Rentals for Funerals

[bloomery]

One of my designers had an extended family member pass away recently. The people making the arrangements for the service went to the funeral home, and chose to rent their Casket Spray and Urns from the immediate family members -- have you seen this in your area? This is the first I have heard of it actually happening around here, but am betting that it could catch on as a popular option and therefore another piece of the pie gone from retail florists... The cost to the family was just $80 total for the three pieces.

 

[elmo]

rentals ?

Are they cut flowers or what? Have never heard of this, one way to reuse
a silk design.

 

[Carrieann]

Also never heard of this, Did they rent them right from the FD??

 

[Joe Mioux]

If a family chooses to rent my casket sprays that is fine, as long as they pay a rental fee equal to selling price.

I say this half jokingly, but if I can recycle the flowers, why not?

 

[CHERYL BAKIN]

Rich or Cathy:
There are a couple of funeral homes down here that will "rent" you artifical ferns, if you are not getting an overhead spray, and other plants or trees, if you are not getting family side pieces.

We tend to see this used when there just isn't much money for anything -- let alone flowers!!

While the rental price of $80.00 may seem low, think about how many times these same things are rented out per week/month/year.....not bad $$$$.

(We also do much the same thing with another line of work I'm in : )

Regards,
Cheryl

 

[ivygreen]

I believe the Shop -n- Save here rents a silk overhead, and maybe a few shops in Waynesburg do this. Another shop(?!) here does it too, but you might want to pay him to keep it away! Does not happen very much here though as far as I can tell.

 

[RJD]

I believe the Shop -n- Save here rents a silk overhead, and maybe a few shops in Waynesburg do this. Another shop(?!) here does it too, but you might want to pay him to keep it away! Does not happen very much here though as far as I can tell.

I can't imagine how hideous this must look. Ugh!

 

[bloomery]

A few more details...

Are they cut flowers or what? Have never heard of this, one way to reuse
a silk design.

From what I know at this point (visitations are Tuesday night... my designer is going to try and snap a picture on her phone if she can without being obvious)... they rented a foot spray (half couch casket spray for those not familiar with the term foot spray), and we think 2 matching urn arrangements for the head and foot of the casket. They rented them right from the funeral director -- I guess he had several options to choose from, and they were able to choose right there. The flowers are all artificial, so I am sure these are rented out time and time again.

We do have silk rentals for weddings, but have never heard of silk rentals for a funeral. BUT, I can really see this taking off. The economy is getting shakier, people are watching what they are spending, and I can't tell you how many times we have heard "I don't want to spend too much on the flowers - they just die anyway". Granted, these rentals are only available for immediate family at this point, but that does set the tone for everyone else. And, less work and risk for the funeral director -- no water leaks, no broken flowers, dropping petals or foliage, etc... Something to definitely keep an eye on!

 

[Rhonda]

I can't imagine how hideous this must look. Ugh!

not to mention that in our setting so many people visit a great many wakes/visitings that they would see the same things over and over...sure makes it sound "cheap" of the family.
Hmmm, will have a talk with our directors (they have too much fun with our designs as it is) :spintongu

 

[CHERYL BAKIN]

Just had to mention another "sympathy trend" that we actually spotted in the Obits. just yesterday:

"Family has requested that no flowers be sent. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to be made directly to the family."

That was a first -- we saw it yesterday, and again today.

Can we say tacky????

Cheryl

ps...neither one of these obits appear to be for a tragic accident victim, or someone lost thru a horrendeous act. Natural causes, and elderly in both cases.

 

[Joe Mioux]

Just had to mention another "sympathy trend" that we actually spotted in the Obits. just yesterday:

"Family has requested that no flowers be sent. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to be made directly to the family."

That was a first -- we saw it yesterday, and again today.

Can we say tacky????

Cheryl

ps...neither one of these obits appear to be for a tragic accident victim, or someone lost thru a horrendeous act. Natural causes, and elderly in both cases.

I have had a couple of these requests.

Another favorite is when the customer sends the tribute, generally a keepsake item to the funeral, but on the back of the card they request to have it returned to them, the customer!

joe

 

[RJD]

Just had to mention another "sympathy trend" that we actually spotted in the Obits. just yesterday:

"Family has requested that no flowers be sent. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to be made directly to the family."

That was a first -- we saw it yesterday, and again today.

Can we say tacky????

Cheryl

ps...neither one of these obits appear to be for a tragic accident victim, or someone lost thru a horrendeous act. Natural causes, and elderly in both cases.

Saw one of these the other day! Must have been in an FD magazine. I'll ask my neighbor the FD

 

[MANORVILLE]

Cheryl, sadly we see it quite often here on Long Island.
Never formed an opinion, but...........
............makes you wonder .

 

[BOSS]

I've seen it too....and in two cases I know of personally, the family was left with strapping medical bills that were not covered by insurance....

You never know...

 

[Connie]

One of our local funeral homes offers rental items, including the casket piece. Surely these are only for the service at the FH, and do not go to the grave. Very sad.

We've seen all sorts of requests for donations to family instead of contributions to charities or flowers. One asked for donations for the grandchildren's education.

 

[lori042499]

IMHO, the whole fundraising/benefit thing has gotten way out of hand...

I am all for having a benefit for a young family with a tragedy or someone who needs extensive care, but to pay for grandchildren's education or just to add to someone's inheritance...I have witnessed people having benefits for people who barely lost anything for fires, or barely had out of pocket costs for medical reasons.

Hey maybe I need to have a benefit for myself because I don't take home a paycheck but I work real hard and should....As you can see this is a bone of contention for me..This goes right along the lines of people having a greenback wedding shower(cash only gifts, please) or to burden people with an engagement party, a wedding shower then a wedding...Enough is enough people....uughhhh

I feel like my whole life is spent giving other people my money just because they have some occasion and some families can find an occasion every few weeks it gets tiring....now death will be an occasion too...

sorry for sounding mean or down this crap just gets me...

 

[theflowersmith]

Another first....

Just saw an Obit "in lieu of flowers and tapestries, etc. etc."

Back to the original thread, we did the urns for cousins on my husband's side whose Mom passed away. When we went to visit at the funeral home, there was a silk overhead (over the casket spray) of all pink roses. I was shocked, but never did find out where they got it.

 

[twiggy]

Our Funeral Director here has some set pieces in silk that he rents to the family as a package.. they are basic red rose things.. i think they have 3 or 4 in the collection.. quality is ok..
However in his defence, he sends work to the local florists also..Very nice good people and after reading some of the things other here have to deal with.. I wouldn't trade Trade him!
I do give him a bad time about it whenever i get the chance!
I