Costs of dying

My father passed away suddenly three weeks ago. I have 4 siblings and one is an accountant. The support has been great and The Blonde has just updated us on the correspondences she's already done in regards to Dad's accounts.

The days following October 6 are a blurr. The funeral home was very nice and the gentlemen were friendly and professional. They were helpful with questions about so many things including handling the many floral arrangements and plants that were delivered. They were understanding about our requests regarding Dad's jewelry, etc.

Dad had revisited their place a year or so after Mom's passing in 1998. He had chosen his coffin and vault. The home had records of the burial plots. He had been given a quote of about $9,000.

The other girls (I live 200 miles away) had met with the funeral home the afternoon of Dad's passing. They agreed on the choices Dad had made and made some small ones together. The three of them were a little surprised when the cost was actually $13,000 but then several years had passed.

They needed a deposit. The Blonde signs on Dad's trust checking account and paid $2,000 up front. She listed herself as the responsible party as she is also the Executor of the estate.

Dad's service and burial were on Wednesday. By Thursday The Blonde had fielded several calls from the funeral home administration staff. They had uncovered the fact that she's unemployed. No, her status had not changed since that Saturday but they needed the name and number of another family member who would be responsible for the $11,000 balance. The Blonde, a stay at home mother, gave them The Brother's name and number.

When RD was reached the next Monday, he read them the riot act. He asked about standard operating procedures. What is the only person left behind was a grieving 80-year old widow? Would they have demanded another responsible employed person to contact?

It still stands that the funeral home is waiting for their money. Dad's life insurance policy proceeds will arrive in the checking account just in the nick of time to be forwarded to those dealers of coffins, liners, and fancy stationary notes with Thomas Kinkade paintings.

The lesson: name an executor of your estate who has a good paying job not just one who has an education in accounting. If you find one, I could use some suggestions myself. I have The Blonde listed in my will as executor. She, in turn, has me as guardians of her children. Let the angel of death wait until we can both find better suitor!

Meanwhile, I'm thinking prepaying of the costs might be a saver. Dad would have saved about $4,000 over 8 or 9 years. That's about 5% savings per year or above what most CDs and passbooks would have come close to since 1999 or so. Which also says the funeral costs have risen about that same percent. Is that industry regulated?

'til later