To add an additional resource on the topic Funeral Consumer Alliance.  Clicking on the "Find A Local FCA" tab will take you to a listing of states, where one may perhaps find a local resource.  Do be advised that in my experience many involved with burial and cremation societies are of the "liberal persuasion" and tend toward direct cremation with a party afterwards.  Still, these local socities, or their contract mortuaries, provide full traditonal funeral service for those that ask for that, generally at a lower price than most local funeral homes.  Families may simply need to be a bit more proactive in seeing that all the elements of a traditional Catholic funeral are observed, as these societies are likely not that experienced in those types of services.  So, if a family is willing to exercise that care for their deceased loved one (which they really ought to be willing to do, especially referencing Nadir's post), this may be a cost effect solution for some.

Catholics do not cremate themselves. All Catholics that want to be cremated are Catholic in name only, nominally Catholic. It is that simple.

Unfortunately, practically all our relatives but maybe two or 3 (in a greater family of about 300 people) are nominally Catholic.

I wanted to add that my comment is by no means to be seen as an endorsement of cremation!

I was merely passing on what I was told.

My Mom was very ill at the time, and had no money, and we had no money, so that was why the issue was addressed.

My Mom recently passed away and we did not cremate her, even went into some debt in order to pay for her burial.

The issue is an important one, as I imagine there must be many destitute elderly Catholics who cannot afford burials and so I wonder how they are buried?

I wanted to add that my comment is by no means to be seen as an endorsement of cremation!

I was merely passing on what I was told.

My Mom was very ill at the time, and had no money, and we had no money, so that was why the issue was addressed.

My Mom recently passed away and we did not cremate her, even went into some debt in order to pay for her burial.

The issue is an important one, as I imagine there must be many destitute elderly Catholics who cannot afford burials and so I wonder how they are buried?

Especially if there wasn't a will or next of kin, some would probably still be cremated.

I told someone Catholics shouldn't get cremated and they told me that the church says it is okay now.  This is the common response you get from non-traditional Catholics on most issues. The priest or church says it is okay now.  This is what people are being taught and instructed to do.

The Church might tolerate the evil, but toleration ? approval.
Did you tell them cremation is a pagan practice, even anti-Catholic? Some practice it to affirm their disbelief in the Resurrection of the Body, a truth necessary to believe for salvation.

I told someone Catholics shouldn't get cremated and they told me that the church says it is okay now.  This is the common response you get from non-traditional Catholics on most issues. The priest or church says it is okay now.  This is what people are being taught and instructed to do.

That is because they are all Catholic in name only. They do not live a Catholic life.

There now exists such a thing called a "green burial". Many Catholic cemeteries are beginning to accept green burials. This is what I want, because my priest told me that  cremation is similar to abortion. Satan wants to destroy the body. A pine box and no embalming is not so expensive.

Jesus was not cremated. ....