Erik received an interesting ad in the mail today, an ad for the Garden of Memories mausoleaum, located conveniently close here in Bergen Country. They're constructing the seventh building of their all-faiths mausoleam, which boasts such amenities as climate control, a beautiful skylight chapel and private family rooms. Their best feature, though, is the 40% pre-need discount. As in "buy space before someone becomes a corpse."
Now I don't want to be too harsh. These are important things to think about, and it's something you might not want to think about while grieving. I also recognize that funerary expenses can really get up there. All the same, I find it more than a little distasteful that the people behind this are trying to take advantage of those facts by offering a deep discount to think of it now.
It may be misguided, patently untrue even, but I prefer to think that funeral homes are already giving people the best deal possible in light of their pain. The sheer practicality of the alternative, in the face of the weight of mortality, chills me to the bone.
Comments (9)
It's overly elaborate and really really expensive. A funeral can be several thousand dollars, so 40% off of it is a pretty sweet deal. You'd also be surprised how many people, not our age yet, have money for that put aside and plots picked out.
Posted by Reluctant Ogre | August 26, 2004 10:12 PM
Posted on August 26, 2004 22:12
Oh, I know that 40% is a sweet deal. I know. Remember, I had to have a serious conversation disturbingly similar to this with my parents just over a year ago. We went over all of this. That doesn't make thinking about getting a deal on a funeral any less morbid.
As for the "people not our age yet" bit, well, the thought of that is even more disturbing to me.
Posted by Jason | August 26, 2004 10:34 PM
Posted on August 26, 2004 22:34
What disturbed me the most was the apology at the end of the pamphlet.
"We apologize if this letter found its way to a home where illness or sadness are present. It was not our intention and we wish you the best in difficult times."
Posted by Erik ("I saw this and thought of you.") | August 27, 2004 10:01 AM
Posted on August 27, 2004 10:01
Unfortunately most of us will almost flee from people handing out this brochures so the only time we really pay attention to them is in times of grief :(
Posted by gus | August 27, 2004 12:17 PM
Posted on August 27, 2004 12:17
Welcome to why I have frequent insomnia, Goat.
Posted by Reluctant Ogre | August 27, 2004 3:50 PM
Posted on August 27, 2004 15:50
I believe it was shortly after I got engaged that my father said to us, "I wish you the best of everything for your future. Your mother and I have a present for you that I'm sure you two will use in the future - two pre-paid cemetery plots." Now knowing my father (and Jason you do) he did this with the best of intentions with the worst delivery you could think of. Not exactly the most cheery of thoughts as we entered our marriage. At least that is one thing we don't have to worry about.
Posted by Brian | August 28, 2004 7:53 AM
Posted on August 28, 2004 07:53
On a strange, and related note.
Posted by Reluctant Ogre | August 28, 2004 3:07 PM
Posted on August 28, 2004 15:07
Edited your comment a little for aesthetic purposes, Ogre. Hope you don't mind.
A very freaky article, though. Disturbing.
Posted by Jason | August 28, 2004 5:01 PM
Posted on August 28, 2004 17:01
I do mind, have you no love of the natural form of what you look at? :P
Posted by Reluctant Ogre | August 28, 2004 9:47 PM
Posted on August 28, 2004 21:47