Economy offers no succor for death-care industry

[marmar]

By Dan Chapman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


Even death isn’t immune to the lousy economy.

Georgians keep dying, of course, but the recession and its aftermath force families to find cheaper ways to send loved ones into the hereafter. The death industry – tombstone carvers in Elberton, coffin salesmen in Atlanta, cemetery managers in Rome – suffer the scaled-back consequences.

“Before, if you had a $25,000 insurance policy on Uncle Bob, you would spend every dime to make sure he had a good funeral and the biggest monument possible,” said Doy Johnson, executive vice president of the Elberton Granite Association. “In today’s economy, when Uncle Bob passes away, chances are you’ll spend $750 on cremation and put the other $24,250 in the bank.”

Johnson estimates that headstone and monument sales are off about 15 percent since the recession started in late 2007. Meanwhile, a generational shift toward cremation that was already underway gets a boost as cost-conscious Americans opt for cheaper burials. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ajc.com/business/economy-offers-no-succor-731295.html

[Vincardog]

1. GOOD

[Historic NY]

2. One needs to look to ebay for specials.

[PA Democrat]

3. I decided decided long before the bad economy to forgo the ordeal of a "viewing"

and a cemetery plot that must be maintained. I just haven't yet decided what I want to be done with my ashes.