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A Look Back, While Looking Ahead
February, 2000
 From Times Reporter ''Pre-Planning'' Insert
For John Delcoma, CPC, Director of Pre-Planning for Toland-Herzig Funeral Homes, 1999 was a very busy & challenging year. But, he expects to be even busier in the new millennium, as suggested by the trend over the past year in which Toland-Herzig served more families through pre-planning services than arrangements made at the time of need.
''It's all being driven by the baby boomers,'' says Delcoma. ''I have seen a tremendous increase in the number of people in their 40's &50's who come in and take part in pre-planning their services.'' Recognizing that this generation is the driving force behind the boom of the internet, Toland-Herzig has tailored the pre-planning page on it's website (www.tolandherzig.com) to meet this group's need for information. ''Our on-line pre-planning form provides the opportunity to access information and begin the pre-planning process from the comfort of their home.''
This segment of the population understands the values of pre-planning both emotionally and financially. In most cases, baby boomers have already gone through the funeral process with a loved one, perhaps a parent or grandparent.
''Toland-Herzig understands that people in this age range may not be able to come in and make a lump sum payment to cover the cost of services,'' stressed Delcoma. ''That is why we offer the flexibility of 3, 5 or 10 year payment plans once services and merchandise have been selected. By choosing one of these options, families have the security of knowing that the price is guaranteed, and because of their age they could actually pay less than the funeral costs over time.
By the year 2010, it is estimated that one out of every two funerals will have been pre-planned.
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