The average end-of-life services in the United States cost nearly $10,000, according to data from the National Funeral Directors Association and Funeral Consumers Alliance. This includes a viewing at a funeral home, preparing the body for the viewing, a church or memorial service, an obituary and a cemetery burial with a vault, gravesite and tombstone. This is still the way most families honor their recently deceased loved ones. However, there are a number of things you can do to save money on funeral arrangements, while still being respectful to the person who has died.
10 May 2016
For family members acting as caregivers for a terminally ill family or elderly member, planning a funeral is one of the tasks that will need to be handled. You may choose to plan the funeral with your family member, or you may have to handle all of the arrangements on your own. Use this brief guide to help you to make the decisions for when your loved one passes away.
28 April 2016
When a loved one makes the choice to be cremated, it leaves you with the personal responsibility of taking care of their ashen remains once they are gone. While most people envision keeping cremains stored in a small box or vase type urn, there are many more options available that may be much more desirable. Not everyone likes the idea of just keeping cremated ashes sitting on a shelf for display.
25 April 2016
Planning the events that will occur after your death might not be something that is overly pleasant, but it's an important way to alleviate strain on your closest family members. Ensuring that you've made all of these plans will allow your family members to grieve without having to consider tough decisions on their own. One of the things you'll need to choose is whether you want your body to be embalmed and buried or be cremated.
26 February 2016
One of the key decisions you'll make in your funeral pre-planning process is in which cemetery you'll be laid to rest. Your choice will be based partly on your comfort with the facility, but also on how well they will work with your family after you have passed away. Here are some important factors to consider when looking for the right cemetery. Management Differences Cemeteries can be owned by a variety of entities, each of which may manage the facility differently.
10 February 2016
If you attend enough funeral services over the years, you'll undoubtedly witness someone who's obviously unaware of funeral etiquette. As a result, he or she is acting in an embarrassing fashion and might even be taking attention away from the solemn occasion. The last thing you want when attending a funeral is to be this person. The good news is that by taking a little time to understand some subtle funeral etiquette conventions — and knowing the best way to approach them — you won't find yourself acting in an improper manner.
29 January 2016
The popular image of a funeral is usually one of many people gathered in a church or other house of worship, coffin in the background, and speakers lined up to share memories. But if you're trying to pre-plan your funeral, you do have other options. The term "funeral service" is quite flexible, so don't assume that you have to have a big production when you die. Full Funeral Service In a full funeral service, there's a ceremony, usually in a place of worship or a center reserved for official gatherings, led by an officiant who is normally not part of the family.
14 January 2016