|
FUNERAL CONSUMERS ALLIANCE OF PRINCETON, N.J.
50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton, NJ 08540
Funeral Consumers Alliance of Princeton
What
are the services that are compared?
How to get your free PDF reader if you don't already have one.
Basic Services – The
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) allows the funeral home (FH) to set a
nondeclineable fee for professional services. Unless you pick a package
(Immediate Burial or Direct Cremation) you will be charged this fee in addition
to the cost of the funeral goods and services you select. The fee covers the
funeral director's (FD) time helping you plan, making arrangements with the
cemetery/crematory, obtaining required permits, filing obituaries, and other
"unallocated overhead."
Direct Cremation – This is a package required
by the FTC. It includes the basic services of the FD and staff, local (mileage
varies) transfer of the body to the FH, basic sheltering of remains, obtaining
necessary permits, and transportation to the crematory. Our example assumes that
you provide your own container though you can buy an alternative container from
the FH. Use of the facilities/staff for visitation or ceremony, public or
private, prior to burial, or more than normal sheltering will incur additional
charges. Note: The $200 - $400 crematory fee for the cremation is not
included in this price. Immediate
Burial – This is a package required by the FTC. It includes the basic
services of the FD and staff, local (mileage varies) transfer of the body to the
FH, basic sheltering of remains, obtaining necessary permits, and local
transportation to the cemetery. Our example assumes that you provide your own
casket. Use of the facilities/staff for any visitation or ceremony, public or
private, prior to burial, or more than normal sheltering will incur additional
charges. The gravesite, opening and closing the grave, a grave liner, and
headstone are also additional charges (some by FH, some by cemetery).
Alternative Container – This is price for the
one offered by the funeral home; usually fiberboard, composite, or plywood. You
can buy one from the funeral home or online. You can use one made from sturdy
cardboard that can be beautifully personalized (example: http://www.ecocoffins.com/Natural.htm).
Casket – Make one from a kit, buy one on line,
or choose an inexpensive one and cover it with a flag, quilt, or religious
shroud. Caskets have a high mark up and you can save hundreds or thousands of
dollars buying online (search “discount casket”). The FH cannot charge you a
handling fee if you buy elsewhere.
Vault – Outer burial containers (least
expensive are usually called grave liners) can be as expensive and as fancy as
caskets. This box for your box keeps the ground from settling after burial so
the cemetery can enjoy easy mowing. No law requires an outer burial container,
but the cemetery can. You can ask that the liner be placed upside down if you
would like a greener option and to return to the earth.
Urn – Make one, buy one online or use any
lidded container (ask us for ideas).
Forwarding and Receiving Remains – Packages
required by the FTC. Charge for handling of a body to be shipped out of the area
(shipping cost is extra) or the charge for receiving a body from out of the area
to be buried or cremated locally. Many funeral homes contract with Inman’s who
provides this service to the funeral home for only about $850 (see
Death Away from Home at www.funerals.org).
Embalming and Viewing – You are legally
permitted to have a viewing and funeral service at home (see PBS’s A Family
Undertaking), though you will still need a FD for paperwork and to transport
the body to the cemetery or crematory. Consider having a private family viewing
and not having the body embalmed. Embalming is an invasive procedure that is not
required by NJ law provided burial, cremation or refrigeration takes place
within 48 hours. No public health authority recognizes any public health risks
to viewing unembalmed bodies. Some bodies look better embalmed, but most look
just fine without it.
Funeral, Graveside, Memorial Service – You can
have a funeral at a funeral home, a religious institution, or graveside. A
memorial service can be held anywhere and you do not need a FD. Consider
whether or not you will be physically using the FH. If you are having a church
ceremony, graveside service, a funeral or memorial service at a religious
institution or club, you do not need a local FH and are free to
pick the least expensive one. You only need a local FH if you are planning to
have a viewing.
Cash Advances – Extra “pass through” charges
for the clergy, organist, obituaries, extra flowers, crematory fee, etc. Some
FHs add a fee for arranging these, but the FTC requires that they disclose that,
as well as if they get a refund, discount, or rebate from the supplier of any
cash advance item. When a FD says "We'll take care of everything" you might end
up paying more. While it may meet your needs to let the FH make these
arrangements for you, know that you have the right to do most of it yourself.
The amount you spend on funeral goods and services is
in no way related to the love you felt for the deceased. Most FDs are
compassionate, caring people, but they are also salespeople. Do not work
with a FD who appeals to feelings of guilt, family pride or social pressure
to persuade you to spend more.
Be an informed consumer and plan ahead (we
discourage pre-paying unless for Medicaid – contact us for more
information). Most people have more knowledge about how to buy a car or a
major appliance than a funeral, and most purchase their first when they are
in the throes of grief after a loved one has died. Those feelings can make
anyone vulnerable and unable to make clearheaded decisions.
We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Call us
for free information and advice you can trust!
| ||||||||||||||||||
