When someone passes away and arrangements are to be made things can get crazy.  Some families don't know where to start.  Pre-planned funerals can help relieve that stress on loved ones.  When the time comes the family can rest assured their wishes have been made and can be carried out. A pre planned funeral can be funded or unfunded.  If you want to pay now, set up payments, or set up an insurance assignment, you can.  If you just want to make arrangements and pay at the time of need you may do that too. 

(if you have already read part 1, just skip down to the numbers part to compare ground burial vs. mausolem spaces in a private cemetery's veteran section) 

Free burial spaces for veterans? Well, it is true, but unless you go to a National Cemetery, you can easily pay over $8000 for a "free" grave or crypt for a veteran and their spouse. Let's start with the simple part: An honorably discharged veteran and their spouse are entitled to free graves, free grave liners, free headstones, free open & closing (the digging), and free perpetual care. This is if they select any National Cemetery for their resting place (Marion National is the closest to Indianapolis).
    Private cemeteries love to advertise "free burial spaces for veterans" which is technically true, but then they charge for the grave for the spouse, the open & closing of the grave, the headstone, the headstone backing, the headstone installation, a paperwork processing fee, a perpetual care fee, a consumer protection fee- for BOTH the veteran and the spouse. Remember, it is TOTALLY FREE for BOTH at any of our fine National cemeteries.
    I recently visited a local cemetery and inquired about Veteran's burial for my father-in-law, a Vietnam Veteran who served two tours in the Marine Corps. (Semper Fi!!!)  Whereas his grave ($1100) and VA Bronze marker were free, the other charges were as follows:

    Mausoleum Crypts
    veteran's crypt-     free 
spouse's grave-            $4895
administrative fee        $95    (for paperwork, etc.)
consumer protection fee    $48.95
open & closing for veteran    $695
open & closing for spouse    $695
                So far, we are at $6428.95

Instead of headstones, the crypt has an engraved front or a face plate
veteran's crypt plate-        $750
spouse's crypt plate-        $750
sales tax                        $105
total for crypt plates        $1605
Add the two together, and the grand total is $8033.95 to entomb the veteran and the spouse (but the veteran's crypt is "free")

In all fairness, Mausolem entombment is not available in all VA cemeteries.
In all fairness, care and respect for veterans is not available in all private cemeteries.

Thanks for listening! Please feel free to email any questions to me at info@indianafuneralcare.com

Free burial spaces for veterans? Well, it is true, but unless you go to a National Cemetery, you can easily pay over $8000 for a "free" grave for a veteran and their spouse. Let's start with the simple part: An honorably discharged veteran and their spouse are entitled to free graves, free grave liners, free headstones, free open & closing (the digging), and free perpetual care. This is if they select any National Cemetery for their resting place (Marion National is the closest to Indianapolis).
    Private cemeteries love to advertise "free burial spaces for veterans" which is technically true, but then they charge for the grave for the spouse, the open & closing of the grave, the headstone, the headstone backing, the headstone installation, a paperwork processing fee, a perpetual care fee, a consumer protection fee- for BOTH the veteran and the spouse. Remember, it is TOTALLY FREE for BOTH at any of our fine National cemeteries.
    I recently visited a local cemetery and inquired about Veteran's burial for my father-in-law, a Vietnam Veteran who served two tours in the Marine Corps. (Semper Fi!!!)  Whereas his grave ($1100) and VA Bronze marker were free, the other charges were as follows:
    veteran's grave-     free 
perpetual care fee-      $165
spouse's grave-            $1100
administrative fee        $95    (for paperwork, etc.)
consumer protection fee    $11.00
veteran's 'vault'            $975 for basic vault
spouse'  'vault'             $975 for basic vault
open & closing for veteran    $975
open & closing for spouse    $975
                So far, we are at $5111.00
Do you want a headstone? For both husband and wife, the charges are:
veteran's flat bronze marker    $free (provided by VA)
matching bronze for spouse    $1060    (no, that is not a typo)
Granite base for both markers    $1030
Vase                                    $730    
concrete foundation for base    $260
installation fee                    $200
perpetual care fee            $248
sales tax                         $125.30
        Total for the headstones: $3653.50
Add the two together, and the grand total is $8764.30 to bury the veteran and the spouse (but the veteran's grave is "free")

Stay tuned for "The illusion of the deal Part 2" which is for mausoleum entombment...

Cremation can be as cheap as you make them.  Direct cremation with Indiana Funeral Care is $890.00.  Additional cost that a family might have would be death certificates and/or an orbituary.  Cheap funerals can be just that; however, you can use the money that you might spend at other firms towards keepsakes.  We have urns starting as low as $65 with engraving and jerewlry as low as $130.    

Even though i have experienced military honors many, many times, i still get goosebumps when i hear the notes of "TAPS'  played at the conclusion. Many families tell me "I don't care about the funeral part, but Dad really wanted a military service", referring to the honors rendered at the conclusion of the service (usually at the graveside, but not always). After participating in this solemn occasion, there is rarely not a dry eye or person that hasn't been touched by the ceremony. I believe the military honors are the perfect conclusion to any celebration of a veteran's life. It is meaningful, cathartic, and leaves behind a reminder of how soldiers take care of fellow soldiers, no matter the circumstances. For those who have served, no matter how young or old, it reinforces the camaraderie of the military and their ideals. For civilians who have not served, it is a powerful reminder of the dedication those in uniform have for the cause of the greater good and the steadfastness of those who have answered the call of duty.

 Cheap doesn't have to mean low-quality. Why pay more than you need to? Our cost for direct cremation is reasonable, affordable, and we treat your family and loved one as if they were our own. We can offer cheap cremations and cheap funerals not because we are doing a half-assed job, but because we are a small family-owned business that believe that things can be done differently than most other funeral homes and discount cremation providers. You can have as much involvement with the cremation as you'd like- even accompaning your loved one to the crematory and participating in the cremation, and there will be no doubt in your mind that we take care of everybody - living and dead- and that you can still have a cheap cremation that is done properly, with respect and care. How many other service providers will allow that?
http://indianafuneralcare.com/cremation.html

Cheap doesn't have to mean low-quality. I am proud that we can offer many cheap caskets that are nice enough for my own family to use (although mine is a cremation family) that don't look cheap or trashy. Check out the caskets in our Indiana Church Funeral Plans- http://indianafuneralcare.com/icfp.html They are nice and dignified, and they are inexpensive caskets that are good. We don't offer anything that we wouldn't use for our own loved ones. You don't have to overspend to get the quality care your family deserves.

Funeral arrangements are usually never a fun thing to do. Our goal is to make the entire experience as simple and painless for our families. Sometimes you don't have to come to the funeral home to make arrangements because often we are able to make them at your family's home, over the telephone, or by email. If we are making more detailed arrangements for a funeral or memorial service, the selection of merchandise (casket, urn, memorial folders) can be done with a laptop computer or photos. Even though our funeral home is in Indianapolis, we can bring our funeral home to you. This way, everyone in Indiana can receive quality assistance from a funeral home that truly cares about the families we serve.

Why do more and more people Google for discount funerals and cremations in Indiana?  There is a small but rapidly growing segment of people that are looking for more simplicity and less expense in funeral and cremation services.  There are lots of good traditional funeral homes in Indiana, but trying to find a quality value provider that offers "discount funerals" or "discount cremations" in Indiana is a difficult task.
    Many funeral home websites have beautiful graphics and colors, but no pricing information.  There is a reason!  When you visit the website of Indiana Funeral Care you will see they offer cremation and funeral packages anywhere in Indiana at discount prices, 40% to 50% less than traditional funeral homes. 

Many people search for cheap caskets online because of the extraordinary markup many funeral homes place on caskets.  I am told they would prefer to buy the casket from the funeral home, but some of the prices are so high, they go online to find sources for discount caskets.  The fact that most funeral homes markup their caskets so high has always amazed me.  Every business has the right to set pricing at whatever level they deem appropriate, but consumers are smart and getting smarter all the time.
    The cost of the casket is included in the Church Funeral Plan prices at Indiana Funeral Care, but we also price caskets separately.  All of our caskets are made by companies with manufacturing operations in Indiana.  We do not sell caskets made in China, but our casket prices are cheaper than any other Indianapolis funeral homes and to the best of our knowledge, in the State of Indiana.

 We are honored to serve families of less fortunate veterans in need of financial assistance.  When a Veteran dies in a VA Medical Center or if his or her care is contracted out to a hospice or nursing facility (domiciled):  

    A.  Indiana Funeral Care will pick up the body of the deceased, meet with the family to complete all documents, bathe, dress and casket, in a minimum flat top casket, arrange for a military graveside service and transport to the closest VA cemetery for that service.  We will provide those services for the VA burial benefits, there will be no charge to the family.
    B.  Indiana Funeral Care will pick up the body of the deceased, meet with the family to complete all documents, cremate and transport to the closest VA cemetery for a military graveside committal service.  We will provide those services for the VA burial benefits, there will be no charge to the family. 

We are most grateful for our veterans and their service to our country!

I was honored to speak to the incoming District Commanders at the American Legion Department of Indiana, July 13.  One of the Commanders volunteered that he learned he could transfer the arrangements he had made for he and his wife to be cremated.  They made the arrangements before they were aware of cremation services offered by Veterans Funeral Care through the American Legion.  He was amazed that our prices on cremation services were so much less expensive.  He was very pleased to learn that Veterans Funeral Care refunds the excess amount in the trust at the time of need to the next of kin and wanted other Legionnaires to be aware of that.

 Pam is a hospice nurse and when she lost her son, Ryan to cancer, I knew it would be tough.  When Ryan died in May, 2008, she fulfilled her son’s wishes to be cremated and celebrated his life on a sunny June Sunday afternoon at Broad Ripple Park.  Seems that Pam had spent a lot of sunny afternoons with Ryan, as a child, at Broad Ripple Park and it was one of his favorite places to go.  What an appropriate place this would be to share remembrances and celebrate his life.

As I walked toward the shelter at the Park on that sunny Sunday afternoon, I could not help but put myself in Pam’s shoes and the tears started flowing.  The sounds and sites of kids playing on the swings, Frisbees flying, dogs barking and the smells of cookouts took me immediately back to the days I spent with my sons, Josh and Matt, in their younger years in a park.  Several times I turned back to the car to compose myself as I shared Pam’s grief in the loss of her son.

Ryan’s body has been cremated, but his memories will live on and were celebrated and appreciated by the huge gathering of people that attended the memorial service on that sunny day in the park.  This will always be a special remembrance of a life to me.

One meets the most interesting people at the Indianapolis 500, but this year was truly heartwarming!  Seems that the Californians sitting in front of us had traveled to yet another Indy 500 with a special purpose in mind…….to personally transport the cremated remains of their loved one to the most special place on earth, to their beloved and now departed loved one……

“My dad's name was Marshall.  My mother and step-mother, both 81, were there too.  My brother could not make it, but a friend, his daughter and son-in-law joined us. 
    The Indy 500 was Marshall's only sports interest and passion.  He listened to it on the radio from childhood until around 1970 when it was on closed circuit television in a few movie theaters for a couple of years before ABC started broadcasting it live.  He only dreamed he'd make it to the race someday.  Making it finally in 1999 was a momentous life experience, truly in his own admission making his life complete.  I likened it to his pilgrimage to Mecca. He made it to the race seven times. I am very grateful for the opportunity to make it all happen for him………and that has greatly fullfilled me.  And as hooked on the race as I already was, now I'm really, really passionate.  Dad's resting real easy.
    You may recall that we scattered Marshall inside turn two.  Do you remember that there were 8 yellows in the race?  That action occurred in turns 1, 3, 4, and the pits.  There were no crashes in turn 2.  Marshall never liked crashes, just the racing.  It was a glorious day and a terrific race.  Dad's resting real easy.”

 We recently conducted pre planned funeral services for a man that died with no living relatives.  Fortunately, the man was blessed with good friends that were looking out for his well being, even after his death.  They came in prepared for a battle over the excess funds remaining in his pre-paid funeral trust, but left every satisfied.  In his latter years expressed a preference for simpler services than when he made these arrangements years ago.  Combined with the fact that our prices were substantially lower, the amount of the refund was in the thousands of dollars.  We decided with the help of the friends to designate a couple of charities that he would support and donated the excess funds accordingly.

 It is hard to find any Indiana funeral homes that will work with medicaid.  The thing everyone needs to know is that with the right type of medicaid benefits are available.  Indiana Funeral Care accepts medicaid and will work with the families.  I will need a social security number or the medicaid number to call and check on the eligibility.  I can usually find something out that day if not the next.  If the family is eligible then we will deduct that cost from the contract and only bill for the remaining balance.   It's help towards an already low cost service. 

 When applying for veteran funeral expenses, the discharge papers or DD214 are required.  If unable to find it then we will help them request it.  All it takes is a signature from the next of kin on a request form with some information about that veteran.   We will then fax it to the veteran's administration.  They in turn will fax a copy to us.  At that point we can apply for the veteran's benefits. 

A family called today needing help.  They were using another funeral
home for the cremation of their dad and needed to know how to get in contact
of the crematory that was providing the services.  I was shocked and
told her that the funeral home that they are using should provide that
 service for her.  I ensured her that it is part of our services at no extra fee.
I went over our cheap cremation cost and provided her other options to
think about.  At the end of the conversation she was happy with the
information I gave her.  She said that I told her more information than the other funeral home had.   

Over the past several years making funeral arrangements has become easier.  Our funeral home staff will meet families at the loved one's home or even at a coffee shop just to make it easier for the family. 
Just the other day we met a family member at a resturant so they wouldn't have to be in the funeral home setting.  The family wanted to have a direct cremation with a private memorial service.   They were pleased to find a low cost service with such great value. 

 "As cheap as possible, no offense" are words that I frequently hear from families that don't have any interest in doing the traditional funeral service. Of course I'm not offended, because what works for one individual or family might not work for another. "To each their own" is a good philosophy to hold in this business.
But what defines cheap? Low cost funerals or low cost direct cremations can be done, and done with class, but Value is more important than dollars. It can be hard to put a dollar value to how a person feels when they feel as if they and their loved one have been taken care of properly. You don't have to spend an arm and a leg to be treated with dignity and respect. Simply call or visit us and you'll see why we have the word "CARE" in our name. It doesn't matter if you're seeking a discount cremation or discount funeral, or if you'd prefer 'going all out' with all the bells & whistles. Everyone gets the same loving care from us because at Indiana Funeral Care, it's our family taking care of your family.