Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

More Americans Are Forgoing $10,000 Funerals Than Ever Before (Obama Depression)
BI ^ | December 9, 2011 | Mandi Woodruff

Posted on 12/09/2011 2:16:19 PM PST by GlockThe Vote

A weakened economy has spurred Americans to revamp their household budgets from the ground up – even in the afterlife.

With the average cost of a typical burial service hovering around the $10,000 mark, cremation has become the go-to burial practice for more than 41 percent of American deaths, The New York Times' Kevin Sack reports.

There are a number of factors that could be behind the spike in cremations, with budget restraints landing at the top of the list. According to the National Cremation Research Council, crematory services cost a little more than $1,100 on average – a fraction of the cost of a full-blown burial.

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: funerals
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-5051-55 next last
HOPE AND CHANGE!!!!
1 posted on 12/09/2011 2:16:25 PM PST by GlockThe Vote
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

Going UP in smoke, hopefully!


2 posted on 12/09/2011 2:21:18 PM PST by almost done by half
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: almost done by half

Hopefully the entire Obama Admn gets cremated in 2012.


3 posted on 12/09/2011 2:25:26 PM PST by GlockThe Vote (The Obama Adminstration: 2nd wave of attacks on America after 9/11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

My special request is for my butt to be cremated and the ashes sprinkled into the ventilation systems of various institutions I have great disdain for. After that, well, I don’t really care, I’ll be dead.


4 posted on 12/09/2011 2:25:32 PM PST by IYAS9YAS (Rose, there's a Messerschmitt in the kitchen. Clean it up, will ya?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IYAS9YAS

I’m so sick of this thugocracy in DC. Obama is a communist pofs as are and is anyone voting for him.


5 posted on 12/09/2011 2:29:21 PM PST by GlockThe Vote (The Obama Adminstration: 2nd wave of attacks on America after 9/11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote
I choose direct burial with graveside prayers. NO bake and shake.
6 posted on 12/09/2011 2:31:10 PM PST by JPG (Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

Once the Catholic Church allowed cremation, funerals became much more affordable. The cost of space for an urn is much less than mausoleum space or a plot, and some people won’t even use that (though they’re supposed to).


7 posted on 12/09/2011 2:32:17 PM PST by kearnyirish2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

Those suckers will burn down the WH if they get voted out.


8 posted on 12/09/2011 2:33:11 PM PST by almost done by half
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

Should be a lot less than a 1000.00. What a rip off.


9 posted on 12/09/2011 2:34:05 PM PST by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by "AMNESTY" Newt, Willard, Perry and his fellow supporters)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote; a fool in paradise

That’ll kill the funeral industry, Morty! Bodies rotting on the streets. Others refusing to die to make room for newborns.


10 posted on 12/09/2011 2:34:52 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JPG
I choose direct burial with graveside prayers. NO bake and shake.

I know in my head that it really won't matter whether burned or buried but there's always that nagging thought that burns hurt like hell.

11 posted on 12/09/2011 2:35:20 PM PST by Graybeard58 (Of course Obama loves his country but I want a President who loves mine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

Choosing cremation. If I can’t afford it then put me in the bum cementary with a number. What do I care? I’m dead.


12 posted on 12/09/2011 2:35:55 PM PST by Dallas59 (President Robert Gibbs 2009-2011)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

Is that the economy or people finally getting smart. Expensive funerals are dumber than expensive weddings, they’re dead, it’s too late to lavish them with stuff, go out to dinner someplace (I want my survivors to go someplace I don’t like, it’s a good acknowledgement that I’m gone), drink a toast to them, go mourn.


13 posted on 12/09/2011 2:36:26 PM PST by discostu (How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat
You wanna go in style, you gots to pay!


14 posted on 12/09/2011 2:38:00 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

The funeral industry is one of the biggest rip-offs we have. One hundred year guarantees for a $12,000 box.

Who in the hell is going to check that out, my great great great grandson?

Strike a match and I’m done. Thank you very much!

I hope people soon come to their senses regarding the waste of such things.


15 posted on 12/09/2011 2:38:03 PM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where INVITED Freepers will meet again next summer. Jim Robinson Too)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

Big pharma to follow the slide down as the old, mostly fully insured generation dies off, as millions in the private sector are left with little or no health insurance, or money.


16 posted on 12/09/2011 2:38:09 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kearnyirish2
I'm actually impressed with the way they do it in Japan. Ashes from several generations of the family may be in more than one place so the descendants can gather at various locations on the appointed day to pay their respects.

The downside, of course, is you can't exhume the body more than a century later and see if they died of poisoning as they did with president Zachary Taylor, a distant cousin of mine.

17 posted on 12/09/2011 2:38:11 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote
Having lost lots of people in my life and seen the full Gothic type funeral to the simple cremation with a memorial dinner, I realized I don't care what happens to my body. If I managed to be half decent to a few people and they miss me deeply then that is all the service I need. I hope my soul is light enough and not weighted down by sins that it flies free to meet it's maker like a helium balloon released from the hand of a child.
18 posted on 12/09/2011 2:39:10 PM PST by dog breath
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

burial at sea, sewn inside a hammock, how expensive could that be?


19 posted on 12/09/2011 2:41:01 PM PST by RitchieAprile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

BTW, lets get rid of these stupid, dangerous funeral processions in traffic. They do nothing but cause accidents and create traffic chaos.


20 posted on 12/09/2011 2:41:31 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman

My in-laws in Spain described how their small family mausolems work; there are 2-3 drawers on each side, with men on one side and women on the other. The most recently deceased is put in the top drawer, while the bottom drawer is used for the accumulated remains of everyone else. if there is a middle drawer, it would be used for the second- most-recently decesaed.


21 posted on 12/09/2011 2:41:48 PM PST by kearnyirish2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: dog breath

Reminds me of one of my uncles, he demand a pine box and that he be naked, said he did not have anything on when he got here.


22 posted on 12/09/2011 2:44:09 PM PST by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by "AMNESTY" Newt, Willard, Perry and his fellow supporters)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat

Makes the visitation a little awkward, doesn’t it?


23 posted on 12/09/2011 2:45:35 PM PST by GourmetDan (Eccl 10:2 - The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: GourmetDan

Closed box.


24 posted on 12/09/2011 2:48:22 PM PST by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by "AMNESTY" Newt, Willard, Perry and his fellow supporters)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote
You have to love how the media spin the dead.

From 2007: As violence falls in Iraq, cemetery workers feel the pinch (Liberal Media Extreme Desperation)

A drop in violence around Iraq has cut burials in the huge Wadi al Salam cemetery here by at least one-third in the past six months, and that's cut the pay of thousands of workers who make their living digging graves, washing corpses or selling burial shrouds.

-PJ

25 posted on 12/09/2011 2:48:39 PM PST by Political Junkie Too (If you can vote for President, then your children can run for President.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Utah Binger

My dad made the comment on not to waste much money on his funeral. My personal wish is a simple box, put my carcass in it and bury me and use some of the money to have a party afterward instead. Just bury me in my jeans and sweatshirt/t-shirt. No suite and don’t even bother embalming me.

> The funeral industry is one of the biggest rip-offs we have. One hundred year guarantees for a $12,000 box.


26 posted on 12/09/2011 2:50:36 PM PST by CORedneck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote; Elsie; colorcountry
Course if you happen to die while you are here in southern Utah, we can take good care of you. My friend Fig does nice work at a fair price.


27 posted on 12/09/2011 2:52:53 PM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where INVITED Freepers will meet again next summer. Jim Robinson Too)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat

Whew!


28 posted on 12/09/2011 2:53:33 PM PST by GourmetDan (Eccl 10:2 - The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote
When it's all over,
You'll be in clover,
We'll go out and spend
All your blue money,
Blue money, honey...

(Van Morrison)

29 posted on 12/09/2011 2:53:33 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote
My late wife would have risen from the dead and whooped my ass if I had spent 10k. I still look over my shoulder if I don't clean the commode at least every other day.
30 posted on 12/09/2011 2:55:06 PM PST by eastforker (I'll pick Rick but I still root for Newt.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CORedneck
don’t even bother embalming me.

I put that in my will and in my family trust directions. Why waste the money. I say spend the money down at the local bar where everybody can get embalmed in their own way.

31 posted on 12/09/2011 2:58:04 PM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where INVITED Freepers will meet again next summer. Jim Robinson Too)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

Years ago we had our first cold night after burying a pet. I couldn’t sleep until I went out and put a blanket over the spot.

My kids still tease me about it.


32 posted on 12/09/2011 3:02:21 PM PST by I still care (I miss my friends, bagels, and the NYC skyline - but not the taxes. I love the South.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

I think most people are concerned about what will happen to their body after they die. Soylent Green and now they want to use corpses to produce electricity. I think most figure that there isn’t too many disgusting things the liberals can do with a can of ashes.


33 posted on 12/09/2011 3:06:35 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Stop BIG Government Greed Now!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CORedneck

“My personal wish is a simple box, put my carcass in it and bury me and use some of the money to have a party afterward instead. Just bury me in my jeans and sweatshirt/t-shirt. No suite and don’t even bother embalming me.”

Heck, I’d take a Hefty bag just to thumb my nose at the industry scammers. What’s the difference to me? Jeans & T-shirts might have value to someone, somewhere; just bury me in an obsolete Halloween costume (maybe one of those dice boxes?).


34 posted on 12/09/2011 3:07:29 PM PST by kearnyirish2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: CORedneck

Having been raised around the Irish Catholics, I’ve always maintained that there should be an open bar at my wake. That way people can sit around and tell stories about what they _really_ thought about me.

My body shall rise uncorrupted no matter what is done with it.


35 posted on 12/09/2011 3:07:46 PM PST by glorgau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: FlingWingFlyer

Maybe I should can 2 jars of my piss and have instructions to pour it on the Obama and Clinton Libraries.


36 posted on 12/09/2011 3:08:39 PM PST by GlockThe Vote (The Obama Adminstration: 2nd wave of attacks on America after 9/11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2
BTW, lets get rid of these stupid, dangerous funeral processions in traffic. They do nothing but cause accidents and create traffic chaos.

I agree 100%. It's part of our culture here in the ever-gracious South, but it needs to stop. A couple of decades ago, a funeral procession, with all the cars with their headlights on in daytime, could readily be identified (not that I thought funeral processions were a great idea, even then).

But now, with daytime driving lights standard equipment, and with many state laws mandating "headlights on" in the rain, it's increasingly difficult to recognize a funeral procession, which, by tradition, is allowed to proceed through red lights. But the escorting police car(s) can't be at every signal every time the side street gets a green light.

37 posted on 12/09/2011 3:13:23 PM PST by southernnorthcarolina ("Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own." -- Aesop)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote

10 GRAND?! My uncle died recently. His body was flown from Fla. to Pa. for burial after being prepared and it cost 4,000 total, everything else included.


38 posted on 12/09/2011 3:17:35 PM PST by Amberdawn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Utah Binger; CORedneck
Why waste the money. I say spend the money down at the local bar where everybody can get embalmed in their own way.

I told my friends to pour a bottle of fine single-malt scotch over my grave. They promised to do so, but being the great guys they are, they asked if I minded if they passed it though their kidneys first.

39 posted on 12/09/2011 3:19:58 PM PST by tarheelswamprat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat

You betcha. Just take the backhoe down to the south 40. Git ‘r done!


40 posted on 12/09/2011 3:22:25 PM PST by Noumenon (The only 'NO' a liberal understands is the one that arrives at muzzle velocity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Amberdawn
My uncle died recently.

My uncle used to love but she died E A A chicken ain't chicken 'til it's licken good and fried A D Keep on the sunny side E A My uncle used to love me but she died

41 posted on 12/09/2011 3:23:33 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote
According to the National Cremation Research Council, crematory services cost a little more than $1,100 on average – a fraction of the cost of a full-blown burial.

Not in CA! The bare minimum is 5 times that easily.

42 posted on 12/09/2011 3:34:17 PM PST by newzjunkey (Republicans will find a way to reelect Obama and Speaker Pelosi.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote
Bury Me!
43 posted on 12/09/2011 3:34:41 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Revolting cat!

?


44 posted on 12/09/2011 3:37:46 PM PST by Amberdawn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: tarheelswamprat
Nothing better than refined Glenlivet. LOL
45 posted on 12/09/2011 3:39:14 PM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where INVITED Freepers will meet again next summer. Jim Robinson Too)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: discostu

“Is that the economy or people finally getting smart. “

Both. Like everything else it’s been going up fast. There is the funeral then there is the burial. Even if you bought the grave years ahead of time you will still get dinged a few grand to open it. People actually liked the idea of an ornate goodby ceremony but when they hear the cost vs cremation they decide to use the 10 grand for other things.


46 posted on 12/09/2011 4:14:12 PM PST by TalBlack ( Evil doesn't have a day job.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: GourmetDan
"Makes the visitation a little awkward, doesn’t it?"

OMG, I bust a gut laughing!!

47 posted on 12/09/2011 4:18:56 PM PST by NoExpectations
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote
Many years ago I wrote that my body be transferred to the nearest crematorium and the ashes be placed in a Doctor Marten's shoe box. No obituary. No memorial. No funeral.

When I was born there wasn't much of a celebration. Neither should there be at my death.

Those who will really miss me should toss back a shot of good whisky.

48 posted on 12/09/2011 4:25:01 PM PST by Glenn (iamtheresistance.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care
Years ago we had our first cold night after burying a pet. I couldn’t sleep until I went out and put a blanket over the spot. My kids still tease me about it.

Ha, thanks for posting that.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who does such things.

49 posted on 12/09/2011 4:29:53 PM PST by shhrubbery!
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: GlockThe Vote
Walmart sells urns and caskets.

Urns $29.82 and up. Check out the Tower Clock Urn for $252.00

Caskets from $995.00 and up.

http://www.walmart.com/cp/Funeral/1058564?sb=79&sdir=sasc

50 posted on 12/09/2011 5:14:41 PM PST by TYVets (Pure-Gas.org ..... ethanol free gasoline by state and city)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-5051-55 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson