Death and taxes, both facts of life. And neither one is talked about enough. But it turns out, passing away in Arizona may actually cost less than in other states.
That's most likely because an overwhelming majority of people in Arizona decide to get cremated instead of opting for a traditional burial.
According to the Arizona Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, about 70% of people who died were cremated in 2017. That number has held steady since 2015.
Judith Stapley with the board says cost is part of it, but not the only factor.
"We have so many snowbirds and people that want to go to their home states, wherever they're from originally, and be buried or take cremations back there," Stapley explains.
Judith recommends the best time to start planning for your funeral is right now and also, don't be afraid to shop around.
"If I get consumers calling me, I encourage them to shop. Don't walk in the first place and make a decision. Know what you want."
"That's the only guaranteed thing in life," explains Bill Kennedy of Mesa. "You're going to die."
Sadly, Kennedy learned that at a very young age when his younger brother died at birth.
From that point on, Kennedy vowed to start planning ahead for his own demise, even if it wasn't the most comfortable thing to discuss with his wife, kids, and grandkids.
"The kids should be able to go, 'We have this, this and this planned out.' We can grieve, and everything is taken care of."
Kennedy and his wife are cutting costs altogether by donating their bodies to science, using a company with a site here in the Valley called Science Care.
The company harvests parts of your body, then provides your family with cremated remains a few weeks later at no cost to you.
For more information regarding how Science Care works click here.
