For a Christian, death brings hope — hope of eternal life promised through faith in Jesus Christ. Death also brings pain — the pain of loss and loneliness.
One key to avoiding unnecessary pain and heartache, both for Christians and others, is to work with a reputable funeral home in making funeral arrangements. Christians are no less prone than others when it comes to making mistakes while planning a funeral. Regardless of one’s experiences with other funerals, each event needs to be carefully scrutinized officials say.
“Each funeral stands on its own, as far as need is concerned,” said Donald Boomershine, president of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Central Alabama.
In short, consumers need to remember an adage that applies to any business deal: Buyer beware.
William Counce, director of funeral service education at Jefferson State Communiy College in Birmingham, said there are people who will take advantage of others — even in the funeral industry.
Counce said consumers should shop around and make mental notes of things like funeral home reputations, services and prices.
“You do need to investigate the field of funeral service or post-death service providers,” Counce said. “Whether it’s a casket store, a funeral home, a memorial society — you need to go and see what’s good for you and what’s good for your family, those that will be left behind.”
Counce said the Federal Trade Commission has regulated the funeral industry since 1984. The regulations set requirements for providing price information, how prices are quoted, the manner in which information is presented to the public, etc.
“They (consumers) have the right to see what it costs, they have the right to compare prices — not only within the funeral home, but among funeral homes,” he said.
Boomershine said there are red flags consumers should be alert to when dealing with funeral homes.
“What we find, typically, in funeral homes is the fact that people are not aware — they don’t think in terms of funerals until the emergency exists,” he said.
One of the first warning signs Boomershine said to be wary of are pushy funeral home directors.
“They know that you have to make a decision, and they’re putting additional pressure on you,” Boomershine said. “You need to know before you go in, you need to know the background of the organization.”
Boomershine said consumers should investigate how long a funeral home has been in business and check with the BBB to see how they do business. The funeral home should also assure the consumer there will be no additional costs added later.
“When you go into a funeral home, it’s your decision,” said Tracy Bonner of Chapel Hill Funeral Home and Crematory in Anniston. “It’s nobody’s decision but yours to decide what you want.”
Bonner said there are regulations funeral homes must follow on burial and preparation of a body, but individuals should not be pressured into buying an expensive casket or vault they do not want or cannot afford.
“You want to feel comfortable with what you’ve chosen, and it’s your decision,” he said.
Boomershine said families should also investigate how cemeteries care for grave sites.
“That’s certainly a key factor, and you want to feel free and easy to visit the site,” Boomershine said. “And once you put flowers or whatever (at the grave), you’d like to feel certain that those flowers will be protected and your memorial will be protected from vandals and so forth. “And you need to know the perpetual care of that — how much is it and for how (long)?” he added.
Placement in the ground is not the only option for burials, with some families choosing mausoleums or crypts.
“It’s in the same ballpark but a little bit different angle, because there are a lot of people that feel more comfortable being above ground in a mausoleum type of atmosphere.
“But you need to know, again, the costs involved,” he said. “Not just the initial costs of that vault in a mausoleum, but is there a maintenance on it, and what is the long-term (plan)?”
Asserting “you don’t get anything for nothing these days,” Boomershine said consumers should employ sound judgment in weighing claims made by funeral homes.
“First of all, use good common sense. If it sounds too good to be true, it generally is,” Boomershine said.
He also cautions against always looking for the least expensive price when shopping for anything.
The rise in popularity of the Internet means consumers can purchase almost anything online. But the director of a Birmingham funeral home said families should think twice before purchasing items such as caskets or monuments via a computer.
“When you visit your local funeral home, you have the ability while you’re there to actually see what you’re purchasing and actually talk to the person that you’re purchasing from,” said John Deacy, vice president of Ridout’s Brown Service in Birmingham.
Deacy added that purchasing caskets and markers on the Internet is risky, because customers are uninformed about the quality of merchandise. Another consideration is that the item may not be available when it is needed.
Garland Brock, manager of Ridout’s Brown Service in Trussville, said purchasing from a local funeral home carries the advantage that the consumer is usually familiar with the funeral home’s reputation. “That’s got to have some value,” he said.
Funeral homes have a checklist that includes services such as preparation of a body and embalming. “All of these options have a price tag,” Boomershine said.
There are also options that range from the length of visitation to how many limousines will be used. “The more services, the more expensive. There’s just a numerous checklist of details,” Boomershine said.
Funeral costs
IMMEDIATE BURIAL
Approximately $3,500
- Includes basic costs such as $1,880 for pick up of the corpse, a basic casket and transportation to the cemetery; vault at $695; opening and closing of a grave that can run as much as $1,000.
- Not included are services not normally regarded as frivolous, such as visitation and a funeral service.
- A grave marker or monument will increase the cost $800-$1,000.
TRADITIONAL BURIAL
$6,000-7,000
- Includes removal of the body from the place of death, embalming, dressing the body, visitation, funeral service, a nice casket, transportation of the body to the cemetery, opening and closing of the grave.
- A grave marker will increase the cost $800-$1,000.
- A monument will increase the cost $2,000.
- The purchase of an urn will increase costs $85 to $1,495.
DIRECT CREMATION
$1,090
- Includes removal of the body from the place of death, transportation to a crematory, cremation and purchase of an unfinished particle board casket.
- The purchase of an urn will increase costs $85 to $1,495.
TRADITIONAL CREMATION
$3,045
- Includes removal of the body from the place of death, transportation to a crematory, cremation, visitation, funeral service, embalming (to make the body look nice for viewing) and a rental casket.
- The purchase of an urn can increase costs $85 to $1,495.
ADDITIONAL COSTS
Among the services or products that can increase the cost of a funeral or burial include:
- Quality of the casket.
- Size of the monument.
- Length of visitation.
- Number of floral arrangements.
- New clothing for the deceased.
- Transportation from another state or country.
- Use of additional limousines in the funeral procession.
- Transportation of the body from a location other than the funeral home for services.
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