FCACC - The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County,

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About FCACC

History

Who We Are, What We Do, How We Function

Board of Trustees, Annual Meeting

Becoming a Member, Contact FCACC

Donation Information

Alternatives to Burial

FCACC Survey of Local Funeral Homes

Other Funeral Homes

FCACC Survey of Local Cemeteries HOME

About FCACC The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County (formerly Champaign County Memorial Society) is an organization that provides vital information on a variety of topics that enables members to make well-informed decisions among end-of-life choices. The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County is a 501 (c) (3) organization staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers.

The purposes of this alliance are: a. To promote dignity and simplicity in funeral and memorial services; b. To promote the opportunity for every member to predetermine the type of funeral or memorial service she or he desires; c. To reduce unjustifiable costs of burial, cremation, and other funeral services; d. To provide guidance to its members and to promote their interests in achieving foregoing and other activities pertaining to the care, disposition, or utilization of human remains; e. To help members to plan for death with dignity; to inform them of all available options; to support appropriate legislation to achieve all of the foregoing.

* The Alliance assumes no legal or financial responsibility for the final disposition of the body remains.

(The above stated purposes were taken from the by-laws which were last amended on April 23, 2001) HOME

History

In 1969, spurred on primarily by some members of the Unitarian Church in Urbana, a group of local residents formed a branch of the Chicago Memorial Society. These were the times when Jessica Mitford's The American Way of Death was widely read and discussed. In 1975, the organization established itself as the Champaign County Memorial Society, the only such organized, independent group downstate. Initially, its main objective was to contract with a single funeral director who would provide dignified, inexpensive funeral and burial services. When the first (and only) willing provider could not afford to continue, the Society re-focused its action on providing vital information on variety of topics enabling members to make well-informed decisions among end-of-life choices. The Champaign County Memorial Society was part of a nationwide alliance known as Funeral and Memorial Societies of America, FAMSA.

Among the topics addressed by experts, both within and outside the Society, were: hospices, final arrangements check lists, funerals and memorial services, cremations and burials, fees and services of local funeral homes, crematories and cemeteries; advanced medical directives including living wills, durable powers of attorney for healthcare, patient directives re withholding, withdrawing or terminating life-sustaining treatments, polices and practices of local health care providers, organ and tissue donation; self deliverance and assisted suicide; information about relevant legislation.

Several years ago the national organization changed its name to Funeral Consumers Alliance and urged all of its member organizations to change their name to Funeral Consumers Alliance of ______. In our case, following the urging of the national group, we voted, on April 23, 2001, (with reluctance on the part of some members), to change our name to Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County. When we did that, we also decided to apply for 501 (c)(3) status with the federal government. In going through this process, with the help of the Law Clinic at the University of Illinois, we discovered that for a few years, a form required by the State of Illinois had not been filed and our incorporation had been terminated. By paying a small fee, we were able to regain our incorporation retroactively and change our name. Also, we were granted 501 (c)(3) status by the IRS, so donations made to the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County may be deducted on one's federal tax return.

Over the last many years, a biennial survey of local morticians, crematoria and cemeteries has been conducted by our organization and is printed in the annual newsletter. As the population ages and people have more options, candor increasingly characterizes considerations of end-of-life choices, and both membership and attendance at annual meetings have seen a large increase as people seek reliable information. By whatever name, the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County will continue to provide important information to the membership. Hiram Paley & Susan Stone Who We Are No one wants to talk about death, yet it remains an unspoken concern for many of us. Memorial Societies and Funeral Consumer Alliances do talk about death and provide vital information enabling people to make well-informed decisions that can bring them and their families peace of mind. Beginning early in this century, these societies were created throughout the United States to offer simple, respectful, and affordable funeral arrangements. The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County (formerly The Champaign County Memorial Society) is an affiliate of the Funeral Consumer Alliance, a Federation of Non-profit Funeral Information Societies. The FCACC is currently the only such organized society in downstate Illinois. We were formally established in the early 1970’s to help members plan for death with dignity, to promote simplicity in funeral and memorial services, to acquaint them with options, and to avoid unjustified costs.

What We Do In recent years, the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County has broadened its interests to provide members with information about a spectrum of end-of-life planning decisions applicable in the state of Illinois. Among the topics we have investigated, updated and reported to the membership are:

(1) hospices (2) final arrangements check lists for families of decedents (3) funerals and memorial services (4) cremations and “green” burials (5) fees and services of local funeral homes, crematories and cemeteries (6) advance medical directives (a) living wills (b) durable powers of attorney for health care (c) patient directives concerning withholding, withdrawing, or terminating life sustaining treatments (d) policies and practices of local health care providers (7) self deliverance and assisted suicide (8) information about relevant legislation which affects the concluding part of life.

How We Function The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County operates with a nine member Board of Trustees who serve without compensation. These trustees maintain this web site and report on local board surveys and other timely topics. We also organize the annual meeting, which features expert speakers and offers informative publications. The board welcomes suggestions from members for future meetings and areas of investigation. There are increasing numbers of options concerning end-of-life planning. As people live longer, at some point they may lose their ability to make these decisions. All of us, young and old, face the inevitability of death and should have plans and directives which reflect our wishes. We invite you to join the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County and explore these important matters with us. HOME HOME

Becoming A Member

Any resident of the east central Illinois area, without regard to race, creed, or national origin, who is in sympathy with the purposes of the organization, shall be eligible for membership. The organization shall be supported by voluntary contributions. There is no set dollar amount for membership, though a one-time contribution of $25 would be appreciated. Voluntary yearly donations that come in are enough to cover the cost of producing and mailing an annual survey and bulletin, and pay for renting a space for the annual meeting.

I wish to join the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County. Enclosed is my contribution of $______to help defray ongoing expenses of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County. Name______Address______Phone______Em ail ______Please make your tax-deductible check payable to:

Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County 309 W Green St Urbana, IL 61801

Contact FCACC

Please contact us with any questions or comments you may have.

Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County 309 W Green St Urbana, Illinois 61801

Email: [email protected] HOME

Board of Trustees

(Year of term expiration is given in parentheses):

Peter Dyck, President (2015) Sandy Volk, Vice President (2016) Grace Schoedel, Secretary (2017) Robert Espeseth, Treasurer (2016) Allen Avner (2017) Dannel McCollum (2015) Tom Neufer-Emsweller (2017) Jean Peters (2015) Nicholas Temperley (2016)

Appointed to the 2015 nominating committee: Tom Neufer-Emsweller, Grace Schoedel, Nicholas Temperley, and Sandy Volk

The 2015 nominating committee proposes, with the consent of the nominees, Morton Brussell, Peter Dyck, and Jean Peters to 3 year terms on the Board of Trustees, expiring in 2018.

Membership Chair: Allen Avner Audit Committee: Bill Volk and Carolyn Mullally

2015 Annual Meeting

Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. Presence Covenant Medical Center Auditorium 1400 West Park, Urbana

A brief business meeting, followed by: New (?) Options for Funerals A panel discussion with Amy Felty, of the Bahá’í Faith Lee Melhado, chair of the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Society) Charles Vaughn (Heath and Vaughn Funeral Home and FCACC member)

Plenty of free parking, guests are always welcome HOME

Donation Information

This organization needs only a small amount of money to keep doing its work. All members of the Board of Trustees, and all Officers, are volunteers. However, some contributions are needed each year. You will notice that there is no set dollar amount for membership. The voluntary donations that come in are enough to cover the cost of producing and mailing an annual survey and bulletin, and pay for renting a space for the annual meeting. Many other affiliates of the Funeral Consumers Alliance charge annual dues. We do not! But if you would like to make a gift to the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County, please send to:

Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County 309 W Green St Urbana, Illinois 61801

Your gift is tax deductible, since we are an officially recognized 501(c)(3) organization. We spend money each year to support the FCA, our national organization, and locally on printed materials, including newsletters, mailings, brochures, and reprints of pamphlets from the FCA. Some of the budget may go towards a web site as we try to share information on local types of funeral services and costs that are available. This may be the most low-key request for financial assistance you have ever seen, and we are happy to keep it this way. Thank you for your support!

FCA-CC Board of Trustees HOME

Alternatives to Burial

An alternative to burial is the donation of your body for medical research. Several organizations accept bodies from our area of Illinois. Their policies vary on factors such as costs borne and acceptance of remains that have been autopsied, have certain implants, or have had organs harvested for transplant. Requirements change with time so careful study of information available from the organizations is advised. Alternatives should be planned in case a body is not acceptable at the time of death.

Anatomical Gift Association of Illinois. http://www.agaillinois.org "The Anatomical Gift Association of Illinois is the authorized representative of eight medical schools within the State of Illinois." Costs of documentation of the death and the transportation (usually by a local funeral director) of the remains to the AGA are the responsibility of the donor's family or executor. See the FCACC survey of Funeral Homes for costs currently charged by them for transport to AGA. AGA will return the cremated remains to the family, if desired, at no cost. AGA accepts bodies that have been autopsied on a limited basis.

Anatomy Gifts Registry. http://www.anatomygifts.org AGR will arrange for transport of remains from Illinois to its location in Maryland at no cost to the donor and will return the cremated remains to the family, if desired. AGR accepts autopsied remains and bodies with certain prior organ donations.

Genesis. http://www.genesislegacy.org/eligible Genesis will arrange for transport of remains from Illinois to the Medical Education and Research Institute in Tennessee at no cost. Cremated remains will be returned to the family, if desired, at no cost. While Genesis will accept remains that have had certain organ donations, they do not accept autopsied remains or remains with active infectious diseases.

Illinois Organ Donor Registration. http://www.lifegoeson.com and http://www.donatelifeillinois.org provide information about organ donation in Illinois.

FCACC thanks member John Gilpin for researching medical organizations that accept body donations. The above list is not comprehensive and does not imply endorsement by either John Gilpin or the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Champaign County. HOME

FCACC Survey of Local Funeral Homes

This year we continue to concentrate on costs of cremation and possible options for “green burials” that omit embalming, caskets, and grave liners. Prices generally include local transport from the place of death and to the place of burial but DO NOT include cemetery costs of interment -- price of grave space, ground opening and closing fee, or fee for placing cremains or the deceased in the grave. For those costs, see the cemetery survey. There is no sales tax on services, but sales of caskets and similar goods are taxed. All prices are subject to change without notice, so it is wise to ask for a copy of the current General Price List from Funeral Homes and ask if there are other costs. Federal law requires Funeral Homes to provide a General Price List to anyone and to answer specific questions about prices when asked by phone.

Information shown here was verified in August and September 2015.

Basic Charges? Direct green burial Fee for 2 hr service? Modification Immediate burial AGA delivery cost? (Pickup body; with no vault? (at funeral home, allowed ? cost? (cost of delivery of Funeral Home direct cremation; conducted by family (of bundled package (within 24 hrs or body to Anatomical documentation without body) to reduce cost) directly from place of Gift Association) fee; death to burial site) crematory fee)

Blair-Owens Funeral Home Pickup of body only: Would be willing to $400, no time limit, Modifications permitted $2,295 + casket $2,960 + 102 E. Dunbar $150 do green burials if includes printed and vault mileage Mahomet IL 61853 Pickup of body, cemeteries materials 217 352-4231 cremation and fees permitted. [email protected] $2,960 www.owensfuneralhomes.com

Freese Funeral Home Pickup of body only: no $500 No bundling $3,700 Would work 302 E. Grand $150 with family St. Joseph IL 61873 Pickup of body, and on case by 217 469-2331 cremation case basis [email protected] $3,700

Freese Funeral Home Pickup of body only: no $500 No bundling $3,700 Would work 407 N. Bourne St. $150 with family Tolono IL 61880 Pickup of body, and on case by 217 485-7555 cremation case basis [email protected] $3,700

Freese Funeral Home Pickup of body only: no $500 No bundling $3,700 Would work 202 W. Main $150 with family Sidney IL 61877 Pickup of body, and on case by 217 688-2014 cremation case basis [email protected] $3,700 Basic Charges? Direct green burial Fee for 2 hr service? Modification allowed Immediate burial AGA delivery cost? (Pickup body; with no vault? (at funeral home, ? cost? (cost of delivery of Funeral Home direct cremation; conducted by family (of bundled package (within 24 hrs or body to Anatomical documentation without body) to reduce cost) directly from place of Gift Association) fee; death to burial site) crematory fee)

Heath & Vaughn Funeral Pickup of body only Would like to offer $295 “You may choose only the $2,195 + casket Does not Home $195 green burial if items you desire.” offer this 201 N. Elm St. Pickup of body, cemeteries would service Champaign IL 62820 cremation $1,895 permit. 217 239-1212 + $50 coroner’s permit [email protected] or [email protected] www.heathandvaughn.com

Kirby Funeral Home Pickup of body only: no $800 Modifications permitted $1,795 Rarely 708 S. Main $295 requested Homer IL 61849 Pickup of body, 217 898-4510 cremation and fees [email protected] $1,795

Lux Memorial Chapel Cremation: $2,710 no $265 No modifications: $3,150 $1840 + 1551 E. Grove St. includes basic standard package has $600 mileage Rantoul 61866 services of funeral discount which might be 217 892-9644 director and staff lost if some items are lux [email protected] and overhead. “unbundled”

Mittendorf-Calvert Fun.Home Pickup of body only: No provision for $650 The General Price List $1,895 with casket $2,500 611 E. Pennsylvania Ave. $250 green burials. shows costs of provided by Champaign IL 61820 (within 30 miles), components and packages. family. Funeral 217 352-4004 Pickup of body, Modifications are Home sells caskets [email protected] cremation in permitted $525 and up minimalist container, all documentation and fees $2,170

Morgan Memorial Home Pickup of body only: Would be willing to $500 Modifications permitted $1,950 if within $1,625 + 1304 Regency Dr. $400 do green burials if Note: basic traditional 24 hours, but not $2.25/mile Savoy IL 61874 Pickup of body, cemeteries permitted service $5,700, directly from place round trip + 217 356-5858 cremation in $1,950 less if no visitation or of death to burial $50 coroner’s [email protected] minimalist container, all service. place. permit www.morganmemorialhome.com documentation and fees; $2,861 incl. tax

Owens Funeral Home Pickup of body only: Would be willing to $400, no time limit, Modifications permitted $2,295 + casket $2,960 + 101 N. Elm St. $150 do green burials if includes printed and vault mileage Champaign IL 61820 Pickup of body, cemeteries permitted materials 217 352-4231 cremation and fees [email protected] $2,960 www.owensfuneralhomes.com HOME Basic Charges? Direct green burial Fee for 2 hr service? Modification allowed Immediate burial AGA delivery cost? (Pickup body; with no vault? (at funeral home, ? cost? (cost of delivery of Funeral Home direct cremation; conducted by family (of bundled package (within 24 hrs or body to Anatomical documentation without body) to reduce cost) directly from place of Gift Association) fee; death to burial site) crematory fee)

Renner-Wikoff Chapel Pickup of body only: Would be willing to $490 Modifications permitted $3,445 $2,600 1900 S. Philo Rd. $360 do green burials if Urbana IL 61802 Pickup of body, cemeteries permitted 217 267-1122 cremation $2,975 [email protected] + $50 documentation www.renner-w ikoffchapel.com fee

Sunset Funeral Home Pickup of body only: No local green $750, no time limit Modifications permitted, $1,350 + casket $1,500 + 710 N. Neil St. $450 cemeteries. but with some loss of mileage Champaign IL 61820 Pickup of body, Would use green “bundling” discount. 217 239-2874 cremation and fees cemetery in [email protected] $2,295 Springfield if www.sunsetfuneralhomes.com requested.

Twin City Memorial Chapel Pickup of body only: Would be willing to Free to church Modifications permitted $1,800 + casket $1,500 110 W. Vine $225 do green burials if members, $350 for Champaign IL 61821 Pickup of body, cemeteries permitted non members by sub 217 351-8119 cremation and urn contract with Mt. $500 Hope or Woodlawn

Walker Funeral Home Pickup body only: $350 No green burial $300 Modification available, $1595 if customer $1,490 (formerly Melker-Bluitt Parker Pickup of body, direct customer only buys provides casket; Mortuary) cremation: services needed. $2,295 if Walker Thomas Walker, owner $1,692 Funeral Home Lakeshia Mizell funeral (includes all fees) provides casket. director 704 N. Fourth St. Champaign IL 61820 217 362-6214

Williams Memorial Services Pickup body only: $300 No green burial Will donate space if Modifications available, $2,500 This issue has Ltd Pickup of body; direct requested likes to work with families never come 1203 N. Market St. cremation: to get only the services up! Champaign IL 61820 $1,395 needed. 217 351-8115 (includes all fees) HOME [email protected] [email protected] HOME Other Funeral Homes The Champaign County Coroner has prepared a list which includes funeral homes for an area broader than that covered by the FCACC survey, including a provider of low-cost cremations in the Chicago area. The list below (arranged by town name) includes only those not a part of our detailed survey. Funeral homes with operations in several towns appear multiple times.

Hilligoss-Shrader Funeral Home, Tuscola and Arcola 217-253-2311/217-578-3400

Shrader Funeral Home, Arthur & Arcola 217-543-2105/217-268-4848

Edwards Funeral Home, Arcola 888-543-3885

Shrader Funeral Home, Arthur & Arcola 217-543-2105/217-268-4848

Roux-Hinds Funeral Home, Bement 217-678-4441

Robison Chapel, Catlin 217-427-0114

Illinois Cremation Centers (Chicago area) 877-368-7005 *

Leek & Sons Funeral Home, Danville 217-442-2667

Gibson Memorial Chapel, Danville 217-442-3483

Pape Memorial Home & Gardens, Danville 217-442-4300

Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, Farmer City 309-928-2212

Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City 217-784-4641

Anderson Funeral Home, Hoopeston 217-283-6696

Brown-Alkire Funeral Home, Hoopeston 217-283-5128

Wolfe-Blurton Funeral Home, Hoopeston, Potomac & Rossville 217-283-5088

Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, Mattoon 217-234-8828

Schillings Funeral Home, Mattoon 217-235-0333

Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, Monticello 217-762-2126

Joines-Appleby Funeral Home, Newman 217-837-2624

Templeton Funeral Home, Paris 217-465-4775

Baier Family Funeral Services, Paxton 217-379-3200

Knapp-Miller Funeral Home, Paxton 217-379-2353

Wolfe-Blurton Funeral Home, Hoopeston, Potomac & Rossville 217-283-5088

Lamb-Young Funeral Home, Roberts 217-395-2215

Goodwine Funeral Home, Robinson 618-544-2131

Pullium Funeral Home, Robinson 618-544-3141

Wolfe-Blurton Funeral Home, Hoopeston, Potomac & Rossville 217-283-5088

Rortvedt Funeral Services, Tilton 217-443-3534

Hilligoss-Shrader Funeral Home, Tuscola and Arcola 217-253-2311/217-578-3400

Joines Funeral Home, Villa Grove 217-832-8322

* Illinois Cremation Centers has a current charge of $555 for direct cremation, plus $2.50 per mile for pickup outside of the Chicago Metropolitan area. There are added charges for delivery of cremains. A copy of their General Price List is available at: www.illinoiscremationcenters.com HOME

FCACC Survey of Local Cemeteries

Cemetery Charge for deposit of ashes Multiple ashes in Green burial? Cost of burial plot Opening/closing Times in burial plot? one plot? Vault? Cost burials can Mausoleum? be made?

Bailey Memorial Cemetery $275 ashes of up to 2 No green burial $450 $625 anytime c/o Freese, No mausoleum Must use vault 407 N. Bourne St. Tolono IL 61880 217-485-7555

Craw Cemetery Association All services are contracted by the All services are No green burial $400 or 2/$600 All services are As arranged c/o Mike Rosenberger funeral home contracted by the Must use vault All other services are contracted by the with 239 C.R.525 East funeral home contracted by the funeral funeral home volunteer Pesotum IL 61863 home management 217-598-2254 (run by volunteers)

East Lawn Cemetery $845 ashes of up to 2 Do allow for green $895 for first plot, $1,025 M-F anytime c/o David Short No mausoleum burial, though it is $850 for others $1,175 Sat Box 141 not encouraged. $1,275 Sun. Urbana IL 61803 (802 N. Cunningham, Urbana) 217-328-1543 (run by volunteers)

Grandview Memorial Gardens $575 ashes of up to 3 No green burial $1,235-$1,845 $985 M-F 9-3 4112 W. Bloomington Rd. + more on weekend if pre-arranged Must use vault Sat. 9-3, but Champaign IL 61821 Mausoleum: $3,500-$10,600 with an 217-356-6332 overtime fee

Mahomet Township Cemeteries $165 yes No green burial $1,100 resident $650 M-F 9-5; c/o Paul Christie Must use vault $2,200 non-resident Sat.-Sun. 9 P.O. Box 492, 5 with Mahomet IL 61853 1 week 217-202-1909 notice

Mt. Hope Mausoleum & Cemetery $625 M-F; $750 Sat. 9-noon; ashes of up to 3 No green burial $995-$1,195 $950 M-F M-F P.O. Box 2156 $1,100 if pre-arranged Must use vault $1,600 Sat.9-12 Sat., Sun. $1, 960 12 - 3 Champaign IL 61825 Sat. noon-3 p.m. 9-3, but with Sun. 9 -3 217-384-7002 Cremation grave $995-$1,195 an overtime Infants: fee Office: 611 E. Pennsylvania, Mausoleum niches $800-$2,657 $500 M-F; Champaign $600Sat. 9-12 Cemetery Charge for deposit of ashes Multiple ashes in Green burial? Cost of burial plot Opening/closing Times in burial plot? one plot? Vault? Cost burials can Mausoleum? be made?

Roselawn Cemetery $625 M-F; $750 Sat. 9-noon; ashes of up to 3 No green burial $995-$1,195 $950 M-F M-F See Mt. Hope listing for office $1,100 if pre-arranged Must use vault $1,600 Sat.9-12 Sat., Sun. $1, 960 12 - 3 information and pricing Sat. noon-3 p.m. 9-3, but with Cremation grave $995-$1,195 Sun. 9 -3 an overtime Infants: fee Mausoleum niches $800-$2,657 $500 M-F; $600 Sat. 9-12

Woodlawn Cemetery No mausoleum ashes of up to 2 if No green burial $495-$895 $950 M-F M-F See Mt. Hope office information $500 M-F; pre-arranged Must use vault $1,140 Sat. 9-12 Sat. 9-3 $600 Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $1,900 12-3 p.m. but with $1,000 Sat. 1-3 p.m. Infants; an overtime Cremation grave $495-$895 $500 M-F fee $600 Sat. 9-12

Lincoln Memorial Gardens No mausoleum ashes of up to 2 if No green burial $495-$895 $950 M-F M-F See Mt. Hope office information $500 M-F; pre-arranged Must use vault $1,140 Sat. 9-12 Sat. 9-3 $600 Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $1,900 12-3 p.m. but with $1,000 Sat. 1-3 p.m. Infants; an overtime Cremation grave $495-$895 $500 M-F fee

Mt. Olive Cemetery $325 M-F; $425 Sat. Ashes of 2 people No green burial $500-$550 $625 M-F daylight c/o Tami Fruhling-Voges No mausoleum Must use vault $725 Sat. P.O. Box 945 $750 Sun. St. Joseph IL 61873

St. Mary Cemetery $250 Ashes of 3 people No green burial $500 $500 anytime c/o St. Mary Catholic Church No mausoleum Must use vault 612 E. Park Ave. attn.: J. Rasmussen HOME Champaign IL 61820 217-352-8364

There are other, smaller, cemeteries in Champaign County, usually run by churches. For information on those, please contact that organization directly.