Georgia woman celebrates turning 80 by throwing her own funeral — ‘One funeral we’re really excited to have’

The idea came about after Neal’s husband died in March, prompting her to think about her own funeral, according to People. She told her daughter, Tammy Crutchfield, that she wished she could attend her own funeral. Crutchfield suggested holding one while she was still alive.

The family also had a fitting venue for the occasion. Neal and her husband had owned a Macon property for about 25 years before selling it to a funeral home in 2020. According to WMAZ-TV, the sale included an agreement for two funerals, one for each spouse.

The celebration was anything but traditional. It featured a coffin containing a life-sized cardboard cutout of Neal, a birthday cake and floral arrangements she made herself. Guests were invited to share memories, and Neal even delivered a sermon at her own funeral.

“I mean, have you ever known anyone to be excited about a funeral?” Crutchfield told WMAZ-TV. “Not typically. But this is one funeral we’re really excited to have.”

Despite the elaborate celebration, Neal has no plans for another big send-off. She has requested a simple graveside service rather than a traditional funeral when she eventually passes away.

There’s a financial irony to Neal’s celebration. By holding her funeral while she was alive and opting for a simple graveside service when she dies, she may have spared her family the expense of a traditional burial, which can cost thousands of dollars.

The rising cost of a traditional funeral

According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), an industry trade group, the average cost of a funeral with viewing and burial reached $8,300 in 2023, up 5.8% from 2021.

The figure rises to $9,995 when a burial vault, a protective container that surrounds the coffin underground, is included.

For those opting for a funeral with viewing and cremation, the average cost was $6,280, up 8.1% from 2021.

One silver lining is that funeral costs haven’t risen as quickly as overall inflation, which climbed 13.6% between 2021 and 2023, according to NFDA. Still, price increases varied considerably across individual funeral services.

For example, the cost of hiring a service vehicle rose 16.7%, while transporting remains to a funeral home increased 12.9%. Mandatory basic funeral service fees also climbed 8.5%.

But even these estimates may understate what families ultimately pay. According to NFDA, cemetery costs, grave markers, flowers and obituary notices are excluded from its funeral estimates.

These expenses can leave families with bills they aren’t prepared to pay. A 2025 Debt.com survey found that 37% of respondents reported taking on debt following a loved one’s death to cover funeral costs, medical bills and other expenses.

Among those who borrowed to cover funeral and other end-of-life expenses, 59% used credit cards, which can make the final cost even higher once interest is factored in.

Tapping credit to cover funeral expenses could remain common, with four in 10 respondents saying they would need to take on debt to pay for a loved one’s funeral today.

How planning ahead can save money

Planning ahead can help families avoid some large funeral expenses. Deciding between burial and cremation, comparing funeral home prices and setting aside money for funeral and other end-of-life costs can also reduce the need to make expensive decisions during an already difficult time.

The Funeral Consumers Alliance, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, recommends considering factors such as cost, location and familiarity when choosing a funeral home. Families also shouldn’t assume that a funeral home they’ve used before necessarily offers the best price or service.

The organization also advises consumers to understand their rights when making funeral arrangements. Many of these protections come from the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Funeral Rule, which requires funeral homes to provide itemized pricing and let customers choose the products and services they want instead of paying for a package.