Quote:
Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos
Yeesh. According to this, you tip everyone but the funeral director (the limo driver isn't mentioned).
http://people.opposingviews.com/fune...paid-1428.html
It seems very "gangster" and maybe even "sleazy". I could see Tony Soprano tipping someone at a funeral. I don't remember anyone tipping on Six Feet Under. |
Actually, looking at that list, I wouldn't consider most of those suggestions out of line.
As others have said, it's customary to offer an honorarium to the minister and organist (if there is one). In that situation, it's not really a tip in the usual sense. You're paying for their time but doing it in such a way that it's considered a donation to the church (I'm sure there are tax benefits for doing it that way too).
For the other people, like limo drivers, flower delivery people, and caterers (if you go for something a little more elaborate than egg salad sandwiches in the church basement), I would treat tipping them the same as I would if I was hiring them for any other event, like a wedding or birthday party.
As it says in that link, though, the funeral director will often arrange for all of those things and take care of paying them while handing the family a single bill that covers everything. In that case, any tips, honorariums, and delivery charges would already be covered, so you don't have to worry about handing the minister an envelope of cash as you're walking out of the church.
When my parents passed away, that's exactly how it was done. The funeral director gave us an itemized accounting of what everything would cost, and at the end of the funeral, gave us a package with the guest book, thank you cards, leftover funeral cards and all of that stuff and the bill was included in the package. We made one payment to the funeral home and the director made sure everyone else was reimbursed for their services.