Sara Marsden-Ille
Co-founder & Editor — DFS Memorials
Sara Marsden-Ille is the co-founder and editor of DFS Memorials as well as US Funerals Online. She has been writing about funeral planning, consumer rights, and cremation costs since 2003, when US Funerals Online launched — one of the first independent funeral consumer resources in the United States. Sara is responsible for editorial standards across the DFS Memorials network and helps to host the Cremation Nation podcast.
Recent Articles Published
Affordable cremation services in Montgomery, AL
Direct cremation is a simple, cost-effective option where the body is cremated shortly after death without embalming, viewing, or a formal service. It's ideal for families seeking minimal involvement while honoring their loved one. Below is a step-by-step guide based on Alabama regulations and local practices. Step 1: Understand the Legal Requirements for Cremation in…
August 21, 2025
Guide to arranging a simple cremation service in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, AL
The cremation trend is revolutionizing the death care industry in the U.S., and Alabama is no exception. Although still a somewhat ‘traditional’ state, the cremation rate around Mobile Bay is increasing exponentially. The cost of cremation is probably the single most significant factor motivating families to choose it. The flexibility offered by cremation also appeals…
August 21, 2025
Direct Cremation Followed by a Celebration of Life
Today, traditional funeral practices are increasingly examined and criticized due to the emotional and financial burden they can put on a surviving family. When evaluating the changing death care landscape, what we observe is that families are choosing to re-design end-of-life choices and prioritizing affordability, simplicity, and a more meaningful, holistic approach to remembrance.…
August 16, 2025
Returning the Body to the Earth: Rethinking Death, Burial, Cremation, and Our Final Footprint
For much of human history, death was a natural return of the body to the earth. The body, when life expired, was once laid to rest in a simple grave. It would eventually break down and become part of the very soil from which we came. This process — slow, sacred, and elemental — is…
August 4, 2025
Understanding funeral costs and cremation costs in Oklahoma
Funeral costs are a growing concern for families today. Many cannot afford an elaborate traditional funeral, but more people are deciding that they want something more straightforward and affordable. It can seem overwhelming trying to work out exactly what a funeral will cost in Oklahoma and your options, especially if you have just lost a…
August 1, 2025
How to arrange a low cost cremation in Oklahoma City for $1,050
More people are choosing cremation services in Oklahoma today to save money on a funeral. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, a funeral service can traditionally cost around $7,484, not including a cemetery plot. A cremation can work out significantly cheaper. In fact, a simple direct cremation is just about the least expensive disposition…
August 1, 2025
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As Featured In
Cremation Association of North America [CANA] – From Tradition to Transformation: Women, Doulas, & the New Shape of Cremation & Death Care.
2/4/2026