Funeral Negotiator Helps Grieving Families

A local man is offering an unusual money-saving service -- he helps families find good deals on funerals.

Brian O'Laughlin said the first funeral he had to plan was his father's.

"The funeral director told us the truth, but not the whole truth," O'Laughlin told KMBC's Maria Antonia. He said he knows how difficult it is to cope when you lose a loved one -- he said thinking clearly is not an easy thing to do while grieving.

Since his father's death, dozens of families facing a burial have used O'Laughlin's services.

O'Laughlin has price lists of funeral costs at hand and helps clients negotiate the expenses.

"There are cremation costs here in Kansas City, the range is from $450 to $500 to $2,500 -- for the same service," O'Laughlin said.

He said embalming costs can range from $675 to $1,495.

He deals with funeral directors and arranges a fee with clients.

Julianna Smith used O'Laughlin's services when her husband died in 2006; Smith said she saved thousands of dollars in funeral costs, thanks to O'Laughlin.

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