pre paid cremation., anyone ever

[onethatcares]

deal with it? what are the pitfalls? what questions to ask the sales guy/girl?

any recs?

This is in Florida.

thanks

[Wait Wut]

1. I know nothing about it, but...

...I found this that might help a bit.

http://www.caring.com/questions/prepaid-cremation

[onethatcares]

2. been there, I was hoping for

personal experiences and anecdotal stories.

I'm getting ready to meet with a rep and want to be prepared with questions.

Thanks much for the reply.

[packman]

3. When I mentioned this to my wife

she said, "Yah, I'm for you doing it. It'll be the only time you'll have a hot body".

[Xipe Totec]

4. An uncle of mine used to say: Bury me for free or I'll stink up your damned town. nt

[yeoman6987]

5. Ensure that you have explicitly that

Once paid that even 50 years later they can't demand additional funds from you. I have heard that some have had some nightmare scenarios. Plus they do some heavy handed upgrades on your survivors. I think financial questions are most important to ask.

[Warpy]

6. My parents did that, it was the last gift they gave me.

I believe it was East Coast Cremation. They had an office in Cocoa, which is where I saw them after the event.

My only quibble is that they didn't know my dad's pacemaker could be donated. They gold me they always removed them so they didn't explode (I was a nurse, they knew I wouldn't be grossed out) so I educated them on that one and got my dad's unit donated.

They were good about supplying the multiple death certificates I'd need and were prepared to answer any of the questions except about donation. I would imagine all pacemakers are now donated by this time.

I recommend them highly.

http://www.yellowpages.com/melbourne-fl/east-coast-cremation

[NV Whino]

7. I prepaid my mother's and mine at the same time

The money apparently goes into an annuity. My mother died before the annuity matured (or whatever annuities do), and they asked for another $50 (or maybe $90, I can't remember). I probably could have fought it but didn't bother. They're going to make money on me.

In my opinion, it's the way to go. Saves all kinds of stress and problems for survivors. And it ain't gonna get any cheaper if you wait.

But do ask about potential extra cost for early demise.

By the way, I donated my mother's pacemaker as well.

[Jenoch]

12. My grandmother pre-paid her funeral.

She picked out the dress, the music, and the hymns to be sung at her funeral. The funeral home was in a tiny (population 650) town. After the funeral, my mother was given a check for $1,200 because the annuity exceeded the cost of the funeral. I bet that does not happen too often. My mother gave the money to the foundation that supported the senior living center where my grandmother lived during her last years.

[NV Whino]

14. What a nice thing to do.

[Initech]

8. No but I saw Prepaid Creamtion at the Troubadour last week.

[scarletwoman]

9. Thank you for bringing this up. I don't know anything about it, so I can't help w/ your questions.

I just want you to know that I'm grateful that you posted this, because pre-paid cremation had never occurred to me.

I'm going to check into it (for myself) now that your post has educated me on the fact that such a thing exists, and what kind of questions to ask.

Thanks again!

[csziggy]

10. My sister has been looking into it for herself and her husband

Plus she was helping a friend make his arrangements and getting him to pre-pay. I thought I had an email about her experiences but can't find it. I think she's going through a place she found on the Neptune Society website - she seemed to like them, but there are none of their facilities up here in Tallahassee so I need to check around up here.

Off the top of my head - you do NOT have to be embalmed or have a coffin to be cremated. Some funeral homes may try to sell you on both. Sometimes you can "rent" a coffin if you're having a ceremony or viewing. (http://www.today.com/money/caskets-rent-were-not-kidding-917459) You can provide your own container for the ashes - or just get them in a cardboard box if they will be spread.

United States Veterans are entitled to be buried or have their ashes interred in any National Cemetery that has available space at no charge. http://www.neptunesociety.com/veteran-cremation There is a National Cemetery in Bushnell, not sure where else in Florida.

[tammywammy]

11. Personally, no I've never done it, but family has.

My grandparents prepaid their funeral: bought plus, caskets, transportation, services, etc. The only thing not paid upfront was flowers. Made it very easy on the family when they passed away.

My uncle prepaid his cremation, but it was within a year or so of his passing (he was terminally ill). The only thing he didn't check on was that he wanted his ashes scattered on his parents graves and you can't do that in Texas. His estate has to pay for his burial. Also, he didn't think there be a second memorial service, but he paid and planned the first one.

I'd definitely check and see if what you want to be done with your ashes is legal or if there's additional cost. If you want a memorial service at the funeral home that can also be paid in advance.

[Mariana]

13. My parents have set it up for themselves in Florida.

They did it years ago. They travel a lot, and their particular package supposedly includes transportation of the body from anywhere in the world, if necessary. They get cremated and poured into the Gulf of Mexico. They call it the Bake and Shake plan.

Since they're both still alive, I don't know how good the service really is.

[onethatcares]

15. ok, I got it.

just bought the farm

for two people with transportation within 75 miles was just under $4K.

I went with the Neptune folks because I don't trust small funeral homes not to

be bought out and contracts voided after payment.

I couldn't get the rep to budge on the price even offering cash.

Go figure

[hifiguy]

16. My mother pre-made all of her own final arrangements

when she was 84, including pre-paid cremation. She died a couple of years later and everything was handled completely professionally. This was in MN.