Not Your Grandparents’ Funeral: How Americans Are Reinventing Goodbye

Saying goodbye is changing—and fast. From living funerals and ashes-turned-artwork to themed memorials and preplanning as date night, Americans are reimagining what it means to honor a life. At the forefront of this shift, places like Mountain View Funeral Home in Mesa are seeing a surge in demand for more personalized, sustainable, and even joyful farewells. As funeral costs rise and priorities shift, families are finding new, meaningful ways to celebrate their loved ones—and plan for their own final chapters—with creativity, intention, and heart.