Lately I've been doing some research on the costs of dying, or what costs you'll immediately incur should a loved one die suddenly.

I remember when my grandmother (Phyllis Read) passed away, age 83, back in 1995 my dad arranged the funeral.. I didn't ask about the cost detail of the funeral, as I didn't feel it was appropriate to ask. My dad mentioned that the sandwiches, dainties and coffee for the family and friends visiting, cost upwards of $3,500. I looked around and saw maybe 200 sandwiches, and a couple pots of coffee.

I wasn't about to ask my dad if he haggled prices for these funeral services. His mother had just passed away. That's the angle that the funeral companies don't mind.

I don't think my grandmother had life insurance, but she did have savings in place to cover all costs.

My dad said in passing that, "this is what she wanted as her last request. A nice funeral where friends and family would be gathered." My dad didn't spare any expenses out of complete respect for his mother.

I never forgot about those exhorbitant funeral expenses, and was reminded about them again today.

How many people think about funeral expenses. I get a feeling that most people don't do "funeral shopping" until after the loved one dies.

The immediate need for knowing funeral costs comes at the same time as compiling information about the loved one. Compiling the basic records of life like military service records, social security numbers, life insurance policies, mother's maiden name, divorce or wedding documents, etc. is an ordeal we avoid whenever possible. When death occurs avoidance is no longer possible - there is an immediate need for those records.

Articles from December 2006
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