Home Funerals

Aka Do-It-Yourself funerals has advantages:

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

  1. Fill out the Utah State living will form
  2. Fill out a Funeral Planning Form (includes obituary)
  3. Figure the cost and how to pay for your funeral (savings or insurance policy).
  4. Print the Step by Step guide at top right of this page.
  5. 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
  6. 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.