How Can a Memorial Society Reduce Funeral Expenses?

Planning a funeral requires a series of important decisions. Unfortunately, most people are faced with making these decisions quickly following the death of a loved one. Distracted by grief, many people take the advice of funeral homes and make decisions that put them into debt. A Memorial Society is an educational organization whose purpose is to help people plan funeral arrangements. The focus is on funerals that are simple, dignified and affordable. Memorial Societies are nonprofit groups that are not associated with any professional funeral company. They are usually staffed by volunteers.

Memorial Societies as Consumer Advocates

Memorial Societies first appeared in the U.S. in the 1930s in response to the Great Depression. At that time, just when many people were out of work, funeral service costs increased dramatically due to the introduction of expensive embalming procedures and elaborate caskets. The rising cost of funerals let to the formation of Memorial Societies that gave individuals and families more control over their funeral choices, including choosing cremation instead of burial. Memorial Societies encourage individuals to plan their own funeral and after-life care, lessening the burden for their family and loved ones. They suggest that each person create individual funeral rituals from traditions that have personal meaning.

Funeral Consumers Alliance

In the U.S. and Canada, there are currently over 150 Memorial Societies. Those in the U.S. are joined together in an affiliation called the Funeral Consumers Alliance. The Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) has a website (www.funerals.org) with a state-by-state listing of local Memorial Societies. It also has articles about planning funerals, a bookstore and a forum. The FCA emphasizes consumer rights in relation to funerals, educating the public on more economical and eco-friendly funeral options.

Catie W.
June 3, 2010