Death expenses on the rise

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Death is difficult to discuss for a lot of people. But preparing in advance could save your family time, heartache and money.

22News is working for you with some new trends that could save you money.

Willey Sliwa prides herself on offering a full range of services at the New England Funeral and Cremation Center. They offer everything from urns to live music-filled goodbye celebrations to make the funeral process easier on local families. In the last decade, she's noticed a change in requests.

"People looking for simplicity in their minds. Many people feel as though cremation offers a simpler farewell, in addition we have a number of people who are very envrionmentally conscious and are concerned about space and are therfore are choosing cremation," she said.

Being cremated could save a substantial amount of cash.

Willey also says a traditional burial usually runs between $6,000 to $10,000, while a cremation costs between f$4,000 and $8,000.  A viewing adds to the expense of cremation.

She recomends planning in advance, before you're distraught by a life insurance policy, even locking in rates now to avoid paying inflation through burial insurance.

Although the cost to be cremated is lower than a traditional burial, some costs associated with it may surprise you. For instance, a body must be identified before it is actually cremated and the most affordable rigid, fabric-lined casket to do that with is $70.

20 percent of all New Englanders who die choose cremation.

Willey said if you want to lessen the financial burden on your family of your own funeral, the best way is buying life insurance.