When You’re Unprepared for the Cost of a Funeral
There may be many different reasons why, faced with a funeral, you just can’t meet your financial obligation. The reality is, this is not a DIY situation where you can skip using a funeral home to avoid the costs. So, what are your options?
For families in significant financial hardship there is government support to cover the cost of the cremation of the deceased. To qualify there are several criteria to be met and should you qualify your deceased loved one will be privately cremated. There is no option for a formal service but once you have the ashes returned to you, or even sooner, you are free to plan your personal farewell.
There are now funeral homes that offer a no-frills basic service that meets their legal obligations when a deceased person is placed in their care. These funeral homes are gaining in popularity as more people choose a “no-service-no-attendance” option and instead direct their funds towards a later celebration of life in whatever format suits them and their loved one. Personally, I’ve emceed some very meaningful and heartfelt tributes to loved ones where the atmosphere was warm, relaxed and many guests felt comfortable to speak publicly of their relationship with the deceased. Often, people are not so comfortable getting up to speak when it’s a formal service in a church or chapel.
Funeral homes also offer a “no-service-no-attendance” option but because they have more overheads than the funeral homes I’ve referred to above, you will pay more for this basic product. It will boil down to who you feel comfortable working with and entrusting the care of your deceased loved one. Connection and trust are key requirements for a seamless and professional outcome.
Before writing about this topic I met with one of the owners of a funeral home at which I do regular services so that I could understand what is feasible and what is not. I’m happy to report that there are funeral homes that may be sympathetic to your situation if you are in genuine hardship (but do not qualify for government assistance). They will sit down with you and negotiate a plan offering a few ways to keep the cost down. At the heart of it, it’s about give-and-take and if more of the world thought that way, we’d have a lot less strife going on!!
So, if you find yourself in this situation these are some of your options and the last one just requires you to reach out with honesty and a willingness to negotiate and compromise. I’m always here to personally recommend the people I know are willing to help. Just reach out.