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
The Complete DFS Guide to Cremation Urns
Urn Types, Prices, Sizes & What to Know Before You Buy Choosing a cremation urn is often the first tangible decision a family makes after arranging a cremation. For some, it is simply a dignified container. For others, it becomes a permanent memorial centerpiece in the home or cemetery. With cremation rates now exceeding 60%…
February 23, 2026
The Most Expensive Part of a Cremation Isn’t the Cremation
The phone call usually starts the same way. “We saw a cremation advertised for $995.” It sounds reasonable. Affordable, even. In a moment of shock and grief, that number feels like a lifeline—simple, contained, manageable. But for many families, the final bill tells a different story. Not because cremation itself is expensive—but because everything around…
February 12, 2026
How Does Cremation Work? The Complete Step-by-Step Process Explained
Curious about what happens during the cremation process? This complete guide explains every step — from collection and paperwork to the retort, ashes processing, and returning remains to the family.
February 10, 2026
Arrange Direct Cremation Service in Port St Lucie, FL $995
The shift to cremation is sweeping across the nation as families demand more affordable death care alternatives. Cremation is quickly becoming a preferred disposition option for many families in Port St. Lucie, Florida. For those families who do not want to overspend on a funeral or do not have the funds for a costly funeral,…
February 10, 2026
How to arrange direct Cremation Services in Cape Coral, FL
The shift to cremation is sweeping across the nation as families demand more affordable death care alternatives. Cremation is now fast becoming a disposition choice for many families in Cape Coral, Florida. For those families who do not want to overspend on a funeral or do not have the funds for a costly funeral, cremation…
February 10, 2026
What Funeral Homes Don’t Say Out Loud About “Direct Cremation”
For many families today, direct cremation sounds like the simplest possible answer at the worst possible moment. No funeral.No viewing.No flowers.No fuss. Just “take care of it.” And in theory, that’s exactly what direct cremation is meant to be. But in practice, the phrase has become one of the most misunderstood—and quietly manipulated—terms in the…
February 9, 2026
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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