News & FCAME Publications: 2007 Mortuary Price Survey

Notes and Definitions:

We compared Direct Cremation and Immediate Burial. We did so because these are basic, itemized “package prices”—the least expensive and simplest to compare. The Basic Services Fee (usually the first item on the General Price List), which is nondeclinable, is already included; it need not be paid extra as it would for a “traditional” funeral (with embalming, viewing, use of the mortuary’s sanctuary, etc.).
The FTC assumes that Direct Cremation includes basic services of the funeral director and staff; a proportionate share of overhead costs; removal of remains from the local place of death; and transportation to the crematory. However mortuaries may include what they wish so long as they describe what that is. The price of the actual cremation (i.e., the crematory fee) may be included or listed separately; if its cost is not stated, find out what it is.

Also, the price of minimum containers for holding the body during cremation and for the return of ashes may be included or listed separately.

We did not focus on the cost of more elaborate optional containers: e.g. finished wooden boxes used in the cremation process or urns to hold ashes.
“Cremains” are cremated remains, or ashes.
The FTC assumes that Immediate Burial includes basic services of the funeral director and staff; a proportionate share of overhead costs; removal of remains from the local place of death; and transportation to a local cemetery. As with Direct Cremation, mortuaries may include what they wish so long as they describe what that is. 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.
Cemetery charges are extra. Be aware of other additional fees such as: placement of a death notice in the newspaper; death certificates; transportation of remains to or from a location outside the local area.
Since neither Direct Cremation nor Immediate Burial includes a ceremony, consider a memorial service (called a “celebration of life”), where the body is not present. It may be held at any place or time and is typically planned by family and friends.
GPL is the initialism for General Price List, an itemized listing of services and goods offered by the funeral home; it is a “menu” of funeral options from which one can choose. Among the 16 required entries on a GPL are Direct Cremation and Immediate Burial.
An alternative container, as defined by the FTC, is a “wood box or other non-metal receptacle or enclosure, without ornamentation or a fixed interior lining, which is designed for the encasement of human remains....[It is] made of fiberboard, pressed wood, or composition materials (with or without an outside covering) or like materials.” It is an “alternative” to a casket and is commonly used to hold the body during the cremation process.

Whenever a mortuary lists an alternative container, rather than a casket, as the least expensive for Immediate Burial, we do too. (More expensive casket options are also available.) Use of an alternative container for Immediate Burial may be a cost saving mechanism, especially since a viewing (where one might want to spend more on a casket) is not permitted. Always consider this option as well as the use of lower-cost “cremation caskets” for earth burial. Note that the first disclosure mandated by the Funeral Rule affords consumers the right to select goods and services according to their own wishes.
For the sake of uniformity in comparing prices:

Concerning Direct Cremation, we opted for the least expensive alternative container listed on the GPL and dubbed it minimum container.

Several GPL’s indicate a pouch as the least expensive, and we state this in our survey. (For the price of a minimum alternative container, contact the mortuary.)

Concerning Immediate Burial, we opted for the least expensive casket listed and dubbed it minimum casket. (As stated in Note 8 above, whenever a mortuary lists an alternative container, rather than a casket, as the least expensive for Immediate Burial, we do too.)
We replicated the style of each GPL (unless price verification necessitated otherwise). Thus:

If the GPL lists the total cost of Direct Cremation including the crematory fee and a minimum container, we did likewise; if the crematory fee is listed separately, we state the cost of Direct Cremation indicating inclusion of a minimum container (if that is the case) and say: “add [the price, whatever it is] for the crematory fee;” if a minimum container is listed separately, we state the cost of Direct Cremation indicating inclusion of the crematory fee (if that is the case) and say: “add [the price, whatever it is] for a minimum container.”

If the price of the crematory fee is not listed at all, we note the cost of Direct Cremation indicating inclusion of a minimum container (if that is the case); state: “add crematory fee”; and advise in the “Comments” box: “Inquire about crematory fee.”

For Immediate Burial, when a GPL lists the total price for Immediate Burial and a minimum casket, we followed suit; if it lists the cost of a minimum casket separately, we state the cost of Immediate Burial and say: “add [the price, whatever it is] of a minimum casket.”
We adhered to the basic, itemized (or “package” prices for DIRECT CREMATION and IMMEDIATE BURIAL even though a mortuary may have cited a discounted price elsewhere on its GPL. Likewise, were a discount offered for payment received prior to the time of need (”pre-need”), we did not list that sum but instead cited the basic, itemized, “at-need” price.

Some funeral homes include a graveside service in the price of Immediate Burial. Others arrange it for an additional fee. Inquire about the mortuary’s policy.

Note: We mention inclusion of a graveside service only when it is readily understood from the GPL to be part of the Immediate Burial price.

You are not required to purchase funeral merchandise from the mortuary or cemetery handling your service.
Prices in this survey are subject to change without notice.
For the sake of brevity, when a mortuary’s name begins with the name of its owner, we omitted the owner’s forename and initials of forenames--unless the owner’s surname could be confused with a similarly spelled or similar sounding surname of another mortuary owner, in which case we used the owner’s entire name. For all entries, we omitted “Inc.,” “P.A.” and other such designations.
Alphabetic arrangement of this survey is as follows: Establishments are listed alphabetically by name (meaning surname if the mortuary’s name consists primarily of a personal name) within the city where located. Also, for the purpose of alphabetization, the definite article “the” in a corporate name does not count; cities are listed alphabetically within states; states surveyed include Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia, are listed in that order, and preceded by “D.C.-MD.,” which includes establishments in the D.C./Maryland area. (There is one entry for Pa., but that is because the geographic locale borders on WV; this entry directly precedes those for WV.) Entries not placeable into this alphabetic scheme are listed first (i.e., one entry consists of a mortician who travels to families throughout Md.)
A designation in parentheses following the name of a funeral home refers to a corporate owner: Houston-based Service Corporation International (SCI) or New Orleans-based Stewart Enterprises.
Under “Comments,” we highlight points of which you should be aware.
Do not hesitate to phone funeral directors with questions about prices, as the FTC mandates telephone price disclosure. (Also, you cannot be required to give your name, address, or phone number as a requisite for answers to your questions.) With our survey in hand, you will have a base to help you pose relevant questions.
We tried to cover as many mortuaries and geographic areas as possible. Please note that inclusion in this survey does not constitute endorsement by the FCA. Should you have further questions, contact us by email or at 301-564-0006.