Funeral With $100 Offering Line (HUH??)

[steve p]

Originally Posted by PraiseHymn

I beg to differ. Now while it might not be "federal" money ANYONE can have a funeral and there are funds out there to pay for them. I learned this in school most recently 2007. Read this website: http://www.rlc.org.au/factsheets/cre...lexpenses.html

What Happens If Nobody Can Afford To Pay For A Funeral
If you can't afford to pay for a funeral, don't organise it. If you organise the funeral you will have to pay. The police can organise a funeral for someone who has no-one to pay for their funeral. It will be a very simple and cheap funeral and the person will probably be cremated. If the person died in hospital, the NSW Health Department or the hospital in which they died will pay for a basic funeral. Contact the hospital registrar. Usually mourners will be allowed to attend but they will not be able to have much say in how the funeral is organised. These funerals are called destitute funerals.



As for the statment concerning African American Funerals and the lag time (which was a very general statement) it is safe to say that we hold our bodies out because 9 times out of 10 the family has to make travel arrangements to the city of the funeral. Its almost guarenteed with African Americans, if you die tonight (Sunday) your funeral wont be until Friday or Saturday. Why? Families are spread out from North to South, East to West. For instance with my family, half of us live in the south and the other half live up North in NYC. Its always been like that. You'll find most white people live near their family hence the reason why you die today you get a funeral no later than Wednesday. (plus us black folks tend to be so dramatic in wanting multiple days of mourning i.e. wakes, musicals, eatings at the home and church, more viewings and then the final hooray!) How do I know this? I go to about 75 funerals a year.

The reference you used is from AUSTRALIA.
and..I never inferred that I agreed with the African-American funeral director....I was just relating what was said to me. No offense intended.

[PraiseHymn]

I used that site because they have the exact same burial practices as the United States of America...however since you would like to limit it to just USA practices, funds so forth and so on, here is a link specifically for the United Staes of America. Below you will find articles for certain counties / states throughout the United States of America.

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/10404997.html

https://www.njfds.com/public/Financi...2/Default.aspx

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Funerals-...er-funeral.htm

So in other words, there IS assistance (usually from the county) that will give you an indigent burial.

By the way, I took no offense to what you said about African American funerals. Just wanted to give people a heads up on why we do certain things.

[steve p]

Please reference my first post...I spoke specifically about FEDERAL MONIES and monies available from the State of TENNESSEE....

[PraiseHymn]

Steve P
The point is regardless of WHO the money comes from, there is monies available for people who cant bury their own dead.

And I'm done because its apparent to me that you want the last word in this discussion. So we ALL will await your response to my final post.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by PraiseHymn

I did some research on this one "women preacher" who is a funeral minister. This is what her site says

Honorarium

Funeral Services (Private Home, Funeral Home, Church, or Graveside): $295

Funeral and Graveside Service: $375

Wake or Memorial Service: $295

These fees reflect travel within a 25 mile radius of Bowie, MD 20720. http://www.startum.com/funerals.htm

Here is a more broad answer I found online:
It is always courteous to pay an honorarium to the clergy. The funeral director will know what is usual in your area, but the prices you quoted sound about average. Then again, in a small-town area, it might be only $50-$75 and as much as $300 in some other places.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Funerals-...ng-speaker.htm

This woman's honorariums sound extremely high! I don't think Eddie's ever been paid that much for a funeral. Lots of times, he doesn't even take anything.

[steve p]

Originally Posted by PraiseHymn

Steve P
The point is regardless of WHO the money comes from, there is monies available for people who cant bury their own dead.

And I'm done because its apparent to me that you want the last word in this discussion. So we ALL will await your response to my final post.

All im saying is that there are not monies available in all areas for indigent burial. Go ahead...post again....this is fun.....

[steve p]

Originally Posted by Sherri

This woman's honorariums sound extremely high! I don't think Eddie's ever been paid that much for a funeral. Lots of times, he doesn't even take anything.

I cant imagine Eddie having a 'rate card'...LOL

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Sherri

This woman's honorariums sound extremely high! I don't think Eddie's ever been paid that much for a funeral. Lots of times, he doesn't even take anything.

My Dad has preached funerals for free before. However, most folks offer what they can. He DOES NOT have a set fee.

Another example of lack of class-- a preacher "advertising fees" for funerals just seem so impersonal and inappropriate.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by PraiseHymn

Steve P
The point is regardless of WHO the money comes from, there is monies available for people who cant bury their own dead.

And I'm done because its apparent to me that you want the last word in this discussion. So we ALL will await your response to my final post.

Is this your final answer?

[Margies3]

Originally Posted by PraiseHymn

Steve P
The point is regardless of WHO the money comes from, there is monies available for people who cant bury their own dead.

And I'm done because its apparent to me that you want the last word in this discussion. So we ALL will await your response to my final post.

My niece's friend died this month. He was 32 years old and left 8 little kids (4 his and 4 step). he had no insurance and no money.

The family contacted every funeral home in the Toledo area to see what could be done. Nobody could help them. There is an indigent fund. But it is only $450 in his county. That doesn't begin to cover even a very basic anything, even if they cremated and just had a memorial service with no visitation, it was still more than $450.

I work for our local funeral home. I talked to Travis about situations like this. His answer to me is that when these come thru, he cremates, has a memorial service and takes whatever the indigent fund and the family can come up with, then writes off the rest. It's all he can do. He also told me that the money for the indigent fund is only available to someone who LIVED in that township/city/county or whatever. So if someone came to him from 20 miles away and wanted to use the money from the indigent fund in our county, it would not be allowed. And not all townships, cities, etc. have indigent funds.

Does that mean that I think an offering at a funeral is acceptable? no. definately not. If I was this man's family, I would have been mortified to have the pastor do this. I'd never come back, I'm sure. But that's just me.