Funeral Planning

1
Group 5

• Funeral Planning End of Life
  Decisions
  
• Todd Bersell Adam Matson
• Trevor Denniston Kevin Nordberg
• Gary Goska Michelle Richardson
• Chad Jelinek Christy Ring
• Bryan Legler Eric Stangel

2
DEATH AND DYING

• RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
• AND
• FUNERAL CUSTOMS

3
BUDDHISM

• As death approaches
• Peace and quiet for meditation
• Monk or religious person present
• When death is imminent
• Die in conscious and calm state of mind
• Chant passages of scripture

4

• Immediately after death
• No special requirements for body
• Different countries, different traditions
• Method of disposal
• Bury or cremate
• Funeral customs
• 3-7 days a service held in the home
• Mourning practices
• Great variations from country to country

5
CHRISTIANITY

• As death approaches
• Some wish for prays
• Anointing with oil by priest
• When death is imminent
• Priest gives Communion
• Repentance and forgiveness

6

• Immediately after death
• No special requirements for body
• Method of disposal
• Bury or cremate
• Only close family present at burial
• Funeral customs
• Service or mass held
• Open or close casket
• Mourning practices
• Usually no official morning period

7
ISLAM

• As death approaches
• Family members join in prayer
• Face towards Mecca
• When death is imminent
• Declaration of faith
• no God but God

8

• Immediately after death
• Non-Muslim health workers must ask to touch body
• Disposable glovers
• Body kept covered
• Washing of the body
• Post-mortems are disliked
• Method of disposal
• All ways burial

9

• Funeral customs
• Burial within 24 hours
• Females do not take part
• Grave facing Mecca
• May embalm body for transport
• Mourning practices
• Friends and family feed mourners for 3 days
• Unofficial mourning for 40 days
• Ends with reading and meal

10
Judaism

• As death approaches
• Rabbi may be called to join dying in prayer
• When death is imminent
• Dying should not be left alone
• Recite psalms
• When death occurs, the Declaration of Faith

11

• Immediately after death
• Handle body as little as possible
• Cover with sheet
• Jewish Burial Society performs ritual wash
• Post-mortems are disliked
• Method of disposal
• Simple coffins
• Funerals do not take place on the Sabbath or holy
  days
  
• Some non-orthodox Jewish Communities permit
  cremation
  

12

• Funeral customs
• Designated Jewish burial grounds
• Prayers at chapel and at the graveside
• Women now allowed to attend
• Only males recite the prayers and place coffin in
  grave
  
• Mourning practices
• 3 periods of mourning-recite prayers daily and
  refrain from certain activities
  
• First week mourners stay at home - called Shiva
• Adults mourn for 30 days, children for 1 year
• When mourning is complete tombstone is
  consecrated with ceremony

13
Hinduism

• As death approaches
• Follow hymns and readings from the Hindu holy
  books
  
• Some lie on the floor
• When death is imminent
• Hindu priest may perform holy rites
• Dying is given Ganges water and Tulsi leaf
• Person should die with the name God being
  recited
  
• Often wish to die at home

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• Immediately after death
• Family washes body
• Jewelry and religious objects are not removed
• Method of disposal
• Cremation as soon as possible
• Body is carried 3 times counterclockwise around
  the pyre then placed on it
  
• Children under 3 are buried

15

• Funeral customs
• Part of service takes place at home
• Priest chants from scriptures and chief mourner
  performs rituals
  
• Mourners walk around coffin
• Mourning practices
• Mourners and friends return to decedents house
• Cover all religious pictures and do not attend
  festivals
  
• Mourning period varies by country

16
Sikhism

• As death approaches
• Follow hymns from Sikh holy book
• When death is imminent
• Person should die with the name God being
  recited
  
• Some have Amrit, holy water, in the mouth

17

• Immediately after death
• Health workers should not trim hair or beard
• Covered by plain white cloth
• Family may wish to bathe body themselves
• Method of disposal
• Cremation as soon as possible

18

• Funeral customs
• Similar to Hindus
• Short ceremony in the home
• Body then taken to the gurdwara (temple) for
  service
  
• Mourning practices
• Up to 10 days of readings from scriptures
  attended by relatives and friends
  
• At conclusion eldest son is given a turban as a
  sign of the new head of family
  

19
LEGAL CASES
20
Holsen Family vs. Heritage Mutual Insurance
Company

• The Holsen Family brought suit against
  Prasser-Kleczka, Inc. a funeral home, which is
  represented in the case by Heritage Mutual
  Insurance Company
• The Facts
• On August 28, 1989 Prasser- Klecka, Inc. agreed
  to prepare the remains of Charles Hosen
  
• 15 minutes before the wake Hosens children
  realized that it was not their father in the
  casket.
  
• The remains were actually Peter Nemke, who had
  been buried the previous day.
  

21
Ryan vs. Schmit

• The Plaintiff was the decedents husband who died
  on June 10, 1953.
  
• Lorena, Effie, and Elizabeth were sisters of the
  decedent, who owned a burial lot in St. Josephs
  cemetery. The lot contained 10 burial sites,
  numbered 1-10.
• Ryan had instructed the funeral home to bury
  Lorena in lot number 1 next to Lorenas mother.
  

22
Ryan vs. Schmit

• Ryan filed suit against Schmit asking for his
  wifes remains be moved to lot number 1.
  
• The courts found that because the sisters were
  tenants in common over the lots, the Lorena was
  entitled to be buried in the lot but the decision
  on where is up to the other tenants in common.
• Ryan has the right to determine where his wife is
  to be buried
  

23
Ted Williams Case

• Facts
• Ted Williams wanted to be cremated and his ashes
  "sprinkled at sea off the coast of Florida where
  the water is very deep," according to his will.
  
• After writing will, dated Dec. 20, 1996, he
  changed his mind and expressed a desire to have
  his body frozen and told Albert Cassidy, executor
  of Williams' estate.

24

• Williams' will also instructed his family not to
  hold a funeral or memorial service.
  
• It also eliminated his oldest daughter, Bobby Jo
  Ferrell, as a beneficiary because "I have
  provided for her during my life," Williams wrote.
  
• Ferrell remained convinced that her father wanted
  to be cremated and his ashes scattered off the
  coast of Florida
  
• This case never went into litigation.
• As for Ted Williams, he is cryogenically frozen
  in Scottsdale Arizona.
  

25
Tri State Crematory

• Noble, Georgia
• 334 bodies recovered
• 222 bodies identified
• Funeral home settlement 37 M, March, 04
• Crematory settled for 80 M, August, 04

26
Crematory Case Cont.

• Ray Brent Marsh is a funeral director
• Police found 5 bodies by a dirt mound near home.
• After conducting their search, over 149 more
  bodies were found by a lake in the back yard.
  
• Six vaults on the crematory property were
  searched. Normally they hold one body.
  
• These were holding 20 to 40 bodies

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• Of the 60,000 deaths in Georgia last year, about
  6,000 bodies were cremated.
  
• The average cost to the family of a basic
  cremation is about 1,200
  
• Families spend thousands on an urn and funeral.
• When Marsh was arrested he claimed that the
  incinerator was broken
  
• Ray purchased a 20,000 incinerator in fall 1982
  and service was done in 1984
  

28
LEGAL ISSUES RIGHTS OF THE FAMILY
29

• Autopsy
• Embalming
• Funeral rule
• Contesting a will
• Burial Mistake

30
Autopsies

• Ordered by coroners office if
• death is suspicious or foul play involved
• public health concern
• No cost to family

31
Embalming

• Not required in all cases
• Refrigeration is alternative
• Common only in the U.S. and Canada
• Required for formal viewing
• Consent must be express

32
Funeral Rule

• Fed Trade Commission
• Funeral home must provide written itemized price
  list for goods and services
  
• Funeral home cannot refuse, or charge fee, to
  handle a casket you bought elsewhere
  

33
Contesting a Will

• You must have standing (some beneficial interest
  that will be lost if the will is allowed)
  
• Can contest on the grounds of
• Improper execution
• Unsound mind
• Fraud
• Undue influence

34
Legal Rights Case

• Remick v. Cady

35
Background Information

• May of 1997, Jerald Wrosch signed a document
  entitled Memorial Directions
  
• August 1997, Wroschs mother, brother, and
  sister, as next of kin, each signed forms entitle
  Authorization to Transfer Possession of the
  Remains of the Decedent which was required by
  the funeral home.
• The forms authorized the funeral home to transfer
  the authority over the final disposition of the
  decedent to Cady, as an agent for the next of
  kin. (Cady is not a relative)
• Wrosch died in 1999 and Cady arranged for his
  cremation.
  

36
Background Information

• While ashes were still in possession of funeral
  home, the next of kin notified Cady that they
  wished to rescind the authorization.
  
• Cady opposed the familys request.
• Funeral home refused to release the ashes to any
  of the parties without a court order.
  
• Next of kin filed suit seeking a judgment that
  they had a legal right to the ashes.
  

37
Trial Court Order

• The trial court determined that the authorization
  for Cady to act as vested when the decedent was
  cremated, and it was too late for family members
  to rescind their authorization. Ruled ashes were
  to be turned over to Cady.

38
Analysis of the Decision

• The parties agree that the Memorial Directions
  were not binding and that, in the absence of the
  signed forms, the next of kin would have a common
  law right to direct the disposition of the
  decedents final remains.
• Cady cites 22A AM.JUR2D Dead Bodies S26 (1988),
  stating that the right of the next of kind to
  have custody of a dead body or to control its
  burial may be waived by clear and satisfactory
  evidence of conduct indicative of a free and
  voluntary intent and purpose to that end.
• In other words, the next of kin have waived the
  right to sue the funeral home under an
  interference-with-common-law-burial-rights theory
  for actions the funeral home took at Cadys
  direction while the authorizations were in
  effect.

39
Analysis contd

• The Wisconsin Court of Appeals agreed that the
  forms signed by the next of kin constituted a
  limited agency designation and were revocable.
  
• They gave Cady the ability to act as an agent for
  the next of kin, but in no way did they waive or
  transfer the next of kins right to direct the
  location of the remains after they leave the
  funeral homes custody.
• Cady continues to argue that, even if the
  authorizations could have been revoked before
  Wrosch died, they could not be revoked after the
  cremation occurred.

40
Final Ruling

• Because the funeral home still had possession of
  the ashes, it was not too late for the next of
  kin to revoke Cadys agency and assert their own
  right to direct the final disposition of the
  ashes.
• Therefore, the Court of Appeals reversed the
  judgment of the trial court and the ashes are to
  be given to the next of kin.
  

41
FUNERAL COSTSUNITED STATESAROUND THE GLOBE
42
Funeral Costs in United States

• Average total costs according to the National
  Funeral Directors Association are 6,500
  
• Costs include
• Caskets
• Preparations
• Cemetery Plots

43
Funeral Costs in United States Continued

• Caskets largest portion of costs
• Steel Casket 2,000
• Cherry Wood Casket 3,000
• Mahogany Wood Casket 5,000
• Bronze Casket 10,000

44
Funeral Costs in United States Continued

• Most Commonly Selected Services
• Avg. Cost
• Professional service charges 1,182.31
• Embalming  400.51
• Other preparations (face, hair, etc.) 150.35
• Visitation/Viewing  314.42
• Funeral at funeral home 356.68
• Transfer of remains to funeral home 158.66
• Hearse (local)  179.08
• Service car/van 87.42
• Acknowledgement cards 14.47
• Casket 2,176.46
• Vault 757.80

• Service
  Estimated Cost
  
• Cemetery plot 500 to
  thousands
  
• Opening closing the grave 350 to 1,500
• Headstones 500 to thousands

45
Funerals Cost in Japan

• The typical Buddhist-inspired funeral involves a
  pre-cremation gathering, a memorial service, and
  a cremation ceremony.
  
• Costs around 22,000 Yen.
• Roughly, one half goes towards the actual funeral
  cost, and the other half goes towards the cost of
  buildings, temples, etc.
  

46
Funeral Costs in United Kingdom

• The funeral costs in the United Kingdom consist
  of
  
• Administration of plan
• Funeral directors professional services
• Advice on registration, documentation and
  certification for the funeral
  
• Provision of hearse and one limousine for service
  at local church and/or crematorium
  

• Local removal from place of death to funeral
  directors premises within 25 miles (24 Hours)
  
• Care of deceased prior to funeral
• A high quality wood veenered coffin
• Use of chapel of rest for visiting
• Attendance of conductor and four bearers on day
  of funeral
  

47
Funeral Cost of United Kingdom Continued

• Ministers and Doctors fees
• Crematorium fees
• Full listing of floral tributes
• Thank you cards
• Bereavement counseling (where available)

• A tree planted with Future Forests
• This traditional United Kingdom Funeral costs
  1910.00  Euros.
  

48
Funeral Cost in Portugal

• The administration of the plan
• The funeral directors professional services
• Removal to the funeral directors premises (within
  40km)
  
• Care of the deceased for visits by family
  friends
  
• A cremation coffin

• Advice to executors relating to registration
  documentation
  
• All legal documents necessary for the funeral to
  take place
  
• All disbursements associated with the above
  arrangements
  
• Advice to executors relating to registration
  documentation

49
Funeral Costs in PortugalContinued

• All legal documents necessary for the funeral to
  take place
  
• All disbursements associated with the above
  arrangements
  
• Hearse on the day of the funeral
• Death Notice in local news paper

• Church service and ministers services
• Cremation - Lisbon/Oporto/Ferreira do Alentejo
• Total cost of a typical funeral cost in Spain is
  around 2100 Euros
  

50
Funeral Cost in Spain

• The administration of the plan
• The funeral directors professional services
• Removal to the funeral directors premises (within
  100 km)
  
• Hygienic preparation

• Hearse on the day of the funeral to crematorium/
  cemetery
  
• Church services Minister Services
• Cremation fees doctors certificates

51
Funeral Cost in Spain

• Care of the deceased for visit by family
  friends
  
• Mortuary expenses four days
• Supply of a quality coffin suitable for
  cremation/burial
  
• Robe fittings
• Provision of a standard urn

• Provision of necessary staff on the day of the
  funeral
  
• All legal documents necessary for the funeral to
  take place
  
• Advice to executors relating to registration
  documentation
  
• This type of funeral costs roughly 24,000 Euros

52
Funeral Cost in Ireland

• Funeral Costs made up of two distinct parts
• 1) Charges by the funeral director
• Mostly for their services (embalming and
  preparation)
  
• 2) Disbursements
• -payments made by funeral director on behalf of
  the bereaved family.
  
• -such as flowers, organist, newspaper
  announcements, etc.
  

53
Funeral Costs in IrelandContinued

• Coffins Ranging from 500-1200
• Can be as high as 4000
• Plots average 900-1200
• Hearse rentals cost approximately 100
• Other expenses 1000- 4000
• Total Costs 2500.00 to 6500.00

54
Funeral Costs in Germany

• Costs can be staggering up to 8,000
• Funerals and cemeteries are handled by the state
  rather than private funeral homes.
  
• More people cremated to save money on embalming
  and preparation costs.
  

55
Funeral Costs(Online Funeral Homes)

• Offer large discounts online
• Planning a funeral online can cut funeral costs
  in half.
  
• Promotes more competition
• Avoids many service fees

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What Can Be Done?

• Preplan you funeral to avoid any additional
  expenses you wouldnt want.
  
• Buy a life insurance policy with the beneficiary
  being the same as the person in charge of you
  funeral
  
• Shop around either in person or online to get the
  best price.
  

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Thank You!!

• Any Questions?