2019 Best Average Cost of a Funeral GUIDE
2019 Best Average Cost of a Funeral GUIDE
The funeral is a ceremony of proven worth and value for those who mourn.
It provides an opportunity for the survivors and others who share in the loss to express their love, respect and grief.
It permits facing openly and realistically the crisis that death may present.
Through the funeral, the bereaved take that first step towards emotional adjustment to their loss.
2019 Average Cost of a Funeral
A full-service funeral, consumers choose to spend an average of $10,000.
This includes all professional services, including transfer-of remains, embalming, and other preparation; use of viewing facilities and the facilities for the ceremony; hearse, limousine, and the purchase of a casket.
Funeral homes, cemeteries and other service providers expect to receive payment in full at the time of the funeral.
With the average cost of a funeral around $10,000 in the United States for example, it can be a hardship if you have not planned ahead for this expenditure.
There are several ways to manage your funeral costs and spare loved ones the financial burden.
The first step in managing funeral expenses is to do some advance funeral planning.
At a minimum, you need a basic funeral plan to determine your expected funeral price.
2019 Average cost of a Funeral Planning
What type of service should I have?
Only you can answer that question.
The type of service conducted for the deceased, if not noted in a pre-plan, is decided by the family.
The service is usually held at a place of worship or at the funeral home.
The service may vary in ritual according to religious denomination or the wishes of the family.
The presence of friends at this time is an acknowledgment of friendship and support.
A private service is by invitation only where selected relatives and a few close friends attend the funeral service.
A memorial service is usually a service without the body present and can vary in ceremony and procedures according to the family’s community and religious affiliations.
Why should we have a public viewing?
There are many reasons to view the deceased.
It is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions, and many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process, by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death.
Viewing is even encouraged for children, as long as it is their desire to do so, and the process is explained well.
Why do we need an obituary notice?
It is helpful to friends and the community to have an obituary notice published announcing the death and type of service to be held.
A notice can be placed in a local newspaper, or on the Internet.
What is the purpose of embalming?
Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness.
It makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.
Embalming the body enables mourners to view the deceased if they wish.
The emotional benefits of viewing the deceased are enormous, particularly to those having difficulty dealing with the death.
Is embalming mandatory by law?
No. But, certain factors of time, health and possible legal requirements might make embalming either appropriate or necessary.
Please note that embalming may be required if the deceased is being transported by air to another country where local laws need be observed.
Is cremation a substitute for a funeral?
No, cremation is an alternative to earth burial or entombment for the body’s final disposition and often follows a traditional funeral service.
Why are funerals so expensive?
In some respects, funerals are a lot like weddings or birthday celebrations.
The type and cost will vary according to the tastes and budget of the consumer.
Not only that, a funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, with extensive facilities (viewing rooms, chapels, limousines, hearses, etc.), these expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral.
Moreover, the cost of a funeral includes not only merchandise, like caskets, but the services of a funeral director in making arrangements; filing appropriate forms; dealing with doctors, ministers, florists, newspapers and others; and seeing to all the necessary details.
Contrary to popular belief, funeral homes are largely family-owned with a modest profit margin.
Average cost of a funeral in the USA breakdown:
Traditional Funeral with Service $5,992
Direct Burial (No Service) $3010
Cremation with Service $4155
Direct Cremation (No Service) $2064
Remember, these figures don’t include the cost of the casket or vault, or the opening of the grave site.
Two additional items to consider when looking at these numbers:
- The cost of the grave space, if not already purchased in advance, can add significantly to the overall costs. Graves spaces can range from $1,000 to as high as $4,000.
- If the deceased must be transported to or from another funeral home, you can expect to pay anywhere from a low of $1,500 to over $4,000 from one of the funeral homes I visited.
Funeral costs overall are expected to climb about 7% per year.
This means that over a 10 year period, these numbers could potentially double.
Competitive pressure will suppress some of this growth in costs, but if you are planning for the future, inflation must be accounted for.
How Much Will Your Funeral Cost?
Based on my research, if you are planning on a full ceremony, you should have at least $10,000 to $15,000 in funds available to your family. If a direct burial, without visitation and use of the funeral home and staff is your choice, then a budget of about $6,000 – $7,000 should be sufficient.
If it’s your desire to be cremated, you should plan on having $3,000 to $5,000 in designated cash to carry out your final wishes.
What’s the Best Way to Pay for Funeral?
You can save the money yourself, use existing accounts or simply leave the cost to someone else to worry about.
But if you want the financial burden associated with your demise to be lifted from your family’s shoulders, a life insurance policy will provide a tax-free, 100% liquid, lump sum that will be available when it’s most needed.
Get a free Funeral Life Insurance Quote HERE!
Call us today at (813) 964-7100 or 716-565-1300 for more information on a Final Expense Life Insurance policy.
Visit www.MintcoFinancial.com for more info.
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