Funeral expenses can be cost prohibitive; the Sangre de Cristo Funeral Fund raises funds to help in the ageless tradition of burial with dignity.

"Veronica Carrillo was a few days away from getting married when her mother died in April.

"Carrillo, an only child who was a new college graduate with student loans, said she was unprepared financially. “When my mom, Karen Carrillo, passed away, it was devastating,” she said. Suddenly she had to come up with money for a casket, funeral services, a reception hall and food for guests. “We thought, ‘What are we going to do? How are we going to pay?’ ” said Carrillo, 28, of Pojoaque."--