“”could not afford the 9 grand.””
That is just plain obscene. Madness for anyone struggling OR EVEN OTHERWISE, to pay that kind of money for a casket or coffin. The VA will furnish a wood box on request as a friend in CA did that last year when her husband passed away. He said she was not to spend a lot of money on a coffin and he didn’t want to be cremated so she sought the help of the VA and that’s what happened...a wood box.
My husband’s mother was a “pip” and when his stepfather died in the late ‘70’s, we found out she had paid for her funeral plans and plot at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier, CA but she NEVER PAID FOR his...they had plots together but his wasn’t paid for. We all had to chip in and pay for his funeral. She never batted an eyelash...Poor guy didn’t have a clue...
When she died in a horrible house fire 8 years later, we had her cremated as we knew he would not be happy with her by his side. Today there is an available plot fully paid for in that cemetery with no one to use it. We are 3000 miles away now and will be cremated; plans are prepaid. Probably have our ashes put in the VA cemetery...
At least they had the forethought to get life insurance! These things take time to process. They just needed 3 months for the check to come in.
Granted don’t know how these things work, usually have then taken care of in advanced. Perhaps they should have pre-paid on a coffin like some companies offer?