Funeral Costs

[rangerfredbob]

Yeah, it can be expensive, my dad wanted to be cremated which wasn't too bad, we had a celebration of life a bit later at a community center by the highest concentration of people which was cheap... the rest was a pain in the rear when there was no planning involved... After dealing with it I would recommend people to set up a trust with a lawyer, that's what my grandma did and my mom said it was pretty simple on her end... 3 years later I have started getting fewer phone calls and texts from human scum trying to buy the property he didn't own...

 

[dstig1]

I'm afraid this is a hot button with me. I see funeral parlors as total scams.They suck money out of people when they are most vulnerable. You don't really need any of this. The state has some requirements you can't avoid, mostly for good public health reasons. After that it is a money grab. My Dad passed back in '08 and I was with my brother and mom for the arrangements. It made me furious what they were doing to my mom, but she wanted to do it all as it was "what was expected". Now it didn't ruin her financially but it is a total waste of money and is truly the lowest form of taking advantage of people. When I am ready to go? Put a bullet in my head and push me in the river. $0.50. I/we will do it for my mom when she goes as it will be what she wants, but never again after that.

Mokelly I am sorry about your father. Been there and know how much it hurts even though he was in so much pain at the time that it "was for the best" in our case.

 

[Torvy]

Sorry for your loss, @MoKelly . Mom and dad are both living their 90th year. There are four of us 'kids' and while I know they have mad arrangements, I am the last one to know...I'm in the middle. My dad sounds like yours...he's originally from Missouri, so maybe that's why. I appreciate you sharing the details. I remember growing up, the undertakers were some of the wealthiest people in town. For them, business is always at least steady. Pax Domini.

I told my wife and kids, to just do whatever is cheapest. I'll be dead and will not care. It is probably time for us to prearrange something more formal.

 

[Wagtail]

I'm afraid this is a hot button with me. I see funeral parlors as total scams. They suck money out of people when they are most vulnerable. You don't really need any of this. The state has some requirements you can't avoid, mostly for good public health reasons. After that it is a money grab. My Dad passed back in '08 and I was with my brother and mom for the arrangements. It made me furious what they were doing to my mom, but she wanted to do it all as it was "what was expected". Now it didn't ruin her financially but it is a total waste of money and is truly the lowest form of taking advantage of people. When I am ready to go? Put a bullet in my head and push me in the river. $0.50. I/we will do it for my mom when she goes as it will be what she wants, but never again after that.

Mokelly I am sorry about your father. Been there and know how much it hurts even though he was in so much pain at the time that it "was for the best" in our case.

And that's my point of seeing/talking/arranging funerals when you're 'hale & hardy'; you're sound of mind.

My experience, as I posted earlier, was very pleasant. Yeah, almost A$7k, was a bit of a shock for a bare-bones cremation but it's done... none of us are getting out of here alive anyway.

Actually, the biggest problem will be in getting a proper Will drawn up. (Yet another thing that I need to 'get off my arse' and do)

 

[Jstpssng]

And that's my point of seeing/talking/arranging funerals when you're 'hale & hardy'; you're sound of mind.

My experience, as I posted earlier, was very pleasant. Yeah, almost A$7k, was a bit of a shock for a bare-bones cremation but it's done... none of us are getting out of here alive anyway.

Actually, the biggest problem will be in getting a proper Will drawn up. (Yet another thing that I need to 'get off my arse' and do)

The best things which you can do for your heirs are plan your funeral and write your will. The will is actually the easy part. Nobody wants to think about the other so we keep putting it off.

 

[Thomas]

Sorry for the loss of your father...special prayers.

My parents pass when in year of each other in jungle paper work and cost I never knew or heard of...lawyers,town,state wanted there piece of the pie.

 

[hugo454]

when my mom passed, she had it all prepaid.The only thing not included were the flowers at the wake.Needless to say that afterwards,I made sure that the wife and I had already prepaid for our funerals and there will be no cost imposed upon our survivors.

 

[ultrarunner]

Have not been to a funeral in quite sometime as the deceased did not want funerals... many had Neptune society cremations or family spread ashes...

Grandmother did preplanning and bought a family niche that can hold a lot of ashes and overtime I came to realize it is the gift that keeps giving...

She consolidated various scattered urns and as kids we often would visit with her...

More than a few elaborate funerals never materialized due to Covid and I wonder what happens to the 20k funeral when not physically able to perform?

 

[Hay Dude]

Mo, sorry for the loss of your dad. Lost my dad about 8 years ago and still think of him. The funeral business is quite a racket. Your dad was a smart man to leave money for funeral expenses.
You are going through a tough time between the grief and the detailed task of a burial.
May God Bless your father and your family in this difficult time.

 

[MoKelly]

Thanks to all for the kind words.

Today is the funeral. All 5 of my younger sisters are here. That is a real blessing.

My Dad left a will. Simple but well thought out.

That is the next chapter - executing the will.

Thanks again everyone.

MoKelly