Doug Smith

Big Death: Funeral Planning in the Age of Corporate Deathcare Doug Smith

In an overview of the last 20 years, this account shows how the corporate deathcare industry has bought up countless funeral homes, inflated prices, and maintained the facade of local ownership by not changing the name over the door. They have taken over Canada's funerals and funeral planning in preparation for the "golden age of death" in North America, which will commence in 2016 when the first baby boomer turns 70. This book also profiles independent funeral homes that have remained committed to providing service rather than selling product, advocates who work to educate funeral consumers, and innovators who are creating new, more humane, and environmentally friendly funeral traditions.