News & FCAME Publications: Reference Guide
III. EARTH BURIAL
| Introduction I. Funerals II. Cremation III. Earth Burial IV. Legalities V. Prepaying Your Funeral VI. Donation (Whole Body, Organ/Tissue) VII. Veterans Cemeteries |
What is a "traditional" funeral?
It refers to a funeral in which the body is present in an open or closed casket. In an "open casket" funeral, friends and relatives see the deceased during a "viewing," for which the body has been embalmed and makeup and hairdressing applied. In a "closed casket" funeral, family and friends receive visitors during a "visitation." Both are followed by a service, religious or secular, with the body present, and (or) a graveside ceremony prior to burial. This is the most expensive type of funeral.
For a "traditional" funeral there is an extra fee, called a BASIC SERVICES FEE--in addition to all charges for merchandise and services. It covers basic mortuary staff services and overhead and in our area runs on the average of $1500, as ascertained in our 2005 price survey.
It is difficult to calculate the cost of a "traditional" funeral because of the variety of choices and range of costs. However the AARP estimated its cost in 1998 to be between $8,000 and $10,000, with cemetery charges extra (around $3,000 according to an FCA estimate).
What is a "non-traditional" funeral?
This may be a "traditional" funeral with an aspect such as embalming omitted. Or it may be a funeral in which the body is prepared and viewed at home (see: "Is it necessary to use a mortician," Click here for a brief discussion of the laws in MD, Delaware , and W.Va.). Or it may be a simple "Immediate Burial," which is without embalming, formal viewing, or ceremony with the body present.
As with a "traditional" funeral, it is difficult to determine the cost of a "non-traditional" funeral because of the many options available. However, because Immediate Burial is mandated by the Funeral Rule (see p. 9), we could ascertain that this type of "non-traditional" funeral costs on average $1700 in our area, according to our 2005 price survey, with cemetery charges extra.
What is "Immediate Burial"?
It is an itemized "package" which funeral homes are required to offer. The FTC assumes that Immediate Burial includes the basic services fee (for basic mortuary staff services and overhead); removal of remains from the local place of death; and transportation to a local cemetery. The cost of a minimum casket supplied by the funeral home may be included or listed separately. Consumers must be allowed to supply their own casket and may not be charged a handling fee if they do so.
An Immediate Burial is without viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the body present--except that a graveside service is permitted (though funeral homes differ in their policy regarding inclusion of a graveside service in the package cost of Immediate Burial, so be sure to check).
A memorial service, without the body present, frequently follows an Immediate Burial. It may be held at any time or place without the need for a mortician. For tips on planning a memorial service, consult Earnest Morgan's book "Dealing creatively with death: a manual of death education & simple burial" (Zinn Communications, 1994), which can be ordered from the national FCA office (1-800-765-0107).
What are cemetery charges?
1) The price of a plot: $1000-$4000; 2) opening and closing the grave: $600-$1100; 3) a grave marker: approximately $1600.
What is a "grave liner"? Is it different from a "coffin vault?"
Most cemeteries require that a coffin be placed into a receptacle to keep the gravesite earth from sinking once decomposition sets in. Both grave liners and coffin vaults serve this purpose, though COFFIN VAULTS COST TWICE AS MUCH. Both are referred to as OUTER BURIAL CONTAINERS and are typically purchased from the funeral home though cemeteries sell them too.
What is embalming, and is it required?
Embalming is a process by which bodily fluids are replaced with preservatives. It is rarely mandated by law, but funeral homes usually require it when a viewing will take place. In that case, consumers have the right to select direct cremation or immediate burial, the simplest of funeral arrangements, which are without a viewing. If disposition will be delayed beyond 48 hours after death, a funeral home may insist on embalming if it has no refrigeration facilities.
Here are a few little known facts about embalming: funeral-type embalming "holds" the body for only a few days; embalming may expose the embalmer to blood-borne pathogens and toxic chemicals; embalming is not environment-friendly because pathogens and chemicals go into our common sewer system; the U.S. is the only nation where embalming, touted by morticians, is customary.
How much do caskets cost?
Most funeral homes place a hefty mark-up on caskets. According to one source at the April 2000 Congressional hearing "Funerals and Burials: Protecting Consumers from Bad Practices," caskets carry an average mark-up of 500 percent, with some marked-up as much as 2,000 percent. Prices range from $500 (a cloth-covered casket which retails for $150) to $33,000 (solid copper). As alternatives, consider: 1) purchasing an unfinished wood box (called an "alternative container") rather than a casket; 2) purchasing a casket over the Internet from an artisan or discount retailer (contact the national FCA office at 1-800-765-0107 for names); 3) building your own "burial box" (consult Earnest Morgan's book "Dealing creatively with death: a manual of death education & simple burial," Zinn Communications, 1994; also speak with the cemeterian). And remember: IT IS ILLEGAL FOR A MORTICIAN TO CHARGE A HANDLING FEE IF A CONSUMER PURCHASES A CASKET OUTSIDE THE FUNERAL HOME, according to the FTC's Funeral Rule.
What are "sealer" caskets, and do they possess preservative qualities?
No casket, air-tight or sealed, helps preserve remains. Indeed it is a violation of the FTC's Funeral Rule (click here) for a mortician to claim so (though an AARP survey found that one-third of respondents were told this). Consumer activist Lisa Carlson points out that air-tight caskets, called "sealer" caskets, actually interfere with the natural process of decomposition and might even explode!
Where does one find the names of companies supplying markers or headstones?
These vendors are listed in the yellow pages under "Monuments" or "Monument Dealers." Also, cemeterians can provide their names.
Is it necessary to use a mortician?
No, in MD it is not. A letter from the Office of the Attorney General, dated Jan. 24, 1990, states: "The courts of this State, in accord with those in other jurisdictions, have long recognized that next of kin have a 'quasi property right in the body .... [This right is extended for the purpose of determining who shall have the custody of the body in preparing it for burial' .... This right applies to final disposition of any kind, including burial as well as cremation, and any necessary accoutrements, such as transportation of the deceased for burial."
Delaware's laws are equivocal but seem to point to a family's right to care for its dead. For a discussion see pp. 244-245 of Lisa Carlson's book cited below.
In W.Va., relevant statutes allow families and members of a religious group to care for their own dead; there are no other statutes which might require use of a funeral director. For a discussion see p. 582 of Lisa Carlson's book cited below.
To learn more about serving in lieu of a funeral director, consult Lisa Carlson's book "Caring for the dead: your final act of love" (Upper Access, Inc., 1998), which can be found in your public library or ordered from the national FCA office at 1-800-765-0107. Read especially chapter 8 "Managing Death: Necessary Information," pp. 48-59; study the chapter dealing with the laws of your state; and examine the section "Death Certificate Instructions," pp. 615-623. Also contact "Crossings: caring for our own at death" at 301-593-5451 or visit their website at www.crossings.net.
Note: It will be necessary to contact your selected cemetery and monument dealer (i.e., supplier of headstones and markers) beforehand to ensure it is understood that the services of a mortician will not be used. According to the national FCA office, monument dealers are unfortunately often not amenable to this arrangement.