A new three-part documentary, "The Mortician," premieres on HBO on June 1. The trailer can be viewed here: Press.WBD.com/US/Media-Release/HBO-Original-Three-Part-Documentary-Series-Mortician-Debuts-June-1. The documentary has been described in the following way:
"The Mortician" chronicles a trusted family-owned funeral home that hid behind a façade of decency and propriety to take advantage of loved ones at their most vulnerable moments. In the early 1980s, David Sconce, scion of the Lamb family, took over the family business and sought to exploit the deceased in numerous ways to expand their earnings. Driven by profit, the Lamb Funeral Home in Pasadena, California engaged in years of morally questionable and inhumane practices.”
While the actions chronicled in this documentary are both horrifying and real, documentaries often dramatize real events for emotional impact, and viewers should be mindful that important context or nuance may be left out in favor of a compelling narrative.
It’s important to remember that the subject of this documentary is not representative of the funeral profession as a whole. Every day, tens of thousands of funeral directors work around the clock to help families take the first steps toward healing following the death of a loved one. With care, compassion and integrity, they help families create meaningful funeral and memorial services that reflect their loved one’s personal values, interests and experiences.
Consumers shouldn’t be afraid to “shop around” for a funeral home who will meet their needs. Doing so in advance, when they are not grieving a death that just occurred, enables families to make thoughtful, fully-informed decisions. Families should look for a funeral home that has a strong reputation with licensed funeral directors who understand all of their needs and concerns.
The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is a good place to begin a search for a funeral home. It’s members agree to abide by an enforced Code of Professional Conduct. Visit NFDA’s consumer education website, RememberingALife.com, and use the "Find a Funeral Home" search tool to connect with a local NFDA-member firm today.