Things you should know before you go:
Explaining funeral prices, Part 1
By Andrew Hodges
February 2008
The cost of
a funeral varies depending on the type of service and supplies selected, which
makes up the funeral home cost, which GST is applicable. Outside costs are
things like newspaper notices, cemetery fees, flowers, clergy honorarium,
catering for a reception, etc. In short, there are individual choices that will
affect the total cost.
This article
will focus on defining the itemization of the funeral home service fee.
Over the
last couple of decades funeral services have changed from so-called traditional
funerals with visitation, funeral service and burial to a mix of traditional
and alternative services, like cremation and memorial services. Because of the
different options available, the need to itemize each individual cost promotes
a clear understanding of what is involved with the type of service selected.
The
following itemization of the funeral home fee will appear on the funeral home’s
price list and funeral service contract: Professional and Staff Services, initial
transfer, documentation, preparation of the body, facilities and vehicles. Some
funeral homes might itemize even further, but these are the basics.
Professional and staff services is the funeral home staff funeral staff
for arranging and conducted the selected service, including facilitating the
arrangement meeting, preparing all required documents, setting up the selected
service, conducting the service and 24-hour on-call assistance. Staff
requirements for a separate day of visitation and funeral service is more
involved then a direct cremation without a visitation or funeral, for example, which
is why there would be a cost difference when comparing service fees.
Initial transfer is picking up the deceased person’s body from
the place of death and transferring it to the funeral home. This fee, for most
funeral homes, will include the vehicle, and equipment such as a stretcher and
gloves. Most funeral homes will charge the same fee regardless of where the
death takes place, unless it is beyond a certain distance from the funeral
home. For example, my funeral home charges and additional mileage fee if I have
to travel farther than 80 km from the funeral home.
Documentation involves filing of necessary permits and
documents, such as registering the death with the province and completing
things like cemetery information, clergy record, proof of death certificates,
maintaining funeral home records and, depending on the service, providing a
register book, memorial cards, and thank-you cards. This fee will vary
depending on the type of service selected.
Preparation of the body is usually divided into two
sections: embalming, which includes all necessary equipment and time required
and other preparation, and other handling of the body, which may involve dressing,
casketing, hair styling and cosmetics. The main reason why there are usually
two parts is if a family chooses not to have embalming done, there is still the
work required for basic handling of the body.
Facilities is another part that is usually divided into
two: initial sheltering of the body from the time of transfer to either the time
of visitation or transportation to a crematorium. The second part is the use of
the funeral home for visitation and funeral; use of the building, parking and
required equipment such as chairs, picture boards and flower stands, etc.
Finally,
additional vehicles includes the use
of a hearse if the service involves a procession to a cemetery for burial, or
the funeral home’s transfer vehicle (usually a minivan) to take the person’s
body to the crematorium. Other vehicles
can be the funeral home lead car, which is used prior to the service to obtain
and register required documents, and to lead a funeral procession to a
cemetery. A limousine, can be selected, for family members or pall bearers for
transportation the day of a funeral service. Lastly, a flower car or utility
vehicle is used if a funeral is at a church and flowers, pictures and other
equipment are needed. Otherwise, it is used if there are flowers to be
delivered at the conclusion of a funeral.
Pallbearers are those at a funeral who carry the casket of
the deceased person. Depending on the location of the funeral, at a church for
example, pallbearers would carry the casket from the funeral coach (hearse)
inside for the service and then carry it out at the conclusion. If the service
involves burial at a cemetery, pallbearers would carry the casket from the
funeral coach to the grave.
Funeral Home Price Guide
Ask the funeral director
