Home funerals without funeral homes

[hollystevens]

I'm active in the funeral consumer and home funeral movements and I'm wondering if there would be any interest in this group about home funerals, in which the family cares for the body of the loved one up to the moment of burial or cremation. My husband and I got interested in home funerals as a result of my own advanced breast cancer, and I've worked with a group of home funeral educators to create a simple guide on how to arrange home funerals (also known as family-directed funerals or do-it-yourself funerals). I can share more about this option if anyone is interested.

Holly

[mofirefly]

Hi Holly - I live in MO and have read that home funerals are allowed here by law.  I'm not sure if I will ever go that route, but I do know that I do not like having to deal with funeral homes/directors and all the elaborate brewhaha that people seem to have about a funeral.  I would be interested in any information you might have.  At present my husband and I have prepaid for our cremations and have space available at a veterans cemetary.  I have done two memorials (my parents) at that cemetary.  I'm trying as best I can to arrange things so my only son will not be burdened with any decisions.  My husband has Parkinson's, so we know that the future may not be what we had hoped for and keeping him home as long as possible before his passing (cremation) is something I would definately be interested in - and would file away should he not be the first to go, so he would have help.  I sometimes have difficulty getting online on the forums so if you'd like you could email me at edakopp328@hotmail.com.  Hoping you are continuing your battle with brest cancer.  Take care, Candy

 

[hollystevens]

Yes, Candy, home funerals are legal in Missouri, as they are in 44 states (all the states except Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Jersey and New York, which require a commercial funeral provider's participation at least in portions of the process). I'll email you offlist with some contacts for Missouri and suggestions for how to begin to explore family-directed funeral arrangements. I'm so pleased to know of your interest! Home funerals aren't for everyone, but everyone I've known who have participated in one shares that they were deeply meaningful and sacred, allowing the family the honor of providing the loved one's final care, in the comfort and privacy of the home, without hurry. You can learn more at the Undertaken With Love Project site at

http://www.homefuneralmanual.org

Holly

[Kelly]

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