Date post: | 17-Dec-2015 |
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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