Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Funerals & Funeral Preparation Funeral Costs In the realm of everyday living, you are constantly confronted with the age-old questions: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? This holds true whether you are purchasing an automobile, a house, a boat, a television set, or even something as small as a loaf of bread. You should likewise be concerned with the question of cost in making funeral arrangements. Funeral costs are no secret, but often are misleading by not being fully explained at a time when it is difficult for families to understand. Whether a funeral home uses a system of charging one price forthe complete funeral based on the casket selected, or they itemize their charges individually, there are four basic factors that constitute the cost of funerals. These are merchandise, professional services, use of funeral home facilities, and cash expenditures. MERCHANDISE: Merchandise may include such items as the casket selected, the outside burial case or urn, clothing provided by the funeral home, and memorial folders and/or acknowledgement cards. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: Professional services are the personal services of your funeral director, and the arrangements and supervision conducted by himself and his staff of personnel. USE OF FUNERAL HOME FACILILITIES AND EQUIPMENT: There is a vast amount of cost involved on the part of your funeral director in providing and maintaining a funeral home facility capable of satisfying the requirements of each and every family he serves. It is for this reason the Funeral Home Facilities and Equipment category is a pertinent factor in the cost of a funeral home. CASH EXPENDITURES: Cash expenditures that are occasionally advanced to the family as a courtesy of the funeral home may include cemetery and crematory charges, clergy honorariums, church offerings, limousines, flower cars, newspaper notices, certified death transcripts, flowers, professional pall bearers, gratuities, etc. In certain instances a state law or local policy may prohibit a funeral home from extending a family cash advances. In determining funeral expenses, consideration should be given to the assets fo the deceased. Insurance, veteran benefits, social security, and other resources is the basis for a family's ability to take financial responsibility for a funeral of a loved one. For more information on any of the topics above, please Contact Us for a free booklet.