[fhbdukfrh]

This isn't necessarily the fault of the funeral home. It's a much the traditional and society pressure that says this is what you do when you die.

Aside: How come airlines give you a bereavement discount while a caterer doesn't?

Nothing stopping your family from a simple cremation and open tab at your favorite social spot for a couple of hours of celebration

Or a picnic...

Or a concert with your favorite local bands ...

Or a bike/hike into the mountains to scatter your ashes...

Etc. The point is you don't have to have a funeral service followed by internment in the ground. We've just been trained this is "the right thing to do".

My dad always (only half joking) says his dying wish is to have the last cheque he writes bounce.

[ghaff]

>Aside: How come airlines give you a bereavement discount while a caterer doesn't?

I believe they mostly don't any longer. https://traveltips.usatoday.com/airlines-offer-bereavement-f...

The argument (besides $$ of course) is that airfares, even last minute ones, are mostly not the huge expense for even middle class people that they once were.

[pkaye]

The funeral home can certainly be at fault. They try to upsell the options like a car salesman. They should just provide a list of options and let the family decide.

[nwatson]

Yep, here's Liberace (famous pianist, here an actor) being the funeral analog of the car-salesman in the '60's movie "The Love One": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoZ5dTQa_2E

[joejerryronnie]

I definitely want “dampness proof”