THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 14, 2022 Page 21 Say nir Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller How Much Does an Average Funeral Cost? Dear Savvy Senior, How much does a typical funeral and body burial cost today? My wife and I are interested in prearranging our funerals but would like to have a cost idea before going in so we can plan and budget appropriately. Planning Ahead Dear Planning, It defi nitely pays to know what charges to expect when pre-planning a funeral. Most people don’t have a clue and can often be upsold thousands of dollars’ worth of extra services they may not want or need. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect. Funeral Prices The fi rst thing you need to be aware of is that funeral costs will vary considerably depending on your geographic location, the funeral home you choose and the funeral choices you make. With that said, here’s a breakdown of what an average funeral costs, nationwide, according to the most recent data from the National Funeral Directors Association. Professional services fee: This is a basic non-declinable fee that covers the funeral provider’s time, expertise and overhead: $2,300. Transfer of the remains: This is for picking up the body and taking it to the funeral home: $350 Embalming and body preparation: Embalming is usually mandatory for open-casket viewing, otherwise it’s not required unless the body is going to be transported across state lines. Embalming costs $775. Other body preparations, which includes hairdressing and cosmetics runs $275. Funeral viewing and ceremony: If the viewing and funeral ceremony is at the funeral home, you’ll be charged for use of the chapel and any necessary staff . Costs: $450 for viewing, and $515 for funeral ceremony. Metal casket: This is a big money maker for funeral homes, with markups of up to 300 percent over the wholesale price: $2,500. Funeral transportation: Use of hearse and driver; $325 to transport the body to the cemetery. Use of a service car/van: $150. Memorial printed package: This includes printed programs and memorial guest book: $183. In addition to these costs, there are also a number of cemetery costs like the plot or mausoleum fee, the vault or grave liner that most cemeteries require, and the opening and closing of the grave, all of which can run between $2,000 and $3,000; and the gravestone, which typically runs between $1,000 and $3,000. You’ll also need to budget for related expenses like fl owers for the funeral ($200 to $400), the newspaper obituary fee ($100 to $800 or more), the clergy honorarium ($200 to $300) and extra copies of the death certifi - cate ($5 to $35 per copy depending on the state). All told, the average cost of a total U.S. funeral today with viewing and cemetery burial is around $12,000. Ways to Save If this is more than you’re willing or able to pay, there are ways to save. For starters, you should know that prices can vary signifi cantly by funeral provider, so it’s wise to shop around. If you need some help, there are websites you can turn to like Parting.com that lets you easily compare prices online based on what you want. When evaluating funeral providers, be sure you get an itemized price list of services and products so you can accurately compare and choose what you want. The most signifi cant way to save is to request a “direct burial” or “direct cremation.” With these options you and your wife would be buried or cremated shortly after death, which skips the embalming and viewing. If you want a memorial service, you can have it at the graveside or at your place of worship without the body. These services usually run between $1,000 and $3,000, not counting cemetery charges. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Sergio Cornelio, City Clerk October 14, 2022 nior ior ~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS - GREAT FAMILY COLONIAL features 7+ rooms with room for the whole family -This one-owner home boasts 4+ bedrms, 3 1/2 baths, entertainment-size great rm w/slider to deck & yard, open to kitchen w/center island w/seating & ceramic tile flooring, dining room, wonderful, open & versatile floor plan, convenient 1st floor laundry, master suite w/walk-in closet & private bath, finished lower level with 5th bedrm, den, full bath, 2nd laundry hook-up & convenient, summer kitchen for great outdoor entertaining, level lot w/heated inground pool w/solar cover surrounded by cement patio, storage shed, double dog pen & NEW vinyl fencing, updated roof, 5 yr old gas heating system, worryfree generator, 2 car attached garage w/loft storage, located on great cul-de-sac in desirable Indian Valley. Offered at $799,900 335 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781) 233-7300 View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com - LEGAL NOTICE - ENROLLED ORDINANCE PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 1 SECTION 4.5 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EVERETT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS Chapter 43, Section 23. ENROLLED: 10/11/2022 DATE OF PROPOSED ORDAINMENT: 10/24/2022 CITY COUNCIL………………………………………………….No. C0387-22 AN ORDINANCE BANNING ANIMAL TESTING IN THE CITY OF EVERETT Councilor/s/ Stephanie Martins, Alfred Lattanzi, Vivian Nguyen, Darren Costa Whereas: an animal is any nonhuman vertebrate; and Whereas: an experiment is any procedure conducted by a research institution upon a live animal; and Whereas: A research institution is any facility operated in the City of Everett, any school or college of medicine, public health, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, or agricultural, medical, biological, or diagnostic laboratory, biological corporation, hospital or other educational or scientific establishment within the City of Everett which, in connection with any of its activities, investigates or gives instruction concerning the structure and function of living organisms or the causes, prevention, control or cure of diseases or abnormal conditions of human beings or animals, or participates in the development, marketing, or testing of any commercial products utilizing live animals. Now, therefore by the authority granted to the City Council of the City of Everett, Massachusetts to make ordinances: Be it Ordained: by the City Council of the City of Everett, Massachusetts, and by the authority of the same as follows: that experiments conducted on live animals of any kind be prohibited and therefore completely banned in the City of Everett. This ordinance shall take effect upon passage by the City Council and subsequent approval by His Honor the Mayor. A true copy attest
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