the KMF Fund

Today I read a story that was so moving I had to share it..  it is about a young girl named Keriann McLain.  Keriann was a free-spirited 19 year old who loved to lived life to the fullest.  She seemed to put a smile on everyones face she came into contact with. In November 2009, Keriann was killed in a car accident. Her pre-mature death was not taken lightly – and has inspired the mission of the KMC fund. The goal of the organization is to carry on her legacy by encouraging those who have lost a loved one to focus on a celebration of life over loss. Keriann’s life ended at the age of 19; although her life was short, it was filled with fun, life and love. This Fund is dedicated to her fun-loving spirit and to help others who have experienced loss find joy in the memory of their loved one. The KMC Fund provides serenity kits, support groups & financial assistance to the families that have lost children & young adults. They help to pay for funeral services to those who are financially unstable.  What a great foundation!  If you’d like to support the KMF Fund or read more about what they do, please click on their website. http://www.thekmf.com/

$20,000 for a Funeral?

Yes, Seriously, it is not uncommon for a funeral to cost $20,000.  I recently came across an article in the Honolulu Advertiser that goes into detail of just how much a funeral could cost you (or your family) and why its best to start planning now.

Eric S.S. Wong didn’t expect his 87-year-old father to die so soon.

And he didn’t expect the funeral to cost nearly $20,000.

Five years ago his parents bought a burial plot. And that’s it. What they didn’t consider was all the additional costs — caskets, vases, flowers, services, facility rental, even transportation — required for a complete funeral. Wong and his sister had to put all those expenses on their credit cards.

“They say they’re ‘taking care of the customer,’ ” said Wong, 40. “But the bottom line is they’re running a business.”

And funerals are big business in Hawai’i, where costs — including the funeral service and cemetery fees for a burial — average between $10,000 and $15,000, according to funeral directors.

But early planning, financial experts say, is the key to reducing stress — and overall cost — in dealing with death.

“You don’t have to pay for what you don’t need,” said Karen Ho, financial educator at the Hawai’i State Federal Credit Union, who gives presentations on funeral planning. “You can save money when you understand what’s required and what’s not.” She recommends researching your options early, the way you would research buying a car.

“Ask for a price list, take a friend to the mortuary, talk about it when you’re not upset,” Ho said. “Then you can make a good financial decision. That can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars.”

The problem is many families aren’t comfortable discussing death. And that, experts say, is something they need to get over.

“I know death isn’t something pleasant, it’s not something we all want to talk about,” said Mitchell Dodo, vice president of Dodo Mortuary in Hilo and president of the Hawai’i Allied Memorial Council. “But you have to come to terms with what’s going to happen.”

If you’d like to know about Funeral Costs in Hawaii, read the rest of this article, “It’s your funeral, so plan the details yourself” posted on theHonoluluAdvertiser.com, written by Catherine E. Toth (Advertiser staff writer)