• Eternal Oasis
  Long term dedications to those who are gone.


• Fallen Heroes
  Remembering fallen heroes from wars, attacks and disasters.


• Halls of Remembrance
  Support and memorial resources for the ill and those in grief including advice and counseling.


• Heavenly Lights Childrens Memorial
  Remembering kids who died from disease.


• Hello From Heaven Memorials
  Online memorial site.


• In Life and Death
  You can remember those who were dear to you.


• In Memory of Our Loved Ones
  Long-term memorial site is free.

Funeral Information

When a loved one dies, grieving family members and friends often are confronted with dozens of decisions about the funeral - all of which must be made quickly and often under great emotional duress. What kind of funeral should it be? What funeral provider should you use? Should you bury or cremate the body, or donate it to science? What are you legally required to buy? What other arrangements should you plan? And, as callous as it may sound, how much is it all going to cost?

Funerals rank among the most expensive purchases many consumers will ever make. A traditional funeral, including a casket and vault, costs about $6,000, although "extras" like flowers, obituary notices, acknowledgment cards or limousines can add thousands of dollars to the bottom line. Many funerals run well over $10,000. Many people feel uncomfortable comparing prices or negotiating over the details and cost of a funeral. Compounding this discomfort is the fact that some people "overspend" on a funeral or burial because they think of it as a reflection of their feelings for the deceased.

The funeral provider must give you an itemized statement of the total cost of the funeral goods and services you have selected when you are making the arrangements. If the funeral provider doesn't know the cost of the cash advance items at the time, he or she is required to give you a written "good faith estimate." This statement also must disclose any legal, cemetery or crematory requirements that you purchase any specific funeral goods or services.

The Funeral Rule Provides Consumer Protection

• You have the right to choose the funeral goods and services you want (with some exceptions).



• The funeral provider must state this right in writing on the general price list.



• If state or local law requires you to buy any particular item, the funeral provider must disclose it on the price list, with a reference to the specific law.



• The funeral provider may not refuse, or charge a fee, to handle a casket you bought elsewhere.



• A funeral provider that offers cremations must make alternative containers available.
  
  

Funeral Consumers Alliance - www.funerals.org
FCA, a nonprofit, educational organization that supports increased funeral consumer protection, is affiliated with the Funeral and Memorial Society of America (FAMSA).

Cremation Association of North America - www.cremationassociation.org
CANA is an association of crematories, cemeteries and funeral homes that offer cremation.

International Cemetery and Funeral Association - www.icfa.org
ICFA is a nonprofit association of cemeteries, funeral homes, crematories and monument retailers that offers informal mediation of consumer complaints through its Cemetery Consumer Service Council. Its website provides information and advice under "Consumer Resources."

Visit Our Grief Support Site: