SENIOR NEWS

By Matilda Charles

Funeral Planning: Don’t Be Rushed

One life event we don’t want to think about having to do for a loved one is planning a funeral. But sometimes we must, and it can be stressful and loaded with the potential to be scammed in some way.

A small amount of help is coming. e Federal Trade Commission wants online funeral pricing. And it makes sense. When you need to organize a funeral, emotions are running high. You won’t be at your best when it comes to thinking about pricing and services.

Back in 1984, the FTC created the Funeral Rule, but it only requires funeral homes to show lists of the prices of caskets and any outer burial containers, such as a grave liner. And it was only required that a potential customer be given those prices in person, certainly not by phone. To make it worse, funeral homes only had to show pictures or the item itself a er the prices were disclosed.

By then, of course, you were at the funeral home, unhappy and sad and stressed. e last thing you wanted to do is treat it like a car purchase and shop around. So you signed the paperwork on the spot, possibly paid too much and maybe didn’t get the items and services you wanted.

ere are a few ways to ensure that your vulnerability at that time isn’t exploited.

Before you leave the house to organize a funeral, go online to check local funeral home websites. ey might be among the very few to actually post pricing and services.

Take someone with you.

Get the price list (in writing) of what the funeral home o ers.

Before you sign any paperwork, contact the Funeral Consumers Alliance (funerals.org) and get their advice. ere’s a group in every state. On their website, click on “Consumers” and scroll down to “Don’t Know Where To Begin? Start Here.”

Remember: Take your time.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Catholic

St. Agnes, St. Rose, St. Paul of the Cross saintagnespaulrose.org • 226-2100

Saturday: 4pm at St. Agnes in Avon

Sunday: 8am at St. Rose in Lima

Sunday: 9:45am at St. Paul of the Cross in Honeoye Falls

Sunday: 11:30am at St. Agnes in Avon

Marianne Cope Roman Catholic Parish

(p) 585-334-3518; www.smcrcc.org; smcrcc@dor.org

O ce: 2061 E. Henrietta Rd., Rochester, NY 14623

Our Worship sites and Mass times: All Masses are currently held at Guardian Angels Church, 2061 E. Henrietta Rd., Rochester, NY 14623.

Weekend Mass: Sat. at 4:30pm (confessions begin at 3pm); Sun. at 8:00am & 10:30am. Weekday Mass: Mon. & Wed. at 12:10pm; Tues. & urs. at 8:00am.

Lutheran

Lutheran Church of Our Saviour (ELCA)

2415 Chili Ave., 585-247-7824 • e Reverend Joachim K. Wilck, Pastor

Recorded services on www.oursaviourrochester.org

Email: o ce@oursaviourrochester.org • 8:30am Modern Service

9:45am Sunday School • 10:30am Traditional Service

We continue to follow mask guidelines. You may worship indoors & we broadcast in parking lot/drive-in. Audio Loop for the Hearing Impaired.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

779 Erie Station Rd. (across from W. Hen. Post O ce) • 334-4795 www.saintmarkslutheran.org

Family Friendly, Traditional, Missouri Synod

Sun. Worship, (In Person) 10:00am

Pre-School every day ages 2-5 • 334-4130

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Crossroads Church

1574 Rochester St. (Rt. 15A), Lima 624-3610 | crossroadschurchny.org

Pastor Tony LaBarca • Pastor Josh Sonoga

Sunday School 9:00-9:45am • Sunday Worship 10:00-11:30am

Sunday AM Kids Ministry • Sun 6pm Youth Group, grades 6-12

Orthodox

Protection of the Mother of God Russian Orthodox Church

100 Stanford Dr, Rochester, NY 14610 • 585-224-0554

Archpriest Gregory Naumenko, Rector • A ROCOR Parish

Spend Orthodox Lent & Pascha With Us! Serving all English and Russian Speaking Orthodox Christians. Full schedule of services at www.pomog.org

Presbyterian

John Calvin Presbyterian Church

50 Ward Hill Rd., Henrietta, NY • 585-334-2130 www.jcpconthehill.org • johncalvinpc@frontiernet.net

In-person Worship Services Sun. 10am. Select Sunday services are available on our website. Live services are available via Zoom most Sundays. We are a small church with a big heart. We hope you will come and join us.

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STRAWBERRY-GLAZED FRENCH TOAST WITH SWEETENED SOUR CREAM

• 8 1-inch-thick bread slices, cut from a country or peasant loaf

• 2 cups half-and-half

• 4 egg yolks

• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, plus 1/2 teaspoon

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

• 1/3 cup strawberry jam or preserves (see note 2)

1. Arrange a rack at center position and preheat the oven to 400 F. Place the bread slices on a baking sheet and bake until dry and very lightly browned, about 8 minutes per side. Watch carefully so that the bread does not burn. Remove the bread from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 200 F.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the half-and-half, egg yolks, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour the mixture into a shallow pan (a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish works well). Add the

Serves 4 toasted bread slices and soak them 4 minutes per side. Remove to a large plate or platter

3. Place a large, heavy frying pan over low to medium heat. Add about 2 teaspoons of the butter, or enough to coat the bottom of the pan lightly. When melted, add enough bread slices to fit comfortably in a single layer. Cook slowly until the slices are golden brown and crisp on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Remove to a baking sheet and place in the warm oven. Repeat, adding more butter to the pan as needed until all the bread slices have been sautéed.

4. In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream, granulated sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

5. When ready to serve, spread each toast with a thin coating of strawberry jam and top with a dollop of sweetened sour cream.

Note 1: The best bread for this dish is an unsliced loaf of good-quality peasant or country bread, preferably one without an extra-hard crust. One that is rectangular, rather than round, is more convenient, but either will do. Cut off the ends of the loaf, and reserve for another use. Then slice the bread into 1-inch-thick slices. If your loaf is large and the slices seem large, cut them in half.

Note 2: You can try other jams, preserves or marmalades. Cherry, raspberry or peach preserves and orange marmalade are other possibilities.