More Tennessee deaths are being handled with cremation.
The most recent report from the Cremation Association of North America ranks Tennessee fifth in the nation for the increased practice of cremation in the state.
The Tennessean newspaper reports the number of cremations in Tennessee doubled from 9,217 in 2007 to 18,036 in 2011. That’s a rise from 16% of deaths in 2007 handled with cremation to 30% of deaths in 2011.
A survey of local agencies that handle end-of-life issues says three factors are influencing that trend in Tennessee: families are increasingly mobile; the state’s population is increasingly diverse; and the recession has forced families to choose less expensive funeral options.
Rhode Island saw the greatest increase, from 27% in 2007 to 73% in 2011. Nationwide, about 44% of bodies are cremated.
