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They are saying my mom is passing and we have no insurance. I can’t even afford a cremation right now. She had social security that has been sent back from the nursing home since February when she was hospitalized. I am only medical POA, not even rep payee yet. Can that be used? I don’t know what to do and don’t really want to give her to medical science. We are in NC.

Trying, check the law in your state to see how long they have to keep the ashes. After a certain length of time they can get rid of them.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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I just went through this with my husband. I am sorry you are going through this. Honestly the only way I was able to pay for my husband's cremation was Gofundme.com and TikTok. Its just a suggestion.
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JoAnn29 Aug 25, 2025
There was an update, OP got help.
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Trying76 updated in a reply to me.

"Hi guys. I’m doing ok. Mom got 10 more years after her first arrest which occurred the day before her birthday. She passed two weeks before her birthday which was yesterday. Ironically she was always sad around it cause her aunt who raised her died on her birthday.
As far as her cremation… in NC you have to wait 10 days before social services will help and 10 more days before they actually do it. The lady called yesterday and I think they are gonna help. Between the county she passed in and the one we are from… they are trying to pass it on each other. Meanwhile she is still at the hospital. I was told that some county’s don’t give remains back but both of these do. Also I tried to find online resources and there are some that pay if you apply for military, babies and certain conditions. I hope this helps. Ty"
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My family just went through this when my bonus Father (my mom's husband of 42 years) passed away. I couldn't bear to have my mother charge his cremation and think of it every month she paid the bill. He was 82 and had been through cancer, bypass surgery, and several other small health conditions. My daughter heard of a place called sciencecare.com. They are a donation center that harvests tissue and organs that have had cancer, injuries, etc. They keep those donations to study care and treatments for the future generation. Then, they cremate the remains and send them back to you in a tasteful package, delivered to you by hand and your signature. There was no cost for this service. They treated my Poppa with dignity and respect when they picked him up from our home. They stayed by our side as we said a prayer and kissed him goodbye. He was a Veteran, so they covered him on the stretcher to the awaiting van with a plastic "flag" of the United States. Communication from the facility near my home where he was taken was constant and thorough, but mostly kind and compassionate. Please, look them up. God bless you and I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. May she rest in the arms of God, Amen.
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Reply to TrishaAlvis
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Cremation costs are aprox $800 to $1500. If yours is more, choose another company. Put it on a charge card.
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JoAnn29 Aug 11, 2025
Where I live, 9 yrs ago thru a funeral home mo frills, it cost $2300.
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Fellow NCer here. I'm sorry for your loss. Praying you find a way to take care of this for your Mom. Could you do a GoFundMe ?
Take care and be gentle with yourself.
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Also, I'm very sorry for your loss.
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I believe social security paid for my brother's cremation in Las Vegas.

I'd ask the funeral home directors what type of financial aid is available for the indigent deceased.
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JoAnn29 Aug 11, 2025
SS will give the surviving spouse something like $245 towards furneral expenses.
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I am sorry for your loss, and for the added difficulty of trying to arrange funding for the funeral.

I was in a similar situation when my dad died, but I found there is assistance for those who cannot afford a funeral and I was helped by the local authority (UK).

So, I know how trying this is and I want to tell you to not feel bad about your circumstances. Everyone deserves dignity and compassion. Please show it to yourself.

Take care.
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Reply to MiaMoor
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Trying76: I am so sorry to read that your mother has passed and send deepest condolences.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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Trying76, I am so sorry for your loss.

May The Lord give you strength, guidance and comfort for this new season in life.

When you feel like it, perhaps, you could share how you were able to deal with this situation.
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Trying76 Aug 10, 2025
Ty
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UPDATE:

The OP's Mom passed on 8/2/25

"The hospital said she was [passing] and she now has [passed]. Ty. I spoke with social worker guy this morning about it and he provided resources."

I'm sorry for this difficult loss. May you receive peace in your heart as you move through the grief.
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Have you inquired about low-cost cremation options in your area? There a facilities that just do cremations with no services or extras that a funeral home would cost.
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I'm sorry to read that your mom has passed. I hope everything works out and that in the midst of the stress, you allow yourself time to grieve.
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Reply to graygrammie
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My husband, my mother and myself are donating our bodies to Science. $0 cost.
My Mom recently passed and we handled it this way. The company was very respectful. The company we used was RESEARCH FOR LIFE.
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graygrammie Aug 9, 2025
I wish my husband had known about this before he was diagnosed with dementia. The Lyme Disease organization requested brain donations and his would have probably provided a lot of information for them since he was diagnosed in 1995. I'm sure had all kinds of bacteria in his brain, and may have had something to do with his dementia.
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I am so sorry for your loss. Please update us on how it works out. We learn from others experiences and pass it on.
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Trying76 Aug 15, 2025
Hi guys. I’m doing ok. Mom got 10 more years after her first arrest which occurred the day before her birthday. She passed two weeks before her birthday which was yesterday. Ironically she was always sad around it cause her aunt who raised her died on her birthday.
As far as her cremation… in NC you have to wait 10 days before social services will help and 10 more days before they actually do it. The lady called yesterday and I think they are gonna help. Between the county she passed in and the one we are from… they are trying to pass it on each other. Meanwhile she is still at the hospital. I was told that some county’s don’t give remains back but both of these do. Also I tried to find online resources and there are some that pay if you apply for military, babies and certain conditions. I hope this helps. Ty
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If Mom was on Medicaid, they may pay for a cremation. Ask Moms caseworker. States also have funds for indigent people. If Mom is in a hospital, talk to the Social Worker there. You maybe able to make a payment plan with the funeral home.
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Try Neptune Cremations. They are no frills and available nationwide.
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Lylii1 Aug 9, 2025
They are expensive!
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I too live in NC and when I had my late husband cremated in 2020, it cost me $1126, and that included 3 copies of his death certificate which I only needed one as everyone else took copies of it.
It will be less expensive if you have your mom cremated than to have her buried, that's a fact.
I know you say that you are moms medical POA, so who is her financial POA? They should be able to access her monies and take care of her final expenses as needed.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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"They say she is passing". WHO SAYS SHE IS PASSING? Whoever "they" are, whether nursing home or hospital, it is time to speak with THEM about this. If you are her POA and her executor then you will use what funds she has for burial. If there are no funds for simple cremation you will speak to whomever holds her body upon death as to where she will be transferred; that may be the country morgue. If you cannot afford her transfer to a funeral establishment they should be able to tell you about next steps.

The best people to speak with now are your mom's caregivers. If you have no funds and SHE has no funds that needs to be made clear to all when she has passed. They will have social workers to contact to guide you. If you are POA you may now want to ask for her to be on Hospice both to ease and comfort you and her as she dies, and to suggest best way to address your concerns re a simple and low cost cremation. This is the sort of thing their Social Workers and Clergy can help you with. Hospice is FREE and it is covered by Medicare.
ASK for HOSPICE right away.
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Trying76 Aug 2, 2025
The hospital said she was and she now has. Ty. I spoke with social worker guy this morning about it and he provided resources.
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