What do you do if you cannot afford a funeral?

Well I know this is morbid, but my godmother just died unexpectedly and her funeral is coming up. However, I’ve always wondered what happens if let’s say the family cannot pay for a burial or you can’t because let’s face it if you are very poor or under extenuating circumstances, you will not be able to. I found out that the average funeral is at least $7,000. lso, taking into consideration burial plots…. I’m sorry if this sounds strange, but it is a valid question, especially with the economy.