• Español
  • Historical Archives
  • Convention
  • Contact Us
Support the Ministry Give
Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA
  • About
    • What We Believe
      • Statements and Resolutions
      • Confession of Faith In a Mennonite Perspective
    • History
    • Find a Church
    • FAQ
      • FAQ about Mennonites
      • FAQ about MC USA
    • Executive Board Staff
    • Church Structure
      • Area Conferences
      • Racial Ethnic Council
  • Ministry
    • Church Vitality
      • Women in Leadership
      • Church Planting
      • Wellbeing in Ministry
      • Ministerial Inquiry Form
      • Kineo Center
    • Faith Formation
      • Children and Families
      • Faith Formation with Youth
      • Faith Formation with Adults
      • Christian Practices
      • Pastors & Leaders | Deep Faith 2022
    • Peacebuilding
      • Learn Pray Join
      • Israel/Palestine Initiatives
      • Undoing Racism
      • Undoing Sexism
      • Peace and Justice Support Network
    • The Corinthian Plan
      • Corinthian Plan Staff
      • History of the Corinthian Plan
      • Why Mutual Aid Matters
      • Corinthian Plan Subsidies
      • Wellness Incentives
  • Agencies
    • Everence
    • Mennonite Education Agency
    • Mennonite Mission Network
    • MennoMedia
    • Mennonite Health Services Alliance
  • Events
  • Resources
  • News & Blog
    • Blog
    • News & Media
    • Menno Snapshots
    • MenoTicias
    • Publications and Newsletters
  • MennoCon
Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA
  • About
    • What We Believe
      • Statements and Resolutions
      • Confession of Faith In a Mennonite Perspective
    • History
    • Find a Church
    • FAQ
      • FAQ about Mennonites
      • FAQ about MC USA
    • Executive Board Staff
    • Church Structure
      • Area Conferences
      • Racial Ethnic Council
  • Ministry
    • Church Vitality
      • Women in Leadership
      • Church Planting
      • Wellbeing in Ministry
      • Ministerial Inquiry Form
      • Kineo Center
    • Faith Formation
      • Children and Families
      • Faith Formation with Youth
      • Faith Formation with Adults
      • Christian Practices
      • Pastors & Leaders | Deep Faith 2022
    • Peacebuilding
      • Learn Pray Join
      • Israel/Palestine Initiatives
      • Undoing Racism
      • Undoing Sexism
      • Peace and Justice Support Network
    • The Corinthian Plan
      • Corinthian Plan Staff
      • History of the Corinthian Plan
      • Why Mutual Aid Matters
      • Corinthian Plan Subsidies
      • Wellness Incentives
  • Agencies
    • Everence
    • Mennonite Education Agency
    • Mennonite Mission Network
    • MennoMedia
    • Mennonite Health Services Alliance
  • Events
  • Resources
  • News & Blog
    • Blog
    • News & Media
    • Menno Snapshots
    • MenoTicias
    • Publications and Newsletters
  • MennoCon
Home / Menno Snapshots / Saving on funeral expenses
Oct 09 2012

Saving on funeral expenses

Planning ahead makes all the difference

By Tim Yoder

We typically make plans for the future – for marriage, vacation, retirement. But it’s harder to prepare for the end of life.

As a funeral director, about half of the families I meet with have preplanned and prepaid funerals, saving a surviving spouse or children from significant guesswork. I often hear from someone who’s preplanning, “I am doing this so our family won’t have to.” That’s planning driven by love.

Preplanning can control expenses. Without it, decisions must be made quickly and during a highly emotional time. That’s not a good combination for making significant financial decisions. Here are preplanning ideas to consider:

  • Plan with a funeral home you expect to use. Then you are working with a real person who is more likely to manage costs for you since they have a reputation to protect in the community. Mail-order life insurance for these expenses can have decreasing death benefits as you age and cost more than the death benefit you receive.
  • Consider a pre-paid contract that is irrevocable, if you might use Medicaid for paying nursing home costs. Irrevocable contracts are protected from spend-downs requirements when Medicaid is paying long-term care costs. Not all states have an irrevocability rule.
  • Make sure you can transfer your funeral plan. State laws vary, so you want a transferrable plan if you might later move to Florida, for example, or in with children in another state.

I understand that people who preplan their funerals live longer. It seems a healthier route for people of faith whose hope is built on more than life on earth.

Free end-of-life guide

Everence offers a free guide on funeral-related planning, Make your wishes known: Your faith values, memories and legacy. This guide can help you make a wide range of funeral planning decisions, including your obituary and church service planning. This resource can be downloaded at Everence.com or ordered by calling (800)348-7468 ext. 3202.

Tim Yoder co-owns Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, Ind., and is a licensed pastor with the Church of the Brethren.

  • October 9, 2012
  • 1 Comment
  • Menno Snapshots, Stewardship
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-Mail

Interested in submitting a blog for Menno Snapshots? Please see our blog guidelines here.

3145 Benham Ave. Suite 1
Elkhart, IN 46517

718 N. Main St.
Newton, KS 67114
Phone: (866) 866-2872
  • News & Media
  • Español
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Convention
  • Resources
  • Give
  • Staff
  • Employment
  • Transparency in Coverage
©2020 Mennonite Church USA   |   Subscribe to PeaceMail to receive news and blogs compiled into one weekly email.   SUBSCRIBE