What Determines The Cost of a Funeral?

There are many factors that will determine the cost of a funeral. Just as with other life rituals such as weddings, the cost will depend on how elaborate or how simple a ceremony the family or individual chooses.

The average cost of a wedding in the midwest ranges from $10,000 to $15,000. While the average cost of a funeral is $5,000 to $6,000.

Funerals and the personalized rituals which a family or individual choose to memorialize a life are arranged and conducted by specially trained, licensed funeral directors. The funeral director will provide a description of the options available and what they cost during the first family meeting or when an individual is preplanning a funeral. It is entirely up to the family or individual to make selections that will best meet their expectations.

In addition to the basic elements of removing the deceased from the place of death and caring for the body, the funeral director arranges all details of the funeral service:

• Helping families tailor the services to meet their emotional and economic needs
• Contacting clergy and arranging an appropriate time and place for the services
• Writing and distributing obituaries
• Contacting the cemetery/crematory, sexton, florists, fraternal organizations, memorial gift organizations, etc.
• Preparing all legal documents (death certificates, burial transit permits/cremation permits, social security and Veterans Administration benefits, and in some instances filing insurance paperwork)
• Providing an emotionally and spiritually comforting environment for visitation and life celebration services
• Transporting of family and friends in a funeral procession to the place of final disposition