Oct 30, 2009 4:00 pm US/Eastern
3 On Your Side: Home Funerals Making A Comeback
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
What if you were able to pay your last respects to someone who died and never step foot in a funeral home? Whether due to the economy or environmental reasons, do-it-yourself funerals are a growing trend. 3-On Your Sides Jim Donovan finds it's perfectly legal and there are people out there willing to help.
Imagine having a funeral in your own home? 3-On Your Side recently met with some women who were learning how to assist people in preparing loved ones for a home funeral and green burial.
Years ago, home funerals were common and it's slowly making a comeback, part of a growing movement where people are taking a more hands-on approach to death.
When Penny Rhodes father passed away, there was no fancy casket, no funeral home, just a family coming together to say goodbye to a man who was dearly loved. Penny says, "He never left his bed until our family put him in a box that we had decorated."
What many people don't realize is that keeping a body at home is a perfectly legal option and embalming isn't required.
Penny says in the case of her father's home funeral, "All we did was turn up the air conditioner, we could have used dry ice, but the room was really cold." Adding, "I took him to a local graveyard where he could have a green burial, he didn't have a vault or anything like that."
Penny and her husband Antonio have similar plans for themselves. They plan to be buried on their farm overlooking the rolling hills of Berks County.
Donna Larsen, a home funeral guide, says some prefer home funerals and green burials because they feel a simpler, environmentally sound burial better reflects the life they lived. Donna says, "This is what people always used to do. This is what people in Europe do."
Cost can be a factor too. Most traditional funeral and burial services can be expensive, on average 7 to 8 thousand dollars. But they don't have to be so costly.
"There are options to lessen that, cremation, green funeral, viewing at home and each circumstance is different," says Bob Fertig.
Bob and his wife Denise operate a funeral home in Mullica Hill, New Jersey that offers green burial services. The Fertig's say there are many things you can do to reduce the cost of a funeral.
Whether it's a home viewing, or buying a more affordable casket, like a $500 pine box.
Denise says "The idea of green burial is to allow the body to return to the earth."
So some forego a coffin altogether in favor of being buried in something more simple like shroud.
"People find it very comforting and cathartic to have hands on with any part of the service for their loved ones," says Denise.
It certainly worked for Penny's family. She says, "I haven't heard anyone say 'I'm sorry we had a home funeral.'"
Laws differ from area to area, on where someone can be buried, so you really need to do advance research if you're thinking of using your own property.
As far as home viewing is concerned, there are very few restrictions, but again, don't wait until the last minute to plan if your considering that option.
To watch extended interviews with home funeral guides Penny Rhodes and Donna Larsen, click on the links below. Also, for more information on this topic visit:
www.naturalundertaking.org
Interview With Donna Larsen
Interview With Penny Rhodes
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Openly Gay Celebrities
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments