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The
‘Green’ or Woodland funeral |
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By Jo
Gray
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What
will archaeologists think years from now when they uncover a 21st
Century American cemetery and labor to reconstruct our present-day level of
civilization? Most likely they will be more than a little mystified trying
to understand our burial practices that include cement vaults and metal
caskets lined up in tight fitting rows. Why? Funeral practices of today bear
little or no resemblance to those of a century ago. The features of the
modern funeral (metal casket and vaults, beautification of the body, mounds
of flowers are of recent vintage in America. From the dawn of civilization
until the beginning of the 20th Century, the family handled
everything, and the dead were often buried in the backyard. |
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Death
Pros |
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As the
country developed, cemeteries were created. Death became a profession, and
mortuaries sprang up and started handling all the details. Professional
undertakers were almost unheard of in America until the late 1800s. The
Civil War brought about embalming so the dead soldier’s body could be
preserved long enough for viewing by relatives in the northern states. |
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Early
coffins were lined with muslin and had no padding or handles. The body was
carried to the gravesite on planks. Then came the open sleigh or wagon.
Receptions were held after the burial in the home of the deceased where a
large amount of food and beverages were served. It was not uncommon for the
reception to cost more than the funeral. |
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According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average cost of
a funeral in the United States is nearly $7,000. This does not include the
cemetery costs. And it is impersonal, with the family’s involvement usually
limited to selecting the casket. Cremation is a little cheaper, but can set
you back anywhere from $1,000 to $2,600 with urn and service. And it isn’t
eco-friendly; incinerating a body releases toxins such as mercury from teeth
fillings and sulfur dioxide into the air (though scientists say the amount
of atmospheric damage so far is quite minimal compared to other major
sources like auto emissions. |
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Going
Green |
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However, there is a trend toward small, even do-it-yourself, in-home
funerals with private burial. A typical, small in-home funeral would be one
where friends and family members wash, dress and bury their loved ones on
their own. |
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The
family member would be buried in a ‘green cemetery’ or even on family
property. Green, or woodland burial, is nothing new. Being returned to the
earth wrapped in a shroud is what most of humanity has done for centuries.
But caring for the dead without the use of embalming, caskets, vaults and
conventional markers has been receiving more attention lately with green
burial offered in several states. |
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The
details of woodland burial will differ from one location to the next.
However, the founding principles are pretty much the same. Eco-cemeteries
exist to provide an alternative to the modern cremation of traditional
burial. They do not permit casket made of steel or hardwoods. Some allow
markers but they are usually flat with the land. |
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According to the Green Burial Council, there are currently just five green
cemeteries in the United States and one, Ethician Family Cemetery, is near
Huntsville, Texas 936-295-5767 or
http://www.ethicianfamilycemetery.org/.
It follows the Biblical philosophy of “dust to dust.” The other four green
cemeteries are in South Carolina, New York, California, and Florida.
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More information about green burial may be obtained from the Green Burial
Council, a nonprofit organization founded to encourage land conversation
along with sustainable end-of-life rituals. Its web site is
http://funerals.org/frequently-asked-questions/environment/27-environment/56-green-burial.
You might also want to check at
www.forestofmemories.org/cemeteries. |
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Buried
At Home |
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With
the green funeral movement, we are also looking back to a time when loved
ones were buried at home.
The right to a private burial
on private land is legal in Texas ─ as long as the burial doesn’t constitute
a public health risk.
The landowner should check local laws before the interment takes place on
private land. Requirements demand that the burial site should be on land
with a deep water table and not near gas and electrical services. |
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Be
sure the grave is deep enough to meet with legal requirements. Most sates
require a minimum of three feet of soil be left on top of the coffin lid
after the burial place. |
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There
is also the requirement to record the burial on the property deed. A
location map must be attached to the deed to confirm the position of the
grave and details of the deceased, such as name, age, date and place of
death, etc. This will make it less likely a police investigation will be
necessary should human remains be discovered in the future. |
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Property Values |
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Of
course, the value of your property will no doubt decrease if you move after
the burial has taken place. Many prospective buyers will not even consider
purchasing property that has a body buried under the rose garden in the back
yard. Before selling, you may want to obtain permission to exhume the body
and take it with you to your new location, but this may cause heartache and
conflict if all family members are in favor. |
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It would be a good idea too, to name a designated agent for body
disposition. This will allow someone other than a spouse or relative to
carry out your wishes. The designated agent law allows you to have the type
of funeral you want. The form is available through Texas Legal Services
Center
http://www.tlsc.org/.
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Reprint from LifeTimes, August 2007 page 5. |
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