The cost of death-care services in the US has become a significant financial burden for many families. A typical funeral, including a viewing and burial, is priced at $8,300. Even cremation, often seen as a more affordable alternative, now exceeds $2,200.
This financial pressure has led some individuals to make unconventional arrangements. One individual recounted having to divide their mother's remains into plastic bags and later scattering them in a national park without the required permit, as they could not afford the official options or wait for permissions.
The industry's shift towards higher prices is partly attributed to consolidation. Over the past two decades, large death-care conglomerates have acquired independent funeral homes. This has, in some markets, given them enough pricing power to attract federal antitrust attention.
Justin Crowe, founder of Parting Stone, noted that while cremation has risen from 5% in 1970 to over 63% today, the industry did not adapt to provide value for the cremation experience in the same way it did for burial. This has resulted in families seeking a less institutional and cheaper death, but often receiving a marked-up version of the same process.