How much does a funeral cost?

At Platt's Funeral & Cremation Services, proudly serving families in Augusta and Evans, Georgia, we know that understanding funeral costs is a top priority during a difficult time. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial nationwide is $8,300, while the average cost, including a vault, reaches $9,995, as reported in their 2023 Member General Price List Study (source: https://nfda.org/news/statistics). For a funeral with cremation, the median cost is $6,280. These national figures offer a starting point, though costs can vary based on your preferences and location.

What is the purpose of a funeral?

A funeral or memorial service provides an opportunity for the living to show respect for the deceased and pay tribute to their life. It provides a framework to freely and openly express our beliefs, feelings, and thoughts about the death of our loved one. It gives us permission to grieve our loss, share in solidarity, and gain strength from others who are experiencing the same loss.

Can you still have a funeral if you choose cremation?

Yes, cremation or burial is merely the disposition of the body. Funeral services are to honor and remember your loved one, regardless of disposition.

Until Death Do Us Part: Losing a Spouse Three to Six months After Loss

Platt's Funeral Home Admin • December 5, 2024

By now most of the big stuff is probably done. The thank you notes have been written and mailed. The marker or head stone has been placed or you’ve found a place for the urn. You’ve probably filed for the life insurance, and perhaps you’ve even begun to clean out his closet.   

You may be wondering, what have I missed? 

Have you changed the titles to the car? 
Put the deed to the home in your name? 
Have you changed the utilities and cable service into your name? 
Is your medical power of attorney up to date? 
Have you updated your estate plan or will? 
Have you spoken to an accountant or tax expert about any tax consequences associated with gifts you have made or increased allocations from IRA or investments?

How about you? What are you doing to take care of you? 

Are you up-to-date with your health and dental care? 
Are you eating well? 
Are you learning to cook or have you gotten someone to mow the lawn? 
Have you had lunch or dinner with a friend? 
Have you done something fun? A movie? Golf? A ballgame?

Scientists tell us there is a hand/mind connection. Doing things with our hands actually increases our sense of well-being. Even simple chores such as washing the dishes, preparing your meal, or even making your bed help to provide purpose and a natural routine. Why not step outside of your box and try something creative that you used to enjoy doing or have thought about trying? Don’t discount the value of a craft, woodworking or art project. 

Finally, see people. Human contact is vital to your new normal. If your friends and family aren’t calling you, then call them. Look for a movie you would like to see, a museum you would like to visit, or a restaurant you would like to try and ask someone to join you.    

www.plattsfuneralhome.com

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Thinking no funeral? Think again.

By Platt's Funeral Home Admin • February 11, 2025

Maybe you’ve said it, or thought it? “I don’t need a funeral. You can just bury me in the backyard”. That’s the male version of negating the need for a funeral. But the sentiment is not unique to men. Women just say it differently. “I don’t want you to make a fuss. I don’t need a funeral.” These folks are right. The person who died doesn’t need a funeral. They just need a legal, respectful disposal of their body. It’s the people who are left to do the work of grieving that need the support and community from a funeral.

Moving On With Life After the Death of a Loved One

By Platt's Funeral Home Admin • January 9, 2025

Moving on is not the same as forgetting. Moving on after the death of a loved one, especially a spouse, just means actively engaging in life. It means reaching a point where the mourner has things to look forward to again. J. William Worden, PhD tells us the fourth task mourners must accomplish as they move through grief is to “find an enduring connection with the deceased while moving on with life.”

Thinking About Skipping the Funeral?

By Platt's Funeral Home Admin • December 5, 2024

Are you considering going to a funeral? Will you be a guest or, are you the survivor in charge and deciding if there will even be a funeral? Either way, before you just skip the funeral perhaps you should consider how elephants behave when one of their species dies. Perhaps we have something to learn from Dumbo.

The Gift of a Note to Your Family

By Platt's Funeral Home Admin • December 5, 2024

Nothing means more to a grieving child, spouse, sister, brother or friend than a personal note from the deceased. It’s something that will be cherished. The note will make its way out of it’s safe keeping spot whenever the mourner needs to feel close to the person who died. It will be read on those tearful days that are sure to come.