WTOL.com - Toledo's News Leader | Economy forcing changes to funeral planning

Economy forcing changes to funeral planning

Report by Lauren Lowrey - email | bio

TOLEDO (WTOL) - In these tough times, people are even making adjustments to what they spend on final arrangements.

We can't change death, but we can make it cheaper with pre-planning.

"There's been a trend lately, over the last year I'd say, where more people are pre-planning, pre-paying for their funerals," says Jim Ridner with Walker Funeral Homes. He says people who plan their funeral in advance, spend about 7-percent less than those who don't.

There's "finagling" you can do in the cost of a traditional funeral including service charges, caskets and third-party charges.

But there's only so much "finagling" you can do in the cost of a traditional funeral.

First, there are service charges. 'This is something that no matter what services you select, that price will be included in all of the services," says Walker.

Then, there is the casket. Walker tells us, "As you can see, there's a great range in caskets from $695 all the way to nearly $40,000 for a casket."

Don't forget about third-party charges like obituary notices.

The average cost of a traditional funeral is anywhere from $5,000 to $12,000.

Some folks just can't fit that into their budget, and they're giving the traditional burial "the ax."

Cremation

Funeral Director Erica Kiser is capitalizing on the growing number of folks choosing cremation, and she's built a new business on the consumer need for cheaper, simpler disposition. "Right now in Ohio, we're at a about 28.2% cremation rate."

She tells News 11, "In the funeral business, we hear all the time 'I don't want any big services. I don't want anybody looking at me. Just throw me in a box and put me in the back yard.' Or, 'Just cremate me.'"

The Cremation Association of North America estimates by 2025, cremations will overtake traditional burials. Part of the appeal is in the cost. The average cremation runs about $1800 with urns and memorial service, included.

"It's a lot more economically friendly... also, space and cost," says Kiser.

In the end, the choice is yours. "Some people will find meaning in certain things and others won't. It's their option," says Walker, "We're not here to tell them what's right or wrong. It's their choice."