Salt Lake Telegram | 1928-04-21 | Page 10 | Extravagant Funerals

v I 1 Extravagant Funer Funerals ls 1 I By DR FRANK CRANE We Ye have often wanted to say something about extravagant ex ex- funerals but have hesitated to do so be because because because be- be cause It Is a rather tender subject with Mith most people peo peo- pie It Is a matter of sentiment and a It ver very strong sentiment at times Unies But the advisory advisor committee on burial survey the other da day at New y York after a a year two study stud of the burial Industry made a report re- re port on the basis of which something perhaps might ht I be said without Offending anybody According to this report leport funeral directors are aref I f somewhat guilty because of ot the expensive pensive merchandise merchandise I dise and dise-and and elaborate funerals which they have cajoled the bereft into inte pa paying for But culpable as the Industry is sa says s 's the re report report re- re port part of the responsibility for increased must be laid at the door of the public which by a demand for tor elaborate funerals has run up the cost of a burial Their study clearly Indicates that ex expensive cx- cx x- x pensive funerals entail most suffering and are most acute In families of limited means who have minor children to support What's the good of an expensive e funeral anyhow Of Or course we feel teel that nothing is too good to show our our respect for tor the departed and we are aie not inclined to be small and economical in doing them honor But surely sureh the dead person does not care how much we we lavish on his burial bunal Is not expensive e display display dis dis- dis pl play y at a funeral rath rather rather- r to please ourselves than to todo todo todo do honor to the dead Death is the universal democracy and when it comes all aU men nien are equal Building expensive monuments monuments monuments ments and mausoleums in a graveyard Is of f question abl able taste I Why should there be rivalry and display among the dead They surely have gone to some place where whre such things are ae not appreciated Tho The best thing we Me c can n do with our pr if we leave any after aftel we are dead is to caie cre ProPerly for the living and whatever money we leave should be bo devoted to whom we MC leave behind Curiously enough the report of this committee shows that the lowest average burial expense is among the orthodox Jews while while- the highest is among the Irish And nd speaking s of oC localities the cities of the north and east are th the most extravagant while those of the south are arc lowest The committee suggests sug that pastors probate courts insurance companies trust companies civic and social welfare tare agencies should aid in keeping down funeral costs and this should be he with the co cooperation cooperation co- co operation of pC the tho burial in Industry itself Let LCt us S not be he parsimonious us In doing honor to the dead but on the other hand let us not mistake our ourI I own vanity for tor respect ct jor for the the departed