If you don't go to other men's funerals, they won't go to yours.
       Clarence Day

 

Seven Ways To Reduce 
Costs Of A Funeral Service

There are a number of ways to reduce costs and still fully celebrate the life of the deceased with family and friends:

1.  Shop for price.

Don't think making price comparisons is undignified.  You will discover an extraordinary variance in price for cremations, caskets, cemetery plots, chapels and funeral services.  Here are some invaluable aids:

  • Caskets.   You'll never be able to remember all the wood grains or which one had the nice handles.  Be specific about the EXACT MODEL NUMBER.  Is it worth the effort?  Well, you might spend $2,000 to $6,000 more for the same casket if you don't compare price between two or more providers.

  • Cremations.  Be sure to ask for the FULL and  ITEMIZED price from the provider, including GST.  Remember, the cremation fee itself is only one part of the price.  There are the transfer and sheltering of the body, documentation, sometimes mileage fees, and other charges.

  • Cemetery Plots.  A lot in a public or municipal cemetery will save you as much as 50% compared to a plot in a private cemetery.  See Cemeteries for details.

  • Funeral Services.  To compare price, it is critical to know specifically what you want to include in the funeral service: flowers, viewing, soloists, limousines, grave liners, embalming or not, and the many other details a provider is responsible for.  Compare 'oranges to oranges' and always ask for the ITEMIZED and COMPLETE TOTAL PRICE including GST.

  • Negotiating.  The provider must submit a list of all prices to the B.C. Ministry of Attorney General and must show you this list on request.  However, the provider can charge MORE or LESS than those prices, depending on your awareness of the process.  Be realistic:  it's unlikely providers offering Immediate Disposition (about $750 to $965) on this site will lower those prices, but a company asking for many thousands of dollars probably will.

2. Eliminate emotion.  If the task of 'shopping' is too difficult for you to handle emotionally, give the task to someone less encumbered and better at negotiating price.

3.  Rent the casket.  There are often restrictions but many funeral providers offer rental caskets at about half the purchase price.  Following the service, the inner lining of the casket is removed along with the remains for burial or cremation.  (Note: Oliveira Funeral Home, (604) 942-7920, in Port Coquitlam provides a casket for viewing before cremation at no cost.)

4.  Choose a place of worship.  Even if you are not a regular member, an appropriate place of worship within your faith may be financially, as well as an emotionally, advantageous.  (In addition to the funeral provider, you will also have access to the experience and comfort of a man or woman of faith to guide you through this difficult passage.)

5.  Choose the grave liner option.  Cemetery bylaws often  require the casket, once inside the grave, to be sheltered by either a Grave Liner or a Vault to prevent the ground above it from settling.   

  • The grave liner acts like a half-shell overtop the casket.  It is normally made of Fiberglas or concrete and will not decay.  The best price is about $500.

  • The vault seals the casket inside it.  It is normally made of concrete and will not decay.  The best price is about $1300. 

6.  Do not buy a 'protective' casket.  A protective casket is constructed of steel of various thickness.  A rubber gasket is used to seal the interior of the casket to resist the entry of air and water.  People most often purchase a protective casket for 'peace of mind'.  Even that, however, does not seem to be a good reason to pay the very extra cost.

  • Most often the protective casket carries only a warranty (not a guarantee), which means if ever the casket is exhumed and found to contain water, it will be replaced (which, of course, would be far too late to save the remains from water damage).  

  • Unfortunately, when the rubber gasket works, the absence of air inside the casket prevents the body from decomposing naturally.  There is considerable controversy about this product.

7.  Let friends help.  Friends will ask sincerely, "Is there anything I can do to help?"   Many friends seriously want to help and will find comfort in being able to assist you.  Let them.  There are many things they can do:

  • Organize food, reducing or saving the cost of a caterer.

  • Create and print Remembrance Programs.  Friends with computers have software that allows them easily to create greeting cards and personalized programs, eliminating printing and card stock costs.

  • Drive and pick-up guests, thereby reducing limousine and other car rentals.

  • Email out-of-town visitors with local maps of the funeral and/or cemetery location, reception venues, etc.  

Remember that the funeral provider's overhead is definitely a factor.  Many people find beautiful surroundings comforting and appropriate to their sense of style.  It is a question of choice:  compare an elegant Michelin four-star hotel  to a comfortable Ramada Inn and there is naturally a difference in price.  Back.