How To Arrange A Simple Burial

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HOW FUNERAL AND MEMORIAL SOCIETIES WORK

Q. What is a memorial society?

A. A memorial society is a voluntary group of people who have joined together to obtain dignity, simplicity, and economy in funeral arrangements through advance planning.

Q. Is is run by funeral directors?

A. No. It is an organization of consumers that helps its members to make dignified funeral arrangements at reasonable cost.

Q. How is it controlled?

A. It is a democratic organization managed by an unpaid board of directors elected from its membership.

Q. Who organizes memorial societies?

A. Usually they have been started by a church or ministerial association; occasionally by labor, civic, or educational groups; sometimes by a few concerned individuals.

Q. Is membership limited?

A. No. Membership is open to all regardless (if creed, color, occupation, or nationality, even though a society may be organized by a church or other group.

Q. How are memorial societies supported?

A. Most have a single modest membership fee for individual or family memberships. A few have annual dues. Some receive gifts or bequests Some make a small charge whi is remitted to them by the funeral director at time of death.

Q. Who does the work?

A. The members. Most societies are run by unpaid officers and committees, some by church staffs. A few larger ones have part- or full-time paid secretaries.

Q. What happens when you join?

A. The society lets you know what kinds of funeral service are available and at what cost. You talk it over in your family and decide on your preference, then fill out forms provided by the society.

Q. Can these plans be canceled or changed?

A. Certainly. Anytime.

Q. How does preplanning help at time of death?

A. In several ways:

1. You know what you want, how to get it, and what it will cost. You don't have to choose a casket or negotiate for a funeral.

2. Your family understands what is being done. Simplicity will reflect dignity rather then lack of respect.

3. By accepting in advance the reality of death, and by discussing it frankly, you and your family are better able to meet it when it comes.

Q. Does planning really save money?

A. The amounts vary greatly, but memorial society members usually save several hundred dollars on a funeral. One large society estimates that its members save upwards of a million dollars a year by belonging to the organization.

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