Some families are opting for less expensive flowers — carnations instead of roses — or going with one spray instead of three, said Todd Bonzo, general manager and partner of Metcalf Mortuary in St. George.

Some people also are doing things themselves — occasionally, transporting their deceased loved ones from St. George to Salt Lake City, for example. That would save $2 a mile, or $600 for the St. George to Salt Lake trek, Bonzo said.

Myers is seeing people call and compare prices from funeral home to funeral home.

People more often are pre-planning their own funerals, and paying the expenses in installments, several directors said. That takes care of any questions when a person dies, plus locks in the price.

But other factors besides the economy have contributed to the trend of people doing their own planning, Soffe said. It has less to do with cash flow, and more to do with HBO — mainly, the series "Six Feet Under."

"I love what (the show) did for my profession," Soffe said. "It gave people now a license, gave them the confidence...(to) call and carry on a conversation with me and ask me questions."

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com