The High Cost of Dying in San Diego County

 

SAN DIEGO – “One of the biggest concerns when planning a funeral is the cost’ it is expensive” said Peter Krantz, co-owner of Am Israel Mortuary.

Typical mortuary charges for a Jewish burial in California are about $6,000, which include the washing, preparing, documentation and the graveside funeral.

The biggest expenses are the cemetery plots, the vault and opening and closing of the grave. The exclusively Jewish cemetery Home of Peace is probably the least expensive with plots running about $9,000 a piece. The digging, filling and labor total another $4,000. Altogether, with the mortuary fees, it costs about $20,000 for a burial from start to finish.

A majority of the burials are held at El Camino Memorial Park where plots are $19,500 and the labor costs are about $6,000 so that puts a burial there at $30,000 from start to finish.

Krantz advised to start the process with picking your cemetery plot in advance as prices fluctuate each year, usually going up. Plots follow real estate with supply and demand. Home of Peace has a very limited selection left. Greenwood Memorial Cemetery has a King David section that Rabbi Aaron Gold had designated but with a Home Depot across the street, it has made it less desirable, Krantz said.

He advised Sisterhood members of Tifereth Israel Synagogue to also make mortuary arrangements ahead of time. Financially you can pay them in advance and lock in today’s price. You can leave the instructions on paper so when you pass away, the funeral home will have documentation on what the deceased and the family plans. That reduces the burden on the survivors.

Diane Peskin and Shelley Abramson, Sisterhood board members, introduced Vince Storniolo, funeral consultant and pre-need specialist at Am Israel Mortuary. Storniolo has been with Am Israel Mortuary for over 20 years. Peter Krantz is Storniolo’s brother-in-law. Am Israel Mortuary is the only Jewish mortuary in San Diego. Krantz’s grandfather started Am Israel Mortuary in 1977.

Storniolo commented that Am Israel Mortuary may be contacted directly when someone passes away.  It follows halachah in dealing with funeral preparations and the preparation of the body. It handles the necessary paperwork and coordinates with the cemetery where the family has burial plots.

In Judaism, there are special procedures on how the body is prepared for burial. The Chevra Kadisha (sacred society) comes in and prepares the body at Am Israel.

Krantz said the mortuary starts by working through a series of questions on what type of arrangement you prefer. Mortuary personnel ask whether this will be a traditional Jewish burial with the body being bathed and dressed in a shroud. Women will only bathe women and men will only bathe men before the deceased is placed in the casket. Krantz said families may decide how they want the deceased dressed in if they don’t want a shroud. The mortuary will work with the families in any area of the process to meet their needs and wishes.

If someone passes without financial resources, Am Israel will work with the family to help get the Jewish Federation of San Diego involved and Hebrew Free Loans also helps. Bottom line, Am Israel wants to help the Jewish community and make sure procedures are followed and that a proper burial is performed.

A question asked from an attendee was if someone passes away in California and has a plot in New York, does the body have to be embalmed? Krantz responded that the body does not have to be embalmed to be shipped to the state where the plot is. Usually embalming the body is when a body is being shipped to another country.

A question asked, do we call the Rabbi or Am Israel when someone passes? Either was the answer, whatever brings you comfort in that time of despair.

There are no “last rights” as in the Catholic faith, but there is a “Vidui,” a confession made by the dying that Rabbi Hanan Leberman can assist.

Another question: what is the quickest turn around to perform a funeral? Krantz responded, four hours from the mortuary’s standpoint, but cemeteries accommodate funerals for multiple religious groups. so it is a question of scheduling.  If it can be done, they will accommodate.

In discussion, if the family would like cremation, Am Israel will help them. They do not endorse it, but they know this might be something the family wishes. However, you may want to consult the rabbi about traditional Jewish views about cremation

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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.