What Happens When No One Claims a Body?
“The Unclaimed: America’s Forgotten Deaths”
Author Pamela Prickett to speak at national conference on funeral poverty, June 26–29 in Raleigh, NC
When someone dies alone in America, what happens next? This powerful question drives the work of Pamela Prickett, who will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Funeral Consumers Alliance 2025 Biennial Conference.
The conference, called “The Cost of Goodbye: Confronting Funeral Poverty in Our Communities,” will be held June 26–29, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
A Story That Needs Telling
Prickett’s talk, “The Unclaimed: America’s Forgotten Deaths,” comes from her powerful book of the same name, written with Stefan Timmermans. The book tells the stories of people who die without family or friends to claim their bodies—and what these stories say about our society.
“The stories it tells are troubling and compelling, and its exploration of the hidden corners of this reality is unique and important,” writes Jill Leovy, author of Ghettoside.
The book so impressed Funeral Consumers Alliance of Georgia President John Lantz, that he bought copies of the book for the FCAGa Board. He recommended it as an important blend of solid research and accessible storytelling that makes you think deeply about dignity, fairness, and responsibility when it comes to death.
Why This Conversation Matters
Every year, hundreds of people in communities across America die with no one to claim them. Prickett’s work shines a light on these forgotten lives and deaths, asking hard questions about what our practices around death say about our values and responsibilities to one another.
Her keynote will challenge us to think about how we care for the most vulnerable members of our communities—even, or especially, in death.
About the Speaker
Pamela Prickett is a sociology professor at the University of Amsterdam and a leading researcher on poverty, religion, and death. Her writing appears not just in academic journals, but also in publications like The Washington Post and The Atlantic, making complex social issues understandable for everyone.
Join the Conversation in Raleigh
We invite advocates, funeral professionals, and anyone who cares about social justice to join us in Raleigh for this important conversation about funeral poverty and dignity in death.
Learn more and view the full conference schedule: Visit the list of FCA Conference Speakers or check out the full event details at FCA Conference Schedule.
This conference addresses one of the most overlooked issues in American society—ensuring that everyone, regardless of income, receives a dignified farewell.