Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    I think, and this is a guess, that the poor fall back on the charity of
    family and friends.  Or they let the "state" take care of it.  Or... 
    They make the arrangements and never pay the bills.
    
    I remember a family story of my grandmother (she and her husband were
    immagrants (sp?) and worked blue collar jobs - housecleaning, janitor,
    etc.).  When Grandpa died she went to <where-ever> to pay up the
    balance on the cemetrary plot.  They had bought it years and years
    before, but had never finished paying for it.  (They had 9 children
    that lived, and you can imagine the number of grandchildren that made
    demands on them.)  The man taking the money was astounded (sp?) that
    someone would own up to oweing such an old bill.

    I suspect you're right in many cases, Debby (.1).  Where the family
    and friends are available and willing to chip in, probably some
    of the costs, at least, are shouldered by them.
    
    Veterans are eligible for a cost-free burial plot and marker at a
    national cemetery.  This cuts the cost for some.  This also applies
    to the veterans' (unremarried) spouses and minor children.
    
    What amazes me is how much you can spend even before you get that
    far.  And the top end is virtually unlimited.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    My Fathers Funeral  (1991) cost $10,000.
    
    Could have saved money, but, he had put the cost of the funeral aside,
    and he had some expensive last requests....
    
    Marc H.

Personally, I hope to leave simply and inexpensively, 
after donating whatever organs, tissue, and such as may be useful.

Peace,

Jim

    One of the people I spoke to at a local funeral home said that with
    an inflation rate of 5%, costs are doubling about every 13 years.
    If true, it means that what costs $5,000 now could cost $20,000 in
    26 years.  I personally hope not to "check out" before then.
    
    One can "freeze" the price of arrangements at current prices by
    investing in a Pre-need Plan.  An obvious sales pitch, but something
    to think about.
    
    I'm thinking I want to go the direct cremation route, with the ashes
    scattered.  No marker, no burial.  It is the least expensive route.
    
    I don't really know if I need my bones in the ground to be a part of
    the resurrection of the dead, anyway.  If God is God, then I doubt it.
    But who knows?
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    
    

    A very young and close friend to me is dying of cancer.  He has been
    given 6 months to a year... We spoke of this very subject soon after he
    had been told to make his arrangements.  In doing so, he found that he
    wanted a pine box in the woods with a simple headstone.  He said no
    frills, no cushioned mattress, no silk, just a pine box in the ground. 
    Why?  Because every penny he has is being poured back into a child off
    our Bus Ministry... a child that wouldn't be able to go to college will
    now be able to as a the recepient of life insurance policies are paid
    and invested... His comment was I'll be dead and present with the Lord,
    I don't need a comfortable bed to rot in...
    
    His comments.... [BTW, I tried to be strong as I listened to this 33
    year old man speak this way... but my tears just wouldn't stop]

 Wow...

    
    Indeed...

    My Father n law just went into a rest home.  In dealing with the
    estate,
    Massachusetts allows you to keep a certain portion of it from medicaid
    to allow for final expenses.  This way, if you have 20K in the bank,
    you can put 6K or so in a trust to be used for funeral expenses.
    This is good in order to prepare so that it won't effect the rest of
    the family..
    
    -Jack

    I dare say, it can certainly cost more to exit this world than it
    did to enter it!
    
    Shalom,
    Richard