Funerals are normally the last type of ceremony that people want to plan, due to the emotional and financial stress that they can cause. However, Funerals are part of life, and they can be some of the most beautiful ceremonies that people ever attend, because of the heart, love and care that is put into them. Whether you are planning a loved one's funeral who has just recently passed away, or you are looking into pre-planning a funeral for yourself, here are some thoughts that you might want to consider along the way.

Planning Funerals

Funerals do not have to be planned solely by the family and friends of the deceased, however it is probably a good idea if family members and friends participate in the planning of the ceremony. Most of the time, the kin of the family will employ the services of a funeral director, who will take away the stress of the planning by managing the paperwork that is required and handling all of the little details, like hiring a florist, if necessary. When family and friends participate in the planning stages of Funerals, more personalization can be added to the ceremonies. If you think about it, the different stages of Funerals are created for the family members and friends of the deceased, rather than the deceased person. In other words, the visitation of the body, the memorial or funeral service, and the service that is held beside the burial site are created to help family and friends with the grieving process.

Cost of Funerals

Unfortunately, one of the major things that families must consider when planning for the final disposal of a loved one is the cost of Funerals. Funerals can be the source of financial stress, on top of the grief and sorrow that families and friends are experiencing. The Federal Trade Commission stated that Funerals are one of the most expensive purchases that consumers will make in their lives.

According to the FTC, the traditional funeral, at just the bare minimum, can cost about $6,000. This did not include all of the extra added expenses of Funerals, such as the obituary notices, flowers, limousines, and thank you cards, which can add hundreds, if not thousands, to the cost of Funerals. The FTC also added that many Funerals could cost more than $10,000. This type of expenditure, for most families, is truly difficult to handle, especially when dealing with losing someone that they love.

Your Rights

Because people are not accustomed to purchasing funeral services on a normal basis, the FTC has set up a Rule for Funerals. It helps families understand their rights when purchasing funeral services. To make things more simplified for families, many funeral providers have come up with what are considered "funeral packages", where commonly chosen services and goods are packaged into one price. However, the FTC says that families have the right to buy the individual services and goods that they select, that way, people do not have to pay for certain parts of the packages that they are not interested in.

Here is what the FTC Rules for Funerals says:

• People have the right to select which funeral services and goods that they want, however there are very few exceptions to this rule.


• The general price list (GPL) from the funeral provider must state this right, or it must at least be stated in writing by the funeral provider.


• If there is a state or local law that requires people to purchase a specific item, this must be disclosed by the funeral provider on their GPL, and reference the particular law.


• If you decide to purchase a casket from a place other than the funeral provider, the funeral provider cannot refuse, nor can they charge another fee to handle, the casket.


• If a funeral provider offers cremation as a service, they must also make available alternative cremation containers.


• Understanding your rights when purchasing the services for Funerals can also help keep the costs as low as possible for the family, or whoever will be paying for the Funerals.

Funerals can be as simple or as elaborate as a family chooses. For those families who are working with a limited budget, Funerals do not have to be expensive to be filled with love, compassion, and care. On the contrary, there are very simple Funerals that are elaborately planned, because families are intertwined with florists and other people who donate services and goods to Funerals. Other Funerals include a long line of people who want to stand up and tell their story in remembrance of their loved one. While finances are quite often an issue when it comes to Funerals, the love and caring that is put into the planning of the different services can make all the difference in Funerals.