Funeral Homes Savings

At funerals in Glendale, AZ funeral homes, there are many ways that you can have a very nice funeral and still save money on the final expenses. A typical traditional funeral can cost between $7,500 and $10,000. Ask for an itemized list of costs for the funeral service, so that you can see what’s included and discuss areas of saving with the funeral director. 

If the deceased person prepaid the funeral home, then you should not owe anything more. If the deceased person had a burial insurance policy, then, depending on the amount of the insurance policy, some or most of the funeral costs will be covered, with you and your family owing the funeral home any outstanding balance. However, if there was no prepayment or burial insurance policy, then you and your family will be responsible for all the final expenses. 

One area of funeral home savings is choosing a military funeral. If the deceased person was an honorably-discharged veteran, a military funeral includes free burial at a national cemetery or state park, presentation of the American flag, playing of Taps, and a free grave marker or headstone. Additionally, many times spouses of the military veteran are also entitled to free burial in the national cemetery or state park.  

To start the process of a military funeral, make a copy – never give away the original – of the deceased person’s DD-214 (military discharge orders) and give it to the funeral director. The funeral home will coordinate the rest of the service with the Veterans Administration. 

Another way to get funeral home savings is to buy a casket from a big-box retailer, like Walmart, or wholesaler, like Costco, instead of from the funeral home. If you choose to buy a casket from the funeral home, ask them to show you the least expensive caskets. No more what the cost of the casket, there won’t be an ugly one to be found, so you can get a very nice-looking casket for less dollars if you go with the least expensive ones. 

Another way to save money on a funeral is to skip embalming. There is no state that mandates embalming. The only thing a body needs to stop decomposition is extreme cold, so the funeral home can store the body until the funeral and burial.  

However, you should be aware that one part of the embalming process includes restoration of the body to a more normal appearance. Death can contort features and is often not very pretty. So, if you choose not to embalm, you should opt for a closed casket funeral. 

The cemetery where the deceased person will be buried may require a protective liner or a vault for burying the casket. Choose the least expensive option for funeral savings if you have to purchase one of these. 

Another way to save money on a funeral is to get cremated remains returned to you in a plain metal or plastic container. You can then purchase your own urn at a much-lower price to store the cremains until final disposal. 

A final way to save money on a funeral is to not buy new clothes for the deceased person. Funeral homes are able to take clothes that may be a size too small or a size too big and make them fit. Bring whatever clothes would be appropriate for the deceased person from home and let the funeral home do what they do best for your loved one. 

If you’d like to know more about funeral savings at Glendale, AZ funeral homes, you can speak with our empathetic and seasoned staff at Simply Cremation & Funeral Arrangements. You can also come to our funeral home at 16952 W. Bell Rd., #303, Surprise, AZ, 85374, or you can contact us today at (623) 975-9393.