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
What is the cost of a cremation in Nashville, TN?
As the cremation trend continues to sweep across the U.S., more families are seeking out information about cremation to inform themselves about the options open to them when the time comes. Many families wish to understand cremation, how the process works, and what laws govern it as a final disposition. They also wish to find…
May 6, 2024
Low cost cremation or funeral services in Syracuse, NY
These days more families are looking to save money on funeral costs, and the Internet provides a great tool to check out funeral prices and compare service providers. If you would like to know how to arrange a funeral or cremation at an affordable cost, then this article should assist you. How much does a…
April 27, 2024
What is the cost of cremation in Des Moines, IA
Cremation is becoming a popular funeral disposition choice for families in Des Moines, Iowa, today. The cremation rate in Iowa has shot up in recent years to match the national rate at around 60%. Gay and Ciha Funeral Home in Iowa City reports that 60% of their funerals are now cremations, and they expect this…
April 27, 2024
What Funeral Directors Don’t Always Tell You About Cremation Costs
Understanding how funeral homes present cremation pricing — and what questions to ask — can save your family thousands of dollars.
April 22, 2024
How to Conduct a Low-cost Cremation Memorial Service
Today's families want to be more in control of memorialization and a final ‘send-off’ for a loved one. Direct cremation helps those families make simple and affordable disposition arrangements and then conduct a bespoke and befitting personalized memorial. This how-to is one part of our complete guide to holding a family-led memorial after direct cremation.…
April 22, 2024
How Much Does It Cost to Cremate an Overweight Person?
Cremating a larger body typically costs $100–$500 more than a standard cremation. This guide explains the bariatric cremation surcharges, why they exist, and what to expect.
April 21, 2024
Connect on LinkedIn
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