What to Do if You Can’t Afford a Funeral? | Hamel-Lydon Chapel & Cremation Service of MA

The last thing you should be worried about after losing a loved one is money, but it’s a sad reality for many families. People tend to underestimate just how much a “typical” funeral costs until they’re actually planning one. If you’ve found yourself struggling to find the funds to cover the cost of a funeral, don’t stress. You have options to fit almost any budget.

Consider Alternative Options

Just because it’s the norm for people to be embalmed and buried with a big funeral for loved ones to attend, it doesn’t have to be done like that. There are a variety of alternative options to consider including:

•Cremation – cremation costs vary, but are typically less than a traditional burial. You can choose to just receive the ashes in a container, or have viewing hours or a nice urn, which will add to the cost.

•Body donation – body donation is a unique option because the deceased has to fill out paperwork and approve of the plan before their death. Needless to say, this isn’t an option in the case of an unexpected death. When a body is donated it’s taken to a nearby medical school for students to learn hands-on. When the school is done using the body, the ashes will be returned to the family. Body donation is free.

•Immediate funeral – when a body is buried immediately after death without any embalming, visitation, or viewing, the costs come down significantly.

Utilize Life Insurance and Savings

Before you panic about paying for the funeral yourself, look into the deceased person’s life for any possible life insurance money or savings. Life insurance could be held at any job they had or through a private plan. Some people even make advance payments to a nursing home before their death to lower the funeral cost for their family. Thoroughly look at all of these possibilities before paying the cost yourself.

Fund Donations

When someone close to you passes away, the people in your life often are looking for ways to support you. At Hamel-Lydon Chapel, we provide the option for family and friends to make monetary donations to help cover funeral costs. These gifts can be made easily and securely online through our website, and will be paid directly to the funeral home to cover costs.

Contact Hamel-Lydon Chapel

If you’re in the Boston area and need help planning a funeral, contact Hamel-Lydon Chapel today. Our team of experienced funeral directors can discuss multiple pricing options to find the best fit for your family. We can also help you be proactive to set up a life insurance policy or funeral savings account now so someday when you pass, your family won’t be left worrying about how to pay for the funeral.