When a loved one dies without pre-planning their funeral, it leaves the family with a lot of decisions to make. Many families do not have a lot of money saved just in case a family member dies, which can create a very difficult situation because funerals can sometimes be quite expensive. The guide below walks you through a few ways to save money on your loved one's funeral.
Donating the Body to Science
When your loved one passes away, you are not required to bury or cremate their body. If your family has extremely limited funds, consider donating your loved one's body to science after you have a wake for your family. Schools can use the body to help doctors, morticians, or even future surgeons practice their skills to ensure they are ready to do the work on living patients in the future. The school will take care of the transportation of the body to the school, as well.
Having a Wake
If you plan to donate the body of your loved one to science, you can still have a wake so that everyone can say goodbye. Many funeral homes will allow you to rent a coffin to place your loved one in during the wake. You can dress him or her in their favorite outfit and purchase flowers from a local florist for a reasonable price if you explain the situation to them. When the wake is complete, you will not have to pay any additional costs to the funeral home because the body will be taken away by whichever establishment your family chooses to donate the body.
Asking for Donations
If the cost to hold a wake is also too expensive for your direct family to be able to afford outright, do not be afraid to ask for donations from the person's friends and other family members in lieu of flowers or gifts. Let everyone know that the person's body will be donated to science and that the cost is only to cover the funeral home expenses. Getting the money you need should not be too difficult because the costs will be so minimal.
Saying goodbye to a loved one who has passed is important. Being able to afford an expensive funeral is not always within every family's budget, but being able to do what you can for the person will show how much respect and love you have for them.
For more information, contact a company like Danks-Hinski Funeral Home.
Share1 June 2016
When my father passed away a year ago, my mother didn't have any problems with the funeral or burial. My father planned his funeral in advance. He didn't want to burden my mom with any problems during her time of grieving. That hit me. I realized that I didn't have any plans for my own future, which would make it even harder on my wife and kids. So, I contacted a funeral home online and requested information about burial services. The funeral home provided me with many options that I could afford to pay over time or upfront. My wife also helped select burial plots for us because we didn't want to be separated — even after death. I encourage you to read through my blog. It offers great tips and advice on how to plan for your own future. Don't wait. You never know what life holds for you.