Expert: Lisa Carlson - 11/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: I live in Wisconsin and want to know if you have to go through a funeral home when a person wants to be cremated and does not want to have any type of service.  Can you contact a crematorium directly?

ANSWER: You don't have to use a funeral home to transport the body to the crematory, but many crematories won't accept a body from the family if they think the funeral directors will boycott them if they do. Call around ahead of time. E-mail me directly if you'd like a copy of the WI chapter from the '98 edition of my book. I don't think a lot has changed since then. lisa@funeralethics.org

You can certainly arrange what's called a "Direct Cremation" from a funeral home. That has no services attached. It's a pick-up the body and do the paperwork type of service.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your speedy response.  We said we wanted a direct cremation, but the officer at the house insisted that the body had to go to the funeral home first...and then of course the funeral home started tallying up the charges.  It ended up costing $3,100.  I would be interested in a copy of the WI chapter from your book....I appreciate all of your help!

ANSWER: What officer? Did he pick the funeral home? Every funeral home must offer a "direct cremation." Were you given a General Price List when making the arrangements or was it all done over the telephone?


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My brother-in-law passed away in his sleep.  My sister must have called 911 and an officer came to the house.  The officer then called the coroner.  My sister told the officer that her husband didn't want a service or anything, just direct cremation....but the officer said you have to go through a funeral home.  My sister was not given a price list and my sister and her sister-in-law did the obituary and anything else that they could do on their own.  No, it wasn't done over the phone...my sister went to the funeral home later that day that her husband passed away.

Answer
Who picked the funeral home? What is the name of the funeral home? I'd like to get a copy of the price list to see what it says a direct cremation should cost and compare that to what your sister was charged. Sounds like she should file several complaints--one against the law agency that needs to teach its officers that families may care for their own dead. And another w. the state funeral board for not giving your sister a general price list (GPL=menu) from which to pick and choose the services wanted.