Home Funerals, Green Burial

When I visited my brother and his wife of four months in Annapolis last month, I was introduced to home funerals and green burials. Well, let's say, to the concept of them. She had saved his life a couple of years ago, when they were sailing on their own in the Caribbean, and he had a major event with his heart. Thank goodness she was there.

Okay, so what are "home funerals" and "green burial"?

My attention to these idea was renewed when I read of a local family's cost to bury a young son after a sudden and violent death. $8,000.00. And they were having to raise money to pay that cost.

Home funeral? Just that. Instead of traipsing off to the local funeral home and making hurried arrangements ("You do want the best, don't you?"), you have the funeral ceremony at home. Family, neighbors, friends come to pay their respects -right at home. Unusual? Yes. Catching on around the U.S.A.? Yes.

And green burials? Instead of having the body embalmed ($$$) and then burying it ($$$) in an expensive casket ($$$) in a concrete vault ($$$), the body is buried in a respectful manner and in a very personal, caring manner (without transferring your entire wealth to the funeral home).

Like to know more? Go to www.crossings.net and browse the different sections. The organization offers seminars, educational materials and telephone consultations.