So, what’s up with green funeral homes? Basically, they’re funeral homes aiming to respect your wish for an eco-friendly burial.
Here’s the deal. Most laws demand your consent to carry out services like embalming, but having an open casket viewing is not guaranteed, as funeral homes can refuse it. Going for a green funeral home means you’re picking a company that totally gets why you’d want your end-of-life ritual to be environmentally-friendly.
A bunch of these homes are associated with the Green Burial Council and offer traditional as well as green services. This way, if you’re feeling a little green-curious but your spouse isn’t, you both can still get your needs catered to under one roof.
And here’s another thing – the Green Burial Council rates these funeral homes (kind of like giving them green stars). The higher the number of stars (up to three), the more green services they offer.
Now, you might wonder, why not avoid the funeral home scene altogether? Well, if you’re in states like New York, Michigan, or Louisiana (and a few others), you must involve a funeral director. It might seem troublesome, but remember, these folks have specialized skills and knowledge that will really come in handy when you’re already overwhelmed.
On that note, green funeral directors also guide and streamline the process of having a natural burial.
Don’t worry if you’re big on hosting home funerals, you can still make it work. It involves tasks like cleansing the body, getting a coffin, arranging a service at home, and then moving the body to the cemetery. But remember, you’ll need to accomplish a bit of paperwork – particularly a death certificate and a burial permit.
And about the final transport of your loved one, most funeral homes might be willing to assist. If you’re a sturdy defender of the environment you can think about using a bike hearse.
Just remember that if you opt for this route, you’ll also be responsible for the final cleansing of your loved one – something you’ll want to do quickly as it becomes more difficult once rigor mortis sets in. You’ll also need a good bit of dry ice or loads of freezer packs. This endeavor requires lots of planning, especially if you don’t want a home burial.
It’s interesting that some of the highest praises for green funerals come from those inside the business. An example is Mr. Fertig of Fertig Funeral Home (a highly-rated green service provider), who is fully onboard with green funerals, even for his own ceremony.
In the end, deciding how you want your final send-off to be is a personal choice. Whether you opt for a green funeral, a traditional one, or a bit of both, just know that you’ve got options. You’re not limited to the old traditional ways; so if eco-friendly practices matter to you, there are fantastic solutions available.