Are you concerned about funeral costs? This brief guide to funeral and cremation costs in Queens, NY, can help you understand the differences in price for a funeral and, more importantly, how you can arrange a simple, basic cremation for as little as $595.00.
A direct cremation service can enable you to keep funeral expenses to a minimum if you need to arrange a dignified but affordable disposition.
Call now at (718) 395-3142 for help arranging an affordable direct cremation service.
What is the average cost of a funeral in Queens?
These days, we are discerning consumers, very mindful of costs, and people now realize they can price-shop for funeral services. Why should we not ask how much it costs?
The Internet offers a great tool for researching 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 average funeral and cremation costs in Queens.
The average cost of a traditional funeral in Queens is $6,841*, although the lowest price is $3,660.
So, how do cremation costs compare in Queens?
Cremation offers a cheaper and more flexible alternative to a traditional burial and can, therefore, significantly reduce funeral costs in Queens.
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 Queens is $3,915*.
Direct cremation services in Queens, NY
A direct cremation is the funeral industry term for a ‘simple cremation.’ Only the cremation service is provided by the funeral home. The funeral home provides no ceremony or funeral services. The deceased is collected and cremated, and the remains are 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. It can even be an ash-scattering ceremony or interment in a cremation niche or scattering garden.
A basic direct cremation is available in Queens for $595, although the average price for a direct cremation is $1,969. To help families arrange affordable cremation services, we have selected a cremation services provider that offers a low-cost direct cremation, saving you hundreds of dollars on cremation costs in Queens.
Please note that New York laws prohibit a funeral home from owning a crematory, so all crematories are operated separately. This means that the funeral home must charge the crematory fee as a “third party” fee. It is not part of their GPL pricing; it is an additional fee that the funeral director pays to the crematory.
The crematory fee is $180.00, and the NYC cremation permit fee is $40. With a death certificate and processing fee, this means that the total package price for a direct cremation in Queens is around $930.00
Call now at (718) 395-3142 to arrange a low-cost cremation
Are there additional fees added to the $595 cremation?
For a cremation to be conducted, the county must issue an NYC cremation permit. The NYC cremation permit costs $40.00. Death certificates are an additional cost, as these are issued by the county and are a third-party expense. Death certificates cost $15 for the first certificate and $10 for each additional copy issued. As mentioned above, the standard crematory fee is $180. If an expedited cremation is required, this fee may increase.
As a funeral home is not permitted to own and operate a crematory in New York, the crematory charge is considered an additional ‘third-party’ fee and is added to your direct cremation service package. The crematory charge will depend on the crematory used but will be between $180 to $390.
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 need to ensure that you are completely sure that this is the ‘right’ disposition choice for you. Certain laws ensure that this final disposition can only proceed if the legal next of kin has authorized it.
The legal next of kin must sign a Cremation Authorization Form, 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 you can 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 many options exist for creating 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 that will cover this cost when the need arises. All monies are secured in a trust fund. Call your local provider now at (718) 395-3142 to discuss pre-planning options.
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 New York, 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 constantly changes due to budget constraints and varies by county. In NYC, some funding is available to support low-income families with funeral costs.
As up to $900 can be paid, this can enable a family struggling financially to cover the cost of a simple cremation. Check out the NYC Burial Assistance Program to see how you can find help with cremation costs in Queens.
If the deceased qualifies, there is also a $255 lump-sum Social Security death benefit payment, which your funeral director can help you claim. So, if your family is struggling financially, a low-cost cremation at $695 with DFS Memorials may be a dignified yet affordable disposition alternative.
If you have further questions about cremation, feel free to call us at (718) 395-3142, and we will be happy to try and help you.
*Funeral prices obtained from online funeral price survey website 2024
I have been researching and writing about the death care industry for the past fifteen years. End-of-life services and experiences are topics most people avoid thinking about until they must face them. My work provides comprehensive and independent resources for families, explaining the workings of the funeral industry, the laws governing funeral practices, and the death care trends that impact consumers. With a BA in Cultural Studies, I bring a unique perspective to analyzing cultural death care rituals, complemented by a career background in Business Management. The death care industry is undergoing significant changes, which I find fascinating. The shift towards cremation services and the emergence of sustainable alternatives like aquamation and human composting are of particular interest. I am also intrigued by how technology is reshaping the funeral planning process and experience. I write for US Funerals Online and DFS Memorials LLC, and contribute to various forums and publications within the death care industry.
