Do you have a prepaid funeral plan?

Question

My older children lost their Dad two years ago. This has made them realize they'd like to know my wishes. I'm fairly certain for the kids sake I'll go ahead and prepay. I just want to be sure inflation etc. cannot cause the plan to be dropped. As for myself once I'm gone I could caare less what is done with my body.

Answer 1

Prepaid is a great way to go if you get into something like the Neptune Society. It might be called something else in your area but I'm sure that there is something like that where you live.

N.S. is a prepay that takes care of the main things at a very low rate. They usually offer cremation but might offer direct burial also.

Doing the prepay and setting down all your wishes in writing makes things much easier on the ones you leave behind.

The most important thing with prepay plans is to make sure that someone knows where the papers are. I've seen a lot of money spent and then papers found after the fact for a prepaid plan with another company leaving little or no recourse for reimbursement.

In answer to the question... Only after a fashion. My wishes are known and the only thing that carries an expense is the cremation... I'm a veteran and eligible for National Cemetery burial which does away with interment fees, plot costs and all that crap.

Answer 2

I believe that fully paid pre-need plans are great. I'm not a salesperson, just a Societal Gerontologist that has studied end of life issues and watched others struggle at the death of a parent.

When life ends, those who have loved this person are put into a state of shock and half the time don't even know which way is up in regard to the wishes of the deceased.

Neither of my parents had pre-need plans and it was a nightmare. My Aunt and Uncle both had pre-need plans and it went off like clockwork, according to their wishes. And, I might add, with far less trauma to the family, simply by not having to attend to most of those things.

One thing I would caution about, in some states, funeral services are one pre-need service and burial services are another with additional costs at the graveyard. BE SURE that both are covered or your family will end up paying additional monies.

Do your family a favor, do pre-need.

Answer 3

My children know I want to be cremated with no embalming. They know the crematory to call to make arrangements. No casket, just the minimal container required by the state in which I live.

My mother had the same request. Total cost including a lovely box for the cremains was 968.00...That included all transportation.

I have an account that will be immediately available to my kids when I die. There will be enough in there to take care of cremation and incidentals. If they spend more, well, that's life! (no pun intended).

I also have a living will and have made a video-just in case there are any questions.

Death of a parent is a terrible shock. I don't want them having to make difficult decisions at such a time.....so I made them. I think that's what a parent should do.....

Answer 4

Well I guess I do, since I'm a vet. And I can go into a National
Military Cemetery and be buried there. I understand that
any wife can be buried with their husband, as they are
stacking caskets now. I heard that the military cemetary in
our location expects to be filled in three years. And they will
have to find another. I wonder if that is the case with other
military cemetaries as well.
There aren't any frills with a military funeral. Except for the
six gun salute, a tribute to all vets. The funerals I have gone
to for the military were graveside and the couple who preside
present a US flag to the family. I think it's nice and simple.
And that's the way I'd want my funeral. In essence, a quickie!

Answer 5

I just went through this with my deceased business partner and dear friend....cremation with Neptune society was 1600.00, the cost of the nice wood box was 40.00, another 30 to have his name engraved on it...1670.00 was the total cost for certified remains. Personally, I think embalming, caskets, etc. are a collosal waste of money, but that is each of our decisions to make. Our eternity is only as long as we are remember by those who love us...all else is a matter of faith or belief, and neither will be worth a hill of beans once we are gone. You have NO idea where or how you may die. IF you were to die far from home, cremation there is infinantly cheaper than shipping a body. I shipped my partner's ashes via US Priority mail (7.25) from California to Virginia. Had it been his body, I don't want to think of the cost! OF course, I have to add the cost of airline round trip, car rental and loss of 5 days work to that cost, but that is personal expense. If you prepay and die somewhere else, your body cannot cross state lines without being embalmed...so what are you paying for? Better to set aside funds for the purpose in an account that is easy to get to for the survivor. Just a thought. Phil

Answer 6

If it is prepaid. The product is paid for but not delivered yet. Thus the interest is theirs to keep. It is like ordering a boat and paying up front. Any interest accrued belongs to the merchant even if they don't deliver for a year. All Deposits and retainers must be held in escrow and thus the interest and principal belong to you until the services are activated.

Answer 7

No, I don't have a pre-paid plan. Since I have no idea when or or where I will die, I couldn't see the sense of paying for a plan that would lock me into a specific company or place.

My husband, children, parents, and sister are all aware of my desires. Everyone but my sister has access to some of my funds.

I do need to up date my will. My youngest child is no longer a minor.....I should have updated my will 2 years ago....;)

Answer 8

I answered this same question about a week ago.

I will share it, if you don't mind the fact that I, copy and paste it.

Yes I'm ready to meet my maker.

When I was young I made mistakes and I learned from my mistakes.

It seems to me that all of us have to learn the hard way but by living and learning, we learn to take the neccessary steps to go forward.

I was 22 years old when I got married.

That day, I promised my self that I would do the best I could to the best of my ability and that I would be all I could be to those I loved.

On that day and to this day forward I have done my best to conduct myself in a manner that would build good memories.

I take great pride in the fact that I understood at an early age what self satisfation really ment and I learned if I wasn't satisfied with my self, no one else would be.

Together my husband and I have raised our children, (now married with their own children) to the best of our ability.

I have made no enemies and I don't have any reason to have to make ammends to anyone.

I am at peace with myself and I have prepared for my passing.

I have a plot of ground with headstone at the cemetery, in the town that I grew up in.

I have bought and paid for the insurance for my burial.

I have a will and I have written my obituary.

I have written a message to my posterity to be read at my funeral along with a poem that I will share with you.

Don’t cry at my grave cause I won’t be there.
I’ll be in the breeze that ruffles your hair,
I’ll be in the sunshine I’ll be in the snow,
I’ll be in the places that we use to go.
I’ll be in your shadow and there in your dreams.
I’ll be in your greetings but not your goodbyes.
I’ll be in the reflection of your loving eyes.
I’ll always be with you and I’ll always care.
Don’t cry at my grave side cause I won’t be there.

To answer your last question, I can say yes, I'm ready to die. I believe in the hereafter and when my time comes I will look forward to a reunion with my ancestors.

My mother died when I was 8 years old and I look forward to seeing her again.

When our journey comes to an end and the world stops long enough to let us off and we have done our best, we can say, " All is well."

Thanks you so much for your question.

By the way if your wondering my age, I am 72 years old and holding.

We bought our insurance policy through an agent of the Mortuary that wil handle our remains.

My husbands mother bought hers through the same sorce.

She had her policy for 20 years and the mortuary honered it.

We had to pay 80.00 dollars for the death date to be engraved on her head stone. That was the only cost for her burial.

Answer 9

Yes, I started it 12 years ago and it is now paid in full and all that is needed is for me or my wife to die. That includes the grave, the casket, embalming flowers memorial which is already there all that is needed is a date of death and a body.

I got the grave plot first and paid it then got the prepaid plan paid it then got the marker and paid it. Everything has been fully paid 4 years now.

Answer 10

I'm prepaying mine as I don't want my friends or family or the city stuck with my remains. I plan on being cremated anyway and my ashes scattered. Will leave money in the will for one heck of a party aka wake for my friends to come to and toast my memory.