Home Funerals
Aka Do-It-Yourself funerals has advantages:
- You can take more time instead of rushing.
- The stress of cost is reduced.
- No one is trying to sell you anything.
- No embalming means the body looks more natural and doesn't smell like chemicals.
- The body can be present 24 hrs/day with the family until the funeral and disposition.
- Transporting across state lines is easy and inexpensive.
- It's totally legal. For example: The state of Utah office of Vital Records publishes instructions for your use: How to File a Death Certificate (If you'd like even more details email FCAofUtah@gmail.com for a FREE copy of Utah funeral-related laws)
Consider the experience of Lee Peterson in this video below:
In addition to knowing you CAN hold a home funeral, you'll need to know HOW. Some excellent resources:
The new book: Final Rights. Josh Slocum and Lisa Carlson take you through story after story of funeral shickanery from sea to shining sea. You'll see Utah highlighted from the very beginning! A state by state reference of funeraal freedoms and restrictions is included in the second half of the book.
HomeFuneral.info provides a FREE 18-page eBook. Includes a checklist. http://homefuneral.info/archives/39
Undertaken with Love* www.undertakenwithlove.org A Home Funeral Guide for Congregations and Communities. FREE or can also be purchased bound.
Final Passages www.finalpassages.org How-to booklets A&B contain elements helpful to Utahns.
Crossings: Caring for Our Own at Death www.crossings.net You can download this excellent manual for FREE or purchase a bound copy. Click on "Resources"
For instruction on starting a funeral committee to serve your faith group or other community call Joyce at 801-368-5884.
For experienced support in performing a do-it-yourself funeral call Stephanie in Salt Lake at 801-865-8502 or Kathy in Ogden at 801-605-8883.
Performing a home funeral in another state:
Home Funeral Directory http://homefuneraldirectory.com/
Pre-planning
- Fill out the Utah State living will form
- Fill out a Funeral Planning Form (includes obituary)
- Figure the cost and how to pay for your funeral (savings or insurance policy).
- Print the Step by Step guide at top right of this page.
- If you don't have next-of-kin or they don't agree, fill out an Assignment Form for who will control the disposition of your remains
- Collate into an easy reference format and give copies to your next-of-kin and/or your chosen Dispositioner
ARTICLES
Many families are beginning to choose the home funeral. Here are some stories that illustrate what others have done:
Natural Transitions Magazine sharing conscious, holistic approaches to dying, death, and after-death care: http://www.naturaltransitionsmagazine.com/issueonespr2011.htm
Do It Yourself Funerals (NPR)
Home Burials Offer an Intimate Alternative (NY Times)
A Movement to Bring Grief Back Home (Washington Post)
A Family Undertaking (PBS)
*Pictures of home funerals can be viewed on Undertaken with Love's Flickr site.
