COLUMBUS, Ohio _ When you die, Columbus isn't a bad place to do it in.
Columbus has the lowest average cremation cost among the 15 most populous U.S. cities at $2,747, according to finder.com, a site that advises its users on financial decision-making. And for traditional burials, Columbus is second-least expensive with an average of $5,737, second only to Los Angeles.
Data was collected and analyzed in August 2018, according to Nicole Gallina, communications coordinator for finder.com. The figures include the cost of a memorial service and a wake, she said.
Michael Schoedinger, president of Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Services, which has 14 locations in central Ohio, accredits this to the fact that nearly all funeral homes and crematoriums in Columbus are family-owned, not corporate chains.
"We're blessed to have funeral home owners in Columbus who love what they're doing and get their fulfillment helping families on the toughest days of their lives," Schoedinger said. "They're not just worried about collecting their money."
A typical cremation and memorial at Schoedinger costs between $3,000 and $4,000, depending on whether the family wants flowers, catering or an open-casket viewing before cremation, Schoedinger said. For traditional burial services, he said, the cost can range between $5,000 and $15,000, with large fluctuation in the cost for additions like catering and more expensive caskets.
But for families needing cremation services who simply can't afford it, Schoedinger's "value brand," Buckeye Cremation, offers cremations for less than $1,000.
Ohio Cremation & Memorial Society, which has a location near Clintonville, has its pricing packages listed on its website for transparency, said Beth Buxton, managing funeral director. Instead of having to call "during a time they maybe don't feel like calling," Buxton said, having prices listed ensures families aren't hindered unnecessarily.
But sometimes, circumstances do hinder families from being able to afford end-of-life services, Buxton said.
"There are people who do have financial challenges, especially after a loved one goes through medical issues," Buxton said. "Many firms in Columbus do have price points to try to assist with that."
Prices vary depending on the service at Ohio Cremation & Memorial Society, from $1,195 for a simple cremation without services to $3,195 for a traditional burial with a casket, Buxton said.
At Jerry Spears Funeral Home on the Hilltop, an entire cremation service with a casket viewing before cremation costs about $3,000, said Bob Spears Jr., one of three family owners of the funeral home.
"Spending more money doesn't always make it better," Spears said. "We're pretty good at making sure, if somebody comes in with a budget, that we don't go over it."
A traditional burial funeral service can be completed for $5,000, he added.
Spears said his funeral home is "upfront" about service costs and avoids "bait-and-switch" and "hidden fees."
"Industrywide, the families in Columbus are honest people ... reputable funeral homes that treat people the right way," Spears said.
