Memorial societies
Memorial societies are nonprofit, nonsectarian, educational organizations that are geared to helping people make prudent, no-nonsense funeral plans. Their efforts are well-respected for taking the mystery out of funeral arrangements. Misuse of the word "society"
Some of the more enterprising funeral business people noted the growth of memorial societies thirty or so years ago, along with an increased interest in cremation. Unabashedly, they adopted the word "society" into the names of new business entities—as in the Neptune Society of California, the National Cremation Society in Florida, and, more recently, the Cremation and Memorial Society of Ohio; they have even set up a "membership" fee. Most galling of all, many have poached our literature, changing just enough wording to avoid a copyright suit.
Because most memorial societies are run by volunteers who already have their hands full, no one ever got around to challenging this deceptive business practice, and the public remains confused. In the last few years, there has been a proliferation of these so-called "societies." That's both good news and bad news.
The bad news?
Undoubtedly, people will be lured to do business with these folks, seduced by the name "society." Once in the door, however, there may be subtle or not-so-subtle pressure to up the ante of what you might have planned to spend for your funeral. The beginnning price for an urn might be $350, though you may be plied with reasons to opt for the $1,000 one. You may not be told that the crematory will return the cremated remains in a perfectly acceptable cardboard or plastic container for free. Once you purchase an urn, you will be "expected" to purchase an "urn vault." One rascally outfit wanted to charge a couple an extra $1,000 to take care of scattering their ashes, "because there are new and restrictive laws being enacted every day." NOT so!
Because a commercial cremation company calls itself a "society," it may not be the most ethical and least expensive funeral choice in town.
The good news!
A commercial cremation outfit may, indeed, offer a low-cost funeral option in an area where a memorial society does not exist to negotiate an even lower price. Or it may be the mortuary of choice for a local memorial society.
How can people know which are the nonprofit organizations and which are the commercial ones? The real "societies"—those which are nonprofit, educational organizations—are listed here (pdf). But we've also given you a link to the Internet Cremation Society. This is a listing of commercial cremation companies, and most list their prices on that web site. Shop with care.
"Preneed" is a term coined by the funeral industry to describe the arrangement and payment of a funeral prior to death. Obviously, if you are to have any say in it, you must plan in advance of your death. "Prearrangement" is also used interchangeably with "preneed".
