THE RE-EMERGENCE OFHOME FUNERALS

IN AMERICA

HEALING PRESENCE

MOST PEOPLE’S CONCERNS

• Are home funerals legal?

• What are the costs?

• What are the

environmental benefits?

• Are there health risks?

• Is there anything to fear?

• Who will take care of me?

• How can I make sure

what I want will happen?

HOW FUNERAL HISTORY BEGAN

• families cared for their own at

home

• Civil War surgeons experimented

with embalming

• became a profession

• $20B a year industry

A HOME FUNERAL MAY INCLUDE

• caring for loved ones at home,

church, or elsewhere

• by family and friends

• with professionals, If desired

• bathing, anointing, dressing

• viewing at home or church

• funeral gathering at home, or

elsewhere

• paperwork

• transportation

Courtesy of Crossings Care Circle

HOME FUNERALS ARE HEALING

• more time and flexibility

• natural flow of events and emotions

• normalize and diminish fears

• teach children about the life cycle

• embrace grief and loss

• give people a chance to be useful

• and find meaning

Courtesy of Olivia BarehamSacred Crossings

HOME FUNERALS ARE LEGAL

• in every state and province

• 9 states that require a funeral

director

• embalming is never required by law

• vaults are never required by law

• home burials are permitted within

parameters

• cremains may be scattered anywhere,

including national & state parks(CT, IL, IA, IN, LA, MI, NE, NJ, NY)

Photograph by George Sakkestad

HOME FUNERALS ARE AFFORDABLE

• share tasks

• file necessary documents

• make cemetery or crematory arrangements

• keep body care noninvasive and eco-friendly

• use locally sourced and crafted funeral goods

• file online or newspaper obituaries

• transport the body

• care for caregivers, children, visitors, and

pets

Chuck Lakin, Courtesy of New York Times

Courtesy of Shine On Brightly

HOME FUNERALS ARE ECO-FRIENDLY

• organic, natural, noninvasive methods

• locally made caskets, urns and shrouds

• use native materials

• avoid dangerous, toxic chemicals

• rainforest exotic woods

• non-biodegradable metals and concrete

• production and transportation

footprints

Courtesy of Crossings Care Circle

Courtesy of Marion Spadone

HOME FUNERALS ARE SAFE

• for caregivers and the deceased

• according to the CDC “…a dead body does

not pose an increased [health] risk”

• keep cool with ice or air conditioning

• 70° room for up to 3 days

• no need for embalming or disinfecting

• use universal precautions when necessary

Courtesy of Order of the Good Death

WITH PROPER CARE

• fluids and odors, if present, are

managed easily

• wash with soap and water

• anoint with essential oils if desired

• cool with dry ice or Techni-ice

• dress and transfer

Courtesy of Thresholds of Life

GOOD PLANNING INCLUDES

• advanced directives for health care

• write down your funeral wishes

• designate someone to carry them out

• inform doctors, clergy, family, attorneys

• organize a core care group

HOME FUNERAL GUIDES

• educate families and the public

• provide support and information

• how to complete paperwork

• how to perform body care

• keep the family in charge

• respect personal choices

• honor diverse spiritual traditions

• partner with professionals and family

Courtesy of Crossings Care Circle

FOR MORE INFORMATION…

{Your name and website information, logo and

phone}

www.homefuneralalliance.org