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The September 7th edition of The Star Ledger (New Jersey) included
an article entitled, "The Cost of Dying: Planning Now Can Save Loved Ones Later"
that failed to truly detail the financial and emotional benefits of
pre-arranging for your final cemetery resting site.
To ensure that readers and residents of New Jersey and surrounding areas are
adequately informed, CMS CEO Bernard E. Stoecklein, Jr. drafted a letter to the
editor. The letter's message appears below:
Dear Editor:
While the
headline “Cost of Dying: Planning Now Can Save Loved Ones Later” (Sept. 7)
implied that the article would address the benefits of pre-arranging, it failed
to include key financial and emotional reasons why prearrangement should be
addressed sooner rather than later.
The cost of
everything is increasing. While funerals and cemetery property are not immune to
inflation, pre-planning provides significant savings because it locks in today’s
prices. Convenient payment plans are offered and once cemetery lots and crypts
are paid in full, families do not incur any additional charges.
A misconception
exists that insurance is to help with funeral expenses and cemetery property.
Insurance is to help families adjust to the loss of income that a death causes.
If prearrangements are not made, a portion of the insurance will need to help
with the funeral and cemetery expenses – contributing more to the family’s
financial burden.
Pre-arrangement
allows couples to plan together -- sparing the surviving partner the heartache
of making arrangements alone during an emotional time and gives people the peace
of mind that their final wishes will be carried out.
When families
take all of these factors into consideration, pre-planning today really can save
loved ones later.
The editor of
The Star Ledger is in receipt of Mr. Stoecklein's letter. Check back
soon to learn if the letter was printed in the paper. | 
