Cremations on the Rise in Tough Economy - KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo News, Weather, Sports

The loss of a loved one can be a difficult time emotionally. But now it has become increasingly more painful, financially.

A traditional burial, which includes everything from the viewing to the plot at the cemetery, would run about $7,000 to $10,000.  

This amount is leading more people in our area to choose the cheaper alternative: cremation, which costs around $1,00 to $2,000.  

"We are finding now that many of our funeral homes are running 30 to 35 percent, which is a large increase," said Roger Delaney, Blackburn Shaw funeral home managing partner.

Delaney says he has seen the largest increase in cremations with people from outside our area. And it has nothing to do with tradition.

"It has become prohibitively expensive to transport bodies," he said. "And we don't have air transportation out of the city of Amarillo."

Even those who reject cremation are finding ways to honor their loved ones without breaking the bank.

Delaney says some people skip embalming and will hold the memorial service and burial all on the same day. For people that do chose cremation, but still want a traditional service, some funeral homes will give you the option to rent a casket for the viewing.