Tipping at Funeral Homes?

[JonDuke]

What's the etiquette for tipping funeral home staff?
Wifes' family just had a funeral, and now are wondering who should get a tip and what amount it should be.
After seeing the bill, I personally don't know how anyone can fathom adding more on top of that cost, tbh. But if anyone, I would tip the limo drivers, and the Celebrant. They
The family is now also wondering about wait staff, Director etc etc. (which I don't think is necessary, because the bill is so exorbitantly large)

So...Who typically gets a tip, and how much do you think is appropriate?

[flylock shox]

I've never heard of - or contemplated - tipping at a funeral service. It seems totally unnecessary and inappropriate (to accept tips) to me.

[Puppet Guy]

is that like cow-tipping, only with caskets?

[calgarygeologist]

We didn't tip any one at my dad's funeral. Maybe we screwed up?

[nik-]

I've never heard of it, and the thought of tipping anyone at a funeral seems incredibly inappropriate.

[Locke]

Yeah...I've never heard of that.

[Drury18]

I've never heard of this either and I've had the unfortunate task of assisting in planning a number of them.

The only thing I've heard close to this was that you offer the priest an honorarium for doing the service, but that's really about it for paying over and above the costs for the funeral home service.

[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.

[Locke]

Do you just stuff some cash into the corpse's pocket for the funeral guys to inconspicuously grab when no one is looking?

[Hemi-Cuda]

If anyone actually expects to be tipped for performing a funeral service, then they are scum. It's when a family is at it's lowest and most vulnerable, how the hell is this even a question?

[Svartsengi]

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.

The article was written by someone based out of Los Angeles. Perhaps things are different in California?.

I have been to many funerals in Canada and never heard of such a thing.

[Matata]

price gouging is so rampant in the funeral industry, it's disgusting. When it comes time for me to write a will, I'm making a specific point to keep the involvement of the funeral industry to a bare minimum.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Matata

price gouging is so rampant in the funeral industry, it's disgusting. When it comes time for me to write a will, I'm making a specific point to keep the involvement of the funeral industry to a bare minimum.

Wrap me up in a rug and toss me in the dumpster behind my favourite bar.

[Table 5]

How much are typical funeral costs? I've never had to plan one myself, but is it true they can get up to 20k?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Table 5

How much are typical funeral costs? I've never had to plan one myself, but is it true they can get up to 20k?

Easily. They average between $6-$12K.

We had a low key funeral for my grandmother a couple of years ago and even that was around $8K and it was nothing elaborate.

[Nage Waza]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

If anyone actually expects to be tipped for performing a funeral service, then they are scum. It's when a family is at it's lowest and most vulnerable, how the hell is this even a question?

I have never heard of tipping for a funeral service, but I wouldn't call them scum. I also don't think it has anything to do with people being low or vulnerable - they are selling a service for profit. Not just a profit, they appear to have massive margins. Are they gouging? Maybe someone who is in that industry can chime in.

It has everything to do with norms and expectations. Some parts of the world don't tip for restaurant service, we do.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

The day im paying for a funeral and some asshat awkwardly coughs as he notices I haven't tipped..
Do they just use the same interac system as restaurants, where you decide on a % or set dollar amount ? Unreal

[To Be Quite Honest]

How else is the dead going to pay the Ferryman.

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by Locke

Wrap me up in a rug and toss me in the dumpster behind my favourite bar.

I just want to be propped up beside the Jukebox...

[cracher]

Originally Posted by Matata

price gouging is so rampant in the funeral industry, it's disgusting. When it comes time for me to write a will, I'm making a specific point to keep the involvement of the funeral industry to a bare minimum.

I think they earn their money. This is especially true if you've seen what a body looks like after an autopsy... pathologists are not known to be good at sewing or clean-up. I would absolutely demand top dollar to be working with that day in and day out.