THE COST OF LEAVING

Orange County has almost 2.5 million residents, an annual death rate of 6.3 per thousand and 35 licensed funeral directors. The funeral industry has no price regulation, and, according to the Orange County Funeral Directors Assn., the average cost of a funeral here is $2,650. Planned funerals are in vogue these days for three reasons: (1) there won’t be any surprises; (2) there’s less of a burden on relatives, and (3) everything can be done in less than three days.

Direct * Direct Cremation Direct Name Cremation & Services Burial American Family Society $476 $826 $409 8001 Westminster Blvd. Westminster (714) 898-8692 McAulay & Wallace 510 834 500 Mortuaries & Florist 18311 Lemon Drive Yorba Linda (714) 777-2692 Neels Brea Mortuary 499 699 451 835 S. Brea Blvd. Brea (714) 529-2194 Backs-Kaulbars Baggott 590 900 580 & Schacht Mortuary 1617 W. La Palma Ave. Anaheim (714) 772-1617 Browns Colonial Mortuary 458 873 595 204 W. 17th St. Santa Ana (714) 542-3949 Daly Brothers Funeral 555 930 465 Directors 17911 Beach Blvd. Huntington Beach (714) 842-7771 Melrose Abbey Funeral Home 492 752 550 2303 S. Manchester Ave. to 600 to 860 to 650 Anaheim (714) 634-1981 Harbor Lawn Mortuary 1,130 1,290 740 & Memorial Park 1625 Gisler Ave. Costa Mesa (714) 540-5554 Shannon-Donegan Chapel 496 768 791 137 E. Maple Ave. Orange (714) 997-1234

* Involves transportation to crematorium and disposition of body, no service.

Prices do not include items such as burial clothing, grave markers, urns, memorial folders, register books, acknowledgement cards, flower cars, limousines or other items.

Source: Individual funeral directors

Closed- Open- Shipping Casket Casket Remains Casket Name Service Service Out of State Costs American Family Society $799 $1,069 $544 $198 8001 Westminster Blvd. & up Westminster (714) 898-8692 McAulay & Wallace 1,000 1,044 680 396 Mortuaries & Florist & up 18311 Lemon Drive Yorba Linda (714) 777-2692 Neels Brea Mortuary 1,060 1,130 486 485 835 S. Brea Blvd. & up Brea (714) 529-2194 Backs-Kaulbars Baggott 898 1,193 640 395 & Schacht Mortuary & up 1617 W. La Palma Ave. Anaheim (714) 772-1617 Browns Colonial Mortuary 1,128 1,378 485 192 204 W. 17th St. & up Santa Ana (714) 542-3949 Daly Brothers Funeral 1,015 1,190 1,013 386 Directors 17911 Beach Blvd. Huntington Beach (714) 842-7771 Melrose Abbey Funeral Home 1,052 1,152 585 100 2303 S. Manchester Ave. & up Anaheim (714) 634-1981 Harbor Lawn Mortuary 1,070 1,255 885 288 & Memorial Park & up 1625 Gisler Ave. Costa Mesa (714) 540-5554 Shannon-Donegan Chapel 923 1,153 574 267 137 E. Maple Ave. & up Orange (714) 997-1234

Name Embalming American Family Society $100 8001 Westminster Blvd. Westminster (714) 898-8692 McAulay & Wallace 75 Mortuaries & Florist 18311 Lemon Drive Yorba Linda (714) 777-2692 Neels Brea Mortuary 86 835 S. Brea Blvd. Brea (714) 529-2194 Backs-Kaulbars Baggott 95 & Schacht Mortuary 1617 W. La Palma Ave. Anaheim (714) 772-1617 Browns Colonial Mortuary 130 204 W. 17th St. Santa Ana (714) 542-3949 Daly Brothers Funeral 100 Directors 17911 Beach Blvd. Huntington Beach (714) 842-7771 Melrose Abbey Funeral Home 85 2303 S. Manchester Ave. Anaheim (714) 634-1981 Harbor Lawn Mortuary 125 & Memorial Park 1625 Gisler Ave. Costa Mesa (714) 540-5554 Shannon-Donegan Chapel 125 137 E. Maple Ave. Orange (714) 997-1234

* Involves transportation to crematorium and disposition of body, no service.

Prices do not include items such as burial clothing, grave markers, urns, memorial folders, register books, acknowledgement cards, flower cars, limousines or other items.

Source: Individual funeral directors