Neptune Society — Attraction in Houston

I would have enjoyed the Neptune Society lunch presentation in Houston on Thursday if your presenter, David Hale, had not refused my repeated request during the presentation that he put on a mask, as required by the restaurant, this city and county. Whether Mr. Hale cares about it or not, the zip code we are in has a heavy outbreak of Coronavirus.

I am very upset. I attended the 1:30PM Neptune Society presentation on November 12, at Carrabba’s restaurant in Houston, expecting a relaxing and informative afternoon, not to worry about my health and wellbeing. The meal and presentation was excellent. Your representative, David Hale, began his presentation, halting from time to time to cough into his sleeve. I was upset and concerned when refused my repeated request, in front of the 2 other attendees in the closed room, that he wear a mask. The restaurant has a huge banner posted at the entrance that masks must be worn and he was not eating a meal.

His response to me and the other 2 people in the closed room for the presentation was that he did not need to wear a mask because he was “distancing” from us, that the virus was “overblown” and “anyway, people die all the time from the flu”. He does not acknowledge that the COVID virus has been spreading like wildfire in the Houston area and we have to be vigilant, as directed by local government and public health officials.

Self-righteous people like him are responsible for others getting ill and possibly dying. They take no responsibility to be a good citizen during this public health and economic crisis. Being a personnel consultant for 30 years, I was courteous to him, afterwards saying nothing more of my concern about his irresponsible behavior. I felt it best to handle it afterward. David Hale mentioned that he has additional presentations scheduled, so I recommend the company address the issue with him immediately. He must use better judgment and common sense, and not put others at risk. I was very angry as I left after the meal, but kept it to myself. There was no need to upset the other attendees.

I have talked to Mariano, the manager of the Carrabba’s restaurant. He was not pleased to learn of Mr. Hale’s conduct, as he saw Mr. Hale was wearing a mask when he arrived at the restaurant. It is doubtful that Mr. Hale would be invited back.

When I accepted an invitation to attend the presentation, I had no intention of putting my health at risk. As Mr. Hale talked of being a ex-military gun enthusiast, please handle this carefully in suggesting that he wear a mask, as mandated by the city of Houston and Harris County, in case he has the tendency to over-react.

Mr. Hale had given other presentations before the one I attended. If he was infected and asymptomatic, he would actively spreading virus for an extended period to prospective Neptune clients as well as the service staff and other patrons in the restaurant. I am greatly concerned as to why I was needlessly held for 90 minutes in an unsafe environment in the closed presentation room, and would like an apology for Mr. Hale’s negligent, reckless and...

We were attracted to the package of services offered by the Neptune Society several years ago when we were still travelling a good deal, and we wanted to minimize the expense and the complexity of disposing of one or both of our bodies after death. We agreed on a plan and a cost, and were satisfied that we had made a good deal. We did this in 2017 at age 72 and did not anticipate needing the service right away. When my wife died very unexpectedly in 2022, I found myself overwhelmed with grief and complexity, and Houston Neptune Society was a pillar of support and calm in the storm. There was a little initial confusion about what was to be done and how to get started, but once the hospital where my wife had been taken and declared DOA communicated the NS, everything went smoothly and, on my part, effortlessly. The Funeral Director assigned to my wife's processing, Jessica, was thorough and professional, and at the same time gentle and compassionate with me. I had to visit their offices one time to sign documents, and she had everything ready and the visit was quick and painless. There was no pressure to change any of the original arrangements and no attempt to sell any additional services or goods. (Right now it is not easy to get to their offices because of road construction in Houston, but that's not their fault.) Jessica, and her assistant Elizabeth, were available to me on the phone at almost any time for questions and assurances that everything was okay, and was going to be okay. And it was all okay. Everything that needed to happen did happen on the necessary schedule. I am crushed by the loss of my wife of 49 years, and there are many things I would do differently if I had a chance to 'do over' but I would not make a single change in my selection of The Neptune Society and the prior arrangements we made with them. I cannot recommend them enough. The Neptune Society services package would not fit every one's needs, but where they do fit, they are a wonderfully supportive and...

My wife suffered a stroke in late 2018, and though we worked diligently with her toward recovery the results were bittersweet. Her physical health was restored but she developed dementia which is a devastating and terminal disease. Though we owned a cemetery plot we investigated Neptune Society as an alternative to burial, and decided that the programs and policies of Neptune were more in line with our interests, and engaged them to handle cremation for us. It was a phenomenally good decision. Everyone with whom I dealt--from the first conversation with Wanda Nelson about what Neptune offers their clients to my last exchange with the funeral coordinator Cynthia Warren--everyone was informed, deferential, professional, thorough, and compassionate. I have not one criticism of the performance of Neptune Society. I ran a business for 50 years, and I know the extreme importance of employing good dedicated people to represent the best aspects of what one offers as service to one's customers. Every Neptune Society employee with whom I dealt was superior. I have never known such grief in my life as I am experiencing now, but the way in which my wife has been cared for and the manner in which my daughter and I were assisted and advised after my wife's death has been truly comforting at an extremely difficult time. Competence and compassion cannot be feigned, nor can anyone perform at the level I have witnessed in recent weeks without absolute dedication and sincerity on the part of everyone involved. Neptune Society rose far above my expectations, and remains there. My sincerest thanks to those who created this company, and those who so ably represent their values. Neptune Society represents what I consider the most noble of human values--dignity, integrity, and compassion. Thank you, Neptune, and all who work under your banner. You have served us well. William Bleakney, and...