Funeral costs

[Magicfloat]

Hope y'all don't think this is improper here,if so I will delete,but I think I can ask my SOS friends most anything. Took my elderly first cousin for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday,she brought up the subject of her funeral.She wants to put some money in a bank account with my name on it,to cover all her funeral costs,and she asked me how much she should deposit. This is a little out of my realm of expertise,so I called the local funeral home that buried both of her parents years ago. The guy was a little vague,I told him basic funeral,no upgrades,my cousin would never waste money on her funeral. He said basic 7-9K ,upgrades could run it to 10-15K.I asked a couple of friends who said 6K should do it. She owns her own burial plot,and bear in mind this is Alabama,we are cheaper on a lot of things.Anyone care to comment? She was thinking put 15K in the account,and what ever I can save,donate to charity.

 

[Airpacker]

I think I like your cousin's style. Don't leave someone on the hook for it. Do it as cheaply as possible and give the rest to charity. Thats a good woman

 

[pullmytrigger]

geez......in the last few yrs we have buried my Mom and then my Dad......they had the same set up as your cousin......you can do a nice job for 6k ish, around here at least..... some more for a tombstone....doug

 

[ImaPoser]

I think I like your cousin's style. Don't leave someone on the hook for it. Do it as cheaply as possible and give the rest to charity. Thats a good woman

Yep. Sounds like a great plan. $15K should be more than enough to cover it.
If she wanted to, she could go and plan and prepay for it completely now. After my dad's funeral this year, and seeing how everything is done while under emotional distress, my mom decided to go ahead and plan hers completely so we don't have to once she dies.

 

[MahopacMarine]

I buried my Grandmother over the summer. We had prepaid about 6 years ago and gave them $8500. We recieved a check for $1500 in overpayment due to a very basic funeral.

We then used that for the dinner and food afterwards, along with travel expenses.

I would say to prepay and it should run about 8-10k IMO.

 

[Chris]

They can put you un-enbalmed in a fiberboard box if you want. That's even more than I'd want to see spent on me.

In fact, my ideal would be to have a big party and a Viking burial- push me out to sea in a burning hulk of a boat.

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Just throw my ashes out with the green flag at the next race.

 

[Tony]

I like the thought of roasting my sorry azz, dump half the ashes over the reef in the Keys, and the other half during a tripple digit flyby past the KI Casino.

 

[Magicfloat]

Karen knows to cremate me and scatter my ashes on the lake in front of our lake home,it's pretty low cost. But my cousin is 81 years old,already has a burial plot next to her parents. Traditional funeral is the only way for her,and I respect that. Just don't trust funeral directors at all,I think negotiating a prepay may be the way to go.I will have to do it for her,it's her money,but she trusts me. Whatever I save her will go to her favorite charity,and I know she will like that. But it sucks that negotiation is necessary for something like this.

 

[MarylandMark]

$10K for every thing including the plot bought that week for a basic service around my parts.

Try going green- http://www.greenburials.org/

Here's my route: http://www.eternalreefs.com/

 

[Expensive Date]

I would be scared to prepay there was a funeral parlor next to one of my stops and when he did not have a funeral the owner used to let me park my truck there.He was always complaining how bad business was and he is now closed.What happens if she outlives the funeral home.? I would imagine that 15k would more than cover it.Like most of you I want to be cremated and dumped of of Long Beach Island I just hope I don't wind up in someones strainers

 

[stecz20]

They can put you un-enbalmed in a fiberboard box if you want. That's even more than I'd want to see spent on me.

In fact, my ideal would be to have a big party and a Viking burial- push me out to sea in a burning hulk of a boat.

i can have that arranged for you... if dave every makes one of those planters sea worthy, ill do it on one of your cigs for you.. now thats going out in style....... who loves ya stunkin....

 

[PARADOX]

Nice to have some "unselfish" thoughts.
Do the funeral as economical as possible and spend the $ on a great party after. The rest to charity sounds good.

I will walk to my own funeral, dig the hole and jump in. I don't want a dime spend on my demise. Live it up while you can is my thought.

 

[Bobcat]

In fact, my ideal would be to have a big party and a Viking burial- push me out to sea in a burning hulk of a boat.

i can have that arranged for you... if dave every makes one of those planters sea worthy, ill do it on one of your cigs for you.. now thats going out in style....... who loves ya stunkin....

I am free this thursday, lets make it happen:seeya:

 

[Racegirl3]

I am free this thursday, lets make it happen:seeya:

I dont think Dave can have the boat ready by then :blush5:

 

[phragle]

I dont think Dave can have the boat ready by then :blush5:

never doubt Dave, he always comes thru..... wait..I just gave him that shipsim game the other day, so I think he is busy trying to figure out how to get a supertanker airborn.... :26:

 

[Offshoredrillin]

I went through this when my mom passed, looking at the coffins and such, chrome handles 200 more, i looked at the guy and asked if he really thought my mom wanted me to pimp her last ride, he didnt say much after that...as for me, my daughter knows to cremate me, put me in a big miller lite bottle and set me on the mantle.

 

[BUIZILLA]

I just went through this with my bro-in-law....

had a real nice viewing, service, and cremation, was about 8k all done, very fair and well done, I can't imagine it going north of that..

 

[Blue Oval]

Lost my Father in 2005 and Mother in 2008.You might want to talk to your accountant about the money with your name on it.Even if you are marking it for a funeral you want to do it write on paper.Not cool giving any of it to the goverment!It stinks!

 

[getchasum111]

I just went through this with my bro-in-law....

had a real nice viewing, service, and cremation, was about 8k all done, very fair and well done, I can't imagine it going north of that..

i have always said that i wanted to be cremated and tossed into LOTO....i am looking to relocate there in the spring....i have always considered LOTO home...but have not been there in 20 years....