Funeral Cost Comparison Worksheet

This chart is provided to assist you in comparing prices from one funeral home to another. You will find a great variance in the General Price List from one facility to another, so this form is intended as a tool to help you in your comparisons. Federal law requires that funeral homes provide you their price list, when you make your request in person. Many will also provide the list to you by mail, although that is not required. To compare these prices to those of People's Memorial, please go to our Plans page. You may want to use the PMA price survey as a starting point for your research, but you will need to contact the funeral homes directly to confirm the current price for the services you are requesting.

Funeral Cost Comparison Worksheet

Use this worksheet to compare the prices of up to four funeral homes. Take the prices from the General Price List of the funeral home or from information provided to you over the phone.
Name of Facility:
#1
#2
#3
#4
GENERAL        
Basic Services
Includes items such as meeting with the family, overhead, phone calls, etc. Everyone is required to pay for Basic Services, unless a package is purchased which includes this charge.		        
Removal
 (Pick-up of body and delivery to funeral home) You will want to ask about the local delivery area and determine whether the charges are different at night or weekends and whether the charges vary depending on whether the pick up is at a private home or a facility such as a hospital.		        

Refrigeration
 Needed if the body is stored more than 24 hours without embalming. Find out if there is a separate charge for refrigeration.

        
CREMATION        
Direct Cremation Package
If you are quoted a package price, make sure it includes the basic services, removal fees, the cremation container, the cremation itself, a container for the cremated remains, and storage of the remains until time of pick-up. Also, find out if there are extra charges for refrigeration, putting the body in the cremation container or other unspecified charges.		        
Cremation Container
A casket is unnecessary, but a sturdy container is required		        
Cremation Process
You might want to ask whether cremation is done on site or elsewhere.		        

Urn
 Container for cremated remains. This doesn't need to be anything more than a simple plastic box.

        
MORTUARY SERVICES PRIOR TO BURIAL        
Casket
Usually the largest single expense. Caskets are available starting around $500, but funeral homes may choose to only display those costing $1,000 or more.		        
Direct Burial -- refers to burial without a funeral service (ceremony) and without the need for embalming. If a package price is available, make sure it includes basic services, refrigeration, the casket, and delivery to the cemetery.        
Graveside Service
Funeral home charge for coordinating the delivery of the casket to the cemetery to occur along with a brief ceremony at that location.		        
Traditional Funeral Package
Should include the casket, storage of the body, embalming, visitation, use of the chapel for funeral ceremony, preparing the body for viewing, and delivery to cemetery.		        
Processional
Several additional charges will be incurred if the funeral guests and family go to the cemetery together following the chapel service-use of funeral vehicles, motorcycle escorts, etc.		        
Cosmetology, dressing, casketing, hairdressing, etc. -- These charges have to do with the appearance of the deceased and may or may not be included in other packages.        
Embalming
Necessary if there will be viewing or the body will be present at a chapel ceremony more than 24 hours after the time of death. Embalming is not required for direct cremation or direct burial.		        
Special Services
Anything unique to your situation. This might be an unusual transportation issue, a special religious procedure to be followed, or other special request. Find out if an extra fee is required.		        
Total:        

Learning the prices of funeral services does not tell the whole story. You might also want to inquire how long the facility has been in business, what the training of the staff is, whether they perform the services themselves or use subcontractors, and the reputation of the facility in the community. In regard to cremation, you might ask to visit the cremation facility or ask about being present when the cremation occurs. You might want to know whether the facility is locally owned and operated or part of a large chain. Finally, consider the recommendations of friends and family about the quality of services received in the past from the facility you are considering.