MEMORIAL SOCIETIES: A WORD OF CAUTION

Depending on where you live, the popularity of memorial or cremation societies may have grown with the general public interest in cremation. Memorial societies serve mainly to provide information on minimum services for their fee-paying members. They generally do not directly provide funerals or cremation services. Since a memorial society contracts with other providers (most often a funeral home), the total cost of arrangements may not always be less than the same arrangements made with a funeral director.

Beyond costs, an important factor to consider is the high level of service that can be expected when dealing directly with a full-service funeral firm. This includes: personal consultation available 24 hours a day, the ability to accommodate changes, speed in obtaining death certificates, preparing an unlimited number of news notices, and assistance in completing many necessary forms.