Helpful Resources
AGENCIES AND BUREAUS
American Association of Retired Persons
www.aarp.org
is a non-profit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over. They lead positive social change and deliver value to members through information, advocacy and service.
The Better Business Bureau System
www.bbb.org
core services include Business Reliability Reports; Dispute Resolution; Truth-in-Advertising; Consumer and Business Education; and Charity Review.
The Federal Trade Commission
www.ftc.gov
enforces federal consumer protection laws that prevent fraud, deception and unfair business practices. The Commission also enforces federal antitrust laws that could harm consumers.
The New Jersey Cemetery Board www.state.nj.us/oag/ca/nonmedical/cemetery.htm
regulates non-religious cemeteries and its salespersons in New Jersey.
The New York Cemetery Board www.dos.state.ny.us/cmty/cemetery.html
administers provisions of law dealing with cemetery corporations, including rules and regulations, the sale of lots, charges for services, the acquisition of lands and other activities by cemeteries.
CEMETERIES
International Cemetery and Funeral Association www.icfa.org
Guardians of a Nation's Heritage promoting consumer choices, pre-arrangement and open competition within the death care industry.
FUNERALS
Funeral Consumers Alliance
www.funerals.org
a federation of non-profit consumer information societies celebrating 40 years of protecting a consumer's right to a meaningful, dignified, affordable funeral.
International Cemetery and Funeral Association www.icfa.org
Guardians of a Nation's Heritage promoting consumer choices, pre-arrangement and open competition within the death care industry.
Jewish Funeral Directors of America
www.jfda.org
assisting people of the Jewish faith arrange meaningful and affordable funerals in the Jewish tradition.
The National Funeral Directors Association
www.NFDA.org
provides advocacy, education, information, products, programs and services to help members enhance the quality of service to families. From this website you can search for State Funeral Directors Associations nationwide.
GENEALOGY
Ancestry.com
www.ancestry.com
The largest collection of family history records on the web. Free trial and subscription available.
Cemetery Transcription Library
www.interment.net
Cemetery transcriptions by region.
Cyndi's List
www.cyndislist.com
a genealogical research portal onto the internet.
Genealogy.com
www.genealogy.com
Genealogy research and family tree software.
The Genealogy Home Page
www.genhomepage.com
a genealogical search engine.
JewishGen
www.JewishGen.org
The home of Jewish Genealogy-primary internet source connecting researchers of Jewish genealogy worldwide.
U.S. National Archives & Records Administration www.nara.gov
enables officials and agencies to review their actions and helps citizens hold them accountable and ensures continuing access to essential evidence.
GRIEVING, GRIEF COUNSELING AND GRIEF BOOKS
American Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Institute - www.sids.org
provides research, clinical, education and family support services.
American Veterinary Medical Association
www.avma.org
use Care For Animals tab and site index to locate excellent resources on their Pet Loss pages.
Beyond Indigo
www.death-dying.com
provides grief support, products and services to individuals and companies who assist people who are grieving.
Children's Grief and Loss Issues
www.childrensgrief.net
provides information about children experiencing grief.
Compassion Books
www.compassionbooks.com
Over 400 grief resources to help children and adults through serious illness, death, loss, grief and bereavement.
The Compassionate Friends
www.compassionatefriends.org
exists to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive.
Grief, Loss and Recovery
www.grieflossrecovery.com
provides access to online grief support group and other resources.
The Grief Recovery Institute
www.grief-recovery.com
provides educational resources for those helping others through grief.
Petloss.com
www.petloss.com
personal support, thoughtful advice, The Monday Pet Loss Candle Ceremony, Tribute Pages, healing poetry and more for those grieving over the loss of a pet.
WidowNet
www.fortnet.org/WidowNet
an information and self-help resource for, and by, widows and widowers. Topics covered include grief, bereavement, recovery, and other information helpful to people, of all ages, religious backgrounds and sexual orientations, who have suffered the death of a spouse or life partner.
HOW TO OBTAIN BIRTH, MARRIAGE, AND DEATH CERTIFICATES
Social Security Death Index Search
www.ssdi/rootsweb.com
New York Office of Vital Statistics
To obtain birth, marriage, or death certificates.
Death occurred in New York City prior to 1949 - www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/vitalrecords/home.shtml
Death occurred in New York City 1949-Present - www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/vr/vrdappl-1.shtml
Death occurred in State of New York (excluding NYC) - http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records
HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE
Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State
www.hpcanys.org
promotes the availability and accessibility of quality hospice and palliative care for all persons in New York State confronted with life-limiting illness.
American Hospice Foundation
www.americanhospice.org
supports programs that serve the needs of terminally ill and grieving individuals of all ages and exists to improve access to quality hospice care through public education, professional training, and consumer advocacy.
Hospice Foundation of America
www.hospicefoundation.org
is a not-for-profit organization that provides leadership in the development and application of hospice and its philosophy of care. Through programs of professional development, research, public education and information, HFA assists those who cope either personally or professionally with terminal illness, death, and the process of grief.
Hospice Web
www.hospiceweb.com
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO.org) is the largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States.
VETERANS
Department of Veteran's Affairs
www.cem.va.gov
1-800-827-1000
RECOMMENDED READINGS
"Mourning and Mitzvah"
A guided journal for Walking Through Grief to Healing
by Anne Brenner, et al.
Just what the title explains
"A Time to Mourn, a Time to Comfort"
by Ron Wolfson
from The Art of Jewish Living Series
Deals with all aspects from planning to the erection of the monument.
"Saying Kaddish"
How to Comfort the Dying, Bury the Dead and Mourn as a Jew
by Anita Diamant
For the community to use as a basis for helping the mourner
"The Jewish Mourner's Book of Why"
by Alfred J. Kolatch
Answers most questions concerning funeral practices
"The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning"
by Rabbi Maurice Lamm
Explains funeral practices from the traditional point of view.
"Living with Loss, Healing with Hope"
by Rabbi Earl A. Grollman
A Jewish perspective on dealing with loss
"The Jewish Home" - A Guide for Jewish Living
by Rabbi Daniel B. Syme
Question and answer format concerning death, dying and mourning
"What Happens After I Die?"
Jewish Views of Life After Death
by Rifat Sonsimo and Rabbi Daniel B. Syme
Deals with all aspects and questions concerning life after death
FOR THE FAMILY FACING THE LOSS OF A NEWBORN
"Confronting the Loss of a Baby"
A Personal and Jewish Perspective
by Rabbi Yamin Levy
Specifically designed for the family suffering the loss of a baby.
FOR CHILDREN
"When a Grandparent Dies"
Remembering Workbook for Dealing with Shiva and the Year Beyond
by Nechama Liss-Levinson, Ph.D.
A wonderful guide for children who need to ask and find out.
"A Candle for Grandpa"
A Guide to the Jewish Funeral for Children and Parents
by David Techmer and Joel Iskowitz
A story for younger children to help understand the Jewish funeral
