There is a rising trend toward cremation, the nation’s answer to outlandish funeral costs and diminished space in cemeteries. Being cremated is much less expensive than being buried; on average, the entire process costs $1500 or less. Most crematories require a container to house the body, but a casket isn’t necessary; the FTC’s Funeral Rule states that the crematories must provide customers with suitable, simple, unfinished containers. Or, as with caskets, you’re allowed to provide your own as long as it’s up to the minimum standards. There are no fees for embalming, caskets, vaults, opening and closing of the grave, etc. Urns are often purchased by families at a cost of $150 or so, but they aren’t a requirement. They’re only a necessity for people wanting to display their loved one’s ashes. Ashes are returned to the deceased’s family in a container (metal, cardboard or plastic) that is suitable for burial or shipping, so unless you want to attractively display them on the mantel, the box they come in is sufficient for most purposes.
Donation to Science
Another alternative is to donate the body to a university or medical facility for scientific research. Usually the only costs incurred by this method are transportation costs, usually a couple hundred dollars. And in most cases, if specifically requested, cremated remains can be returned to the family once the research has been completed (note: this can take up to two years).