Cremation

Other than donating a body to a medical school, cremation is the least expensive option for disposal of the body. The cremation can be either immediate--the body is taken directly from the place of death to the crematorium--or after a funeral service has been held. In the former case, it is typical to hold a memorial service to celebrate the life of the deceased. Memorial services, like funerals, provide an opportunity for friends to help support the survivors in their grief and foster the process of recovery.

According to figures from the National Association of Funeral Directors (NFDA), the percentage of cremations has been increasing steadily, with more than 25% of all deaths in 1999 (the most recent year for which figures are available) ending that way. In some states--such as Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Washington--cremation was chosen in nearly half or more of all dispositions.

With a trend toward cremation, the funeral industry has tried to find ways to make it more profitable. While crematories require only that the body be delivered in a combustible container, it is not uncommon to find funeral homes listing alternative containers for as much as $200 or more. The NFDA reported a national average cost of a "minimum alternative container" as $167.81.

Consumers need to be wary of confusing pricing practices. It is not unusual for the listed price for cremation to include only the services of the funeral home, with both the cost of the alternative container and the cremation itself being extra. According to the NFDA, the national average cost for direct cremation for 1999 was $1,196.76. Funeral consumer alliances are often able to offer "complete" cremations (including the container and the crematory fee) to their members at less than half this amount.

Since 1994, when the FTC amended the Rule to prohibit funeral homes from imposing handling charges on caskets that had not been purchased from them, there has been a growth of casket retailers. The mark-up on caskets at funeral homes is much like that on jewelry; 300-500% mark-ups are not uncommon. Consumers can often save hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dollars by purchasing a casket elsewhere. Many communities have casket retailers. Another good place to look is on the Internet. Go to the website for the Funeral and Consumers Alliance at http://www.funerals.org. Click on the link to "Other Death-related Sites" and then scroll down to the National Casket Retailers Association. You can also find a link to the complete text of the FTC Revised Funeral Rule from the FCA website.

Burial vaults, most often constructed of reinforced concrete or steel, frequently are required by cemeteries to help keep the grave from sinking. Like the caskets that they hold, the cost varies based on construction, and the prices can range from several hundred dollars to many thousands. Although not widely advertised to the public, much-less-expensive grave liners will often satisfy cemetery requirements. Grave liners are simple concrete boxes and, unlike many burial vaults, they are not promoted as being "air and/or watertight." Since that isn't an important consideration to many people, the cost of less than $200 may make it an attractive option.

For people seeking simplicity with dignity in purchasing a funeral and wanting to get the best value for their dollar, a funeral consumer alliance may be just what they are looking for. Funeral consumer alliances are nondenominational, nonprofit, volunteer-run education and advocacy organizations providing numerous benefits to their members and the public at large. They number over 125 throughout the U.S. and can be located through the organization's website. Most negotiate with area funeral homes on behalf of their members and, through their collective purchasing power, are able to offer considerably discounted funeral services to them. FCA is a strong voice for consumers and has been one of the major players in convincing the FTC to reconsider the Funeral Rule for the purpose of strengthening and bringing cemeteries and monument dealers under it as well.

For many individuals, it is not easy to talk about death and dying. Some may even feel that, if they don't talk about it, it won't happen. It doesn't work that way, though. Death, like taxes, is one of life's certainties. Most people are going to be faced with planning a funeral. By taking a little bit of time before a crisis arises to learn more about funerals and the options available, they can assure that their choices will be those that they don't regret later. It might not be easy, but they will be glad they did.