Funeral Cost

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
What would you estimate a direct burial with no funeral home service, but include the cost of opening a grave, putting in a vault and a basic casket would cost? (assume burial plot is already obtained)
 

That was interesting. I am shopping right now and was curious that quotes given to me were below, above or average. There are only two mortuaries locally. If I want more estimates, I'll have to go out of town.
 

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every other advert on our tv -is about can u pay for your funeral ' I dont have a clue to be honest
what you pay in the states for one 'but I think the cheapest here is around £7,000 incl coffin car. burial.
 
I have no idea, but I recently got a pretty basic headstone for my old man's grave for $1,274 installed.
 
Federal law requires the undertaker to provide you with a price menu upon request. About 20 years ago I went to a local funeral home to obtain a copy of their list. I experienced the worst hard sell of my life, which only served to alienate me. Since we had no "need" at that time it was simple to walk away.
In Arizona there were crooks who if you donated your body promised to properly dispose of the remains. That was in the hands of the Maricopa county attorney when we moved back to Florida.
We have since arranged for cremation, no rush mind you. I compiled an information manual for survivors to keep things simple.
 
In 2015 I paid $3,580.00 for a direct cremation including cemetery fees and a modest granite marker.

I could have done if for considerably less if I had dealt directly with the crematorium and purchased an inferior quality stone. I decided to go with a reputable local undertaker that would handle the details and an equally reputable monument company.

The stone has been set in the family plot and the money for the cremation and cemetery fees is in an interest bearing revocable trust with the undertaker and can be canceled at any time prior to my death or converted to an irrevocable trust if I ever need to apply for Medicaid.
 
The soul has departed the body upon death. Embalming, coffins, graves, etc., seems like a huge waste of financial and land resources that can be put to good use by the living.

My body will be cremated when the time comes. Same for my husband. When we have both passed our ashes will be commingled and scattered into the Pacific Ocean.
 
Well, if we're going on a financial and environmental basis, I had a poster on another forum some time ago decide that cremation is a big waste of both these things and using a wood chipper would be all around so much better. Surely all that cremation smoke is not good for the environment and also is not regarding the land resources for burials which StarSong mentioned. I can't remember what he said about what to do with the chipped remains, though. Seriously, that was not a joke. I was kind of really grossed out. But, you know, with the planet's population growth maybe makes sense. 😬
 
My wife and I will be cremated and planted together in a National Cemetery where the costs are very low. When my father (WWII) went into the National Cemetery in El Paso, the cost was minimal. I am not going to even try to go to Arlington, as I regard that as a place for veterans who were actual hero's while I was a rather ordinary guy who made my contribution in a technical field.

My main problem is what to do with all these pet urns that we have accumulated. At this stage we already have four of them from dogs that we adored. My wife is pretty adamant that they go with us, and I think I can make that happen "on the sly" if she leaves the planet first. If I go first, well all bets may be off.
 
Olivia said:
Well, if we're going on a financial and environmental basis, I had a poster on another forum some time ago decide that cremation is a big waste of both these things and using a wood chipper would be all around so much better. Surely all that cremation smoke is not good for the environment and also is not regarding the land resources for burials which StarSong mentioned. I can't remember what he said about what to do with the chipped remains, though. Seriously, that was not a joke. I was kind of really grossed out. But, you know, with the planet's population growth maybe makes sense. 😬
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If it was easy and reasonably inexpensive for my children to arrange a simple burial that allowed my body to decompose naturally (no coffin, no embalming, just a biodegradable shroud), that would be my preference.

No need for anything as grisly as a wood chipper (Good grief - tell that guy to stop watching "Fargo.") because Nature is pretty good at absorbing and repurposing the remains of all creations. Whether tiny amoebas, mighty sequoias, giant whales, crickets, dinosaurs, humans, or tiny seas creatures that form coral, nature is the ultimate green janitor. If she were not, we'd be up to our keisters in dead creatures.
 
StarSong said:
If it was easy and reasonably inexpensive for my children to arrange a simple burial that allowed my body to decompose naturally (no coffin, no embalming, just a biodegradable shroud), that would be my preference.

No need for anything as grisly as a wood chipper (Good grief - tell that guy to stop watching "Fargo.") because Nature is pretty good at absorbing and repurposing the remains of all creations. Whether tiny amoebas, mighty sequoias, giant whales, crickets, dinosaurs, humans, or tiny seas creatures that form coral, nature is the ultimate green janitor. If she were not, we'd be up to our keisters in dead creatures.
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Well, yes, what you've said here sounds good to me, too. There's still the problem of what to do with remains which doesn't take up land space. And with population and the expense of land that will still be a problem. I mean you can't just bury remains under the apple tree in the front yard. I will go for cremation myself. Surely they can find a way to reduce the smoke so that it doesn't pollute the air. I refuse to be in a box or underground. I'm claustrophobic.
 
Olivia said:
Well, if we're going on a financial and environmental basis, I had a poster on another forum some time ago decide that cremation is a big waste of both these things and using a wood chipper would be all around so much better. Surely all that cremation smoke is not good for the environment and also is not regarding the land resources for burials which StarSong mentioned. I can't remember what he said about what to do with the chipped remains, though. Seriously, that was not a joke. I was kind of really grossed out. But, you know, with the planet's population growth maybe makes sense. 😬
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Was so glad to read that you were merely joking about the wood chipper. 😳 Lol
My husband and I will be cremated also.
Big church or funeral ceremonies are not our thing.
Our nieces and nephews will deal with it but we will prepay for everything beforehand.
 
Mom is still in a box in my brother's garage.
Let me know what you guys come up with.

As for me and my lady...we're gonna be burned and pitched.
Think my commercial fisherman son is gonna to the pitching
Tuna trips take him 200 miles out
 
Changed my will recently. Cremation and a pizza party at our house just for the family...where they will read the funny stuff I put together for them. I’m not dead, just going ahead of them is my theme.
It will be a uplifting small gathering. Not a dark, depressing cold frightening ceremony that my kids and sweet grandkids would have to endure.

I remember my dads funeral. Ugh, the old traditional drawn out showings, visiting hours twice a day for 2 days....the long sad funeral service from a minister who probably had no idea who our God even was. It was exhausting. Never again.
 
toffee said:
every other advert on our tv -is about can u pay for your funeral ' I dont have a clue to be honest
what you pay in the states for one 'but I think the cheapest here is around £7,000 incl coffin car. burial.
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That's about right for my area also. I don't know much about this since my grave and final expenses have all been prepaid since back in the nineties.
 
Olivia said:
Well, yes, what you've said here sounds good to me, too. There's still the problem of what to do with remains which doesn't take up land space. And with population and the expense of land that will still be a problem. I mean you can't just bury remains under the apple tree in the front yard. I will go for cremation myself. Surely they can find a way to reduce the smoke so that it doesn't pollute the air. I refuse to be in a box or underground. I'm claustrophobic.
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Actually, my uncle who lived in a house near some woods, had his only son cremated when he predeceased him and he DID bury him in the yard, but it was the back yard. I'm not thrilled about going into the ground either. I'd prefer a mausoleum.
 
Hate the thought of cremation makes me shudder 'a lot cheaper over here than burial ect'
but my wish would be to be laid to rest in mausoleum ' if I had the money for it !
 
When Rick died, I opted for direct cremation, meaning he was taken right to the crematorium without prep for viewing. Two weeks later I held a memorial service right at the funeral home, with his ashes on display, with a picture of him next to it. The whole thing cost me $3000. I brought his ashes home with me.
 

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