Have you ever thought about caring for your deceased family member yourself? Washing him or her, preparing he or she for burial (or cremation), building your own wooden coffin, transporting them to their final resting place and conducting your own funeral service. Sounds a little extraordinary doesn’t it? Yet it is not that long ago since that was how it was done. Most people died at home and the family cared for them, perhaps enlisting the services of their minister and an undertaker/cabinet maker.
However, home funeral care is gaining more popularity, as there is a cultural shift towards reclaiming these rituals for the family. We are witnessing a revival in the home funeral, or family-directed funeral, as culturally and financially Americans are seeking other alternatives for a funeral. Natural death care seems like the other paradigm to natural childbirth, bringing the rituals of entering and leaving our lives back towards a more holistic approach.
Conducting your own funeral offers some more simplistic, personal and natural methods of disposition. Whether you are seeking a completely organic, ecologically- friendly earth burial, or a simple cremation, arranging to do-it-yourself gives you complete autonomy over the death care ritual.
How does a green burial save money?
An average funeral in the US today costs around $7,775 (according the NFDA 2012), yet much of this cost is spent on professional fees and elaborate merchandise, and it does not include any cemetery fees. A simple natural burial in a green cemetery is likely to cost a family something in the region of $1,000, especially if the family direct their own preparation of the deceased and opt for a basic wooden coffin.
There are a number of ‘green’ natural cemeteries across the US where you can bury your dead in a green reserve where they are naturally returned to nature. Many of these sites even operate as non-profit organizations where a donation is requested in lieu of a burial plot.
The $1,000 Family Farewell
Yes, you can probably do-it-yourself for the cost of $1,000, an inexpensive family send-off. Many green burial sites charge a basic fee and around $500 should get you a single burial plot. If the family undertakes all the funeral preparation themselves, then a simple but dignified burial can be achieved for $1,000 in many areas of the US.
A basic cremation is the other alternative that can facilitate a simple low cost family funeral. A direct cremation can be obtained in most metro areas in the US now for $500 – $800. Cremation has long been a disposition method in many faiths and cultures, and considered by some to be a more ‘natural and spiritual way to dispose of our earthly body. In this way cremation can facilitate a natural DIY option for the family. Once the family has the cremated remains, a private family memorial service can be held.
Resources for Family-directed funerals:
Home Funeral Directory – http://homefuneraldirectory.com/
National Home Funeral Alliance – http://homefuneralalliance.org/
Natural Burial Co-operative – http://naturalburial.coop/USA/
DFS Memorials – Locate your nearest low cost cremation provider
I have been researching and writing about the death care industry for the last fifteen years. End of life services and experiences are something most of us choose not to reflect upon until we are suddenly faced with dealing with it. I have been contributing comprehensive and independent resources for families that explain how the funeral industry operates, and the laws that govern funeral practices. Sara writes for US Funerals Online and DFS Memorials LLC, as well as contributing to other forums and publications for the death care industry. I have a BA in Cultural Studies. This helps my analysis of cultural death care rituals, alongside a career background in Business Management. The death care industry is undergoing an epoch of change and this fascinates me.
