Funerals, in general, can be pretty expensive. There are several factors that affect the amount of money you may spend on a funeral. The services you require, the quality of the services provided, and the reputation of the funeral parlour you employ all contribute to the total funeral cost.
We understand that the passing of a loved one is a difficult moment for anyone to process. It can be challenging to arrange a funeral, especially if you are uncertain of the customs and rites. There may be specific fees one has to consider when planning the service. As such, we have listed down four factors you have to account for in your budget when arranging a Buddhist funeral.
1. Funeral arrangements
There are many factors to take into consideration when arranging the best funeral service to honour the dead. However, before you can arrange for the funeral, a doctor has to inspect the body of the deceased to determine the cause of death. Once the cause of death is known, you will be given a certificate of cause of death (CCOD).
After receiving the CCOD, you can proceed to register the death of your loved one and prepare for the wake. It is crucial for you to hire a funeral parlour to help you handle the funeral arrangements, especially if you are unsure of what to do when death occurs.
2. Cremation/burial costs
Cremation and burial costs are significantly more expensive if your loved one passed away abroad. When someone dies abroad, there are two options to consider regarding the cremation of the body. You can either transport the body and then cremate it on arrival or cremate the body abroad and transport the ashes.
There are several repatriation services in Singapore that can advise you on the procedure and cost to transport the body back. The fee typically includes the flight’s ticket price, which varies from country to country, so you may have to do some research of your own.
You will also have to factor in the fee payable for a coffin import permit, which will cost you $17.50. The funeral parlour will typically handle these administrative processes for you, so you need not worry about overlooking any crucial details.
These additional costs will not be needed for deaths that occur in Singapore. If your loved one were to pass away in Singapore, you would only need to consider the coffin’s cost as well as costs associated with the cremation or burial.
3. Obituary
Whether you wish to announce the death of your loved one in the newspapers is entirely up to you and your family. Should you choose to do so, the minimum cost for a newspaper obituary is around $200, and this varies based on the size of the obituary. You may wish to consult Singapore Press Holdings’ website for the advertisement rates. Alternatively, if budget is tight, you may wish to publish an online obituary. There are many sites available online that offer such services for free.
4. Food catering
The catering cost for a Buddhist funeral service depends on the number of guests, the menu you want, and the catering service you hired. There are various catering menus to choose from in Singapore. Alternatively, the funeral parlour can recommend one if you prefer not to be bogged down by these details.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the factors you have to consider when arranging a funeral, and it is important to note that some of the prices listed may vary. Often, the prices are negotiable and are influenced by the reputation of the funeral parlour you’re hiring and the quality of its services. It is vital to do adequate research beforehand, as it will go a long way in helping you settle on a suitable package.
If you have any enquiries about the prices of a Buddhist funeral package, do not hesitate to seek us out. At 1Stop Buddhist Funeral Service, we promise to attend to your needs and deliver a high quality service.