Orbituary column: This privacy thing has gone a little far, say someone

name, address, father's name, mother's name, etc., etc. and you call the funeral home trying to make sure this is the same person you think it is (a neighbor that used to live behind me for almost 30 years), you give everything and the funeral home says they cannot say it is the same person? They told me they could call the family of the deceased and maybe then they could call me. I said what if wrong family, no I would not put anyone through that and how do I know to show up for either funeral or memorial? The family lives in another town now from me and I have no way of finding out. My goodness, this lack of privacy has gone over the top so it seems.