Savvy Senior: Planning a simple, affordable funeral

Many seniors are looking for more affordable ways to say goodbye, and planning ahead can save loved ones stress and money. A traditional burial averages around $10,000, while a full-service cremation is near $6,500, prompting interest in simpler, lower-cost alternatives.

For cremation, a direct cremation is the simplest and usually least expensive option, costing $700 to $3,500 and including body pickup, paperwork, cremation, and return of ashes in a simple cardboard box. For burial, an immediate or direct burial skips embalming, viewings, and funeral facilities, typically costing $2,000 to $3,000, not including cemetery fees which can add $1,000 to $3,000.

Environmentally conscious options include green burial, where the body is buried in a biodegradable coffin or shroud without embalming or a vault, costing $2,000 to $5,000, and water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis), which uses water, chemicals, and heat instead of fire, costing $2,000 to $3,500 and legal in more than 20 states. The lowest-cost option is donating the body to science, which usually returns cremated remains at no cost, though some programs may charge a small transport fee.

To find providers, seniors can search online for local funeral homes or cremation services, use price comparison sites like Funeralocity.com or Parting.com, or use AI tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini to compare options quickly. The Green Burial Council offers a state-by-state directory at greenburialcouncil.org, and the Whole-Body Donation Referral Service can be reached at 800-727-0700.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal