News Forum - British family struggles with father’s funeral costs in Thailand

[Thaiger]

The sudden death of a British man from Sunderland has left his family reeling, both emotionally and financially. Alan Carr Bryan, a well-known Sunderland local nicknamed “The Bear” passed away at his hotel in Pattaya on July 28, prompting his daughter, Abigail Ilsley, and stepdaughter, Natalie Parish, to travel to Thailand for his funeral and … …

The story British family struggles with father’s funeral costs in Thailand as seen on Thaiger News.

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[ChrisS]

It seems to me it is more them travelling to Thailand that is costing. A funeral in Thailand would generally be no more expensive than a funeral in the UK

[Pinetree]

1 hour ago, ChrisS said:

It seems to me it is more them travelling to Thailand that is costing. A funeral in Thailand would generally be no more expensive than a funeral in the UK

It is, or can be, considerably cheaper.  If you want lavish, it costs, frankly a no nonsense cremation is all I need, with no religion attached, no merit paid etc.,  perhaps a family party afterwards.  I doubt that will exceed 20K 

[Pinetree]

On a not unrelated subject, my highly intelligent, but this one time, incredibly stupid eldest daughter spent £23,000 on her marriage,  I flatly refused to fund it and just bought the dress, which alone was 5K and only worn the once. Now, 8 years later,  and funding a sizable mortgage, they both regret that extravagance. When you are dead, you're dead, gone, deceased, biological trash; no point spending much on a corpse.  

[Grumpish]

6 minutes ago, Pinetree said:

When you are dead, you're dead, gone, deceased, biological trash; no point spending much on a corpse.  

I have a prepaid funeral plan to cover the costs, the wishes that go with it are along those lines - cremation, cheapest possible coffin, and I don't care what is done with the ashes since I am not going to be around to worry about it.

[Fanta]

4 hours ago, Thaiger said:

Despite his prior travel insurance, Bryan unknowingly overstayed his coverage, leaving his family with an unexpected financial burden of approximately £6,000 (around 270,000 baht). 

That’s a roundabout way of saying he had no medical insurance. 

[Fanta]

30 minutes ago, Grumpish said:

I have a prepaid funeral plan to cover the costs, the wishes that go with it are along those lines - cremation, cheapest possible coffin, and I don't care what is done with the ashes since I am not going to be around to worry about it.

I plan to bankrupt my estate with the funeral costs just to prove that you can take it with you…. 

[Marc26]

1 hour ago, Fanta said:

That’s a roundabout way of saying he had no medical insurance. 

I guess his medical insurance would take care of the reparation flight back home

 

 

But I don't see this as the usual deadbeat not having insurance 

 

 

 

Many people live pay cheque to pay cheque 

And a sudden cost like this can be a lot to handle and last minute flights are expensive 

 

 

I normally don't give a second thought to GoFundMe's

 

 

But if they werey friends I would help a little in this case for them to go get their Dad

[Marc26]

2 hours ago, Pinetree said:

On a not unrelated subject, my highly intelligent, but this one time, incredibly stupid eldest daughter spent £23,000 on her marriage,  I flatly refused to fund it and just bought the dress, which alone was 5K and only worn the once. Now, 8 years later,  and funding a sizable mortgage, they both regret that extravagance. When you are dead, you're dead, gone, deceased, biological trash; no point spending much on a corpse.  

It's the most ridiculous thing in the world.....

 

I was 22yrs old, my ex-gf from Brooklyn said

"My aunt and Dad gave 75k for my wedding, you would just need to come up with 50k"

 

I replied " I don't have $6 dollars for the bridge!" 555

 

 

 

 

Plus just the hassle and drama of a big wedding....

 

 

 

 

We got married on a Tuesday in Bangkok 

 

Had a fantastic dinner that night just the two of us

 

 

 

We then had a wedding party in Phuket at a friend's hotel with all our friends there..... 30k baht

 

 

 

We then had a nice dinner with wife's family in Bangkok......8k baht 

 

 

 

 

We then had a fantastic wedding weekend in Toronto with my family and closest friends.....about 300k baht

[NonThaiKiwi]

I can never understand why family always have to rush to the scene or location of the deceased. 

.

It's not like they are going to move anywhere quick.  Buying airline tickets are always top dollar on the day. (Not sure if you can still get cheaper stand by tickets). 

. 

Agree with others re cheap cremation. 

[Ramanathan.P]

Such things won't stop unless people stop giving. Looks like they are trying to make the most out of the situation. There are free coffin service in Thailand where people donate regularly for such free funeral service. Just let them take care and burnt the body into ashes and dissolve it in the running water. 

[23RD]

AMAR Funeral Services Asia pre paid cremation squared it away a few years back in anticipation of getting suffocated by Soi 6 girls very reasonable rates. 

[NonThaiKiwi]

1 hour ago, 23RD said:

AMAR Funeral Services Asia pre paid cremation squared it away a few years back in anticipation of getting suffocated by Soi 6 girls very reasonable rates. 

Which are the reasonable rates? 

. 

AMAR or the Soi 6 girls? 

[23RD]

5 minutes ago, NonThaiKiwi said:

Which are the reasonable rates? 

. 

AMAR or the Soi 6 girls? 

Both a bargain NTK Bud 55555

[Marc26]

On 8/16/2024 at 5:44 PM, NonThaiKiwi said:

I can never understand why family always have to rush to the scene or location of the deceased. 

.

It's not like they are going to move anywhere quick.  Buying airline tickets are always top dollar on the day. (Not sure if you can still get cheaper stand by tickets). 

. 

Agree with others re cheap cremation. 

He may not have had anyone there to do his arrangements 

 

 

He may have had an apartment with things they wanted to keep

 

You never know

 

 

 

By the way 

That's also a bit of a commentary to so many expats that trash their home country to move to a country and have very little actual friends....

 

So many die around a bunch of acquaintances and not real friends in the end

[Painted_Dragon]

Condolences to the family and friends.

This stresses the importance of having a detailed will, preferably both in Thai and your home country's languages, with a named Executor (unfortunate synonym) updated at least annually.  There are several legal or specialist Will writing companies that can do this for you at very reasonable rates here in Thailand.

RIP