Document:

EXHIBIT 10.12

         AMENDMENT TO THAT CERTAIN PROMISSORY NOTE DATED MARCH 31, 1999
   IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,000,000.00 EXECUTED BY LARI ACQUISITION COMPANY, INC.
         (THE "PAYOR") IN FAVOR OF THOSE PERSONS LISTED ON SCHEDULE "A"
                ATTACHED TO THE NOTE (THE "LENDERS") (THE "NOTE")
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This Amendment is dated for reference the 1st day of August, 1999

WHEREAS:

A.   As  presently  structured,  the Payor is  required  to pay to the  Lenders,
     pursuant to the Note, the sum of  $9,000,000.00 on or before July 31, 1999,
     representing a portion of the principal of the Note; and  additionally,  is
     required to pay interest at the rate of 9% per annum on the unpaid  portion
     of the Note to accrue from July 31, 1999 monthly in arrears  commencing  on
     August 31, 1999 until fully paid;

B.   The Payor  wishes to defer the  payment of a portion  of the July 31,  1999
     principal payment under the Note and to lower its monthly interest payments
     under the Note;

C.   Two of the Lenders have agreed to restructure their payments under the Note
     on the terms and conditions of this Amendment;

D.   Accordingly,  the  Payor  wishes  to  change  its  payment  obligations  as
     reflected in the Note,  in respect of payments to be made to the  following
     Lenders:

     i.   Weintraub,  Emanuel - Intervivos Trust, as to Neptune/Heritage general
          partnership interest ("Weintraub"); and
     ii.  Zicklin,   Stanley,  as  to  Neptune  general   partnership   interest
          ("Zicklin"); and

E.   Emanuel  Weintraub  and Leo Robert  Dennis,  who,  pursuant  to those Joint
     Written  Instructions to Escrow Agent dated April 22, 1999 have been deemed
     holders of the Note and fully empowered to enforce the Note for the benefit
     of the Lenders,  have agreed to amend the Note on the terms and  conditions
     of this Amendment.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, agreements,  warranties
and other good and valuable consideration,  the receipt and sufficiency of which
is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree with each other as follows:

1.   All  capitalized  terms in this Amendment shall have the meaning as defined
     in the Note.

2.   By reference, Exhibit "A" of this Amendment is incorporated into the Note

3.   The first two  paragraphs of the Note shall  deleted in their  entirety and
     replaced with the following language:

<PAGE>

     "FOR VALUE RECEIVED.  THE UNDERSIGNED (the "Payer")  PROMISES TO PAY to SEE
     ATTACHED  SCHEDULE  "A" TO  THIS  NOTE,  (the  "Lenders"),  or  order,  the
     principal sum of $19,000,000.00 (the "Principal Sum") as follows:

     a.   To THOSE  LENDERS  SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT  "A" TO THIS  NOTE,  or order,
          $7,439,466.00  (the "First  Sum") with  interest at the rate of 9% per
          annum to accrue from July 31, 1999 until  fully  paid,  calculated  as
          simple annual  interest to be paid on any unpaid sum of the First Sum,
          monthly in arrears on the last day of each month  commencing on August
          31,  1999 until  fully  paid.  Payment  shall be applied  first to the
          payment of all accrued and unpaid  interest and then to payment of the
          principal  of the First Sum.  The First Sum will be due and payable as
          follows:

          i.   $3,523,957.58 on or before August 11, 1999; and

          ii.  $3,915,508.42,  together with all accrued and unpaid interest, on
               or before July 31, 2000.

     b.   To Emanuel Weintraub Intervivos Trust, as to Neptune/Heritage  general
          partnership  interest,  or order,  $9,625,088.00  due and  payable  as
          follows:

          i.   $386,776.56 on or before August ii, 1999;

          ii.  $4,172,475.64 on or before January 3, 2000; and

          iii. $5,065,835.80 on or before July 31, 2000.

     c.   To Stanley Zicklin,  as to Neptune general  partnership  interest,  or
          order, $l,935,446.00 due and payable as follows:

          i.   $215,049.82 on or before August11, 1999;

          ii.  $701,740.18 on or before January 3, 2000,  together with interest
               on such  amount at the rate of 9% per  annum to accrue  from July
               31, 1999 and to be fully paid on January 3, 2000,  calculated  as
               simple  annual  interest  to be  paid on any  unpaid  sum of such
               amount.  Payment  shall be  applied  first to the  payment of all
               accrued and unpaid  interest and then to payment of the principal
               of such amount; and

          iii. $1,018,656.00  on or before  July 31,  2000 with  interest at the
               rate of 9% per annum to accrue  from July 31,  1999  until  fully
               paid,  calculated  as simple  annual  interest  to be paid on any
               unpaid sum of such amount,  monthly in arrears on the last day of
               each month commencing on August

                                       2
<PAGE>

               31, 1999 until fully paid.  Payment shall be applied first to the
               payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and then to payment of
               the principal of such sum."

4.   With respect to the payments due under this  Amendment on or before January
     3, 2000 (i.e. as set forth in paragraphs  3.b.ii and 3.c.ii above),  the 30
     day right of cure for  nonpayment  as  provided in the Note is reduced to 5
     calendar days.

5.   Except as otherwise  expressly  modified  herein,  the Note remains in full
     force and effect.

6.   As of the date of execution of this Amendment,  the Payor  respresents that
     it is not aware of any facts giving rise to any set-off  rights against any
     of the Lenders.

7.   It is expressly  acknowledged  that the Note,  as amended,  continues to be
     secured by that security interest granted pursuant to that certain security
     agreement between the Payor , the Lenders and other parties dated March 31,
     1999.

8.   All dollar  amounts  referred in this Amendment are stated in United States
     of America currency.

9.   This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
     when delivered  shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together
     shall  constitute  one  and  the  same  document.  A  signed  facsimile  or
     telecopied  copy of this  Amendment  shall be effectual  and valid proof of
     execution and delivery.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF the parties  hereto have duly executed this  Amendment as of
the day and year first above written.

LARI ACQUISITION COMPANY, INC.

Per: /s/ Illegible
     ----------------------------------
     Authorized Signatory

EMANUEL WEINTRAUB INTER VIVOS TRUST

Per: /s/ Emanuel Weintraub
     ----------------------------------
     Emanuel Weintraub, Trustee

                                       3
<PAGE>

SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED by     )
EMANUEL WEINTRAUB in the presence   )
of:                                 )
                                    )
                                    )
----------------------------------- )      /s/ Emanuel Weintraub"
Witness                             )      -------------------------------------
                                    )      EMANUEL WEINTRAUB
----------------------------------- )
Address                             )

SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED on     )
behalf of STANLEY ZICKLIN in the    )
presence                            )
of:                                 )      STANLEY ZICKLIN
                                    )
                                    )
----------------------------------- )      By:
Witness                             )          ---------------------------------
                                    )          William F. Tisch, Esq.
                                    )          Sandler & Rosen, LLP.
                                    )          Attorneys for Stanley Zicklin
----------------------------------- )
Address                             )

SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED by     )
LEO ROBERT DENNIS in the presence   )
of:                                 )
                                    )
                                    )
----------------------------------- )      -------------------------------------
Witness                             )      LEO ROBERT DENNIS
                                    )
                                    )
----------------------------------- )
Address                             )

The undersigned  hereby  acknowledges  that it approves this Amendment and it is
expressly  acknowledged by the  undersigned  that this Amendment does not change
any of its obligations.

                                       4EXHIBIT 10.13

DATED: MARCH 31,1999                                              $2,000,000.00

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

NUMBER:  0002

FOR VALUE  RECEIVED,  THE UNDERSIGNED  (the "Payor")  PROMISES TO PAY to Emanuel
Weintraub  Inter Vivos Trust (the  "Lender"),  or order,  the  principal  sum of
$2,000,000.00 (the "Principal Sum") to be paid in equal monthly  installments on
the last day of each month  commencing on April 30, 1999,  until fully paid with
the last payment due on March 31, 2002.

The Principal sum and all interest and expenses,  if any,  owing under this Note
pursuant to that certain Share Purchase  Agreement ("Share Purchase  Agreement")
are secured by that certain Security Agreement ("Weintraub Security Agreement"),
each of such  foregoing  agreements  being of even date herewith and each by and
between  the Payor and the Lender  (such  Weintraub  Security  Agreement,  Share
Purchase Agreement, and all documents executed in connection with the foregoing,
as such may be amended, modified,  supplemented,  or restated from time to time,
the "Acquisition  Documents'),  which Acquisition Documents provide, among other
things,  for a security  interest,  subordinated  to a first  position  security
interest  granted by the Payor in the Share  Purchase  Agreement,  in all of the
Payor's right,  title,  and interest in all  properties  and assets,  including,
without  limitation,  those  purchased  from the Lender of and pertaining to the
business or providing  funeral,  burial and cremation services and the provision
and sale of pre-need  cremation services carried on by the Payor, its affiliates
and/or subsidiaries.

If the Payor fails to make any payments  due under this Note when such  payments
are due,  save and except for any  non-payments  due to any  set-off  rights the
Payor may have against the Lender, or in the event of any breach of the terms or
agreements of the Weintraub Security Agreement, without the Payor satisfying any
cure provisions  thereunder,  the entire unpaid principal  balance of this Note,
together with all accrued and unpaid interest,  shall become immediately due and
payable  prior to the  specified  due date of this  Note,  all of the  foregoing
without  prejudice to any other  rights,  recourses  or remedies  which may have
accrued  in favor  of the  Lender  as a  result  of the  default  of the  Payor,
including,  without limitation,  the Lender's rights pursuant to the Acquisition
Documents.  Provided,  however, that in the event any installment is not paid as
of the due date and there is no other default by the Payor under the Acquisition
Documents, the Payor shall have the right to cure such default by payment to the
Lender  of the  amount of the  installment  as to which a  payment  default  has
occurred  together with any accrued  interest from the date of default until the
date  of  cure,  provided,   further,  that  such  right  of  cure  shall  lapse
automatically  on the date that is 30 days after the date the Lender delivers to
the Payor  written  notice of such  default.  In the event that such cure is not
timely  made,  the  prior  acceleration  by the  Lender,  if any,  shall  remain
effective and the entire  accelerated amount due, with interest from the date of
default computed as the accelerated amount, shall be immediately due and paying,
and the Lender shall be entitled to pursue all of its other rights and remedies.
If an action is instituted to collect this Note,  the Payor  promises to pay all
costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred in connection
with such action.  A waiver of any term of this Note, the Acquisition  Documents
or of any of the obligations  secured thereby must be made in writing and signed
by the Lender and any such  waiver  shall be limited to its  express  terms.  No
delay by the  Lender in  acting  with  respect  to the terms of this Note or the
Acquisition Documents or any of the obligations secured thereby shall constitute
a waiver of any breach,  default or failure of a condition  under this Note, the
Acquisition Documents or the obligations secured thereby.

The Payor waives presentment,  demand, notice of dishonor,  notice of default or
delinquency,  notice of acceleration,  notice of protest and non-payment, notice
of costs,  expenses  or losses  and  interest  thereon,  notice of  interest  on
interest and diligence in taking any action to collect any sums owing under this
Note or in proceeding against any of the rights or interests in or to properties
securing  payment of this Note.  The foregoing  waiver of defenses  shall not be
construed to limit or impair the Payor's right to cure as provided above.

The  undersigned,  if not in default  under this Note, or under the terms of any
security for the repayment of the monies evidenced hereby, may prepay all or any
amount  owing  hereunder,  upon  payment to the Lender of  interest  at the rate
aforesaid  to the date of such  prepayment,  on the amount so  prepaid,  without
notice or bonus.

All dollar amounts  referred to in this Agreement are stated in United States of
America currency, unless otherwise expressly stated.

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER
THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"). THE
HOLDER  HEREOF,  BY PURCHASING  SUCH  SECURITIES,  AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
CORPORATION THAT SUCH SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED,  SOLD OR OTHERWISE  TRANSFERRED
ONLY (A) TO THE  CORPORATION,  (B) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE  WITH
RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES  ACT, (C) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES
IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH RULE 144A  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT OR RULE 144 UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, IF APPLICABLE,  OR (D) IN A TRANSACTION THAT IS OTHERWISE EXEMPT
FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS,
PROVIDED THAT PRIOR TO SUCH SALE THE CORPORATION  SHALL HAVE RECEIVED AN OPINION
OF COUNSEL OF RECOGNIZED STANDING, IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE  SATISFACTORY TO IT, AS
TO THE AVAILABILITY OF AN EXEMPTION.

                                   LARI ACQUISITION COMPANY, INC.

                                   Per: /s/ Suzanne L. Wood
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Authorized Signatory

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00000-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00000-of-00352.parquet"}]]