Funerals: Will you be able to foot the bill for your final farewell?
Consumer Magazine (Research Report) - Robert Kelly
Published August 3, 2017
Dying can be an expensive business. On average, the cost of a funeral is about $10,000. But you can find yourself facing double that.
A sizeable chunk of a funeral bill is likely to be “professional services”. This is a catch-all fee charged by funeral directors that can include anything from filing paperwork to using the funeral home itself.
Other big items typically include burial plot fees and the cost of the coffin. Embalming, memorial programmes, hearse hire, catering and flowers also add to the price.
Most of us turn to a funeral director to sort out arrangements for a relative’s final farewell. Professional assistance can be helpful but you can minimise costs by taking on some tasks yourself. It’s up to you how involved you want a funeral director to be, if at all. There’s no legal requirement to use one.