Funerals & Memorials

"To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the sun.
A time to be born, and a time to die."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Funerals rank among the most expensive purchases many consumers will make.  A traditional funeral, including a casket and a vault can cost upwards of $6,000.  This price doesn't include the "extra" such as flowers, obituary notices, limousines, police escorts, etc.  By the time you add in all the extras, the funeral can exceed well over $10,000.  Compounding these expenses is the fact that some people tend to overspend on funeral and burial costs, because they think it reflects their feelings towards the deceased.

With the rising costs of funerals, many families are making alternate choices, such as cremation, memorials, and even whole body donations.   Cremations do not have to be a cold and impersonal alternative to burials.  You can opt to have a full funeral, with body viewing, and then in lieu of a burial the body is cremated.  Or you can simply have the body cremated, and a memorial service held in honor of the deceased.  Memorial services are often held when a body is not available, such as in the case of cremations, whole body donations, or a body is missing due to  accidents or foul play. 

When a loved one dies, the family members are often left to make the final arrangements for the body.  There are many decisions to be made, all of which are often made quickly and under great emotional distress.  The current rise in popularity of pre-need funeral planning software, and information shows that our society realizes that this is a beneficial alternative.  Pre-planning funerals and burial ensures that your wishes are made known to your loved ones, saving them from having to try to guess what you would have wanted.  Pre-paying for your arrangements, takes this one step further.  Not only will your loved ones be free of the emotional burdens associated with planning a funeral, they will not be financially burdened either.  What better way to express your love when you are gone?

Listed below are more articles about Funerals, and other options:

What is a Memorial

The Funeral Rule

Choosing a Funeral Provider

Pre-Planning a Funeral
      *Why Pre-Planning is Important

Pre-Paying for a Funeral

Costs of a Funeral

Common Products and Services

Glossary of Funeral Terms

Tips to Remember When Planning a Funeral

Price Checklist

Burial or Cremation?

The Facts About Caskets

Organ and Whole Body Donation Information
     
Links of Interest

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