As families experience the loss of a loved one, They are suddenly faced with many time sensitive decisions. Do I need to embalm? Should I Cremate? How will I afford all of this? They ask themselves these questions, as they remind themselves what Dad talked about regarding his final wishes, doing their best to accommodate. It’s reasonable to see why cost is generally one of the first considerations. The sad fact is, that families are more often concerned about what they can afford, than how to choose a tribute that best honors and memorializes their dearly departed. Traditional funeral home pricing has risen drastically over a relatively short period of time. Funeral homes have doubled their prices over the past 10-15 years. Why has this happened? If you ask a funeral home, the answer would be…”our overhead”. We’ll look more closely at funeral home overhead later, for now it’s important for families to understand that there are cost efficient ways of final disposition, that won’t break the bank.
Without exception, burial services are more expensive than cremation, primarily due to the purchase of a casket. The cost conscious consumer should explore their options regarding cremation. Cremation doesn’t mean that you can’t be buried. In fact, many cremation families choose to have their loved one’s ashes taken to the cemetery and buried. This eliminates the issue for the family struggling with the idea of cremation when Dad always wanted to be buried. Survivors should always be mindful that they are just that…survivors. Dad would have never wanted to hear of the family allowing a financial hardship to take care of his service arrangements.
Memorial services are for the living. They are a very necessary part of the grieving process, and help point families in a healthy direction in dealing with their loss. That said, grieving loved ones shouldn’t have to go into debt as they are planning a fitting tribute either. Cremation, specifically on line or internet cremation is the most cost effective way for families to respectfully allow for final disposition, and plan for a much needed memorial celebration on their own, or with their church. As hundreds more families realize every year, cremation is the most logical, cost effective choice, and may turn out to be a positive aspect to a seemingly unbearable situation. Families should all explore their options, and learn more about the revolutionary idea of cremation on line.
