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Posted: Saturday, 25 July 2009 8:54AM
For some, cremation helps trim cost of funerals
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ELGIN (STNG) -- Although most funerals aren't as expensive as Michael Jackson's recent $1.4 million memorial service, saying goodbye to loved ones can be a costly endeavor.
The average cost for funerals in the United States is $7,323, up from $4,207 in 1969, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.
Local funeral directors are finding that some are choosing cremation as a way to reduce funeral costs. Steve Laird, owner of Wait-Ross-Allanson Funeral Services and Laird Funeral Home, said that while people are concerned about quality, they also are looking to save money. He's seen a 4 to 5 percent increase in requests for cremation in the last two years, with cremation currently comprising up to 40 percent of sales. That's well above the current rate of cremations in Illinois — 27.87 percent.
Up until 30 years ago, the practice was forbidden for Catholics, but the church reversed its policy and the practice has grown in popularity since. According to the national funeral directors group, 34.89 percent of deaths are followed by cremation rather than burial. NFDA projects that it will increase nationally to 39 percent in 2010 and will reach nearly 59 percent by 2025.
Mark Jaeger, owner of Countryside Funeral Homes in South Elgin and Streamwood, has seen similar trends. The cremation rate is at 50 percent, up from 45 percent just a few years ago.
"I think people are just being more cautious with their money," he said.
Tom Leetz, owner of O'Connor-Leetz Funeral Home, also has noticed an increase in cremations over the last few years, although he is hesitant to attribute it to the economy.
"It may affect some people, but I would assume those people were already considering cremation as an option," he said.
Yerry Madison, owner of Madison Funeral Home and Fox Valley Cremation Services for 36 years, agreed. He said funeral arrangements are one thing that people are not looking to save money on.
"I have been doing this a long, long time and I have been through economic downturns before and it really doesn't affect the funeral business that much. Every time the economy dips, it never changes. People have definite opinions about what they want done."
And because people often rely on life insurance to pay cost, "it doesn't really affect it this much," he added.
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Copyright 2009 STNG Wire, The Chicago Sun-Times. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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