It may be a morbid thought, but a do-it yourself funeral could actually be a loving gesture for a loved one. This mean there's no - or very little - involvement with a funeral home. You do everything yourself including preparing the body, hosting the viewing and funeral service as well as arranging the burial or cremation. This would be a return to the way funerals were handled centuries ago when people would file into a home to pay their last respects to the deceased.
Some people are opting to prepare the bodies of their loved ones for burial and hold their own funeral services for various reasons. Some do it to cope with their grief, while others do it to save money. Some people are choosing this option because of distrust of the funeral industry. Whatever the reason, it is possible to hold a successful funeral if you are prepared.
The option of a do-it-yourself funeral may not be as widely discussed because it cuts into the profits of funeral directors who make their living from preparing the dead for burial and hosting funeral services.
As long as you follow a few guidelines and tips it's well within the law in many states to have a do-it-yourself funeral.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you'd like to handle a loved one's funeral.
1. A medical examiner or funeral must sign the death certificate. Also if the death did not take place in the hospital, a medical examiner or coroner will have to verify death and the cause.
2. Use dry ice instead of embalming. Embalming isn't a requirement nowadays although the quick deterioration of a body will warrant a quick burial. You can help preserve the body with dry ice.
3. Make a coffin or buy one from a casket store that will sell to consumers.
4. You can use the funeral home for a few services such as help with the death certificate.
5. You will need to secure a burial permit. If you are burying on family land or anywhere other than a cemetery you will have to assure that the corpse will not spread any contagious or communicable diseases.
Some people are opting to prepare the bodies of their loved ones for burial and hold their own funeral services for various reasons. Some do it to cope with their grief, while others do it to save money. Some people are choosing this option because of distrust of the funeral industry. Whatever the reason, it is possible to hold a successful funeral if you are prepared.
The option of a do-it-yourself funeral may not be as widely discussed because it cuts into the profits of funeral directors who make their living from preparing the dead for burial and hosting funeral services.
As long as you follow a few guidelines and tips it's well within the law in many states to have a do-it-yourself funeral.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you'd like to handle a loved one's funeral.
1. A medical examiner or funeral must sign the death certificate. Also if the death did not take place in the hospital, a medical examiner or coroner will have to verify death and the cause.
2. Use dry ice instead of embalming. Embalming isn't a requirement nowadays although the quick deterioration of a body will warrant a quick burial. You can help preserve the body with dry ice.
3. Make a coffin or buy one from a casket store that will sell to consumers.
4. You can use the funeral home for a few services such as help with the death certificate.
5. You will need to secure a burial permit. If you are burying on family land or anywhere other than a cemetery you will have to assure that the corpse will not spread any contagious or communicable diseases.
Comments
Holly Stevens
(Guest)
(Guest)
01/31/2010
The URL for the Undertaken With Love website has changed to www.undertakenwithlove.org It is the same not-for-profit site, aiming to increase awareness of the family's right to care for its own dead until burial or cremation and offering a group study guide to the subject. Thanks!
Holly Stevens
(Guest)
(Guest)
04/06/2009
Another good resource is "Undertaken With Love: A Home Funeral Guide for Congregations and Communities" which you can use to teach yourself or a small group all that's involved in conducting a DIY funeral: www.homefuneralmanual.org/
Donna Belk
(Guest)
(Guest)
12/23/2008
The web site, http://www.homefuneral.info lists people in different states that can help guide families through a home funeral. The laws differ in the various states so it good to connect with someone who is familiar with your state's regulations.
miss whyte
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/11/2008
holy lord
Cheap SEO
(Guest)
(Guest)
08/10/2007
well written !
Good job with a difficult topic.
Death isn't a topic many of us like to talk about very often, let alone plan for. But you mentioned some interesting points.
Sophie
I guess the cost of a funeral gives a whole new meaning to the common phrase - taking the money with you. Poor people are out of luck even in death.
veng
(Guest)
(Guest)
07/28/2007
forget notifying anybody...they die bury them in the yard..someone has a complaint about that bury them next to them...govt controls our lives and our deaths..always costing...
Very interesting. My stepmother passed away last winter and I was disgusted by what the costs of everything was...and the funeral home wanted all the $ up front!! Disgusting that people should have to deal with that while they are grieving. Great job on this article!
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