Cremation is MM...

[audette]

We're working on MIL's affairs. So far, DH and I are paying out of pocket, in the hopes of being reimbursed if MIL's insurance policy is sufficient to cover what else it is needed for (it's a very small policy).

So far, we've paid out about $1600 for cremation, service arrangements, death notice, and urn. We'll be donating another $100 to the church that is sending a minister to do the service. (I asked the funeral director how much was normally given.) The funeral home and associated flower shop are run by friends of DH's, and they are loaning us greenery for decorations at the services.

We still need to find out what costs might be associated with getting MIL's remains interred in a family mausoleum. There are probably fees associated with opening and resealing it, but we do not yet know how much. The mausoleum is fully owned by family members that have given permission for MIL to be interred in it.


Of course, that doesn't touch the airfare, hotel costs, and car rental fees for our stay here to handle all of this... Yay for airmiles, right? I have, at least, learned that delaying our return home will be no-fee, because I used expensive airmiles tickets to get "anytime" fares...

E-funds are a good thing. Looks like we'll be spending some time refilling ours in the next few months.

[chessie]

I am sorry for your loss of your MIL. Efunds are great, but what I was wondering what if you can't fly out for whatever reasons to make those arrangements? Can you do that sorta thing all remote?

[txannie]

Im Sorry for your loss.

If you had a special box or receptacle you may also opt to use your own instead of purchasing an urn. We had used my grandmothers jewelry box for my fathers ashes. It was very special to us and we all agreed he would have loved the idea. The funeral home sealed his ashes in a durable plastic container and placed it in the jewel box.

We also saved because we didn't have to pay $ to transport a casket. Dad flew with us to his final resting place and was buried in a family plot. The caretaker said we could dig it ourselves but opted to pay him to do it.



I hope you and your H can find some peace as you complete her burial.

[audette]

Aug 22, 2012 14:15:35 GMT -5 chessie said:

I am sorry for your loss of your MIL. Efunds are great, but what I was wondering what if you can't fly out for whatever reasons to make those arrangements? Can you do that sorta thing all remote?

Eerily, this all happened right when we were out to visit and see how MIL was doing. She had a couple major screw-ups in her care during the last couple years, the biggest of which was discovered a few weeks ago, and DH wanted to check in on things.

We arrived in town late on Saturday, visited MIL twice on Sunday, and she died in the wee hours of Monday morning... She was aware of her surroundings when we visited, and knew DH and I were there, although she was extremely weak.

DH's siblings are more local to the area, but neither are very reliable, so it's kinda a blessing that DH was here when this happened.

[chessie]

Aug 22, 2012 14:31:22 GMT -5 audette said:

Aug 22, 2012 14:15:35 GMT -5 chessie said:

I am sorry for your loss of your MIL. Efunds are great, but what I was wondering what if you can't fly out for whatever reasons to make those arrangements? Can you do that sorta thing all remote?

Eerily, this all happened right when we were out to visit and see how MIL was doing. She had a couple major screw-ups in her care during the last couple years, the biggest of which was discovered a few weeks ago, and DH wanted to check in on things.

We arrived in town late on Saturday, visited MIL twice on Sunday, and she died in the wee hours of Monday morning... She was aware of her surroundings when we visited, and knew DH and I were there, although she was extremely weak.

DH's siblings are more local to the area, but neither are very reliable, so it's kinda a blessing that DH was here when this happened.

Eh..yea
My grandmother is not doing well, and I will have to be schedule arrangements from afar I have no way I can leave when she does pass.

[jenni232323]

We were doing the estate pre-planning for my grandparents a couple months back.
For burial it was around $25,000, for creamation around $6500 for the 2 of them. So expensive for "traditional" burial and so much involved.

[Deleted]

Ask if you can get a berevement rate? Some airplanes will do this if you ask and you show proof of actually planning/going to a memorial service.

Aug 22, 2012 14:11:59 GMT -5 audette said:

We're working on MIL's affairs. So far, DH and I are paying out of pocket, in the hopes of being reimbursed if MIL's insurance policy is sufficient to cover what else it is needed for (it's a very small policy).

So far, we've paid out about $1600 for cremation, service arrangements, death notice, and urn. We'll be donating another $100 to the church that is sending a minister to do the service. (I asked the funeral director how much was normally given.) The funeral home and associated flower shop are run by friends of DH's, and they are loaning us greenery for decorations at the services.

We still need to find out what costs might be associated with getting MIL's remains interred in a family mausoleum. There are probably fees associated with opening and resealing it, but we do not yet know how much. The mausoleum is fully owned by family members that have given permission for MIL to be interred in it.


Of course, that doesn't touch the airfare, hotel costs, and car rental fees for our stay here to handle all of this... Yay for airmiles, right? I have, at least, learned that delaying our return home will be no-fee, because I used expensive airmiles tickets to get "anytime" fares...

E-funds are a good thing. Looks like we'll be spending some time refilling ours in the next few months.

[Birdie]

I'm sorry for your loss

My aunt passed away in November and I helped my mom make her final arrangements. I was shocked when we found out it was almost twice as expensive to bury her on a Saturday in our family cemetery than on a week day.

[jenni232323]

Aug 22, 2012 15:22:08 GMT -5 @geeka said:

Ask if you can get a berevement rate? Some airplanes will do this if you ask and you show proof of actually planning/going to a memorial service.

I talked to Delta and a couple others about berevement rates when my grandpa passed a few years ago - they're discounts off their standard rates so typically you can get a better rate online, even direct on the airline's website. I think they offered me $400 for the flight and I got it online on their website for $300 - 2 days notice.