I''ve been interested in lower-cost, less ostentatious, more environmentally friendly funerals for a while. Years ago I was part of a funeral in which we transported the casket, containing an un-embalmed body, in the back of a pickup truck, to another state for burial. I learned that there are more burial options than people usually realize, and that some funeral homes can be very accommodating of the family''s wishes.

I think it''s very desirable to develop a good relationship with a funeral home before a funeral is needed, and to be sure that they understand your wishes and are willing to work with you. This is probably easier for a church, synagogue, etc. to do, but I''m sure individual families can do the same.

Below I''m including the text of a Facebook post that my wife forwarded to me. It''s a very good example of what can be done. Funeral homes are businesses and want to make money. They''re also run by people who are usually no worse than the rest of us, and want to do the right thing.

(note: cremation is forbidden in the Orthodox Church.)

A Cautionary Tale of Two Deaths and Two Funeral Homes (a conversation after Vespers tonight):

A church friend''s grandmother died this morning. Her funeral home quoted her 8,000.00 for funeral services (including a casket, but not including a burial plot, she will be buried at a local monastery graveyard). They don''t have that kind of money.

This morning I went to our funeral home to make arrangements for my Mom, and our quote was 1,800.00. Here''s the breakdown of the differences and charges:

The 8,000.00 package:

  1. The deceased will not be embalmed and will be buried in a mortuary casket, in a pre-arranged place (monastery).

  2. The funeral will be held at a local parish, so the body and casket must be transported to the church and then to the burial sites in a fancy Hearse. The funeral home charges for that transportation and personnel to move the casket to the church, then to the gravesite, and in and out of the hearse, and mileage etc.

The 1,800.00 package: (AKA in funeral homes as: "The Transfer Option"):

  1. We provided the casket (delivered to the funeral home the day before the funeral).

  2. They do the cosmetics for an open casket viewing, and keep the body refrigerated (no embalming) until the day of the funeral (there may be a daily fee beyond a certain time if the funeral is delayed).

  3. They casket the body on the day of the funeral. WE pick the casket up from the funeral home and transport it to the Church and then to the monastery (or cemetery). We had to cross State lines for my Dad and Mom so the funeral home got the "transportation permit" for us as part of their fees. In-State you may not need a permit to move a body, your mortuary will know that and get appropriate permits for you.

  4. If you are transporting the casket and body a long distance (in our case overnight), they will pack the casket with ice gel-packs.

Grief and sorrow is an opportunity for profit in the funeral industry. Not everyone has access to affordable hand made caskets (though one can often be built or obtained within a week), burial in monasteries or private cemeteries. But even if a death is unexpected and you cannot afford "mortuary prices", there are less expensive options if you are willing to forgo some of the cultural expectations of a "nice funeral".