Final Arrangements Resource Guide

Final Arrangements

Resource Guide

Funeral and Burial-Related

Rules and Regulations in Iowa

&

Summaries of 48 Funeral Home

General Price Lists

(collected in Iowa City/Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Sioux City)

Third Edion, November 2016

The School of Social Work

&

The Aging Studies Program

2

This guide is provided as a public service. It was compiled by students and faculty at the

University of Iowa’s School of Social Work, and supported, in part, by the Aging Studies

Program. The Guide is available to the public from the School of Social Work website. It is

included under the tab: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

hp://clas.uiowa.edu/socialwork/

University of Iowa Social Work students who reviewed state laws in 2015 for this guide:

Anna Hepker

Lindsey Sinn

Social Work students who collected and analyzed funeral home General Price Lists in the

summer 2016 include:

Marcelina Cockburn

Jacqueline Gloede

Bonnie Heikens

Ellen Petersen

Tarrah Syfert

and SSW alum: Andrea Walker

Project faculty supervisor: Mercedes Bern-Klug, PhD, MSW.

Please email quesons or comments to: Mercedes-bern-[email protected]

3

Death trends in Iowa

4

Purpose of this guide

5

Social workers and nal arrangements

6

Ideas for people who want to keep costs low

7

Checklist of things to do at me of death (includes link to death cercate)

8

Pre-plan versus pre-pay, and average costs in Iowa

10

Organ donaon in Iowa

11

Body donaon in Iowa

12

Declaraon of Designee for Final Disposion

14

Iowa Laws

Is embalming required?

15

Can a loved one be buried on private property?

15

Is a casket required for burial, cremaon or entombment?

15

Can the family (or a friend) transport the body for a body donaon?

16

What paper work is needed if the family wants to handle nal arrangements?

16

Who is authorized to make nal arrangements on behalf of someone else?

16

What happens if a person dies in Iowa with no funds to pay nal arrangements?

17

Where can I nd out about rules related to funeral insurance sales?

21

What is the Iowa Oce of State Medical Examiner?

21

Federal Laws

Veterans burial benets

23

Social Security burial benet

25

The Federal Trade Commission’s “Funeral Rule” and the General Price List (GPL)

26

GPL terms explained

28

Recommendaons for making GPL’s easier for families to understand

33

Funeral Home Prices & Opons

How GPLS were collected for this project

34

Sioux City (and Moville) (7 general price lists)

35

Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area funeral homes (13 general price lists)

38

Des Moines area funeral homes (28 general price lists)

45

Table of Contents

4

Death Trends in Iowa

In 2014, the populaon of the state of Iowa was approximately 3 million people

(3,107,126). That year, there were almost 29,000 Iowan deaths (28,934) and just over

39,000 babies born (39,465 births).

Table 1: Leading Cause of Death in Iowa in 2014 (all ages)

1.Heart Diseases 22.4% of all deaths in Iowa in 201

2.Cancer 22.2% of all deaths

3.Chronic Obstrucve Pulmonary Disease 7%

4.Unintenonal Injuries 6%

5.Cerebrovascular Diseases 5%

6.Alzheimer’s Disease 5%

7.Diabetes 4%

8.Flu and Pneumonia 2%

9.Infecve and Parasic Diseases 2%

10.Suicide 1%

Other informaon:

9 maternal deaths in 2014

191 infant deaths (under one-year-old)

123 neonatal deaths (under one month old)

178 fetal deaths (over 20 weeks’ gestaon)

Accessed October 2016:

hps://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userles/68/HealthStats/vital_stats_2014.pdf

Table 2: Number of Deaths in Iowa by Age Group: 2013

Total number of deaths: 28,815

Source: Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Vital Statistics 2013.

Report last revised: December 16, 2014

< age 1 162

1-14 90

15-29 368

30-44 751

45-59 3,004

60-74 6,172

75-89 12,031

90+ 6,237

5

Purpose of the Final Arrangements Resource Guide

The purpose of this guide is to help educate social workers and the general public

about nal arrangements opons and costs in Iowa.

The Core Values of Social Work:

Service – Social workers are commied to helping people in need and addressing

social problems.

Social Jusce – Social workers challenge social injusce in all forms.

Dignity and Worth – Social workers value and respect every person.

Relaonships – Social workers recognize the central importance of relaonships in

human well-being.

Integrity - Social workers value and protect the trust earned with clients and

communies.

Competence –Social workers pracce within their abilies and work to enhance

professional experse.

Source: Naonal Associaon of Social Workers



Definition of Social Work

“Social work is a pracce-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes

social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberaon

of people. Principles of social jusce, human rights, collecve responsibility and respect

for diversies are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social

sciences, humanies and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and

structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing.

Source: The Internaonal Federaon of Social Workers hp://ifsw.org/

6

Social Workers and Final Arrangements

Most deaths in the United States occur in a hospital, nursing home, or hospice. Social workers

are employed with each of these organizaons, and are held responsible for discharge

planning. Part of a social work educaon is learning to help individuals and families in crisis.

In most cases, the death of a loved one is a crisis. Many families are facing emoonal, social,

spiritual, and possibly nancial stress resulng from their loved one’s dying process, and from

the actual death. The Naonal Associaon of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics directs social

workers to help vulnerable people. This includes people who are experiencing a crisis (such as

the dying and death of a loved one) and people who are nancially vulnerable.

Social workers can be of assistance to people interested in learning about their nal

arrangement opons and costs. Social workers can encourage families to organize their

quesons and talk with funeral directors about specic opons. It is not appropriate for a

professional social worker to refer families to one parcular funeral home; social workers

should be familiar with a variety of local funeral homes and provide informaon to families so

that they can make their own informed decisions. Social workers should encourage people to

contact the funeral director to discuss specic arrangements.

Social workers can encourage people to keep important papers, or copies of important

papers, in a special place and to nofy family, to make it easier for survivors to locate in a

hurry.

Social workers should:

· Know that the Federal Trade Commission requires all funeral homes to make a “General

Price List” available to the public, and should share this knowledge with clients and

communies (page 30).

· Keep current copies of local funeral home General Price Lists on hand for families to

review at their convenience. If the funeral home posts the general price list on-line,

simply direct the client to check the website. Please note: As of now, many funeral

homes choose to NOT post their General Price List on-line—we hope this will change, to

make it easier for families to understand their opons.

· Have an appreciaon for the many decisions to be made, or overseen, when a death

occurs and how to support families (page 8).

· Learn about nal arrangement pracces of the dierent cultures in their area.

7

Ideas for People Who Want to Keep Costs Low

Many funeral homes will discount the visitaon cost if held immediately before the funeral.

· Purchase a simple casket, pine box, or “alternave container” (heavy cardboard container).

If you don’t like the looks of the casket, place a quilt or aracve fabric over it during the

service. Display a collecon of photos of the person who died or items associated with

hobbies or creave expressions to draw aenon to his or her life.

· In some cemeteries, two (or more) people can be buried in each plot.

· If the cemetery requires an “outer burial container” (see page 31) consider purchasing a

concrete grave liner rather than a more expensive vault.

· If the body is buried or cremated within 48 hours, somemes embalming can be avoided.

· A family can host a simple funeral ceremony and then follow with cremaon or body

donaon (page 12), or hold a memorial service when and where they desire.

· The grave marker does not have to be purchased immediately.

· Consider making the casket or grave marker. Mother Earth News posts casket-making

instrucons: hp://www.motherearthnews.com/do-it-yourself/build-con.aspx

· Ask the funeral director for ideas about other ways to minimize your costs or to add

meaning to your arrangements. Sometimes they may have slightly damaged

merchandise that may be reduced in price. If you are interested, ask.

Especially if you are interested in any of the services listed below, consider comparing prices

within 100 miles.

Direct cremaon- should be a low cost opon; explanaon on page 31

Immediate burial – should be a low-cost opon; explanaon on page 32

Forwarding remains- explanaon on page 31

Receiving remains – explanaon on page 31

Body donaon – should be a low-cost opon; explanaon on page 32

If you know you want to stay in one geographic area, it is sll worth your me to check on-line

for the GPL (page 26) or ask that one be mailed to you, or go pick it up.

Please note some low-income persons may be entled to some nancial assistance from

their county. Check the county burial (nancial) assistance program (page 17)

8

Checklist of Things to Do When a Loved One Dies

A)

 Sex

 Social Security Number

 Age – Last Birthday in years

 Date of Birth (month/day/year)

 Birthplace (City and State or Foreign County)

 Residence – State, County, City or Town, Street Address, whether or not inside city

limits.

 Veteran Status

 Marital Status (at me of death)

 Surviving Spouse’s Name (Give Maiden Name of Spouse, if applicable)

 Father’s Name (First, Middle, Last)

 Mother’s Name (First, Middle, Last)

 Informant’s Name, Relaonship to Descendent, Mailing Address

 Place of Death, (Be able to Provide Details

 Facility Name (If not instuon, give street address)

 Method of Disposion

 Place of Disposion (Name of Cemetery, Crematory, other place)

 Locaon of Disposion (City, Town, State)

 Name and Complete Address of Funeral Facility

 Signature of Funeral Service Licensee or other Agent

 Signature of Person Pronouncing Death (Only when Applicable)

 Date when Pronounces Dead (Mo/Day/Yr.)

 License Number

 Cause of Death (Chain of Events – Disease, Injuries, or Complicaons)

 Tobacco Use Contribute to Death (Yes, No, Probably, Unknown)

 If Female, Pregnant? (How Recent, if known)

 Manner of Death

 Cerer Signature, Name, Title, License Number, and Address

 Decedent’s Educaon

 Decedent’s Hispanic Origin (Yes or No?)

 Decedent’s Race

 Decedent’s Usual Occupaon

 Decedent’s Business/Industry

To see what a blank death cercate looks like:

hp://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/death11-03nal-acc.pdf

9

*1. Cemetery space (use of space-plot, crypt, niche as well as vault or grave liner)

*2.

*3. Funeral director (for merchandise as well as for services)

*2. Legal proof of age or birth cercate

*3. Social Security card or number

*4. Marriage license

*5. Cizenship papers

*6. Insurance policies (life, health, property)

*7. Bank books (on-line? Where is the log-in informaon?)

*8. Deeds to property

*9. Bill of sale of car

*10. Income tax returns, cancelled checks (may be on-line)

*11. Veterans discharge cercate

*12. Disability claims

*13. Cemetery Cercate of Ownership

*1. Burial locaon/which space

*2. Grave marker type/inscripon (can be postponed for months/years)

*3. Casket type

*4. Clothing for deceased

*5. Grave liner or vault (most—but not all cemeteries require)

*6. Selecons from scripture or other readings

*7. Selecon of funeral home

*8. Desired me/locaon for funeral service

10

17. Answering phone calls, emails, leers

18. Meeng with religious leader, funeral director, cemetery sta about details

19. Arrange to meet incoming relaves at airport

20. Locate/provide lodging for incoming relaves

21. Make list of callers and tributes

22. Check the will regarding special wishes

1. Physician (may already know if she or he signed the death cercate)

2. Funeral Director

3. Clergy

4. Cemetery

5. Relaves and friends (some have used FACE BOOK and email….)

6. Employers of family members

7. Pall bearers

8. Insurance agents

9. Religious, fraternal, civic, veteran groups

10. Aorney/Executor of estate

11. Neighbors who were close to the person who died

F) Cancel on-line subscripons

Pre-planning versus Pre-paying & Average Costs

Pre-Plan - Yes!

Consumer groups like AARP and The Funeral Consumers Alliance (www.funerals.org)

encourage individuals and families to PREPLAN nal arrangements, but in most cases not to

PREPAY. Unless you are undergoing the process of qualifying for Medicaid (medical

assistance), it may not be in your best nancial interest to prepay for funeral-related

arrangements. See this AARP arcle: (hp://www.aarp.org/money/estate-planning/info-11-

2010/kip_should_you_prepay_your_funeral.html)

Pre-pay - Think Twice!

Laws regarding the sale of “preneed funeral contracts” vary from state to state. There are

dierences in terms of what the funeral home is supposed to do with the money unl the me

of death, and if the funeral home goes out of business, and how much money the consumer

can get back if they change their mind, or move away, etc. In Iowa, funeral homes are

required to put at least 80% of the prepaid funds in trust funds unl the person dies.

hp://search.legis.state.ia.us/nxt/gateway.dll/ic?f=templates&fn=default.htm

11

What is the average cost of a funeral in Iowa?

According to the Iowa Funeral Directors Associaon, the average cost of a funeral service in

Iowa is $11,566. This cost is comprised of:

$6,525 for professional services, which includes embalming, cosmezing, visitaon/

viewing, having the funeral at the funeral home, transfer of remains to funeral home,

hearse, service car/van, and casket;

$718 for embalming;

$1,500 for a vault, which is a requirement for burial in most Iowa cemeteries; and

$2,823 for cash-advance items, which the funeral director assists the family in securing

but is not a product or service obtainable at the funeral home.

Examples of costs not included in the gure above:

 Grave opening and closing ($500)

 Minister fees ($131)

 Flowers ($248+)

 Copies of death cercates ($40+)

 Obituary ($166)

 Musicians ($79+)

Sales tax collected for remiance to the Iowa Department of Revenue ($299)

Source: Iowa Funeral Directors Associaon, downloaded September 15, 2015 from:

hp://www.iafda.org/?page=faq#What%20is%20the%20average%20cost%20of%20a%20funeral%

20in%20Iowa?

Organ Donaon in Iowa

What organs and ssues can be donated?

Organs that can be donated for transplantaon include: the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver,

pancreas and small intesne.

Tissue that can be recovered for donaon includes corneas, bone, tendon, skin, veins, and

heart valves.

hp://www.iadn.org/understanding-donaon/learn-the-facts

12

For informaon on organ donaon, contact:

Iowa Donor Network

550 Madison Avenue

North Liberty, IA 52317

Telephone: (319) 665-3787

24-Hour Phone: (800) 831-4131

hp://www.iowadonornetwork.org/contact

For Informaon on eye donaon, contact:

Iowa Lions Eye Bank

2346 Mormon Trek Blvd., Suite 1500

Iowa City, IA 52246

Telephone: (319) 356-2871

OR

Iowa Lions Eye Bank

2500 Crosspark Road W300

Coralville, IA 52241

Telephone: (319) 335-4888

hp://www.iowalionseyebank.org/

Body Donaon in Iowa

We are aware of three places in Iowa that accept “donated,” “willed,” or

“deeded” bodies:

Osteopathic School of Medicine in Des Moines

3200 Grand Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50312

Phone: (515) 271-1400

Website: www.dmu.edu/index.htm

Palmer College of Chiropracc in Davenport

1000 Brady Street

Davenport, Iowa 52803

Phone (563) 884-5000; or toll free (800) 722-2586

Website: www.palmer.edu

The University of Iowa in Iowa City

Informaon on the Deeded Body Program

UI Carver College of Medicine

Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology

51 Newton Road

100 Bowen Science Building

Iowa City, Iowa 52245

Phone: (319) 335-7762

Website: hp://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/acb/deededbody/contacnformaon/

13

A list of body donaon centers in other states is posted at:

hp://www.med.u.edu/anatbd/usprograms.html

If you would like addional informaon about body donaon, please contact the

program ahead of me to learn about the program and to complete the paperwork.

Guidelines for Body Donaon at the University of Iowa

The Need for Anatomical Gis in Medical Educaon and Research

The study of human anatomy constutes an indispensable part of medical educaon and research. There is

a connual need for anatomical gis in the teaching of medical and dental students, postgraduate

physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and students in related disciplines.

Who May Donate

Any competent person over 18 years of age may donate his or her body for medical educaon and research.

How One May Donate

The Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology requires that a Deed of Disposion be on le in the

department prior to the donor's death. The department will provide the legal forms which require only a

few items of informaon, the donor's signature, and the signatures of two witnesses. A brief medical history

form must also be completed and returned to the department with the original of the completed Deed of

Disposion. Aer receiving these documents, the department will acknowledge acceptance of the deed,

review the informaon, and issue an idencaon card if the applicant meets the criteria. By law, a medical

college may not purchase any human body.

When Death Occurs

At the me of death, the person in charge of the donor's aairs should select and nofy a funeral director

and make arrangements concerning transportaon to Iowa City and any other professional services needed

or desired. Only donors transported by a licensed funeral facility will be accepted. If desired, visitaon and

a tradional funeral service may be held prior to the transfer to Iowa City. If there will be a delay of more

than eight hours because of a funeral service, distance, weather, etc., embalming will be necessary. The

cost of transportaon and the funeral director's professional service fees must be borne by the family or

estate.

When a Donor's Gi Cannot Be Accepted

Occasionally a problem may exist which would interfere with the intended use of a donor's gi for

educaon and research. Such problems may include extensive autopsy or trauma, the presence of a certain

highly contagious disease, or a weight problem which would prevent the opmal use of the gi. In such an

instance, the next of kin or the person in charge of the donor's aairs, if known to us, will be informed, and

other opons for nal disposion will be discussed.

When Studies with Donated Bodies Are Completed

A me of one to one and one-half years is usual before compleon of our studies. When studies are

completed the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology will comply with the wishes of the next of kin or

person responsible for the donor's aairs regarding nal disposion. Opons available include: cremaon

and the return of the cremains (cremated remains) in a burial urn to a

designated receiver at the expense of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology (any subsequent

expenses will be borne by the family or estate), or cremaon and interment of the cremains in Oakland

Cemetery, Iowa City, at the expense of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology. A Memorial Service is

14

held once each year and the next-of-kin, or person in charge of the donor's aairs, is noed and invited to

aend. This person may then nofy other family members and friends. If the cremains of a donor are not

claimed by the family within one year following the

compleon of studies, the cremains will be interred at the next Memorial Service.

Source: hp://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/acb/deededbody/

To Receive Informaon on the Deeded Body Program, write to:

UI Carver College of Medicine

Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology

51 Newton Road

100 Bowen Science Building

Iowa City, Iowa 52245

Telephone: (319) 335-7762

Declaraon of Designee for Final Disposion

In Iowa, an adult has the right to indicate who can make nal arrangement decisions on his or

her behalf and to document that decision in wring. The form (available from the Iowa State

Bar Associaon website) must be signed by two persons or notarized. On the form, people

can also indicate: whether they have a contract for funeral arrangements, whether they have

a cemetery space, and whether they wish to be an organ donor.

Universal Citaon: IA Code § 144C.3 (2014)

144C.3 Declaraon — designee.

1. A declaraon shall name a designee who shall have the sole responsibility and discreon for making

decisions concerning the nal disposion of the declarant’s remains and the ceremonies planned aer

the declarant’s death. A declaraon may name one or more alternate designees and may include

contact informaon for the designees and alternate designees.

2. A declaraon shall not include direcves for nal disposion of the declarant’s remains and shall not

include arrangements for ceremonies planned aer the declarant’s death.

3. A designee, an alternate designee, and a third party shall act in good faith and in a manner that is

reasonable under the circumstances.

4. A funeral director, an aorney, or any agent, owner, or employee of a funeral establishment,

cremaon establishment, cemetery, elder group home, assisted living program, adult day services

program, or licensed hospice program shall not serve as a designee unless related to the declarant

within the third degree of consanguinity.

5. This secon shall not be construed to permit a person who is not licensed pursuant to chapter 156 to

make funeral arrangements.

2008 Acts, Ch. 1051, §8, 22; 2008 Acts, Ch. 1191, §124; 2009 Acts, Ch. 133, §46

Source: Accessed October 2016: hp://law.jusa.com/codes/iowa/2014/tle-iv/subtle-2/chapter-144c/secon

-144c.3/

15

IOWA LAWS

Under what circumstances is embalming required in Iowa?

In Iowa the state law does not require embalming if the body will be buried or cremated

within 48 hours. In Iowa, embalming is legally required if the death was due to a

communicable disease. (Iowa Administrave Code 645-100.6(4).

In addion, embalming or refrigeraon is required if nal disposion of the body will not

occur within an established period of me. A body may be held for up to three days without

embalming or up to six days if it is refrigerated between 38 and 42 degrees. (Iowa

Administrave Code 645-100.6(3).)

Can a loved one’s body be buried on private property in Iowa?

Iowa Administrave Rule § 641—101.6(4) If the nal disposion of a dead human body or fetus is burial,

interment, or entombment, local ordinances of the polical subdivision in which the nal disposion site is located

and any and all regulaons of the cemetery, if applicable, shall apply. In the absence of an applicable local

ordinance, the depth of the grave at its shallowest point shall be at least three feet from the top of the burial

container.

The family would have to check with the local authories whether that would be a township, city/town, or

county would depend on the locaon. So, it is the polical subdivision in which the nal disposion site is located

to nd out if there are any local ordinances/laws that would prohibit the burial

Is a casket required by Iowa law, for burial, cremaon, or

entombment?

Iowa Administrave Rule § 641—101.6(1) A dead human body or fetus shall be transported only aer

enclosure in a container for transfer that will control odor and prevent the leakage of body uids, unless the body

or fetus has been embalmed, or is being transported by a licensed funeral director, emergency medical service, or

medical examiner. In addion, the transport of a dead human body or fetus shall be in a manner that, applying

contemporary community standards with respect to what is suitable, is respecul of the dead, the feelings of

relaves, and the sensibilies of the community.

Can a family transport a loved one’s body for body donaon, within

the state of Iowa? What paperwork is needed?

Yes, upon securing a burial transit permit, and compleon of a death cercate. The Burial Transit Permit

shall be issued by the county medical examiner, a funeral director, or the county registrar of the county where the

cercate of death was led.

Source: Iowa Administrave Code § 641—101.5 Burial Transit permit.

16

Can a family transport a loved one’s body to a crematory, within the

state of Iowa? What paperwork is needed?

Yes, same requirements above for the Burial Transit Permit and a completed death cercate. NOTE: Now

that the death cercate is computerized in Iowa—it is much more dicult for a lay person to get one without

having to hire a funeral director. Lay people don’t have access to the computer program. Also, some crematories

will only accept a body from a licensed funeral director.

If a family wanted to handle the nal arrangements themselves, what

paper work would be required?

Compleon of a death cercate (which must be signed by the physician and is now harder to do without

hiring a funeral director because Iowa has computerized the Death Cercate compleon process) and a Burial

Transit Permit to move the body. If the body is to be cremated, a cremaon permit is needed also. Please note

some crematories will only accept a body from a licensed funeral director. Some body donaon centers will only

accept a body from a licensed funeral director. Check with your county medical examiner for addional details. If

you want to do as much of the work as possible (for personal sasfacon or to keep costs low) consider working

with a funeral director who will assist you.

In Iowa, who is authorized to make nal arrangement decisions

AFTER the person has died?

Competent adults can designate whom they appoint to make nal arrangements on her or his behalf (see

page 16). Please see details for necessary language and procedure as described in The Iowa Final Disposion Act

(2008 Acts, 2008 Acts, Ch. 1051, §11, 22; 2010 Acts, Ch. 1170, §3; 2011 Acts, Ch. 47, §8; 2012 Acts, Ch. 1050, §39, 60; 2012

Acts, Ch. 1072, §33) hps://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/144C.6.pdf

To read the Iowa law: hp://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/cool-ice/default.asp?

category=billinfo&service=iowacode&input=144C

To see the actual form (up-dated January 2016 by the Iowa State Bar Associaon):

hps://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.iowabar.org/resource/resmgr/forms/363.pdf

If the deceased person had not appointed someone, in Iowa there is a law that species

who has the right to control what happens to human remains: Final disposion of remains —

right to control.

The right to control nal disposion of a decedent's remains or to make arrangements for the ceremony aer a

decedent's death vests in and devolves upon the following persons who are competent adults at the me of the

decedent's death, in the following order:

A designee, or alternate designee, acng pursuant to the decedent's declaraon.

The surviving spouse of the decedent, if not legally separated from the decedent, whose whereabouts is

reasonably ascertainable.

A surviving child of the decedent, or, if there is more than one, a majority of the surviving children whose

whereabouts are reasonably ascertainable.

17

The surviving parents of the decedent whose whereabouts are reasonably ascertainable.

A surviving grandchild of the decedent, or, if there is more than one, a majority of the surviving

grandchildren whose whereabouts are reasonably ascertainable.

A surviving sibling of the decedent, or, if there is more than one, a majority of the surviving siblings

whose whereabouts are reasonably ascertainable.

A surviving grandparent of the decedent, or, if there is more than one, a majority of the surviving

grandparents whose whereabouts are reasonably ascertainable.

A person in the next degree of kinship to the decedent in the order named by law to inherit the estate of

the decedent under the rules of inheritance for intestate succession or, if there is more than one, a

majority of such surviving persons whose whereabouts are reasonably ascertainable.

A person who represents that the person knows the identy of the decedent and who signs an adavit

warranng the identy of the decedent and assuming the right to control nal disposion of the

decedent's remains and the responsibility to pay any expense aendant to such nal disposion. A

person who warrants the identy of the decedent pursuant to this paragraph is liable for all damages

that result, directly or indirectly, from that warrant.

The county medical examiner, if responsible for the decedent's remains.

2. A third party may rely upon the direcves of a person who represents that the person is a member

of a class of persons described in subsecon 1, paragraph "c", "e", "f", "g", or "h", and who signs an

adavit stang that all other members of the class, whose whereabouts are reasonably

ascertainable, have been noed of the decedent's death and the person has received the assent of a

majority of those members of that class of persons to control nal disposion of the decedent's

remains and to make arrangements for the performance of a ceremony for the decedent.

3. A third party may await a court order before proceeding with nal disposion of a decedent's

remains or arrangements for the performance of a ceremony for a decedent if the third party is aware

of a dispute among persons who are members of the same class of persons described in subsecon 1,

or of a dispute between persons who are authorized under subsecon 1 and the executor named in a

decedent's will or a personal representave appointed by the court.

Source: hps://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-ICE/default.asp?

category=billinfo&service=IowaCode&ga=83&input=144C

What happens if a person dies in Iowa, with no funds for nal arrangements?

Is there state money? Are certain arrangements required?

Refer to Iowa Code Chapters 252.27; Support of the Poor, the County General Relief oce can pay $250. Chapter

249.9 allows the Department of Human Services to pay $400 toward funeral expenses under condions dened in

the Code chapter. Another opon is in Iowa Code Chapter 142.1 Dead Bodies for Scienc Purposes.



252.25 County general assistance.

The board of supervisors of each county shall provide for the assistance of poor persons lawfully in the county

who are ineligible for, or are in immediate need and are awaing approval and receipt of, assistance under

programs provided by state or federal law, or whose actual needs cannot be fully met by the assistance furnished

under those programs. The county board of supervisors shall establish general rules as the board's members

deem necessary to properly discharge their responsibility under this secon.

18

All applicaons, invesgaon reports, and case records of persons applying for county general assistance under

this chapter are privileged communicaons and condenal, subject to use and inspecon only by persons

authorized by law in connecon with their ocial dues relang to nancial audits and administraon of this

chapter or as authorized by order of a district court. Examinaon of an individual's applicaons, reports, and

records may also be authorized by a signed release from the individual.

Source: hp://www.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE/2001/252/25.html

35B.15 Expenses and audit:

Burial expenses shall be paid by the county in which the person died. If the person is a resident of a dierent

county at the me of death, the laer county shall reimburse the county where the person died for the cost of

burial. In either case, the board of supervisors of the respecve counes shall audit and pay the account from the

funds provided for in this chapter in the manner as other claims are audited and paid.

142.1 Delivery of bodies

The body of every person dying in a public asylum, hospital, county care facility, penitenary, or reformatory in

this state, or found dead within the state, or which is to be buried at public expense in this state, except those

buried under the provisions of chapter 144C or 249, and which is suitable for scienc purposes, shall be

delivered to the medical college of the state university, or some osteopathic or chiropracc college or school

located in this state, which has been approved under the law regulang the pracce of osteopathic medicine or

chiropracc; but no such body shall be delivered to any such college or school if the deceased person expressed a

desire during the person's last illness that the person's body should be buried or cremated, nor if such is the

desire of the person's relaves. Such bodies shall be equitably distributed among said colleges and schools

according to their needs for teaching anatomy in accordance with such rules as may be adopted by the Iowa

department of public health. The expense of transporng said bodies to such college or school shall be paid by

the college or school receiving the same. If the deceased person has not expressed a desire during the person's

last illness that the person's body should be buried or cremated and no person authorized to control the

deceased person's remains under secon 144C.5 requests the person's body for burial or cremaon, and if a

friend objects to the use of the deceased person's body for scienc purposes, said deceased person's body shall

be forthwith delivered to such friend for burial or cremaon at no expense to the state or county. Unless such

friend provides for burial and burial expenses within ve days, the body shall be used for scienc purposes

under this chapter.

Form of assistance – condion:

The board of supervisors shall determine the form of the assistance. However, legal aid shall be only in civil

maers and provided only through a legal aid program approved by the board of supervisors. The amount of

assistance issued shall be determined by standards of assistance established by the board of supervisors. They

may require any able-bodied person to work on public programs or projects at the prevailing local rate per hour

in payment for and as a condion of granng assistance. The labor shall be performed under the direcon of the

ocers having charge of the public programs or projects. Subject to secon 142.1, assistance may consist of the

burial of nonresident indigent transients and the payment of the reasonable cost of burial, not to exceed two

hundred y dollars.

The board shall record its proceedings relang to the provision of assistance to specic persons under this

chapter. A person who is aggrieved by a decision of the board may appeal the decision as if it were a contested

case before an agency and as if the

person had exhausted administrave remedies in accordance with the procedures and standards in secon

17A.19, subsecons 2 through 12, except secon 17A.19, subsecon 10, paragraphs “b” and “g”, and secon

17A.20.

252.1 “Poor person" dened:

19

The words "poor" and "poor person" as used in this chapter shall be construed to mean those who have no

property, exempt or otherwise, and are unable, because of physical or mental disabilies, to earn a living by

labor; but this secon shall not be construed to forbid aid to needy persons who have some means, when the

board shall be of opinion that the same will be conducive to their welfare and the best interests of the public.

hps://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-ICE/default.asp?category=billinfo&service=IowaCode&ga=83&input=252.1

The following informaon is provided as an example of one county —Johnson County— and

its general assistance toward nal arrangements, as of August 2015:

Johnson County General Assistance (GA) provides monetary assistance for the burial and

cremaon of county residents for whom there are lile or no resources available for the

provision of these services. Listed below are the eligibility requirements, applicaon

procedures, and rules and regulaons regarding GA benets.

I. Eligibility Guidelines and Applicaon Procedures:

To be eligible for General Assistance, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. Speak with a General Assistance Assistant and complete an applicaon.

2. Be a U.S. Cizen or have documented legal status. Households that include a combinaon of undocumented

and documented individuals must report the income of all individuals in the household. Only household

members with legal documented status will be counted when determining household size for eligibility

purposes.

3. Be 18 years of age, married, or an emancipated minor.

4. Applicants must apply for and follow through with all other assistance programs for which they may be

eligible such as, Veterans Aairs (VA), Family Investment Program (FIP), Food Assistance, Medicaid, Iowa

Health and Wellness Plan, Housing Assistance, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP),

Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security, and/or Unemployment, prior to receiving General

Assistance. Applicants placed on a limited benet plan (LBP) by the Department of Human Services will be

deemed ineligible for assistance.

5. Persons must be working, or acvely seeking employment.

6. Meet income eligibility requirements as established by the guidelines and veried by the GA Assistant.

7. Applicants who are eligible for and/or have received maximum assistance benets from Johnson County

Veteran’s Aairs are not eligible for General Assistance.

8. Households that are currently receiving cash assistance or a subsidy from local (VA, MHDS) federal (SSI, SSDI,

Unemployment Assistance) and/or state (FIP) assistance programs are not eligible for General Assistance,

unless the General Assistance worker determines the situaon is exceponal in nature.

9. Rent Assistance will not be used to supplement Secon 8 Housing Assistance or other federally subsidized

units, unless the General Assistance worker determines the situaon is exceponal in nature.

10. An applicant, or household member of an applicant, who is registered in post high school training or

educaon is not eligible for assistance. This does not include applicants working towards their high school

diploma, GED, or engaged in unpaid vocaonal training provided through their employer, the Division of

Vocaonal Rehabilitaon Services, or a transional support services program. An applicant, or household

member of an applicant, who has voluntarily terminated employment or is terminated for poor work

20

aendance (without sucient explanaon) shall not be eligible for General Assistance for a period of three

(3) months aer the terminaon. Ineligibility for assistance is waived if applicant obtains a new job and

provides vericaon of hire.

II. Descripon of Benets and their Regulaon:

Maximum benets are $2,100 for funeral service expenses. These expenses may include but are not limited to;

funeral home services and memorials for burial or cremaon, embalming, casket or urn, grave liner, transfer of

deceased to funeral home and cemetery, and preparaon and ling of the death cercate. In addion, GA may

provide up to $900 for cemetery expenses including the opening and closing and purchase of a plot. The family

will be nancially responsible for any printed materials, clergy or music honorariums, owers, limousines or

family cars, death cercate, and luncheon or recepon charges. The assistance is intended to cover the full cost

of funeral home services associated with burial or cremaon, as well as expenses related to the internment of

remains. Payment for out-of-state funerals will not be provided. General Assistance will pay $250 for burial or

cremaon of those deceased persons deemed non-resident transients, as per Iowa Code 252.27. The deceased’s

household income and available resources for the previous 30 days must be at or below the 100% Federal

Poverty Guidelines.

A. Covered Funeral Home Expenses Include (up to $2,100.00):

1. Burial Expenses:

Container/Vault

Funeral Home Services

Fees and Permits

Casket/Urn

Memorial Service

Embalming

Transportaon

2. Cremaon Expenses:

Funeral Home Services

Fee and Permits

Cremaon of Remains

Memorial Service

Container(s)

Transportaon

B. Covered Cemetery Expenses Include (up to $900.00):

1. Plot

2. Opening & closing

C. The family will be nancially responsible for the following:

1. Printed materials—register book, service folders

2. Clergy or music honorariums

3. Flowers

4. Limousine or family cars

5. Death cercates

6. Luncheon or recepon charges

7. Other cash advance items

21

D. Condions:

1. The assistance available through the General Assistance program is intended to cover the full cost of

funeral home services associated with burial or cremaon, as well as expenses related to the internment

of remains (i.e. cemetery fees). The funeral home will work with the next of kin or ocially designated

representave to limit the services to meet this requirement.

2. The funeral home must furnish complete and accurate invoices to General Assistance as well as to the

next of kin or ocially designated representave. The total cost of services is not to exceed $3,000.00,

and the burden for any cost in excess of this total is to be borne by the funeral home, cemetery, or

parcipang vendors.

3. Payment for out of state funerals will not be provided.

4. $250.00 will be available for the burial or cremaon of those deceased persons deemed non- resident

transients.

Source: hp://www.johnson-county.com/dept_gen_asst.aspx?id=381

Where can I nd informaon about the Iowa law regulang the sale

of funeral insurance by funeral homes? What happens to the

money?

“Whenever an agreement is made by any person, rm, or corporaon to furnish, upon the future death of a

person named or implied in the agreement, funeral services or funeral merchandise, a minimum of eighty percent

of all payments made under the agreement shall be and remain trust funds unl occurrence of the death of the

person for whose benet the funds were paid, unless the funds are sooner released to the person making the

payment by mutual consent of the pares.” 523A.1 Trust fund established—insurance

Source: hps://www.legis.iowa.gov/DOCS/IACODE/1995SUPPLEMENT/523A/1.html

Informaon about medical examiners:

a. What is the role of the medical examiner’s oce?

The Iowa Oce of the State Medical Examiner (IOSME) provides support, guidance, educaon,

consultaon, and training to County Medical Examiners and Invesgators (CME-I’s), who are

responsible for invesgang violent, suspicious, and unexpected natural deaths. We provide

forensic autopsy and invesgave services when requested by county medical examiners and

law enforcement agencies. Our mission is to establish credibility in death invesgaon in a

system that will operate eciently and serve the needs of the cizens of Iowa.

hps://iosme.iowa.gov/faq/what-does-iowa-oce-state-medical-examiner-do

b. What types of cases do does the medical examiner get involved in?

Deaths that aect public interest. Including accidents, suicides, homicides, natural, and

unexpected deaths.

c. What is the medical examiner’s relaonship with funeral homes? Police?

Funeral homes and police have a mutual interest in the body because their services both deal

with them. Somemes funeral directors are on the scene with them. The Medical Examiner’s

oce supplies them with cremaon permits and death cercates. Police are also at the scene

22

where the body is located. Both help each other get informaon at the scene and nd out who

is next of kin. The Medical Examiner’s oce is solely interested in the physical body and what is

on the body. The police are not supposed to touch the body according to Iowa Code.

d. Is the medical examiner aliated with the process of organ donaon?

Any body in a Medical Examiner’s case cannot have organs donated unl the Medical Examiner

gives authorizaon. This authorizaon happens quite frequently.

This authority is absolute and cannot be overruled. The county pays for the costs for this unless

it is a non-medical examiner case and therefore the family pays for the costs.

Contact name for further informaon about medical examiner’s oce:



--

Source: 



Iowa Law: 691.5 State medical examiner The oce and posion of state medical examiner is

established for administrave purposes within the Iowa Department of Public Health. Other state

agencies shall cooperate with the state medical examiner in the use of state-owned facilies when

appropriate for the performance of non-administrave dues of the state medical examiner. The

state medical examiner shall be a physician and surgeon or osteopathic physician and surgeon, be

licensed to pracce medicine in the state of Iowa, and be board cered or eligible to be board

cered in anatomic and forensic pathology by the American board of pathology. The state

medical examiner shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the director of public health

upon the advice of and in consultaon with the director of public safety and the governor. The

state medical examiner, in consultaon with the director of public health, shall be responsible for

developing and administering the medical examiner's budget and for employment of medical

examiner sta and assistants. The state medical examiner may be a faculty member of the

University of Iowa College of Medicine or the College of Law at the University of Iowa, and any of

the examiner's assistants or sta may be members of the faculty or sta of the University of Iowa

College of Medicine or the College of Law at the University of Iowa.

691.6 Dues of state medical examiner

The dues of the state medical examiner shall be:

1. To provide assistance, consultaon, and training to county medical examiners and law

enforcement ocials.

2. To keep complete records of all relevant informaon concerning deaths or crime invesgaon

by the state medical examiner.

3. To adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A, and subject to the approval of the director of public

health, with the advice and approval of the state medical examiner advisory council.

23

4. To collect and retain autopsy fees as established by rule. Autopsy fees collected and retained

under this subsecon are appropriated for purposes of the state medical examiner's oce.

Notwithstanding secon 8.33, any fees collected by the state medical examiner that remain

unexpended at the end of the scal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state or any

other fund but shall be available for use for the following scal year for the same purpose.

5. To conduct an inquiry, invesgaon, or hearing and administer oaths and receive tesmony

under oath relave to the maer of inquiry, invesgaon, or hearing, and to subpoena witnesses

and require the producon of records, papers, and documents pernent to the death

invesgaon. However, the medical examiner shall not conduct any acvity pursuant to this

subsecon, relang to a homicide or other criminally suspicious death, without coordinang such

acvity with the county medical examiner, and without obtaining approval of the invesgang law

enforcement agency, the county aorney, or any other prosecutorial or law enforcement agency

of the jurisdicon to conduct such acvity.

6. To adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A relang to the dues, responsibilies, and operaons of

the oce of the state medical examiner and to specify the dues, responsibilies, and operaons

of the county medical examiner in relaonship to the oce of the state medical examiner.

FEDERAL LAWS

Selected Federal Laws Regarding Final Arrangements

Veteran Burial Benets hp://www.cem.va.gov/burial.html

On December 27, 2001, President Bush signed Public Law 107-103, the Veterans Educaon and Benets

Expansion Act of 2001. This law includes a provision that allows the Department of Veterans Aairs (VA) to

furnish an appropriate headstone or marker for the graves of eligible veterans buried in private cemeteries,

whose deaths occur on or aer September 11, 2001, regardless of whether the grave is already marked with a

non-government marker. This new provision is codied at 38 U.S.C. § 2306(d).

Burial benets available include a gravesite in any of our 131 naonal cemeteries with available space, opening

and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a Government headstone or marker, a burial ag, and a Presidenal

Memorial Cercate, at no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances.

Cremated remains are buried or inurned in naonal cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as

casketed remains.

Burial benets available for spouses and dependents buried in a naonal cemetery include burial with the

Veteran, perpetual care, and the spouse or dependents name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the

Veteran’s headstone, at no cost to the family. Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried, even if they

predecease the Veteran.

Burial benets available for Veterans buried in a private cemetery include a Government headstone or marker, a

burial ag, and a Presidenal Memorial Cercate, at no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be eligible

for Burial Allowances. There are not NCA benets available to spouses and dependents buried in a private

cemetery.

24

To conrm your eligibility for burial benets, please call a Veteran’s Benets Counselor at:

1-800-827-1000

Persons Eligible for VA Burial Benets (call for details or refer to web site):

a. Veterans and Members of the Armed Forces

b. Members of Reserve Components and Reserve Ocers' Training Corps

c. Commissioned Ocers, Naonal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraon

d. Public Health Service

e. World War II Merchant Mariners

f. The Philippine Armed Forces

g. Spouses and Dependents

h. Others

Such other persons or classes of persons as designated by the Secretary of Veterans Aairs

(38 U.S.C. § 2402(6)) or the Secretary of Defense (Public Law 95-202, § 401, and 38 CFR § 3.7(x)).

Persons NOT Eligible for Burial in a VA Naonal Cemetery

Former Spouses A former spouse of an eligible individual whose marriage to that individual has been

terminated by annulment or divorce, if not otherwise eligible.

Other Family Members Family members of an eligible person except those dened as eligible in

Secon III, paragraph g.

Disqualifying Characters of Discharge A person whose only separaon from the Armed Forces was

under dishonorable condions or whose character of service results in a bar to Veterans’ benets.

Discharge from Dra A person who was ordered to report to an inducon staon, but was not actually

inducted into military service

Person Found Guilty of a Capital Crime

Subversive Acvies

Acve or Inacve Duty for Training, only

Other Groups: Members of groups whose service has been determined by the Secretary of the Air

Force under the provisions of Public Law 95-202 as not warranng entlement to benets administered

by the Secretary of Veterans Aairs.

25

Social Security Death Burial Benet: $255

A surviving spouse or child may receive a special ONE TIME lump-sum death payment of $255

if they meet certain requirements.

What to do when a Social Security beneciary dies:

A family member or other person responsible for the beneciary's aairs should do the

following:

Promptly nofy Social Security of the beneciary's death by calling SSA toll-free at 1-800-772-

1213.

If monthly benets were being paid via direct deposit, nofy the bank or other nancial

instuon of the beneciary's death. Request that any funds received for the month of death

and later be returned to Social Security as soon as possible.

If benets were being paid by check, DO NOT CASH any checks received for the month in

which the beneciary died or thereaer. Return the checks to Social Security as soon as

possible.

One-me Death Benet payment

A one-me payment of $255 is payable to the surviving spouse if he or she was living with the

beneciary at the me of death; OR, if living apart, was eligible for Social Security benets on

the beneciary's earnings record for the month of death.

If there is no surviving spouse, the payment is made to a child who was eligible for benets on

the beneciary's earnings record in the month of death.

Survivor Benets

A one-me payment of $255 can be paid to the surviving spouse if he or she was living with

the deceased; or, if living apart, was receiving certain Social Security benets on the

deceased’s record. If there is no surviving spouse, the payment is made to a child who is

eligible for benets on the deceased’s record in the month of death.

Certain family members may be eligible to receive monthly benets, including:

A widow or widower age 60 or older (age 50 or older if disabled);

A widow or widower at any age who is caring for the deceased’s child under age 16 or disabled;

An unmarried child of the deceased who is:

Younger than age 18 (or up to age 19 if he or she is a full-me student in an Elementary or

secondary school); or

Age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22;

A stepchild, grandchild, step-grandchild or adopted child under certain circumstances

Parents, age 62 or older, who were dependent on the deceased for at least half of their support;

and

A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances.

The following document contains more informaon about ling for benets and can be downloaded from ssa.gov

website: hp://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10008.pdf

Survivors Benets (Publicaon No. 05-10084) Social Security: Understanding the Benets (Publicaon No. 05-

10024) Source: www.ssa.gov (as of January 2011)

26

Federal Trade Commission’s “Funeral Rule”

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) “Funeral Rule” went into eect on April 30, 1984 and

was revised in 1994. The FTC’s Funeral Rule is to be followed by all “funeral providers” in the

country. “Funeral provider” means businesses that sell BOTH funeral goods AND funeral

services. “Funeral goods” are dened as products sold directly to the public in connecon

with funeral services. “Funeral services” means 1) services used to care for and prepare

bodies for burial, cremaon, or other nal disposions, and 2) services used to arrange,

supervise, or conduct the funeral ceremony or nal disposion of human remains.

Funeral homes are funeral providers. Cemeteries, crematories, and other businesses can be

“funeral providers” if they market both funeral goods and services. If a business sells only

funeral goods (such as a casket store) but not services relang to the disposion of remains

they do not have to comply with the funeral rule. The FTC Funeral Rule requires that funeral

providers give consumers accurate, itemized price informaon. The keystone of The Funeral

Rule is the General Price List. The FTC requires that all funeral providers give a free wrien

“General Price List” (GPL) to ANYONE who asks for it, in-person, during regular working hours.

The person (potenal customer, TV reporter, competor, clergy member, etc.) must be given

the GPL to keep. The purpose of the GPL is to enable customers to comparison shop and to

purchase, on an itemized basis, only the goods and services they want.

The Funeral Consumers Alliance has prepared, “The Funeral Director’s Guide to Consumer-

Friendly General Price Lists”—this document is also helpful to consumers. A hard copy can be

purchased or you may download it free from: hp://www.funerals.org/bookstore?

page=shop.product_details&ypage=ypage-ask.tpl&product_id=10&category_id=1

The FTC requires that the GPL must list the price of at least the following items, if available:

Forwarding of remains

Receiving remains from another funeral home

Direct cremaon

Immediate burial

Basic services of the funeral director and sta, overhead

Transfer of remains to funeral home

Embalming and other preparaon of the body

Use of facilies and sta for viewing

Use of facilies and sta for funeral ceremony

Use of facility and sta for memorial service

Use of equipment and sta for graveside service

Hearse / Limousine

Casket prices

Outer burial container prices

27

The GPL must be provided to the customer at the beginning of the discussion about opons

and costs. This includes, but is not limited to:

The type of funeral or disposion that one can arrange

The specic goods and services that are oered

The prices of goods and services

People can also phone the funeral provider and ask for prices over the phone. Funeral

providers may mail out the GPL, but they are not required to. Some funeral homes post their

General Price List on-line.

The GPL must idenfy the funeral provider, say “General Price List,” and list the eecve date

of the price list. The GPL must list itemized prices for goods and services. The Funeral Rule

also requires that the GPL list accurate informaon about certain disclosures:

1. The consumer has the right to select only the goods and services desired;

2. Embalming: the funeral provider must not tell the customer that embalming is required,

when state law does not require embalming. In Iowa the state law does not require

embalming if the body will be buried or cremated within 48 hours.

3. The consumer has the right to purchase an “alternave container” rather than a casket for

“direct cremaon.” An example of an alternave container is a heavy cardboard box. A “direct

cremaon” means there is no formal visitaon or funeral service with the body in a casket. In

other words, customers cannot be forced to purchase a casket for a direct cremaon. Funeral

homes must make available lower cost alternave containers for direct cremaons.

4. The funeral provider must provide an explanaon of their “basic services fee” on the GPL.

The “basic services fee” is a fee that the FTC allows funeral providers to charge for overhead

and for services that are provided to ALL customers (such as making arrangements, death

cercate paper work, etc.).

5. Casket price list: The GPL must provide at least basic price informaon about caskets. The

funeral provider can list all the caskets and prices on the GPL or they can prepare a separate

“Casket Price List.” If the funeral provider uses a separate “Casket Price List,” they must state

the range of prices for caskets and provide a complete price list at the funeral home.

6. Outer burial container price list: The GPL must provide price informaon about outer burial

contains (also known as burial vaults). The funeral provider can list all the outer burial

containers on the GPL or they can prepare a separate “Outer Burial Container Price List.” If

they prepare a separate price list, they are required to state the range of prices for the outer

burial containers and provide a complete price list at the funeral home.

The Funeral Rule, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), makes it possible for

28

people to choose and to pay for ONLY those goods and services wanted, whether you are

making arrangements aer a death occurs or in advance. The Rule allows one to compare

prices among funeral homes and makes it possible to select the funeral arrangements

preferred at the funeral home selected. (The Rule does not apply to third party sellers, such as

casket and monument dealers, or to cemeteries that lack an on-site funeral home). Finally,

The Funeral Rule may be applied Pre-need” as well as when customers are learning about

their opons aer a death has occurred, i.e., “at need.”

Funeral providers who violate the Funeral Rule may be subject to penales of up to $16,000

per violaon.

Funeral providers can also oer “package prices.” But they must oer customers the opon of

buying funeral goods and services on an itemized basis.

GPL Terms Explained & Other Consumer-Oriented Informaon

by: Mercedes Bern-Klug

Basic Services and Facility Overhead: The Federal Trade Commission currently allows

funeral homes to tack on “basic service fee” to nal arrangements. Funeral providers can

include this fee on their GPL in two ways: 1) A disclosure that is appears on the basic services

page of GPL that states that the fee is already factored into the cost of: direct cremaon,

immediate burial, forwarding and receiving remains. [It should also be included in body

donaon—but it is not always clear from reading the GPL.] 2) Instead of charging a separate

basic service fee, the funeral provider may include the services fee in casket prices with a

disclosure. This cost is to reect the cost of doing business, or the overhead. It is supposed

only include costs that are common to ALL funeral arrangements. Some naonal consumer

groups have asked the Federal Trade Commission to abolish allowing this mandatory overhead

charge, and ask funeral homes to distribute the costs among the services and merchandise

purchased, so that consumers pay only for what they use, and to make it easier for consumers

to compare prices.

Embalming: This means replacing the blood with arterial uid for the purpose of retaining a

“life like” look and for delaying decomposion. According to the FTC, the family must give

permission for embalming, or cannot be charged. If the body will be cremated or buried or

donated within a day or so, in most cases, there is no need to embalm. Note: if the funeral

home lists refrigeraon as an opon, you can choose that instead of embalming, but it may

aect the ability to have an open-casket viewing. If you want the body refrigerated, any

funeral home should be able to make those arrangements, although it may mean moving the

body o the premises. If you select direct cremaon or immediate burial, usually there is no

need for embalming.

29

Please Note: You may see, “Other preparaon of the body”: This means preparaons --other

than embalming--of the body. Some GPLs list one price for “other preparaons,” while other

local GPLs list itemized prices for washing, dressing, caskeng, cosmetology, hair dresser, etc.

Some funeral homes charge extra for body preparaon when organs have been donated.

Some funeral homes charge more for bodies that have been autopsied. Some funeral homes

charge by the hour for “reconstrucon services.”

Transfer Body to the Funeral Home: The funeral home sends sta to pick up the body from

the place of death and bring the body to the funeral home. Funeral homes typically begin

charging a mileage rate beyond 30 miles, although others charge beyond 50 miles.

Viewing/Visitaon at the Funeral Home: For “viewing” the body has been placed in a casket

or other container and family and friends gather to view the body, pray, or visit at the funeral

home (or other locaon). Visitaon can mean the same thing. This term is someme used if

the body will not be present-no body to view, or if the body is in a closed casket. If the

viewing/visitaon immediately precedes the funeral ceremony, some funeral homes will

discount (or eliminate) the cost of the viewing if held immediately before the funeral. If held

in the evening, or on the weekend, there may be extra fees; it depends on the funeral home.

Our price list summary does not include the discounted fees that are possible, nor the extra

fees (holidays, evenings); just the typical fee. Most GPLs also include a fee for use of their

sta and equipment for a visitaon/viewing held o the funeral home premises, such as at a

place of worship or a family home. Some funeral homes charge by the HOUR and others by

the DAY.

Funeral Service/Ceremony at the Funeral Home: The FTC denes a funeral ceremony as, “A

service commemorang the deceased with the body present.” This spiritual ceremony usually

includes the presence of the deceased person in an open or closed casket (or in an “alternave

container”).

Funeral Service/Ceremony o the Funeral Home Premises: You may host a funeral

ceremony at the funeral home, at your place of worship, in your home, or elsewhere. The

funeral home may charge dierent prices for the ceremony depending on where it is

conducted. You may be asked to pay for using a church or other space, you may be charged to

transport the body from place to place.

Memorial Service at the Funeral Home: The FTC says that a memorial service is a “ceremony

commemorang the deceased without the body present.” A memorial service is a gathering or

ceremony in which the body is not present because it has been cremated (the cremated

remains or cremains may be present) or because it was not possible to have the body there.

People can host a memorial ceremony at a park, in their place of worship, at a community

center, at home, etc. If you decide to use a funeral home, the law forbids the costs for a

memorial service to exceed the cost of a funeral service.

30

Graveside Service: There is a lot of confusion about this term. The Federal Trade Commission

denes graveside service as “a service to commemorate the deceased held at the cemetery

before burial.” Families may choose to have graveside service instead of a funeral ceremony at

the funeral home. The FTC also gives this informaon to funeral providers: “If your charge for

a funeral ceremony normally includes a commial service at the grave following the funeral,

you can connue this pracce, or you may oer a separate charge for commial service

following a funeral ceremony. It would be a great service to families if GPLs provided details

about graveside services. For example, exactly what is included (funeral director, tent? chairs?

program? Etc.). It would also be helpful if GPLs indicated if a “commial service” comes with

a paid funeral/memorial service, or if that is an extra charge.

Hearse: The vehicle used to transport the casket to the church or to the cemetery. Some

GPLs call this the “casket coach” or a “funeral coach.”

Limousine or Family Car: Generally means the car that the family rides in on the way to the

place of worship or to the cemetery. Most funeral homes charge an addional fee for the

ower car, pallbearer’s car, and a car to run errands.

Caskets: Caskets are rigid containers designed to hold human remains. Caskets are typically

made from wood, berglass, plasc, or metal (of various gauges). Caskets are lined with fabric

and are ornamented (compared to an alternave container, see # 14). Funeral homes have

two choices for communicang casket prices on GPLs. They may list all the casket prices as

part of the GPL, or they may just list the lowest and highest priced caskets on the GPL and

then provide a separate “Casket Price List” which itemizes the prices. If you do not see a

casket that suits you (price-wise or otherwise) ask the funeral director to order whatever you

want. They can get almost any casket you want within 24 hours. The funeral home cannot

require that you buy a casket from them. You can buy one from a casket store, o the

Internet, or elsewhere. You can make your own casket. It is illegal for a funeral home to

charge you an extra fee if you don’t buy a casket from them.

Rental Casket: Some funeral homes oer the opon of renng a casket so that a body can

be displayed in one casket, and then buried, cremated, or donated in a dierent container.

Usually the customer is required to purchase “inserts.” Inserts separate the body from

touching the rental casket sides. Each body to use the rental casket has its own insert. If you

are required to buy the inserts, funeral homes should list the rental casket price as the cost of

rental AND the cost of inserts combined.

Alternave Container for Body (non-casket): This may be an unnished wood box, heavy

cardboard box, berboard, pressed-wood, composion materials, or other non-metal

container which is designed to hold human remains. Alternave containers are not decorated

or lined. The use of an alternave container saves the purchaser the cost of a casket.

Alternave containers ought to be readily available for all cremaons, as well as burials or

entombments. A Google search revealed that a consumer can purchase an alternave

container for $100 - $400.

31

Outer Burial Container: In the FTC booklet, “Complying with the Funeral Rule,” an outer

burial container (OBC) is dened as any container which is designed for placement in the grave

around the casket, including but not limited to, containers commonly known as burial vaults,

grave boxes, and grave liners (business.c.gov/documents/bus05-complying-funeral-rule).

Many (but not all—check!) cemeteries require the purchase of an outer burial container (OBC)

to support the earth as the casket decomposes. Some also require an OBC when burying the

cremaon urn. The least expensive OBCs are made of reinforced concrete. Vaults do what

grave liners do and they also have a seal to keep air and moisture out. Expect to pay hundreds

or thousands of dollars more for a vault. Most funeral homes list only the lowest and highest

prices on their GPL and then present a separate Outer Burial Container Price List to families

during the arrangement conference. You can purchase an OBC from the funeral home or a

cemetery. The price listed on the GPL for an Outer Burial Container, may or may not include

the price of installaon. It would make it easier for families, if the installaon cost was

included, because not all families know to ask. Please note: The cemetery sets the rules for

outer burials containers. Some cemeteries require an OBC for cremated remains others do not.

Forwarding Remains to another Funeral Home: One funeral home picks up the body from the

place of death, and then prepares the body to be transferred to another funeral home (usually

in a dierent town). The rst funeral home (that is, the forwarding funeral home) also

prepares preliminary paperwork. This charge ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars

depending on which funeral home is hired. Some funeral homes include a container to

transport the body, some don’t, many do not say on their GPL. Please note: Not only will you

pay a “forwarding fee” to the rst funeral home; you will also be charged a “receiving fee”

from the second funeral home for “receiving” the body. **Always compare prices when

forwarding remains. We found that prices can vary by many hundreds of dollars.

Receiving Remains from Another Funeral Home: When two funeral homes are involved in

nal arrangements, the rst to handle the body is called the “forwarding funeral home” and

the second is deemed the “receiving funeral home.” Generally, the two are located in dierent

cies (for example your mother wants to be buried back home in Atlanta aer she dies in

Cedar Rapids. The Cedar Rapids funeral home would forward the body to the Atlanta funeral

home who would receive it). **Always compare prices when forwarding remains.

Direct Cremaon in an Alternave Container: The FTC denes a direct cremaon as “a

[cremaon] that occurs without any formal viewing of the remains or any visitaon or

ceremony with the body present.” This should be one of the least expensive methods of nal

disposion, but again, it depends on the funeral home. The body is picked up from the place

of death and cremated. There is no ceremony with the body present. The FTC requires that

funeral homes include the basic services fee (see #1) in the cost of direct cremaons. Funeral

homes are required to make alternave containers (see # 13) available for direct cremaon.

You may choose instead to buy a casket from the funeral home (or somewhere else) or to

make a casket. Most local GPLs state that the fee for cremaon is included in the price of the

direct cremaon. The price listed in this report is for a direct cremaon buying an alternave

container from the funeral home.

32

Cremaon Fee: The fee paid to the crematorium to cremate the body. Note: cremaon can

take place aer an open (or closed) casket ceremony, if you wish.

Immediate Burial in a Minimum Casket: An immediate burial is a disposion of human

remains by burial, without formal viewing, visitaon, or ceremony with the body present,

except for a graveside service. There is no formal ceremony with the body present. This

report lists the price of an immediate burial in a minimum casket. If the GPL did not list the

opon for a minimum casket, we report the cost of the least expensive casket on the GPL.

Purchasers can choose to bury in any casket, but we list the cost of a minimum casket only. A

family-friendly funeral home will allow the immediate family to view the un-embalmed (there

would usually be no need to embalm if burial or cremaon is within 48 hours—in Iowa law)

body privately at the funeral home before burial. The FTC states that GPLs should include a

separate price for each immediate burial oered including a casket or alternave container.

Please Note: You can always ask the hospital or nursing home to keep the body for hours or

a day so that the family can have a private viewing there. The FTC’s booklet includes this

example:

A family wants to arrange an immediate burial, but does not want to pay for

embalming. Embalming is not required by Iowa state law. Before burial takes place,

one family member wants to look briey at the deceased by liing the lid of the casket.

Here you (funeral providers) may not tell the family that embalming is required. The

request to see the deceased does not constute a formal viewing (emphasis added).

*Always compare prices when forwarding remains.

Body Donaon: This is the cost of picking up the body at the place of death, transporng the

body to the donaon center (usually a medical center) and compleng all legal paperwork.

Please note: If the death occurs in the hospital where the Body Donaon Center is housed,

there should be no need to hire a funeral director. The body donaon sta can complete the

paperwork and the body is already onsite.

If the death occurs away from the hospital aliated with the donaon center, you may be

held responsible to pay a funeral home to transport the body to be donated. Some body

donaon centers will only accept a body from a licensed funeral director if the death did not

occur in the donaon center’s hospital. Check with your local body donaon program.

Contact the county medical examiner for details, or the funeral director employed by the body

donaon center, or a local funeral home. Always compare prices, as the costs can vary by

many hundreds of dollars. An out-of-town funeral home may be less expensive.

33

Recommendaons

How Iowa Funeral Homes Could Increase the User Friendliness of the GPLs

From our experience in collecng and analyzing funeral home General Price Lists, we make the

following recommendaons which we believe would make it easier for families to understand

their opons and costs. These recommendaons are not in any parcular order:

 Funeral homes should include their General Price List on their website.

 All General Price Lists should include the cost for “cremaon fee” unless the funeral home

does not serve families who opt for cremaon.

 The price of the cremaon should be included in the cost of a “direct cremaon.” If the

lisng for “direct cremaon” does not include the cost of the actual cremaon, funeral

homes should clearly indicate what the cost of cremaon is, and that it will be added to

the cost of “direct cremaon.”

 There is much confusion about “graveside services.” How can these costs vary from

hundreds to thousands of dollars? All General Price Lists should clearly indicate what

services and merchandise are included in their “graveside service” and what commonly

requested items are not included.

 List the cost and provide a denion of an “alternave container” and “cremaon

container,” and clarify that families can purchase these for burial or cremaon.

 All General Price Lists should be typed in at least 12-point font (this document is 12-point

font).

 All General Price Lists should clearly indicate exactly what (services and merchandise)

comes with “forwarding remains” and also what commonly purchased services or

merchandise are NOT included.

 All General Price Lists should clearly indicate exactly what comes with “receiving”

remains.”

 All General Price Lists should indicate whether the funeral home is available to serve

families who choose “body donaon,” and if so, to clearly indicate exactly what services

and merchandise are included for the cost.

 It would be helpful if the General Price List included a denion for “viewing,” “visitaon,”

and indicate if there is an addional charge (how much?) if the gathering exceeds a certain

me frame (what me frame?).

 Although the Federal Trade Commission allows funeral homes to charge a “basic services

fee,” (somemes called, “facility overhead”) the funeral home is not required to. We

think most families will be surprised--if not shocked--by this non-declinable (i.e.,

mandatory) fee. We (and we think we speak for many consumers) were surprised for two

reasons: 1) we had never heard of it before, and 2) it is a high cost (on most GPLs it is one

34

of the highest costs listed). If the funeral home decides to include the non-declinable fee,

it should be clear what the charge covers, as according to our understanding of the Federal

Trade Commission’s rules, funeral homes are not to be charging all families for services

that only some families use.

Collecng and Summarizing the General Price Lists

The next secon contains cost and opon informaon summarized from General Price Lists

(GPLs) collected by University of Iowa School of Social Work students (and one alum!) during

summer 2016.

Students did a google search in June of local funeral homes and contacted each one (by leer

and/or by phone) requesng a General Price List for this project, and explained the purpose of

the project. Most funeral homes mailed the GPL to the student. In some cases, the student

personally went to the funeral home to get a copy.

Students reviewed each GPL and looked to see whether each of the 23 items was available at

each funeral home, and the cost. In some cases, the costs were not clear. Rather than take

the chance of misrepresenng the cost, we entered “unclear.”

PLEASE check with the funeral home before making decisions based on the informaon in

this guide because the opons and prices may have changed, or we may have made a

mistake interpreng the price lists or entering the data.

This is our third edion of the Resource Guide. For this edion we are pung all our data in

one guide to make it easier for people to see opons across the state. In some cases, it is well

worth the consumer’s me to compare opons and costs, even outside their immediate

geographic area.

Especially if you are interested in any of the services listed below, consider comparing prices

within 100 miles. If you know you want to stay in one geographic area, it is sll worth your

me to check on-line for the GPL or ask that one be mailed to you, or go pick it up.

Direct cremaon- explanaon on page 31

Immediate burial – explanaon on page 32

Forwarding remains- explanaon on page 31

Receiving remains – explanaon on page 31

Body donaon – explanaon on page 32

35

1 2 3 4

Sioux City & Moville

Christy Smith

Funeral

Home Larkin

Chapel

Christy

Smith

Berkemeir

Chapel

Christy Smith

McCulloch

Chapel

Christy Smith

Morningside

Chapel

Summer 2016

Sioux City Sioux City Moville Sioux City

712-239-9918 712-233-2489 712-873-5100 712-276-7319

General Price List on website in

July 2016?

No No No No

1 Basic Services of the Staff 2,195 2,195 2,195 2,195

2 Embalming 790 790 790 790

3 Other body preparation 290 290 290 150

4 Transfer body to FH 345 345 345 345

5 Viewing/visitation at FH 425 425 425 425

6 Funeral Service at FH 625 625 625 625

7 Funeral Service-off premise 625 625 625 625

8 Memorial Service at FH 450 450 450 450

9 Graveside Service 350 350 350 350

10 Hearse (funeral coach) 325 325 325 325

11 Limousine (family car) 125 125 125 125

CASKETS

12 Lowest price 750 750 750 750

13 Highest price 10,995 10,995 10,995 10,995

14 Casket rental 995 995 995 995

15 Alternative container 125 125 125 125

OUTER BURIAL

CONTAINER

16 Lowest price OBC 970 970 970 970

17 Highest price OBC 13,250 13,250 13,250 13,250

18 Forward remains to FH 3,395 3,395 3,395 3,395

19 Receive remains from FH 1,915 1,915 1,915 1,915

20 Direct cremation (in alt cont) 2,340 2,340 2,340 2,340

21 Cremation fee 425 425 425 Not listed

22 Immediate burial (min.casket) 3,615 3,615 3,615 2,865

23 Body donation 1,495 1,495 1,495 1,495

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

36

Sioux City & Moville

Summer 2016

General Price List on website in July

2016?

Basic Services of the Staff

Embalming

Other body preparation

Transfer body to FH

Viewing/visitation at FH

Funeral Service at FH

Funeral Service-off premise

Memorial Service at FH

Graveside Service

Hearse (funeral coach)

Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

Lowest price

Highest price

Casket rental

Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

Lowest price OBC

Highest price OBC

Forward remains to FH

Receive remains from FH

Direct cremation (in alt cont)

Cremation fee

Immediate burial (min.casket)

Body donation

5 6 7

Meyer

Brothers

Colonial

Chapel

Meyer

Brothers

Morningside

Chapel

Nelson-Berger

Chapel

Sioux City Sioux City Sioux City

712-2550131 712-276-1921 712-255-5023

No No No

2,095 2,095 1,500

675 675 495

230 230 195

295 295 175

340 340 300

695 695 450

475 475 350

225 225 150

300 300 250

150 150 140

695 695 650

9,995 9,995 9,500

850 850 750

150 150 20

1,350 1,350 1,200

9,500 9,500 9,500

1,330 1,330 1,110

1,735 1,735 1,475

2,540 2,540 1,045

Not listed Not listed Not listed

3,385 3,385 2,575

Not listed Not listed Not listed

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

37

Sioux City and Moville

2016

Summary of 7 Funeral Home General Price Lists

Min Max Diff Mean Median

1 Basic Services of the Staff 1,500 2,195 695 2,067 2,195

2 Embalming 495 790 295 715 790

3 Other body preparation 150 290 140 239 230

4 Transfer body to FH 175 345 170 306 345

5 Viewing/visitation at FH 300 425 125 383 425

6 Funeral Service at FH 450 695 245 620 625

7 Funeral Service-off premise 450 695 245 620 625

8 Memorial Service at FH 350 475 125 443 450

9 Graveside Service 150 350 200 286 350

10 Hearse (funeral coach) 250 325 75 307 325

11 Limousine (family car) 125 150 25 134 125

CASKETS

12 Lowest price 650 750 100 720 750

13 Highest price 9,500 10,995 1,495 10,496 10,995

14 Casket rental 750 995 245 919 995

15 Alternative container 20 150 130 117 125

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16 Lowest price OBC 970 1,350 380 1,111 970

17 Highest price OBC 9,500 13,250 3,750 11,643 13,250

18 Forward remains to FH 1,110 3,395 2,285 2,479 3,395

19 Receive remains from FH 1,475 1,915 440 1,801 1,915

20

Direct cremation (in alternative

cont) 1,045 2,540 1,495 2,212 2,340

21 Cremation fee 425 425 - 425 425

22 Immediate burial (in min. casket) 2,575 3,615 1,040 3,294 3,385

23 Body donation 1,495 1,495 - 1,495 1,495

This table was compiled from General Price Lists (GPLs) collected during the summer of 2016 by students

at the University of Iowa School of Social Work. People are encouraged to check the GPL from at least

two funeral homes before making nal decisions. Some funeral homes post the GPL on their website. All

funeral homes are required by the Federal Trade Commission to give a wrien copy of their GPL to

anyone who asks for it in-person.

38

1 2 3 4

Iowa City & Cedar Rapids

SUMMER 2016

Brosh Chapel Brosh Chapel

Brosh Funeral

Services

Cedar Memorial

Westside Chapel

Cedar Rapids Solon Norway Cedar Rapids

(319) 362-8837 (319) 624-3844 (319) 227-7331 (319) 362-1135

General Price List on website in July

2016?

No No No No

1 Basic Services of the Staff 2,450 2,450

Students were

told in August

that it was in

the mail; had

not arrived by

November.

2,750

2 Embalming 1,250 1,250 995

3 Other body preparation 500 500 575

4 Transfer body to FH 525 525 600

5 Viewing/visitation at FH 500 500 630

6 Funeral Service at FH 500 500 750

7 Funeral Service-off premise 500 500 750

8 Memorial Service at FH 500 500 750

9 Graveside Service 500 500 630

10 Hearse (funeral coach) 325 325 360

11 Limousine (family car) 200 200 250

CASKETS

12 Lowest price 650 650 100

13 Highest price 30,000 30,000 22,750

14 Casket rental Not listed Not listed 1,000

15 Alternative container 75 75 100

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16 Lowest price OBC 950 950 980

17 Highest price OBC 12,995 12,995 12,250

18 Forward remains to FH 3,525 3,525 2,780

19 Receive remains from FH 2,700 2,700 1,950

20

Direct cremation (in alternative cont)

3,045 3,045 4,285

21 Cremation fee 290 290 605

22

Immediate burial in minimum casket

4,650 4,650 3,980

23 Body donation 2,450 2,450 1,950

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

39

8

Iowa

Cremation

Cedar Rapids

(319) 378-3361

Yes

957

995

Not listed

100

Not listed

2,357

400

Not listed

Iowa City & Cedar

Rapids

General Price List on

website in July 2016?

1

Basic Services of the Staff

2

Embalming

3

Other body preparation

4

Transfer body to FH

5

Viewing/visitation at FH

6

Funeral Service at FH

7

Funeral Service-off

8

Memorial Service at FH

9

Graveside Service

10

Hearse (funeral coach)

11

Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

12

Lowest price

13

Highest price

14

Casket rental

15

Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL

16

Lowest price OBC

17

Highest price OBC

18

Forward remains to FH

19

Receive remains from FH

20

Direct cremation (in

alternative cont)

21

Cremation fee

22

Immediate burial in minimum

casket

23

Body donation

5 6 7

Cedar Memorial

Park and

Funeral Home

Gay & Ciha

Funeral and

Cremation

Goettsch

Funeral Home

Cedar Rapids Iowa City Anamosa

(319) 393-8000 (319) 338-1132 (319) 462-3535

No No No

2,750 2,195

Students were

told in August

that it was in

the mail; had

not received by

November

995 895

575 375

600 450

630 655

750 895

630 500

360 420

250 150

100 995

22,750 10,650

1,000 Not Listed

100 75

980 825

12,250 8,995

2,780 2,495

1,950 2,195

4,285 2,000

605 500

2,980 4,300

1,950 1,125

40

Iowa City & Cedar Rapids

SUMMER 2016

General Price List on website in July

1 Basic Services of the Staff

2 Embalming

3 Other body preparation

4 Transfer body to FH

5 Viewing/visitation at FH

6 Funeral Service at FH

7 Funeral Service-off premise

8 Memorial Service at FH

9 Graveside Service

10 Hearse (funeral coach)

11 Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

12 Lowest price

13 Highest price

14 Casket rental

15 Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16 Lowest price OBC

17 Highest price OBC

18 Forward remains to FH

19 Receive remains from FH

20 Direct cremation (in alternative

21 Cremation fee

22 Immediate burial in minimum

23 Body donation

9 10

Lensing Funeral

& Cremation

Service

Lensing's Oak Hill

Iowa City Coralville

(319) 338-8171 (319) 351-9362

No No

2,825 2,825

895 895

565 565

495 495

795 795

495 495

525 525

155 155

825 825

11,595 11,595

Not Listed Not Listed

1,025 1,025

10,945 10,945

3,590 3,590

3,095 3,095

3,895 3,895

350 350

4,895 4,070

1,495 1,495

11 12

Murdoch Funeral

Home &

Cremation

Service

Murdoch

Funeral Home

& Cremation

Service

Cedar Rapids Marion

(319) 364-1549 (319) 377-1553

No No

3,750 3,750

895 895

310 310

445 445

325 325

370 370

325 325

200 200

175 175

995 995

41,995 41,995

Not listed Not listed

450 450

895 895

12,195 12,195

2,720 2,720

2,200 2,200

2,825 2,825

Not listed Not listed

3,845 3,845

1,565 1,565

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

41

Iowa City & Cedar Rapids

SUMMER 2016

General Price List on website in July

2016?

1 Basic Services of the Staff

2 Embalming

3 Other body preparation

4 Transfer body to FH

5 Viewing/visitation at FH

6 Funeral Service at FH

7 Funeral Service-off premise

8 Memorial Service at FH

9 Graveside Service

10 Hearse (funeral coach)

11 Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

12 Lowest price

13 Highest price

14 Casket rental

15 Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16 Lowest price OBC

17 Highest price OBC

18 Forward remains to FH

19 Receive remains from FH

20

Direct cremation (in alternative cont)

21 Cremation fee

22

Immediate burial in minimum casket

23 Body donation

13 14 15 16

Murdoch

Funeral Home &

Cremation

Service

Murdoch Funeral

Home &

Cremation

Service

Murdoch

Funeral Homes

Papich-Kuba

Funeral Home

Center Point Central City Walker Cedar Rapids

(319) 849-1567 (319) 438-6113 (319) 448-4211 (319) 362-9032

No No No No

3,750 3,750

Students were

told in August

that it was in

the mail; had

not arrived by

November

2,455

895 895 750

310 310 395

445 445 400

325 325 375

370 370 475

325 325 375

200 200 375

175 175 125

995 995 1,175

41,995 41,995 8,725

Not listed Not listed Not listed

450 450 Not listed

895 895 650

12,195 12,195 8,625

2,720 2,720 2,945

2,200 2,200 2,145

2,825 2,825 2,395

Not listed Not listed Not listed

3,845 3,845 4,550

1,565 1,565 Not listed

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

42

Iowa City & Cedar Rapids

SUMMER 2016

General Price List on website in July

1 Basic Services of the Staff

2 Embalming

3 Other body preparation

4 Transfer body to FH

5 Viewing/visitation at FH

6 Funeral Service at FH

7 Funeral Service-off premise

8 Memorial Service at FH

9 Graveside Service

10 Hearse (funeral coach)

11 Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

12 Lowest price

13 Highest price

14 Casket rental

15 Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16 Lowest price OBC

17 Highest price OBC

18 Forward remains to FH

19 Receive remains from FH

20

Direct cremation (in alternative cont)

21 Cremation fee

22

Immediate burial in minimum casket

23 Body donation

17 18 19 20

Phillips Funeral

Home

Phillips Funeral

Home

Stewart Baxter

Funeral &

Memorial

Services

Stewart Baxter

Funeral &

Memorial

Services

Vinton Blairstown Cedar Rapids Marion

(319) 472-2223 (319) 454-6521 (319) 362-2147 (319) 377-1538

No No No No

2,790 2,790 3,195 3,195

550 550 795 795

275 275 395 395

250 250 430 430

400 400 495 495

490 490 495 495

415 415 495 495

200 200 395 395

145 145 295 295

95 95 250 250

760 760 995 995

11,355 11,355 16,995 16,995

Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed

925 925 855 855

3,025 3,025 5,295 5,295

1,995 1,995 2,495 2,495

1,295 1,295 2,095 2,095

2,395 2,395 1,995 1,995

295 295 300 300

Not listed Not listed 3,995 3,995

600 600 1,495 1,495

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

43

21 22 23

Stewart Baxter

Funeral &

Memorial

Services

Teahen Funeral

Home

Van Steenhuyse-

Russell Funeral

Home

Mt. Vernon Cedar Rapids Vinton

(319) 895-8425 (319) 396-2616 (319) 472-2233

No No No

3,195 2,965 2,495

795 895 795

395 500 150

430 490 200

495 550 475

495 600 575

495 Not Listed 575

395 400 295

295 325 225

250 100 Not Listed

995 100 950

16,995 10,395 6,625

Not listed Not Listed Not Listed

Not listed 100 100

855 450 950

5,295 10,250 3,795

2,495 2,540 2,150

2,095 2,045 1,425

1,995 2,395 3,410

300 Not Listed Not Listed

3,995 3,195 3,040

1,495 1,495 1,595

Iowa City & Cedar Rapids

SUMMER 2016

General Price List on website in July

2016?

1 Basic Services of the Staff

2 Embalming

3 Other body preparation

4 Transfer body to FH

5 Viewing/visitation at FH

6 Funeral Service at FH

7 Funeral Service-off premise

8 Memorial Service at FH

9 Graveside Service

10 Hearse (funeral coach)

11 Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

12 Lowest price

13 Highest price

14 Casket rental

15 Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16 Lowest price OBC

17 Highest price OBC

18 Forward remains to FH

19 Receive remains from FH

20

Direct cremation (in alternative cont)

21 Cremation fee

22

Immediate burial in minimum

casket

23 Body donation

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

44

Iowa City & Cedar Rapids Summary Table

Iowa City & Cedar Rapids: 2016

Min Max Diff Mean Median

1 Basic Services of the Staff

957 3,750 2,793 2,864 2,808

2 Embalming

550 1,250 700 884 895

3 Other body preparation

150 575 425 404 395

4 Transfer body to FH

200 600 400 439 445

5 Viewing/visitation at FH

325 795 470 499 495

6 Funeral Service at FH

370 895 525 557 495

7 Funeral Service-off premise

370 895 525 557 495

8 Memorial Service at FH

370 895 525 546 495

9 Graveside Service

200 630 430 406 395

10 Hearse (funeral coach)

145 525 380 302 295

11 Limousine (family car)

95 250 155 179 175

CASKETS

12 Lowest price

100 1,175 1,075 782 950

13 Highest price

6,625 41,995 35,370 21,408 16,995

14 Casket rental

1,000 1,000 - 1,000 1,000

15 Alternative container

75 450 375 210 100

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16 Lowest price OBC

450 1,025 575 883 895

17 Highest price OBC

3,025 12,995 9,970 9,198 10,945

18 Forward remains to FH

1,995 3,590 1,595 2,751 2,720

19 Receive remains from FH

1,295 3,095 1,800 2,157 2,145

20 Direct cremation (in alternative

1,995 4,285 2,290 2,854 2,825

21 Cremation fee

290 605 315 375 300

22

Immediate burial (in min. casket) 2,980 4,895 1,915 3,981 3,995

23 Body donation

600 2,450 1,850 1,553 1,530

This table was compiled from General Price Lists (GPLs) collected during the summer of 2016 by students

at the University of Iowa School of Social Work. People are encouraged to check the GPL from at least

two funeral homes before making nal decisions. Some funeral homes post the GPL on their website. All

funeral homes are required by the Federal Trade Commission to give a wrien copy of their GPL to

anyone who asks for it in-person.

45

DES MOINES

SUMMER 2016

Price List on website in July 2016?

1 Basic Services of the Staff

2 Embalming

3 Other body preparation

4 Transfer body to FH

5 Viewing/visitation at FH

6 Funeral Service at FH

7 Funeral Service-off premise

8 Memorial Service at FH

9 Graveside Service

10 Hearse (funeral coach)

11 Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

12 Lowest price

13 Highest price

14 Casket rental

15 Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16 Lowest price OBC

17 Highest price OBC

18 Forward remains to FH

19 Receive remains from FH

20

Direct cremation (in alternative

cont)

21 Cremation fee

22 Immediate burial (in min. casket)

23 Body donation

1 2 3 4

Brooks

Funeral Care

Brooks

Funeral Care

- Merle Hay

Chapel

Brooks

Funeral

Care - South

Town

Chapel

Brooks

Funeral Care

- Tonini

Chapel

Clive Des Moines Des Moines Des Moines

515-277-8700 515-278-4633 515-277-8700 515-277-8700

No No No No

1,990 1,990 1,990 1,990

525 525 525 525

140 140 140 140

695 695 695 695

325 595 325 325

195 195 195 195

225 225 225 225

not listed not listed not listed not listed

970 970 970 970

53,600 53,600 53,600 53,600

995 995 995 995

185 185 185 185

995 995 995 995

15,900 15,900 15,900 15,900

2,410 2,605 2,410 2,410

1,190 1,385 1,190 1,190

2,315 2,565 2,315 2,315

not listed not listed not listed not listed

3,575 3,575 3,575 3,575

750 750 750 750

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

46

DES MOINES

SUMMER 2016

Price List on website in July 2016?

1

Basic Services of the Staff

2

Embalming

3

Other body preparation

4

Transfer body to FH

5

Viewing/visitation at FH

6

Funeral Service at FH

7

Funeral Service-off premise

8

Memorial Service at FH

9

Graveside Service

10

Hearse (funeral coach)

11

Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

12

Lowest price

13

Highest price

14

Casket rental

15

Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16

Lowest price OBC

17

Highest price OBC

18

Forward remains to FH

19

Receive remains from FH

20

Direct cremation (in alternative cont)

21

Cremation fee

22

Immediate burial (in min. casket)

23

Body donation

5 6 7 8

Caldwell

Parrish

Funeral

Home &

Crematory

Cannon

Mortuary

Celebrate Life

Iowa

Cremation

Society of

Iowa

Urbandale Des Moines

West Des

Moines Clive

515-276-0551 515-244-5253 515-689-5522 515-277-8700

No No No No

1,595 1,885 245

550 895 not listed

200 510 125

325 215 550

425 Not 415 150

425 Available 415 not listed

425 415 not listed

250 395 not listed

250 299 not listed

200 not listed not listed

1,495 815 not listed

13,995 16,260 not listed

not listed not listed not listed

75 35 185

950 325 not listed

4,395 9,800 not listed

1,625 Not not provided not listed

1,075 Available 895 not listed

1,560 930 980

300 265 not listed

3,070 1,420 not listed

1,050 1,105 750

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

47

DES MOINES SUMMER 2016

Price List on website in July 2016?

1

Basic Services of the Staff

2

Embalming

3

Other body preparation

4

Transfer body to FH

5

Viewing/visitation at FH

6

Funeral Service at FH

7

Funeral Service-off premise

8

Memorial Service at FH

9

Graveside Service

10

Hearse (funeral coach)

11

Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

12

Lowest price

13

Highest price

14

Casket rental

15

Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16

Lowest price OBC

17

Highest price OBC

18

Forward remains to FH

19

Receive remains from FH

20

Direct cremation (in alternative cont)

21

Cremation fee

22

Immediate burial (in min. casket)

23

Body donation

9 10 11 12

Dignity

Memorial -

Ankeny

Funeral Home

and Crematory

Dignity

Memorial -

McLaren's

Resthaven

Chapel &

Mortuary

Dyamond

Memorial

Ernst Funeral

Home

Ankeny West Des Moines Ankeny Waukee

515-964-4674 515-225-7225 515-964-7543 515-987-6881

No No No No

2,895 2,895 1,280 1,995

995 995 565 695

740 740 unclear 315

595 595 220 425

245 245 405 450

595 595 480 725

595 595 480 700

595 595 480 725

595 595 225 650

245 245 250 295

195 195 200 225

795 795 695 695

9,595 9,595 9,800 22,900

1,000 1,000 not listed not listed

145 145 45 395

995 995 570 995

5,295 5,295 10,200 9,995

3,195 3,195 1,407 2,595

1,945 1,945 951 1,995

2,895 2,895 1,400 2,895

570 570 not listed 625

3,540 3,540 1,250 3,290

1,070 1,070 not clear not listed

48

DES MOINES

SUMMER 2016

Price List on website in July 2016?

1 Basic Services of the Staff

2 Embalming

3 Other body preparation

4 Transfer body to FH

5 Viewing/visitation at FH

6 Funeral Service at FH

7 Funeral Service-off premise

8 Memorial Service at FH

9 Graveside Service

10 Hearse (funeral coach)

11 Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

12 Lowest price

13 Highest price

14 Casket rental

15 Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16 Lowest price OBC

17 Highest price OBC

18 Forward remains to FH

19 Receive remains from FH

20

Direct cremation (in alternative cont)

21 Cremation fee

22 Immediate burial (in min. casket)

23 Body donation

13 14 15 16

Hamilton's

Funeral

Home

Hamilton's

Near

Highland

Memory

Gardens

Hamilton's on

Westown

Parkway

Hamilton's

Southtown

Funeral

Home

Des Moines Des Moines West Des Moines Des Moines

515-243-5221 515-289-2442 515-224-0078 515-285-3911

Yes Yes Yes Yes

1,845 1,845 1,845 1,845

600 600 600 600

325 325 325 325

310 310 310 310

430 430 430 430

450 450 450 450

110 110 110 110

195 195 195 195

120 120 120 120

875 875 875 875

28,695 28,695 28,695 28,695

not listed not listed not listed not listed

60 60 60 60

800 800 800 800

3,775 3,775 3,775 3,775

1,310 1,310 1,310 1,310

1,260 1,260 1,260 1,260

1,400 1,400 1,400 1,400

380 380 380 380

2,350 2,350 2,350 2,350

470 470 470 470

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

49

DES MOINES

SUMMER 2016

Price List on website in July 2016?

1

Basic Services of the Staff

2

Embalming

3

Other body preparation

4

Transfer body to FH

5

Viewing/visitation at FH

6

Funeral Service at FH

7

Funeral Service-off premise

8

Memorial Service at FH

9

Graveside Service

10

Hearse (funeral coach)

11

Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

12

Lowest price

13

Highest price

14

Casket rental

15

Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16

Lowest price OBC

17

Highest price OBC

18

Forward remains to FH

19

Receive remains from FH

20

Direct cremation (in alternative cont)

21

Cremation fee

22

Immediate burial (in min. casket)

23

Body donation

17 18 19 20

Hamilton's

Altoona

Funeral

Home

Hamilton's

Mitchellville

Funeral

Home

Henderson's

Highland

Park

Iles - Dunn's

Chapel

Altoona Mitchellville Des Moines Des Moines

515-967-4272 515-967-0778 515-309-6550 515-244-2121

Yes Yes No No

1,845 1,845 2,295 2,195

600 600 750 570

325 325 300 375

310 310 225 375

430 430 295 525

450 450 695 650

110 110 3,565 395

195 195 295 275

120 120 100 225

875 875 895 795

28,695 28,695 6,800 17,495

not listed not listed 695 1,195

60 60 695 295

800 800 995 695

3,775 3,775 3,895 12,995

1,310 1,310 1,820 1,710

1,260 1,260 2,120 3,490

1,400 1,400 1,625 2,735

380 380 not listed 645

2,350 2,350 2,590 2,865

470 470 500 1,440

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

50

DES MOINES

SUMMER 2016

Price List on website in July 2016?

1

Basic Services of the Staff

2

Embalming

3

Other body preparation

4

Transfer body to FH

5

Viewing/visitation at FH

6

Funeral Service at FH

7

Funeral Service-off premise

8

Memorial Service at FH

9

Graveside Service

10

Hearse (funeral coach)

11

Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

12

Lowest price

13

Highest price

14

Casket rental

15

Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16

Lowest price OBC

17

Highest price OBC

18

Forward remains to FH

19

Receive remains from FH

20

Direct cremation (in alternative cont)

21

Cremation fee

22

Immediate burial (in min. casket)

23

Body donation

21 22 23 24

Iles -

Grandview

Park Chapel

Iles -

Westover

Chapel

McCalley

Funeral

Home

Memorial

Services of

Iowa

Des Moines Des Moines Adel Ankeny

515-265-1652 515-276-4567 515-993-4240 515-964-0592

No No No No

1,595 1,925 2,195 2,635

570 570 695 1,295

375 375 495 175

375 375 295 395

395 495 695 950

495 575 695 950

495 495 695 950

395 395 695 390

275 275 295 250

225 225 295 250

795 795 295 750

17,495 17,495 9,995 23,640

1,195 1,195 not listed 950

295 295 95 45

695 695 795 895

12,995 12,995 17,595 9,744

1,710 1,710 2,360 1,898

3,100 3,360 2,380 1,650

2,535 2,685 2,995 1,999

645 645 895 525

2,670 2,815 2,805 2,748

1,440 1,440 1,920 550

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

51

DES MOINES

SUMMER 2016

Price List on website in July 2016?

1

Basic Services of the Staff

2

Embalming

3

Other body preparation

4

Transfer body to FH

5

Viewing/visitation at FH

6

Funeral Service at FH

7

Funeral Service-off premise

8

Memorial Service at FH

9

Graveside Service

10

Hearse (funeral coach)

11

Limousine (family car)

CASKETS

12

Lowest price

13

Highest price

14

Casket rental

15

Alternative container

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16

Lowest price OBC

17

Highest price OBC

18

Forward remains to FH

19

Receive remains from FH

20

Direct cremation (in alternative cont)

21

Cremation fee

22

Immediate burial (in min. casket)

23

Body donation

25 26 27 28

Overton

Funeral

Home

Peterson

Funeral

Home -

Highland

Park

(Arnolds)

Peterson

Funeral

Home

Peterson

Funeral

Home

Indianola Des Moines Carlisle Indianola

515-961-5121 515-288-6551 515-989-3510 515-961-2215

No No No No

2,190 1,950 1,950 1,950

895 850 850 850

225 375 375 375

395 325 325 325

525 550 550 550

525 750 750 750

525 600 600 600

300 600 600 600

265 400 400 400

100 175 175 175

1,025 995 995 995

6,990 38,000 38,000 38,000

995 not listed not listed not listed

150 100 100 100

775 990 990 990

15,000 14,800 14,800 14,800

2,460 1,400 1,400 1,400

1,780 1,600 1,600 1,600

2,145 1,850 1,850 1,850

600 595 595 595

3,771.50 4,065 4,065 4,065

1,100 850 850 850

Please check with the funeral home directly before making any decisions. Prices and opons may have

changed, or we may have unintenonally made a mistake when interpreng the GPL.

52

Des Moines Summer 2016

Summary of Funeral Home

General Price Lists

Min Max

Difference

Mean Median

1

Basic Services of the Staff 245 2,895 2,650 1,952 1,950

2

Embalming 525 1,295 770 703 600

3

Other body preparation 125 740 615 330 325

4

Transfer body to FH 215 695 480 406 325

5

Viewing/visitation at FH 150 950 800 445 430

6

Funeral Service at FH 325 950 625 552 488

7

Funeral Service-off premise 325 950 625 551 488

8

Memorial Service at FH 325 950 625 531 488

9

Graveside Service 110 3,565 3,455 465 275

10

Hearse (funeral coach) 195 400 205 261 248

11

Limousine (family car) 100 295 195 175 175

CASKETS

12

Lowest price 295 1,495 1,200 875 875

13

Highest price 6,800 53,600 46,800 26,255 23,270

14

Casket rental 695 1,195 500 1,017 995

15

Alternative container 35 695 660 159 100

OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER

16

Lowest price OBC 325 995 670 851 800

17

Highest price OBC 3,775 17,595 13,820 10,033 9,898

18

Forward remains to FH 1,310 3,195 1,885 1,903 1,710

19

Receive remains from FH 895 3,490 2,595 1,692 1,323

20

Direct cremation (in alternative cont) 930 2,995 2,065 1,990 1,850

21

Cremation fee 265 895 630 518 548

22

Immediate burial (in min. casket) 1,250 4,065 2,815 2,960 2,810

23

Body donation 470 1,920 1,450 872 750

This table was compiled from General Price Lists (GPLs) collected during the summer of 2016 by students

at the University of Iowa School of Social Work. People are encouraged to check the GPL from at least

two funeral homes before making nal decisions. Some funeral homes post the GPL on their website. All

funeral homes are required by the Federal Trade Commission to give a wrien copy of their GPL to

anyone who asks for it in-person.