Grief: Funeral Home Expenses Your Family Can Afford To Consider

The Funeral Home Arrangements and Expenses Our Family Can Afford to Consider:

Minimum $ ___________

Maximum $ ____________

Record initials of person who has agreed to be responsible for each detail.

Cost	Initials	Detail (most choices below are actually optional)
$ ________	_____	chapel use
$ ________	_____	memorial service
$ ________	_____	funeral
$ ________	_____	graveside service, interment—public? private? clergy?
$ ________	_____	casket or urn [listed prices range up to $25,000]
$ ________	_____	Funeral-home-purchased
$ ________	_____	construct pre-cut kit (many available on the internet)
$ ________	_____	homemade casket or urn (see page 275)
$ ________	_____	vault
$ ________	_____	cemetery plot location (or other option)
$ ________	_____	headstone or marker
$ ________	_____	endowment care of cemetery plot
$ ________	_____	opening and closing of the grave
$ ________	_____	personalized memorial cards (to use at service and update friends)
$ ________	_____	floral arrangements
$ ________	_____	memorial donations in lieu of flowers
$ ________	_____	funeral coach
$ ________	_____	limousines for family members
$ ________	_____	limousines for pallbearers
$ ________	_____	vehicle for transporting flowers
$ ________	_____	pallbearers
$ ________	_____	cremation (you may ask to accompany the body and/or be present or involved at the cremation)
$ ________	_____	embalming and preparation
$ ________	_____	restorative art
$ ________	_____	makeup
$ ________	_____	hair set and arranged (asking to have a lock of hair is not an unreasonable request)
$ ________	_____	nails (is a manicure needed)
$ ________	_____	glasses
$ ________	_____	religious or fraternal items
$ ________	_____	clothing for the deceased
$ ________	_____	jewelry (you may choose to have rings removed just prior to burial or cremation)
$ ________	_____	viewing the deceased (public or private)
$ ________	_____	open casket service
$ ________	_____	visitation hours for family (cost/hour or visit)
$ ________	_____	visitation hours for others (cost/hour or visit)
$ ________	_____	clothing for the family (purchase suits, slacks, or dresses for family members, if needed)
$ ________	_____	haircuts and hair appointments for family members
$ ________	_____	music: taped live both
$ ________	_____	organist/pianist other ____________ (e.g. guitar)
$ _______	_____	soloist
$ ________	_____	audio or visual recording of service (is very valuable for those unable to attend the service)
$ ________	_____	memorial record book with guest register
$ ________	_____	collect and organize photographs of family and deceased for display
$ ________	_____	be responsible for ordering, writing and sending thank you notes
$ ________	_____	parking facilities
$ ________	_____	police escort and traffic control
$ ________	_____	signing necessary papers
$ ________	_____	obituary notices (composing and/or publishing for which there are often charges.)
$ ________	_____	death certificates # ______ needed (be sure to get extra copies)
$ ________	_____	officiating person(s)
$ ________		Grand Total

Review total cost of each item and grand total against budget guidelines before making final decisions and signing funeral home arrangements. With this review and agreement significant savings can result.