet is an online community that offers comprehensive information on death, grief, bereavement and funerals. Especially worthy are this site's comparative religion features.

Funeral and Memorial Societies of America
A consumer rights organization

The Funeral Consumers Alliance
Provides information for consumers about funeral ethics, affordability and legal issues.

PO Box 10
Hinesburg, VT
(802)482-3437

Funerals: A Consumer's Guide
Published by the Federal Trade Commission.

(877)FTC-HELP

The Last Acts Campaign
A national outreach program for end-of-life issues, including hospice care, public policy debates, and funding issues. A comprehensive site, a wonderful resource for individuals and communities seeking better care for the dying and bereaved.

1951 Kidwell Dr., Suite 205
Vienna, VA 22182
(703)827-8771

The National Funeral Directors Association
Offers useful consumer guidelines, demographic information and helpful links to other national and international organizations.

13625 Bishop's Dr.
Brookfield, WI 53005
(800)228-6332

National Public Radio's series "Exploring Death in America"
An exceptionally wide-ranging and well-balanced collection of voices and resources including bibliographies, interviews, sample chapters from important texts and personal stories.

"On Our Own Terms - Moyers on Dying."
This groundbreaking PBS series, first aired in the fall of 2000, spurred an ongoing program of community outreach.

RELATED BOOKS

At Journey's End: The Complete Guide to Funerals and Funeral Planning, by Abdullah Fatteh, Naaz Fatteh and David R. Pearson. Health Information Press

Crossing the Bridge: Creating Ceremonies for Grieving and Healing from Life's Losses, by Sydney Metrick. Celestial Arts, 1994.

The Eternal Pity: Reflections on Dying (The Ethics of Everyday Life), edited by Richard John Neuhaus. University of Notre Dame Press, 2000.

The Funeral, by Doug Manning. In-Sight Books, Inc., 2001.

The Memorial Rituals Book for Healing and Hope, by Ann Marie Putter. Baywood Publishing Co., 1997.

The Perfect Stranger's Guide to Funerals and Grieving Practices: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People's Religious Ceremonies, by Stuart M. Matlins. Skylight Paths Pub.

Praying Our Goodbyes, by Joyce Rupp.

Purified by Fire: A History of Cremation in America, by Stephen R. Prothero. University of California Press, 2000.

Remembering Well: Rituals for Celebrating Life and Mourning Death, by Sarah York. John Wiley & Sons, 2000.

The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade, by Thomas Lynch. W.W. Norton & Co., 1997.

RELATED BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

A Child's Book About Funerals and Cemeteries, by Earl Grollman and Joy Johnson. Centering Corporation, 2001.

Barklay and Eve: Sitting Shiva, by Karen L. Carney. Compassion Books, 1995.

Fatherloss: How Sons of All Ages Come to Terms With the Deaths of Their Dads, by Neil Chethik. Hyperion, 2001.)

Honoring Our Loved Ones: Going to a Funeral, by Karen L. Carney. Compassion Books, 1995.

Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss, by Hope Edelman. Delta, 1995.

What is Cremation?, by Jessie Flynn. Accord Aftercare Services, 1994.