In last week’s NY Times: Home Burials Offer an Intimate Alternative. “In an economic downturn, the do-it-yourself ethos extends to families burying their own loved ones, sometimes in their backyards.” I had no idea. Are there Northfield area death midwives (home funeral guides)? Do our local funeral homes (Bierman Funeral Home; Benson and Langehough Funeral Home) provide support for family-directed funerals? Have any congregations provided support for home burials? (continued)
Some resources:
- A great home funeral photo set on Flickr
- Undertaken With Love: A Home Funeral Guide for Congregations and Communities
- LA Times Dec. 2008: ‘Death midwife’ as funeral alternative. “With money tight, many families are holding funerals — even burials — at home. Specialists help out with the paperwork and other details.”
- PBS POV documentary, 2004: A Family Undertaking.
I guess there isn’t any support for home funerals in Northfield. Oh well, I’ve got 60 years to get ready.