The Costs of Cremation: A Personal Experience

Yes, I know that is not an uplifting title for a post. However, I thought I would share my recent experience and make this post easy to find.

I recently went through the process of planning a cremation for a dearly departed relative. Going into it, I was prepared for a range of costs, but I was genuinely surprised at how wide that range turned out to be. The quotes I received varied from $3,000 to over $15,000.

One thing I've noticed is that most funeral homes are somewhat reticent about publicizing their costs. However, I found that they are willing to discuss pricing details when pressed. This lack of transparency can be a bit frustrating, especially when there is an inherent implication that if you spend more, that somehow equates to your level of “caring” for the departed.

The main reason I wanted to make this post was to share a positive experience I had with a company called Birdsong. From the outset, their communication was clear and compassionate. They approached the entire process with a level of respect and sensitivity that was appreciated. As well, most of the process could be managed online.

I am sharing because I hope that it is useful for someone else. I have no affiliation with Birdsong and frankly hope to not need their services again for a very long time.

Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps someone out there.

[Disclaimer: This is just my personal experience and opinion. Always do your own research and choose what's best for your situation. I am sure that there are other similarly worthy providers]