Funeral Arrangements

Paper Summary:

The purpose of this study is to obtain insight into the attitudes of individuals who have had to make final arrangements for a deceased friend or relative and to compare their experiences and perceptions to those identified in the literature. The paper employs a quasi-experimental research design using a sample of 50 survivors identified via newspaper obituaries published 6 to 24 months prior to the study to test two research hypotheses. A full literature review of the subject is also included.

From the Paper:

"Many individuals attempt to avoid both the high costs of funerals and the emotional trauma of providing for final arrangements by participating in any one of a number of "pre-payment" or "pre-planning" programs offered by funeral directors and cemeterians. Pre-payment plans vary, but most include full payment for selected services and amenities (How to cut..., 1995). Payments can be made in installments, with the details of the final arrangements spelled out in contractual form. While pre-paying can eliminate some of the trauma associated with making final arrangements, there is growing evidence that pre-payment plans are not the ultimate safeguard against funeral home gouging that they were designed to be."

More papers on Funeral Arrangements:

• Research Paper # 27405 : "Final Arrangements"
• Essay # 88388 : "Six Sigma and a Funeral Home "
• Essay # 27311 : "Pre-planned Funerals"

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