This means that, unless preparations have been made, immediate costs must be paid by the family who is left behind. This could be very onerous on them. The highest cost is that of the undertaker, even if there is no service.
What is often forgotten when one dies is, that on the recorded day of death, all financial accounts of the deceased are immediately frozen.
According to an article in the Independent on Saturday Personal Finance of 12 July 2022, there are many families who pay their funeral insurance premiums before they buy their groceries. The cost of a funeral has risen dramatically over the years.
Abulela Gazi, Executive Head: Client and Business Solutions at Metropolitan, was asked by Personal Finance what the average cost of a funeral is. His reply was that this can vary considerably depending on cultural and religious customs, the number of people in attendance and the requests of the deceased. Metropolitan said that the price could be anything from R23 500 to R120 000, excluding catering, flowers and tomb stones.
Besides transporting of the deceased other costs include:
- Casket or Coffin – depending upon the undertaker and the casket selected this could be anything from R700 to R25 000.
- Cremation – this is considerably less than the cost of a burial, usually about R2000 with additional cost, if done by the Undertaker, for the disposal of the ashes. Prior to a cremation, a 2nd doctor must confirm the cause of death if there has been no autopsy creating another cost.
- Funeral Parlour or Undertaker fees – these can also vary quite considerably, R3000 – R45 000 depending on whether the body is retained in the Parlour for any length of time and if it needs to be transported to another area of the country or even abroad. When my father’s body had to be transported from Himeville to Pietermaritzburg in 1982, that cost over R250, a lot of money then and petrol prices were much better than they are now. If it is to be a burial, you will have to secure a grave at the price set by the municipality where the cemetery is located and these are between R2 500 and R4 000. If the body is to be repatriated, the cost could be as high as R25 000 as it must be done between Undertakers in SA and the other country. Also, a lead-lined coffin is required.
- Livestock costs – in those cultures who are required to use livestock, such as a cow, can expect to spend up to R15 000 for one animal.
- Many families don’t have large enough facilities near their homes and so they must hire tents or marquees, chairs and tables and, possibly, furniture for the holding of the funeral itself. Depending on size, just a tent can cost up to R5000. Adding in the other items, could increase the costs by R3 000 or more. Those who do not have such large funerals or the cultural requirements still need to provide catering, for which there are costs.
All these costs, plus other smaller ones, must be paid even before the Executor has been officially appointed by the Master of the High Court. (Currently, this can take up to 3 months due to the backlog because of Covid-19). If you don’t have an adequate funeral insurance policy, which will pay out immediately, it is extremely important that you speak to your family about the kind of service, or not, and whether you want to be buried or cremated. You and they can have an idea of costs and plans can be put in place so that the family can ensure that there are sufficient funds to pay immediate costs.
You have the right to choose your own Undertaker and as they do charge differently don’t be embarrassed to enquire of friends and others of their experiences with different Undertakers, including costs.
Burdened and overwhelmed by the huge costs of your funeral can mean that your family is not only going through grief but also anxiety and financial stress.
[All the information in this blog is taken from the article in the Independent on Saturday Personal Finance of 12 July 2022 and from the research I did for my book The Legal Aspects of Dying]