Funerals need not be as expensive as many of us have been led to believe. Although the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) surveyed the average cost of a funeral at $7,848, without any cemetery fees included, a simple funeral service can be arranged for half this amount or even less.
If you want to arrange an affordable cremation service in Macon, this guide should help you understand how to save on your funeral expenses.
How much can I expect to pay for a funeral service in Macon?
The cost of a funeral can vary quite significantly. This will depend upon the type of funeral service you opt for and the funeral service provider you select. If you do any research with local funeral homes, you will discover that the price for a funeral package will vary from different providers, even for the exact same services! Whilst the NFDA can quote the average cost of a funeral at $7,848, it is absolutely possible to arrange a funeral for considerably less than this.
How much does a cremation cost in Macon?
Cremation services in Macon range from $1,095 to $2,895, depending on the cremation service chosen. A full-service cremation costs more than a simple direct cremation. The lowest cost option is a direct cremation, which costs $1,095 and includes:
- The professional services of our highly trained funeral directors and staff
- Transportation of your loved one from the location of death (additional fee if over 40 miles)
- Alternative cremation container and temporary box
- Preparation of all required documents and authorizations
- Coordination with the cemetery for burial, if desired.
How do I select a funeral services provider?
This can seem an overwhelming task if you have no prior experience with a funeral services provider. Consult with friends and associates and seek recommendations.
If you are using the Internet to research funeral services and prices in Macon, be sure to check the ownership of who you are dealing with.
Some funeral companies have set up online budget cremation businesses, and some corporate groups also trade as low-cost cremation companies.
If you are in doubt, ask if they are independently owned. DFS Memorials only work with reputable, licensed, and independently-owned funeral homes.
How can I save money when arranging a funeral or cremation?
These days, many of us are concerned about having the necessary funds to conduct funeral services for a loved one if no provision was made. Let’s face it…not many folks can produce thousands of dollars at the drop of a hat! There are ways that you can ensure you keep your funeral expenses to a minimum.
Generally, a cremation is less expensive than a burial, as no immediate cemetery fees are required. However, a dignified burial can be achieved at a very affordable cost. Immediate burial with no services costs far less than a traditional burial. This is where the deceased is transferred immediately to the cemetery for burial.
Opting for cremation means that there is no need for a casket, burial vault, or cemetery plot. Eliminating these costs alone can save you several thousand dollars.
What is ‘direct cremation’?
A direct cremation is where the deceased is cremated, but no services or ceremony is held. The funeral director offers minimal services to collect the deceased, prepare the body for cremation, and process all the required paperwork. The deceased is cremated in a simple cremation container, and the remains are made available for the family to collect or have delivered to them.
No funeral home visit is required for a direct cremation service. The funeral director will often visit you at home to sign the paperwork and consult with you about arrangements.
Direct cremation is becoming very popular as a way in which the funeral home can assist in the immediate disposition of the deceased for an affordable fee but leaves the family with the opportunity to conduct their own memorial ceremony once they have the cremated remains back.
How do I know I am getting the remains of my loved one back?
This is one question that a lot of families ask. There are strict laws governing how human cremation is conducted. Operatives are trained in the processes, and only one body can be cremated in a retort at any one time.
The retort chamber is then fully cleared before another cremation proceeds. A body is tagged the minute it is logged into the funeral home or crematory, and ID checks are done at each step of the process.
Read our Complete Guide to Cremation: From Collection of the Deceased to the Family Receiving the Cremated Remains to learn more about the cremation process and other FAQs.
What can I do with the cremated remains?
You can inter cremated remains into a grave plot or niche at a cemetery, keep a cremation urn at home, or scatter the remains in a place of your choosing. Today, there are many options for how we can memorialize a lost loved one, and there is now a range of cremation artifacts that can be created to help us immortalize the memory of a loved one, from birdbaths made with concrete infused with cremation ashes to memorial diamonds! Other folks choose to scatter ashes in a memorable place for a loved one’s last resting place.
Read this section on Ash Scattering for more ideas.
What if the deceased had no life insurance & I do not have the money to pay for a funeral?
Sadly, more folks are passing today without life insurance or having put in place the provision or plans for their funeral care. If this happens, the next of kin is responsible for making funeral arrangements and paying for funeral expenses.
You should avoid incurring debt to cover funeral costs, so minimizing whatever expenses your family has to pay out is essential. A simple direct cremation is the lowest-cost option. Once you have the cremated remains back, you can always conduct your own memorial service (or ash scattering), which saves you the cost of paying a funeral services provider for their services and chapel.
There is the $255 lump sum death benefit from Social Security if you qualify to claim this, and the funeral director will generally assist you with this.
What if the deceased is at the Medical Examiners?
If the deceased is held in the custody of the County Coroner at Bibb County Medical Examiner Office, you will need the services of a licensed funeral director. The Medical Examiner can only release the body to a licensed funeral director.
The funeral home will ask you to sign an authorization to release form stating that the legal next of kin authorizes the funeral home to collect the body. Most funeral homes are familiar with the process (and the staff) at Bibb County coroners’ office and can arrange a prompt release of your loved one.
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.
