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Tighter economic times are pushing many families to look to cremation as a way of dealing with loved ones' remains.
The Washington Post reports that cremation made up 35 percent of the funeral market last year. Cremation is cheaper than traditional burial.
Dennis Sparks, the general manager at Resthaven Park Mortuary and Cemetery says a traditional burial will run a family on average $6,500 while cremation runs about $2,000.
Sparks said his mortuary isn't seeing the rise in cremation, but funeral directors across the west are reporting more families choosing cremation in this tough economic times.
"For most of the western region cremation is on the rise as it is across North America," said Sparks.
Most funeral homes will work with families on options to meet their needs and finances.
"If a family were to choose cremation based upon finances, we would do everything in our power to make sure that family memorialized their loved one as an individual," said Sparks.
Many families are also selling their burial plots as a way to make ends meet.
ABC15 spoke with a 78-year-old woman in Scottsdale who is selling her plot on auction site craigslist.com.
The woman, who wished not to be identified, said, "It's just heartbreaking. I've owned these plots since 1988, but living on a fixed income during these times is frightening."
She added, "My electrical bill is going up and food is costing more. I need to pay the bills."
But unloading burial plots may be tough as families struggle to make ends meet.
The woman said so far no one has called with interest in purchasing the burial plots.
According to the Funeral Consumer Guardian Society website, the cost of a burial in Arizona ranges from $5,500 to $9,500 and cremation from $1,000 to $6,000.
