Just back from the funeral home, feedback requested

[myrdale]

The funeral industrial is an absolutely horrible rip off.

When my father died, and we went into discuss details, I had to talk the guy down from a $8000 casket to a $3000 casket. When I asked about if they had anything cheaper he wouldn't give me a straight answer, but my mother was more or less satisfied so that is what we went with.

Afterwards my mother decided she wanted to spend $10k on a pre-planned arrangement. My sister and I talked her out of it. At 60, she hopefully has +30 years ahead of her and she can keep that money in the bank for her needs.

An interesting channel on youtube is Ask A Mortician. The lady talks ALOT about the problems in the funeral industry.

Lastly I have heard about funeral coops, though I do not have any details. Basically you end up paying half or less for the funeral. Again I do not have details.

Also if the person wants to be cremated, keep in mind there are rental caskets they basically can place around the paper box you are finally cremated in rather than purchasing a fancy wooden casket.

For the most part, embalming is not required by law, despite what they may tell you. You can look at preparing the body (washing, clothing, hair) yourself or do home funerals.

Ultimately though most people choose to pay $12k and let someone else do it all for them.

[myrdale]

If I were to be cremated, I really don't care what happens to my ashes. It's not about me at that point. It's about my family, what would be meaningful to them. I don't want to dictate that they put me somewhere that we all loved to go and have that ruin that place for them.

This hit the nail on the head. Regardless of what I want done to me, everything that happens after I die is done for my family. "You" become their property.

I'll be just as dead at my funeral as I was at the hospital morgue two days prior and as I will be in the grave in a 150 years when they plow my tombstone over to build a Walmart.

[FLA]

I want to be cremated, with no wake or funeral, I want to keep costs as low as possible so my kids can keep as much of my money as is reasonable. I'd like a luncheon or dinner where my chaplain friend says a few words, offers to let anyone else speak if they wish and then turn it into a more celebration of life atmosphere. As for my remains, my kids can do what they want but I, too want to be kept in one spot- an urn or dumped in one place. If they dump me somewhere, I'd like to be mixed in with all my dogs' ashes. We have kept them over the years, never quite sure what to do with them but everyone agrees they go with me because I'm the dog lover in the family. I hope my children mature before I die because the way they are now, I'll probably get lost in a move or something, lol