Any point in price checking on cremation costs? Are they all about the same?

For the UCinti body donation answer: Does the donor have to be able to sign over the body? I think he may have done something like this already, but not sure, and he did not mention it when he was talking about cremation months ago.

The Body Donation Program at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine is an important community service that allows an individual to make a lasting and meaningful contribution to medical science. Those interested in becoming a donor should call 513-558-5612. Forms will be sent and should be completed and distributed as indicated

Prices also vary if they have on site creamation or off site. I was so not prepared, and we picked a local place and it went well. But I could have saved some money if I had had more time.

Get it done for free. You do this by pre-arranging to donate the body to a nearby medical school. They pick up the deceased and about a year later you get the ashes back, in a metal container that can be kept or buried in a plot.

I checked on prices for simple cremation. Around here the ranged from less than $1000 to $3000. Additional services would be added on to the base amount. We bought a package for my parents, but it was a more expensive plan. I am glad that we did, though, since it made everything so much easier.

This depends on what services you want. We paid about $5500 for each of my parents. It was a bit steeper than some services, but it made things so much simpler for us during a stressful time. The funeral home handled so much for us when my father died. They picked him up, then held him in state for a couple of days before the cremation, then arranged for the service with flowers and all of the things the family needs (Announcements, thank-you cards, internet site, reception area and access to a catering service). We didn't have to do anything but gather some pictures of him for the photo display.

Please check to see what you are getting for the price you pay and decide what you need and what you can afford before choosing. If you choose the Dignity Memorial like we did, then change your mind, the money is still available for refund. The value of it actually grows in a mysterious way, but I don't know what it would be if the policy was surrendered.

If a person is on hospice watch, sometimes the hospice group will give you list of funeral homes and their costs for services, etc. I was surprised when I saw the list to see the differences in price.