Information You Can Trust About Funerals
Grief over the loss of a loved one is often followed by shock at the cost of funeral services. At this vulnerable time, families can make well-meant, but hasty decisions that result in unnecessary costs because they are unaware of all their options. This website provides information about your rights as a consumer and options for arranging an affordable, dignified, and meaningful good-bye.
Who We Are
FCAME is a non-profit organization of local residents who volunteer their time to help their neighbors in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Delaware plan after-death care that is dignified, meaningful, and affordable. We are the local affiliate of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, the only national organization that advocates for consumer rights with regard to funerals.
The information and advocacy that FCAME and FCA provide are not associated with any business or religious group. We do not provide any funeral-related services or discounts for any funeral services with any funeral homes. Nor can we provide any financial assistance to help with funeral costs.
Announcing a Death Cafe open to the public in the coming months:
- Wednesday June 18th, 2025, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Everyone is welcome! To save your spot and receive a zoom link to either of these sessions, email your interest to: info@mdfunerals.org.
What is a Death Cafe
A Death Cafe is an international movement that offers a safe and supportive environment for open discussions about death and dying. It originated in Europe thanks to the visionary efforts of Jon Underwood. Inspired by the pioneering work of sociologist Bernard Crettaz, Underwood sought to challenge the cultural taboo surrounding death. Soon after, Lizzy Miles was the first to offer Death Café in the US. Countless people have attended Death Cafes worldwide exploring this often overlooked topic. By providing a platform for meaningful conversations, Underwood’s concept has empowered people to embrace the significance of death in shaping our existence. It is not intended as a place of mourning or sorrow rather a friendly space to discuss the inevitable. Guided by compassionate facilitators, a Death Café creates a warm respectful discussion encouraging conversation with no particular agenda.
National FCA Conference
- June 26 – 29, 2025
The Funeral Consumers Alliance, the national organization of which FCAME is a local affiliate, is hosting a biennial national conference June 26 – 29, 2025 in Raleigh, NC.
More Information & Register
The theme of the conference is: “The Cost of Goodbye: Confronting Funeral Poverty in Our Communities.”
The public is invited to this conference, which will include speakers, a field trip to an alkaline hydrolysis facility, and a green burial cemetery. For more details and a link to register for the conference, visit funerals.org/2025-conference-registration.
Who We Are
FCAME is a non-profit organization of local residents who volunteer their time to help their neighbors in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Delaware plan after-death care that is dignified, meaningful, and affordable. We are the local affiliate of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, the only national organization that advocates for consumer rights with regard to funerals.
The information and advocacy that FCAME and FCA provide are not associated with any business or religious group. We do not provide any funeral-related services or discounts for any funeral services with any funeral homes. Nor can we provide any financial assistance to help with funeral costs.
Upcoming Death Cafe(s) Open to the Public
- Thursday December 11th, 2025, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday February 25th, 2025, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Everyone is welcome! To save your spot and receive a zoom link to either of these sessions, email your interest to: info@mdfunerals.org.
What is a Death Cafe?
A Death Cafe is an international movement that offers a safe and supportive environment for open discussions about death and dying. It originated in Europe thanks to the visionary efforts of Jon Underwood. Inspired by the pioneering work of sociologist Bernard Crettaz, Underwood sought to challenge the cultural taboo surrounding death. Soon after, Lizzy Miles was the first to offer Death Café in the US. Countless people have attended Death Cafes worldwide exploring this often overlooked topic. By providing a platform for meaningful conversations, Underwood’s concept has empowered people to embrace the significance of death in shaping our existence. It is not intended as a place of mourning or sorrow rather a friendly space to discuss the inevitable. Guided by compassionate facilitators, a Death Café creates a warm respectful discussion encouraging conversation with no particular agenda.
Who We Are
FCAME is a non-profit organization of local residents who volunteer their time to help their neighbors in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Delaware plan after-death care that is dignified, meaningful, and affordable. We are the local affiliate of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, the only national organization that advocates for consumer rights with regard to funerals.
The information and advocacy that FCAME and FCA provide are not associated with any business or religious group. We do not provide any funeral-related services or discounts for any funeral services with any funeral homes. Nor can we provide any financial assistance to help with funeral costs.
Announcing a Death Cafe open to the public in the coming months:
- Wednesday June 18th, 2025, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Everyone is welcome! To save your spot and receive a zoom link to either of these sessions, email your interest to: info@mdfunerals.org.
What is a Death Cafe?
A Death Cafe is an international movement that offers a safe and supportive environment for open discussions about death and dying. It originated in Europe thanks to the visionary efforts of Jon Underwood. Inspired by the pioneering work of sociologist Bernard Crettaz, Underwood sought to challenge the cultural taboo surrounding death. Soon after, Lizzy Miles was the first to offer Death Café in the US. Countless people have attended Death Cafes worldwide exploring this often overlooked topic. By providing a platform for meaningful conversations, Underwood’s concept has empowered people to embrace the significance of death in shaping our existence. It is not intended as a place of mourning or sorrow rather a friendly space to discuss the inevitable. Guided by compassionate facilitators, a Death Café creates a warm respectful discussion encouraging conversation with no particular agenda.
Who We Are
FCAME is a non-profit organization of local residents who volunteer their time to help their neighbors in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Delaware plan after-death care that is dignified, meaningful, and affordable. We are the local affiliate of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, the only national organization that advocates for consumer rights with regard to funerals.
The information and advocacy that FCAME and FCA provide are not associated with any business or religious group. We do not provide any funeral-related services or discounts for any funeral services with any funeral homes. Nor can we provide any financial assistance to help with funeral costs.
