The ancient Roman soothsayers had an expression that “all glory is fleeting.” This wisdom seems particularly appropriate when Maine consumers are making end-of-life funeral plans for themselves or a beloved family member.

In death, as in life, many consumers demand the highest quality, most expensive funeral arrangements and products available. One has only to stroll around a local cemetery to see that there are many different monuments and markers of all shapes and sizes, and sometimes there are no markers at all.

It also is clear that the costs associated with these differing monuments varies as well. Consumers who are in the market for funeral goods and services, either for a current need or planning for a future need, would be wise to plan in advance for the services that best fit their needs and pocketbook.

The Maine funeral industry provides excellent and comprehensive services for families who need such assistance. A professional funeral director and staff can make all the difference in providing a funeral service that is truly a memorable and positive event. They can assist with arranging appropriate religious services, provide emotional support, and assure the proper final disposition of the mortal remains of the dearly departed.

The funeral industry also has had a few members who have oversold, overcharged, and outright defrauded consumers. This shameful practice often occurs at the consumer’s most vulnerable time, when a loved one has passed away. Consumers who are armed with some information and state regulations can effectively obtain the services they need at prices they can afford. Two excellent Web sites are the Maine Attorney General’s Web site, www.maine.gov/ag; and the Federal Trade Commission, www.ftc/gov.

The average traditional funeral today can cost in the neighborhood of $6,000, although costs of $10,000 or more are not uncommon. Cremation can reduce these expenses significantly. There are many advertisements in this newspaper and other publications that outline simple and direct “no frills” cremations for less than $1,000. Roughly 40 percent of all funerals today involve cremations and that percentage has been and continues to increase rapidly, primarily because of the lower costs.

Cremations are not for everyone, but they are an option that is becoming much more popular. Cremated remains, or “cremains,” are often placed in an urn and buried in a regular cemetery plot or special cremation section of a cemetery. Bangor cemeteries are beginning to sprout “columbariums” or above-ground stone structures that have locked niches to hold a number of urns. Some families just take the cremated remains of the family member home and place the decorative receptacle on the mantle or shelf.

It is best to make funeral and burial arrangements with a funeral home before the need arises. If that is not possible, take someone with you for emotional support and to help you keep the costs in line. It’s easy for expenses to get out of hand when making plans during the grieving process.

When talking with the funeral home staff, ask lots of questions about the goods and services they offer. Most Mainers work from a budget so prices and values are very important. In that spirit of economy, try to get a written list of individual services and prices. Often the funeral home services are packaged into different plans. By unbundling these services item by item, only desired services will be purchased, thus saving expense on things you don’t want or need.

Many costs are optional and not required. Embalming is not required unless the deceased had a contagious disease. Coffins or caskets, like automobiles, come with various features and price tags. Ask to see the least expensive options available. Remember that cost-effective coffins can be purchased elsewhere and delivered to your funeral home (www.FuneralDepot.com and www.directcasket.com ).

It is interesting to note that the Trappist monks of the New Melleray Abbey in Dubuque, Iowa, (www.trappistcaskets.com) manufacture a wide range of handcrafted wooden caskets and urns, which they sell. If it’s a simple pine casket you seek, the Trappists of Dubuque can make it for you.

The funeral subject matter is large and this Northeast CONTACT column is small. Therefore, we will save the topics of purchasing cemetery plots and prepaid funeral services for a future column, possibly to appear before Memorial Day.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast CONTACT, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual membership costs $25; business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.