Cremation rates steady in Utah

Cremation hasn't gained favor over burial in Utah as it apparently has elsewhere in the country.

Many U.S. cemeteries are reporting fewer pre-sold plots and fewer burials but more cremations due to tough economic times, according to a story in USA Today. But Utah doesn't appear to be following that trend.

"We haven't had any of those (situations)," said Mark E. Smith, sexton of the Salt Lake City Cemetery. The number of pre-sold lots has remained steady the past few years, he added.

Provo Cemetery sexton Milton DeLeeuw he hasn't seen a decrease in cemetery services. Burials fluctuate from week to week, he said, but pre-sales are about the same.

DeLeeuw said he has observed more families struggle to pay gravesite opening and closing costs and fewer decorations on graves in recent years.

"We have a few less flowers," he said.

DeLeeuw said he's also noticed very recently that burials take place later in the afternoon, instead of earlier in the day. He suggested that could be because some families prefer to work half or part of a day instead of taking an entire day off for a funeral.

The Kaysville City Cemetery remains steadily busy.

"It seems that sale of lots in our cemetery has not changed," said Linda Ross, Kaysville city recorder. "We can barely keep up with the demand. We have had to stop pre-selling lots and only sell to those that need to bury someone right away because our new section is not ready for sale yet. We are trying to slow down pre-sales until next summer when more spaces will be available."

The cemetery serves residents in neighboring Fruit Heights and Layton, which do not have city-run cemeteries, she said.

Cremation has become increasingly common among Americans but has been slow to catch on in Utah. Nationally, about one third of deceased people are cremated. The rate in Utah is about half the national average.

That may be attributed to the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' stance on cremation. The church doesn't ban the practice but does discourage it unless the local law requires cremation. Ultimately, though, the church leaves burial decisions to the family of the deceased.

Spencer Greenwood, general manager for Salt Lake's Larkin Mortuary, said other than people shopping around, he hasn't noticed much difference in business recently that would suggest a bad economy.

"I haven't noticed an increase in cremations," he said, adding he believes that while cost and religion do figure into choosing cremation, it involves "a change in tradition" more than anything else. "It gains a little more every year," he said of the state's cremation rate.

Greenwood said families of departed loved ones will find ways to do what they want to do despite the economy.

e-mail: lynn@desnews.com