why do funerals cost so much in LA? (Los Angeles: limousine, home)

[nobody067]

i went to my local cemetery and the cost for property for an underground burial is $20,000 just for that alone. the coffin and services are seperate. my grandmother is dying from stage 4 lung cancer and she wants to be buried and not cremated. is there anything i can do to fulfill her wishes and not spend all of my life savings? thank you.

[Mr_Geek]

Land isn't cheap, even for this purpose.

[SIJ95]

Funerals are expensive everywhere, when my nonna on my moms side died it came out to like $50 grand. Of course we're Italians from Staten Island and we wanted the procession with a old caddy limousine, a full latin mass service with a bishop, black draped everything, white roses (5 grand in flowers alone), and we got a mausoleum for her and to put my nonno when in he dies.

Shop around, you will find somewhere in your range. You can always do graveside service to save money.

[Beth56]

$20,000 for a plot seems pretty high to me, unless it's a plot under a tree with a view at a pricey cemetery. I think you should shop around. You can also purchase from a third party. Marriages break up and no one wants to be buried with their ex. And you can also purchase a coffin direct from manufacturers instead of the funeral home and save money. They will ship to the funeral home. Don't let the funeral home talk you into things you don't need. Grandma can have a nice resting place without all the bells and whistles.

There are online estimates of costs for funeral arrangements in Los Angeles. Take a look.

Very nice of you to look after her by the way.

[MordinSolus]

Originally Posted by StatenIslandJake1995

when my nonna on my moms side died it came out to like $50 grand. Of course we're Italians from Staten Island and we wanted the procession with a old caddy limousine, a full latin mass service with a bishop, black draped everything, white roses (5 grand in flowers alone), and we got a mausoleum for her and to put my nonno when in he dies.

Italians really are ridiculous people.

[SIJ95]

Originally Posted by MordinSolus

Italians really are ridiculous people.

well that aint nice at all now is it? we just like flash.. do it big or don't do it


by the way OP, I am very sorry for your situation and my prayers are with you


and advice, you can get a one time sum for social security for a like a grand to help, and do a graveside service. are you or her a member of a church or synagogue? if you are catholic they will make sure she gets buried in a catholic cemetery, same with jews.