Although rates of advance funeral planning are on the rise, the majority of people aren’t financially prepared to pay for a funeral. With a price tag of anywhere from a few thousand to up to $10,000, it’s not easy to come up with the money necessary to make the final arrangements—especially if you’re forced to wait weeks or even months for a life insurance policy to pay out.
Posts Tagged ‘cremation’
Burial or Cremation? Making the Difficult Decisions
Sunday, May 27th, 2012
In the past, funeral planning was almost entirely done with traditional burial in mind. This time-honored approach to saying goodbye has long been a staple of the funeral industry in the United States, taking precedence over all other forms of interment.
These days, cremation is growing in popularity. In fact, in some states, there are more cremations than burials—and the trend is only increasing. If you’re not sure which option is right for you, consider a few of these key advantages and disadvantages of burial versus cremation.
iMortuary’s team includes funeral professionals to help you outline your wishes and understand prices and your financial options. Simply complete our brief online form to begin this no-obligation conversation. After you talk with us, we assist you with finalizing pre-payments or filing your arrangements with a funeral home.
Choosing a Casket
Thursday, May 10th, 2012
One of the first decisions you’ll make if you opted for traditional burial as part of your funeral planning efforts is which casket you’d like. Some funeral homes offer burial packages, and you choose a casket from a select number of options in that package.
You can also choose a casket based on personal preference or even buy one through a third-party vendor (which funeral homes are then legally obligated to use). For more in depth planning guidance, download our guide, “7 Insider Tips You Need to Know Before Funeral Planning.” One of our 7 tips covers the upsides of having the funeral home order your casket.
In most cases, the decision of which casket to use is based on how they look or the materials they’re made out of. However, there is more to them than just aesthetics. If you’re selecting a casket for a loved one or for your own pre-planned funeral, here are a few considerations.
Why You Should Pre-Plan Your Funeral if You Want to Be Cremated
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
Funeral planning is one of the most personal and difficult things that anyone undertakes. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the funeral of a parent, a child, a brother, or a spouse—making the decisions that will lay your loved one to rest for all of eternity is something no one can be prepared to face.
Funeral traditions, those often somber practices that include ornate caskets, reverent music, and religious eulogies, exist to help those decisions become easier to make. There is a small measure of comfort to be derived from knowing that your loved one is following the same path that millions of people have traversed before.
How to Plan an Ash Scattering Ceremony
Monday, March 19th, 2012
One of the primary reasons people choose cremation for their funeral plans is because there is much more flexibility in where, how, and when you dispose of the final remains.
Because cremains can remain in an urn or in a box for years before you make any decisions about how you want them to be scattered or buried, you have the luxury of time. This means you can plan a grand ceremony in keeping with your memories of the deceased or even wait until the entire family can gather to provide a proper send off.
Funerals and the Baby Boomer Generation
Saturday, March 10th, 2012
It comes as no surprise for most people to discover that funeral planning traditions stem from the lives and viewpoints of older generations. The reason so many of the services offered through a funeral home are geared toward those with conservative views is that the largest percentage of their clientele is part of an aging population.
As Baby Boomers move to the forefront in terms of funeral pre-plans, and start organizing memorial services for their parents, themselves, and loved ones, there will be a shift away from many of the tried-and-true methods of the past.
What to Do if There isn’t a Funeral Home in Your Area
Monday, March 5th, 2012
When most people talk about funeral planning, they assume that you (or your loved ones) live in a city where funeral services are readily available. All metropolitan centers and mid-sized cities have several funeral homes to choose from, usually in a variety of religious denominations. However, as towns get smaller and more rural, there is a chance that your town won’t have a funeral home, a cemetery, a crematorium, or any other type of facility that can help you with the funeral planning process.
What is Bio Cremation?
Friday, March 2nd, 2012
When funeral planning, today’s consumers are faced with a variety of choices. Eco-friendly or traditional burial? Cremation or interment? Pre-plan package or funeral insurance? All these choices mean that there can be a large research component when it comes to making decisions—especially if you’re looking for something that is unique, cost-effective, or better for the planet.
Express Your Love with a Custom Cremation Urn
Friday, February 10th, 2012
By Melody Jamali, CEO of Une Belle Vie Memorial Urns
Oftentimes, when a loved one passes away and they are cremated, you may feel pressured to make a selection quickly so that the cremation urn will be delivered as soon as possible. Sometimes this results in urn selections that are not the right fit for the deceased. The fact of the matter is you do not have a deadline to select or create your loved one’s urn. Take all the time you need to make a selection that feels right. In fact, for a way to perfectly honor your family member’s life, why not commission a custom cremation urn? They may take longer to receive, but in the end, you’ll have a lasting memorial created just for your loved one.
Co-op Funeral Homes
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
These days, just about everything has an affordable alternative—and funeral planning is no different. Low-cost funerals have become something of a buzzword in recent years, offering people a chance to say goodbye to their loved ones in a way that doesn’t put a strain on their personal finances.
There are many different ways to save money on funeral planning, including direct burial options, cremation, and funeral pre-plan packages. Another new trend that hasn’t yet caught on everywhere is a co-op funeral home.
