WOW, funeral costs now a days - Page 11

novamc1 · ‎07-02-2015

My dad was a WWII vet and and longtime officer of the Army Reserve throughout subsequent wars. He was buried four years ago at Arlington Cemetery with the abbreviated military ceremony that he had often requested. He didn't feel he deserved full honors due to no combat (because he was a desk-bound accountant and financial bean-counter). The abbreviated ceremony included just about everything except the horse-drawn caisson. He was buried in the same plot as my mother, who died many years before.

While the gravesite and graveside military ceremony didn't cost anything, the funeral home still charged about $8,000 for the casket, embalming, memorial ceremony at the funeral home, and transport to Arlington Cemetery.

Dying ain't cheap.

YorkieonmyPillow · ‎01-13-2013

@Bestdressed Absolutely, to each their own.

I would probably feel like they had been through enough and just want them to rest peacefully.

shorelady · ‎03-10-2010

151949

You can doubt or question whatever you want, but unless you were there, you really don't know. Sometimes situations occur that are so absurb, one does question if it really happened. The coffin rests on top. But anyone can see if the grave opening is too small. Perhaps they were told it wouldn't fit and decided to take matters into their own hands. Not everything goes smoothly under every circumstance.

betteb · ‎03-09-2010

@shorelady wrote:
151949

You can doubt or question whatever you want, but unless you were there, you really don't know. Sometimes situations occur that are so absurb, one does question if it really happened. The coffin rests on top. But anyone can see if the grave opening is too small. Perhaps they were told it wouldn't fit and decided to take matters into their own hands. Not everything goes smoothly under every circumstance.

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Consider the source @shorelady. We are talking about HH here.

It's God's job to judge the terrorists. It's our mission to arrange the meeting. U.S. Marines

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@esmeraldagooch wrote:
Grandma prepaid also. Unfortunately the place went bankrupt taking the records and grandmas money. When she passes another funeral had to be purchased. The plot was the only thing she really owned.

I've heard of this happening before, so we are not pre paying anything to a funeral home. We have been to one to pre PLAN.

Do have plots paid for, opening and closing of grave paid for, and markers paid for. Don't feel that is any risk with the cemetery we are using.

Lots of insurance money with wishes for the actual final arrangements known. Just really uncomfortable with paying up front. One place, when we did inquire, told us that we'd end up owing some afterward anyway, as the prices would probably increase overtime, so what is the point of thinking your done, when in fact, not so much.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@June2 wrote:
Funerals and weddings are both a rip off. People let their emotions take over and over spend. When you are dead you are dead. It is selfish to spend $$$$$$ when a simple cremation is so inexpensive.

This is really a personal decision, and nothing at all selfish about what an individual wants spent on their or their loved one's funeral and final arrangements.

As long as they have the money to pay for it, and aren't leaving others to pay the expense, however grand or simple is really only the business of the deceased. If the deceased made no arrangements, wishes or requests, next of kin can do as they see fit. No judgements one way or the other how much they spend.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@June2 wrote:
@MaggieMack wrote:

@henderson wrote:
Please consider whole body donation if you want to be cremated. I registered with Science Care (Phoenix, Az.) to donate my body after my organs are donated. There is no cost, they will arrange to transport the body from your local funeral home and then after cremation, return the remains to you. Whole body donations are so needed to help find cures for diseases.
Please, before you commit to "donating your body to science," read the book Stiff by Mary Roach. She details all of the various ways the donated bodies are used, and most of them are not only not pretty, but pretty awful. I used to have the same altruistic dream of having my body used for higher purposes, but this book changed my mind. In one quick minute.

Who cares what happens to your physical body once you are dead? You act like you are still going to be around.

Geez, it is still your body, even after you are gone, and you have every right to decide what you do or don't want done with it. Many people have religous beliefs about the handling of a body, what should and shouldn't be done, and many people have very strong feelings about the handling of remains that have nothing to do with faith.

Quite insensitive.

Lila Belle · ‎01-24-2013

My body will be harvested for tissue and organ donation. I have requested a memorial service ( for my family's sake only )and that's it.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@Mominohio wrote:
@esmeraldagooch wrote:
Grandma prepaid also. Unfortunately the place went bankrupt taking the records and grandmas money. When she passes another funeral had to be purchased. The plot was the only thing she really owned.
I've heard of this happening before, so we are not pre paying anything to a funeral home. We have been to one to pre PLAN.

Do have plots paid for, opening and closing of grave paid for, and markers paid for. Don't feel that is any risk with the cemetery we are using.

Lots of insurance money with wishes for the actual final arrangements known. Just really uncomfortable with paying up front. One place, when we did inquire, told us that we'd end up owing some afterward anyway, as the prices would probably increase overtime, so what is the point of thinking your done, when in fact, not so much.

I think if you are uncomfortable with paying up front then that is not the best option for you. Everyone should do what makes them feel comfortable.We certainly did what we felt was most comfortable for us.

novamc1 · ‎07-02-2015

Sometimes it's possible to get a grin even when discussing death.

On a recent visit to my husband's Southern hometown, we visited the gravesite of his parents and stepmother, where a plot also exists for him---bought and paid for many years ago by his dad.

The cemetery is owned and run by a national corporation (Service Corporation International) that owns a huge share of funeral homes and cemeteries in the U.S., and having owned stock in that company, I can say it is VERY profitable.

We went into the office at the cemetery to discuss some things with the manager and while there, decided to purchase one of the fake flower bouquets seen on graves all over the cemetery. I don't recall the price but it was exorbitant.

As we walked out, my husband just shook his head and said his dad (who was a notorious pennypincher) would roll over in his grave if he knew the fake flowers sitting on top of it cost more than he had paid for the plot.