Simple and Inexpensive Final FarewellsWATCH SEGMENT ON KFOR-TV With the average cost of a full-service funeral running around $11,000 today, many people are seeking simple ways to make their final farewell more affordable. Depending on how you want to go, here are several low-cost ways you can make it happen.
Direct Cremation Depending on where you live and the funeral home you choose, the average cost for a direct cremation runs between $1,000 and $3,000. If you want additional services beyond what a direct cremation offers, ask the funeral home for an itemized price list that covers the other services cost, so you know exactly what you’re getting. All providers are required by law to provide this. To locate nearby funeral homes, look in your local yellow pages, or Google “cremation” or “funeral” followed by your city and state. You can also get good information online at Parting.com, which lets you compare prices from funeral providers in your area based on what you want.
Immediate or Direct Burial If your family wants a memorial service, they can have it at the graveside at your place of worship or at home without the body. These services usually cost between $1,800 and $3,500, not counting cemetery charges, which can run you an additional $1,000 to $3,000. All funeral homes offer direct burial.
Green Burial The Green Burial Council (GreenBurialCouncil.org, 888-966-3330) has a state listing of cemetery operators who accommodate green burials, as well as funeral professionals who provide the services.
Anatomical Donation After using your body for medical research projects, anatomy lessons and surgical practice, your remains will be cremated and your ashes will be buried or scattered in a local cemetery or returned to your family, usually within a year. Most programs are offered by university-affiliated medical schools. To make arrangements in central Oklahoma, contact the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Willed Body Program in Oklahoma City at 405-271-2424 ext. 0. |