About Funeral Consumers Alliance of Oregon

History

The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Oregon (FCAO) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting a consumer’s right to choose a dignified, meaningful and affordable funeral. We provide related free educational materials and contact information about facilities and organizations that provide end-of-life services.

Registered as a nonprofit Oregon organization in August 1961, it was first known as Oregon Memorial Association (OMA). Although the name has changed to Funeral Consumers Alliance of Oregon in recent years (reflecting a working relationship with the FCA national organization), the mission remains the same.

The concept of the OMA took shape when a group of friends, curious about funeral practices circa 1958 decided to collect information about the subject. They started with calls to funeral homes and cemeteries about prices and rules and regulations governing their business. This was the simple beginnings that led to our incorporation in 1961.

The purpose of the organization is to provide public education, access to economical services, monitor legislation, and access to a variety of services. Our goal is to obtain a list of specific prices offered to members for advance planning. This has led to cooperating agreements with mortuaries in all parts of Oregon. Information is obtained and published, and the cooperating mortuaries send a record fee to OMA/FCAO at the time a member received services. FCAO now has a part-time Office Manager who works under the direct supervision of the Board of Trustees.

FCAO established a sister organization, Funeral Consumers Education Foundation (FCEF) in 2010. FCEF has IRS 501(c)3 tax free status. Its purpose is to provide public education which includes a variety of services such as surveying funeral home prices and monitoring proposed legislation.

Newsletters

Click Here to download the latest FCAO/FCEF Newsletter.

An archive of FCAO/OMA newsletters is available on the Resources page of the FCEF web site.

2011-12 Board of Trustees

Jim Sitzman, President, OR Dept Land Conser. & Devel. Retired

Jeanne Staehli, Treasurer, CPA, Retired

Nancy Bieber, Secretary, OR Workers Comp. Div. Retired

Sylvia Bouneff, Vice President, Teacher, Retired

Alan McPherron, Prof. Emeritus, Anthropology

Leon Paulson, Educator, Retired

Cliff Wamacks, Attorney, Retired