Gerard Ryle reports on the high cost of dying and the traps encountered by the unsuspecting and unprepared, which unfortunately is most of us.  And will continue to be unless we come to appreciate that a funeral is a commercial event performed for profit by corporations intent on upselling products in the name of honouring our dearly departed loved ones.  As Ryle says: One of life’s certainties, death used to be a small, private affair. Now it’s a big business, largely unregulated and blighted by soaring costs. This story, written in 2002 should be a wake up call to us all. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/29/1033283386877.html