How much did a funeral cost in 1930s and 1940s? These documents from my family collection give us an idea.
Here are two receipts (nearly identical in format) from Dodds-Dumanois Co. Funeral Directors and Embalmers. They pertain to the funerals of my 2nd great grandparents that occurred 10 years apart in Flint, Michigan.
Henry Peter Ratz (1867-1934) and Fannie Schmidt Ratz (1870-1940) moved from Houghton, Michigan to Flint in the early 1920s. In Flint they lived near my great grandparents, Michael John Hanley (1890-1964) and Alma Ratz Hanley (1894-1979).
Henry’s funeral in 1934 cost $446.63 and Fannie’s in 1944 cost $787.75.
Here is a more detailed receipt (front and back) for Fannie’s burial. The affairs were handled by her son, my 2nd great uncle, Edward P. Ratz (1892-1978).
Here is the original document showing Fannie’s purchase of Henry’s lot for $55 in 1934. The “Certificate” from the New Calvary Cemetery Association folded out to a size that did not fit on my scanner in one piece.
Henry and Fanny were buried at the New Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Flint along with many others on this branch of my family tree. I attended a funeral ceremony there a few years ago and was able to visit many of their gravesites for the first time (at least that I remember). Here is the photo I took of their gravesite that day.
That hole in the center was the entrance to a nest of bees that had taken up residence there.
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In May of 2020 I challenged myself and others to write every day for a month about a family heirloom or artifact. Here are 10 lessons I learned from this genealogy writing experience.