Tempe
1634 S Priest Dr. Suite 103
Tempe, AZ 85281
Tucson
6781 N. Thornydale Rd. Ste 253
Tucson, AZ 85741
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Tempe, AZ
1634 S Priest Dr. Suite 103 Tempe, AZ 85281
Call Now: (480) 785-7000 |
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Tucson, AZ
6781 N. Thornydale Rd. Ste 253 Tucson, AZ 85741
Call Now: (520) 369-4070 |
Visit Our Location Page
Express your Sympathy with Flowers and Gifts
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Places to Scatter Ashes in Arizona
If your loved one was an adventurous soul, consider scattering their ashes amid the dramatic beauty of the Grand Canyon National Park in northwest Arizona. The natural beauty of the Grand Canyon is undeniable. Over thousands of years, the Colorado River has cut into the surrounding rock to create the Grand Canyon, a slice in the Colorado Plateau hundreds of miles long and up to a mile deep. In order to legally scatter in the Grand Canyon, all you have to do is print out this permit on this page and call the number at the bottom of that page to provide the name of the person scattering the ashes, where the scattering will occur, and when it will occur.
Photo CreditFor a loved one who always wanted to fly or was always a free spirit, a Heavenly Flight may be the best way to scatter their ashes. Heavenly Flight is a family-owned company in Phoenix that flies over landmarks in Arizona including Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and Monument Valley to scatter ashes. Simply determine where you would like the scattering to take place and contact the company to schedule an aerial scattering.
Photo CreditTo scatter ashes amidst a thriving desert, it’s difficult to find a better spot than Saguaro National Park. Towering Saguaro cacti dominate the landscape, and towering mountains lie up against the horizon to give a pristine picture of what the West looked like when it was untouched. To scatter here, simply apply for a Special Use Permit. The park asks that ashes be scattered so they blend in with the natural earth and that they are scattered out of sight of designated trails and roadways.
Photo CreditAdditional Notes on Scattering Cremated Remains in Arizona
Arizona law allows you to scatter ashes over uninhabited public land with permission/a permit, over a public waterway or sea, or on private property of a consenting owner. If scattering at sea you must be at least 3 nautical miles from land, notify the EPA within 30 days of scattering, and avoid beaches and wading pools. You must obtain a permit to scatter on federal land. You can also scatter the ashes, but NOT the container, from the air as the government doesn’t consider cremains to be hazardous material. If the container isn’t biodegradable you must remove the ashes from the container before scattering.
Places to Hold Memorial Services in Arizona
If your loved one was a fan of old Western movies, dramatic landscapes, or ghost stories, hosting a memorial at the Superstition Mountain Museum on the Historic Apache Trail may be an interesting choice. There is a small chapel on the property and non-denominational resident ministers to help memorialize those with aligning religious beliefs. Learn more about hosting a memorial service here by calling the Museum directly.
Photo CreditAn oasis in the desert located outside Phoenix, this garden is home to thousands of plants from around the world. With numerous locations throughout the garden to host a memorial service, a ceremony can be as celebratory or a somber as you wish while still being surrounded by exotic flora. For more information about hosting memorial services here, please contact the Desert Botanical Garden.
Photo CreditLocated in Phoenix, this unique venue is half-gallery and half-blank canvas for memorial services for a loved one who appreciated the fine arts. With space for small and large groups and plenty of inspiration for memorial service ideas, this modern gallery may be a unique place to honor the life of your loved one. To learn more about hosting an event at there, contact monOrchid today.
Photo CreditArizona Cremation FAQs
What happens if you can’t pay for funeral services in Arizona?
Arizona faces the unique issue of handling the remains not only of their own state but also those of illegal immigrants, making it the state with the 3rd highest number of unidentified remains. Each county handles their unclaimed deceased differently. Many counties, including those that border with Mexico, are favoring cremating the unclaimed instead of burying them because the cost of purchasing new land for cemeteries has grown to be too much for the counties to cover. Cremated remains are often stored in niches instead within a cemetery.
However, there are many ongoing projects to help reduce the number of unidentified remains in Arizona. DNA samples and other information is often kept with the urn to help families find lost loved ones. For more information about some of these projects, see this article.
What is state cremation rate?
Arizona cremation rate is 68.2%, according to 2020 CANA Annual Report.
What veterans benefits are available in Arizona?
The VA benefits provided (at no cost to the family) include a grave site; opening and closing of the grave; perpetual grave site care; a government headstone or market; and United States burial flag that can be draped over the casket or accompany the urn (and is given to the next of kin after the service); an engraved presidential memorial certificate signed by the current sitting President, expressing the country’s grateful recognition of their service.
How many funeral homes are available in Arizona?
There are 148 funeral homes in 60 cities of Arizona.
Arizona State Facts
State Nickname: The Grand Canyon State
State Motto: Ditat Deus (God Enriches)
State Population: 6,731,000
State Cremation Rate: 65.5%
State Bird: Cactus Wren
State Flower: Saguaro Cactus
State Tree: Palo Verde
State Mammal: Ringtail
Bonus Fact 1: Arizona produces more copper than all other states combined.
Bonus Fact 2: Arizona was the last of the contiguous 48 states to be admitted into the United States.
*State population based on estimates provided by the 2014 U.S. Census.
*Cremation rate provided by the most recent study by CANA in 2020.