I went to a funeral last weekend, and at the party in the parish hall afterwards, I heard that the decedent had chosen a “green burial”—willow casket, no embalming. That sounds wonderful! I hate the phoniness of the modern funeral industry, with all the pointless chemical preservation, outrageous costs, and all that hype. Has anyone here had a relative go this route, and did it save any money, or have the wily undertakers figured a way to overprice digging a simple hole and putting a biodegradable basket coffin in it?
https://www.today.com/popculture/luke-perry-s-daughter-reveals-his-unusual-burial-request-t153565
She explains the differences in traditional and other options for burials.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWo2-LHwGMM
This site has good links too.
http://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/naturalburial
My family buries our Loved ones old school. We are Indian (Native American, we are not politically correct), and when one passes on, once the coroner has declared their death, the next morning early a hole is dug, they are wrapped in blankets, and they are lowered in a hole, and covered, two large sticks are stuck in the ground for a marker and that is how we go about it. No embalming, no funeral directors, no services unless the person wanted something said. And we have a family cemetery that we all will go in, on our property. To me this seems easier on the ones left behind to be able to begin healing quicker rather than waiting for a long drawn out process.
However for my Dad, My DH and i made a marker with his name and such, as I will also for my Mom. But usually no headstones are made, just markers.
But cremation is much more common where I live than any form of burial.
i will be cremated.
I think a green funeral sounds lovely.
I admire those who may choose a green burial. Personally although I realize there is no awareness I am not fond of the idea of what prey there might be out there possibly consuming me. But that is my opinion and I feel each person should have the right to do with their remains as desired.
My parents came from very different backgrounds. On my father's side there is always a casket,a wake the whole 9 yards. On my mother's side everyone is cremated. Many of those have their ashes interred but I don't want that.
There is one plot left for my husband next to family. He won't make up his mind. He would like me to join him but I refuse. I don't particularly care for the area where his parents are. I know this is all pointless to stress about but I also don't want our children to have to make this pilgrimage to this state which is not near any of them. I have made my wishes known and even said what song I would like played as they release the ashes.
You need to check ur state laws but I don't think you need to be embalmed. Just may have to have the funeral right away. You don't need a viewing or a service as such. I see more and more people having graveside services. The coffin doesn't have to be water proof since by law (were I live anyway because of the water table) the grave has to have a liner. I see more and more cremation with a Memorial service at a different time. You don't even need a funeral director according to a TV show I watched. It can be done like it was years ago.
Me, still deciding about cremation. I do know I do not want a viewing or a service. If I am buried, just a graveside service.
https://www.thelivingurn.com/pages/tree-zip-code?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6KrtBRDLARIsAKzvQIF5-NjrmcrKVA4wndEKR0iBPD48JMk8dqcHg2EUlWmVzdePPzb4di4aArh2EALw_wcB
Yesterday we prepared the body of a sweet lady, where she lies now before the Royal doors of our church altar. This morning will be the funeral. After the burial we will have a mercy meal which we began preparing last night.
it is a privilege to be part of this whole thing. It draws us closer to each other, helps us to live considerately toward one another and to evaluate where our values lie in this world.
I wholeheartedly endorse green burial. More details of the whole process can be found on the website WWW.ACHRISTIANENDING.COM. There is also a book written with specific instructions, which our church has followed. My best to you!
I fully agree with those who despise the funeral industry. I’ve seen them prey on people at their most vulnerable time. I hated my mother’s funeral, it was handled by my dad who loves a big funeral. I spent the day repeating under my breath “can this just end?” Loved my mother dearly, still miss her daily, just didn’t need the production
I have my husband in a biodegradable urn - from The Living Urn (dot) com and found them to be the most reasonable and easy to work with. You can get it with or without a tree to be planted with the ashes.
You will still need to have the body cremated but most funeral homes now have their own crematorium. I believe the cremation was $1500 and the Urn was under $200 with a tree.
Be aware, you will be asked about embalming but if you're doing cremation, you don't need to embalm. You don't have to have a viewing unless you want it; I didn't do it for my DH because he outlived his peers and most of his family - but I discussed it with him first. He was already gone and no viewing was easier on me since I have trouble remembering names and didn't really feel like hearing a bunch of strangers telling me how sorry they were.
And, you don't have to have anyone dig the hole - you can dig it yourself. A biodegradeable urn is allowed on your own property or you can get a "plot" in a cemetery. We already had a double plot for caskets and I was told that I'm allowed to dig a hole and place his ashes myself. Our tombstone has been in place since 2011.
As for the green aspect, I like the idea of being buried under a tree.
I always tell my DH that I will honor him by taking his ashes on a first class flight to one of his faraway favorite places. He says he would rather do that before he is ashes!