Cremation is changing the face of funerals.  It offers a much more affordable and simple option to take care of a funeral, and many of us cannot afford the traditional expensive funeral services anymore.  If you have found this article because you are looking for information on cremation services and cremation costs, then we can help you to understand how you can save money on a cremation service in South Bend.

What is the average cost of a funeral in South Bend?

These days we are discerning consumers, very mindful of costs, and people are now realizing they can price-shop for funeral services.  Why should we not ask how much it costs?

The Internet offers a great tool to research funeral costs from the comfort of your own home.  Unfortunately, not all funeral homes have websites or put their prices online, so we have put this guide together to outline the average funeral and cremation costs in South Bend for you.

Based on a survey of funeral homes in South Bend and their general price list, the average cost of a traditional funeral in South Bend is $7,458*.  This does not include any cemetery fees, so on average, the total likely cost for a full-service funeral would be in the region of $10,000.

So how do cremation costs compare in South Bend?

Cremation offers a cheaper and more flexible alternative to a traditional burial and can, therefore, significantly reduce funeral costs.

No casket, cemetery plot, or burial vault is required, immediately reducing some of the most expensive purchases related to funeral expenses.

The average price for a cremation funeral service in South Bend is $4,403*.

Direct cremation services in South Bend, IN

A direct cremation is the industry term for a ‘simple cremation’.  Only the cremation service is provided by the funeral home. No ceremony or funeral services are provided by the funeral home.  The deceased is collected, cremated, and the remains returned to the family in a basic urn.

Direct cremation offers families lower-cost funeral services and more control over the time and type of memorial ceremonial services they desire.  A memorial service can be held in a place of worship, a community venue, or even outdoors.  The service can be conducted with or without the cremation urn present and can even take the form of an ash-scattering ceremony or interment in a cremation niche or scattering garden.

A basic direct cremation is available in South Bend for $1,075, although the average price for a direct cremation is $1,848*.   To help families arrange affordable cremation services, we have selected only family-owned cremation services providers who can offer a basic cremation package for just $1,075.

Call now on (574) 208-1280 now to arrange a low-cost cremation

Are there additional fees to the $1,075 cremation package?

For a cremation to be conducted, a ‘disposition permit’ must be issued by the county.  This may incur a fee to St. Joseph county  Death certificates are an additional cost, as these are issued by the county and are a third-party expense.  Death certificates cost $20 for the first certificate and $5 for each additional copy.

How do I know that I am getting the remains of my loved one back?

This is one of the most frequent questions families ask about cremation.  Strict laws govern the cremation of human remains, and identity checks must be made all along the way.  The cremation retort must be completely cleared following a cremation, and only one cremation can be performed at a time.  The remains are cleared into a machine that filters out any metal parts (tooth fillings, hip replacements) and then ground into the fine ‘dust’ that is returned as cremation ashes.

What if I am not sure about cremation or the family cannot agree about cremation?

Cremation is such a final disposition, you do need to ensure that you are completely sure that this IS the ‘right’ disposition choice for you.  Certain laws are in place to ensure this final disposition can only proceed if the legal next of kin has authorized it.  A Cremation Authorization Form must be signed by the legal next of kin, and in the case of children, many funeral directors will require all children to sign.

You can authorize an agent for your final disposition or sign the authorization when you preplan a cremation.

What can you do with the cremated remains?

The options of what you can do with the cremated remains of your loved one are one of the reasons cremation is becoming more popular.  You can, of course, just choose to inter the remains in a cemetery plot. You can inter the remains in a niche or columbarium or keep the ashes at home.  Keepsake urns even enable you to disperse the ashes between several family members or choose to scatter some and retain a ‘keepsake’ memorial.

Ash scattering is also more common these days, and there are many options for how you can create a befitting ash scattering ceremony.

Can I preplan a direct cremation at an affordable cost?

Yes. You can preplan a simple direct cremation service.  This is generally funded through an insurance product covering this cost when the need arises.  All monies are secured in a trust fund.

How quickly can a cremation be performed?

It generally takes a few days to make the necessary arrangements, complete all the legal paperwork and schedule the cremation.  However, expedited services can be arranged if required.  In Indiana, there is a mandatory 24-hour wait period after death before a cremation can be conducted.

What do I do if I cannot even afford a cremation?

There is very little ‘free’ money to help families with funeral costs.   What is available is constantly changing due to budget constraints and varies by county.  Some counties do have a provision to assist needy or low-income families.  Contact St Joseph county DFCS to find out what may be available to you locally.

There is also a $255 lump-sum social security death benefit payment if the deceased qualifies, and your funeral director can help you claim this.  So you may find that a low-cost cremation at $1,075 with DFS Memorials is a dignified yet affordable disposition alternative if your family is struggling financially.

If you have further questions about cremation, feel free to call us at (574) 208-1280, and we will be happy to try and help you.

*Funeral prices obtained from online funeral price survey website 2022