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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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8

Backyard Burials Alive and Well

Families see economy, intimacy in caring for dead themselves

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(Newser) – A growing number of families are deciding against funeral homes and cemeteries, the New York Times reports. Many have decided to care for their dead at home, which they say gives them more dignity—and saves money in the process. “It’s organic and informal, and it’s on our terms,” said one advocate. “It’s not having strangers intruding into the privacy of the family.”

An average American funeral costs $6,000; a home burial can cost a couple hundred. “I think many people who may not have chosen to do these types of things may be forced to because of the finances,” said one mom who held a home funeral for her son. The number of organizations and “death midwives” who assist home burials has exploded, from two in 2002 to 45 today.

Home burials are growing in popularity.
Home burials are growing in popularity.   (Shutterstock)
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It’s organic and informal, and it’s on our terms. It’s not outsourcing the dying process to professionals. - Nancy Manahan, co-author of Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully

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8 comments
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PosterNutbag
Jul 21, 09 12:53 PM CDT
This sounds better than the typical funeral which often seems like an eerie denial of the reality of death. Reply
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+6
Yourself
Jul 21, 09 12:53 PM CDT
because these days, no one has a damn savings account worth anything... it's plain and simple people, learn to save money!!! Reply
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0
AllisonMW
Jul 21, 09 12:58 PM CDT
I think with the instance of the workers at the cemetery in Chicago digging up, re-burying or discarding the remains of its deceased, and an instance where a funeral and cemetery went bankrupt and just started cremating and discarding bodies w/out the family's permission, more people are going to turn to this, probably. Of course, it could be economically driven as well. Reply
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+7
TerrifiedCitizen
Jul 21, 09 1:18 PM CDT
Back to our roots; so to speak. This is the way it was done by our great, great grandparents. It's all "dust to dust" anyway. Reply
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+5
christa2000
Jul 21, 09 2:01 PM CDT
It may be dust, but imagine the terrified buyers of the house when they dig up bones. Reply
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+2

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