William Gladstone said, “Show me the manner in which a nation or a community cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender sympathies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals.”

It is interesting to read about the funeral practices in other countries.  In Burma, for example, the average funeral and cremation costs 120,000 kyat (about $94.00).  This in a country where the average annual income per capita is $200.  One alternative used by some poor residents in villages around Rangoon is to allow a “funeral contractor” to handle the funeral.  Basically, a funeral contractor runs a gambling den at the funeral home and people come to the funeral and gamble. They share some of the money with the family and in return, the poor family receives a funeral service.

At Indiana Funeral Care you can get a complete cremation with memorial service for $1,795 or a complete traditional funeral starting at just $3,950.  In addition, you can pre-pay using one of several affordable payment options and lock-in today's prices.  No gambling required.

 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.

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.