While each natural burial at Larkspur is unique, the same basic steps need to be completed. Here are the basic services you will need from a funeral home.
When someone you love dies it’s hard to know what to do or what your first move should be. In a previous blog, we outlined how to plan a funeral service, but we know that the immediate logistics and “what to do” when someone dies can feel overwhelming. This is where a funeral home and funeral director come in—they’re here to help.
A funeral home and the funeral directors on their staff are responsible for the care of a person’s body and surrounding logistics. Because Larkspur is a cemetery, our staff cannot perform these services. Funeral homes are natural partners for us, and we’re happy to recommend funeral homes we have worked with in the past.
Remember to take your time. Often sudden loss can make people feel rushed through the process of selecting a funeral home after the death happens. It’s important to slow down and choose what is best for you and your loved ones. Do not rush, but take care in making this decision as the transfer of the remains between funeral homes can be costly.
**There are also some situations where a family decides to take on the role of being the funeral director themselves, and has what’s called a “home funeral.” In a home funeral, the family member(s) carry out all the logistics necessary themselves. If you or your family are considering having a home funeral for a loved one, please contact our staff for extra support and guidance.**
Transportation
The first thing that’s needed from a funeral home when someone dies is transportation. The person needs to be moved from where they died to where their body will be cared for until the time of burial or cremation. Separate from that, the funeral home will have a separate fee for transporting the body from the funeral home to the cemetery.
Most funeral homes have a standard operating range between 50-100 miles, and will go outside of that radius for an extra fee. A person’s body can also be flown to the area for a green burial at Larkspur as well. Most funeral homes are experienced with these transportation arrangements and will be ready to coordinate whatever you need.
Refrigeration
One major misconception about the natural burial process is that it has to be done immediately or the body will begin to decompose and decay. This isn’t true. Due to the gift of modern refrigeration most burials are 7-10 days after a person has died, though it is not uncommon for a burial to be two or more weeks after someone has died.
We encourage families to take their time and not rush in the planning process. Refrigeration of the body by a funeral home allows this intentional movement to happen. When people take their time they often find that they can plan more meaningful ceremonies and gatherings, they can include more people who might be located far away, and that slow movement generally gives folks more time to breathe after a loss. When asking about services from a funeral home, the cost of refrigeration for a body is definitely something that we encourage folks to ask about and discuss.
Basic Services of the Funeral Director
The “basic services of the director” are the baseline fee on all contracts with a funeral home. This generally includes all of the coordinating, scheduling, administrative filing, and other assorted tasks that a funeral home manages when caring for a person’s body. Included in this is the filing of the death certificate with the local health department.
One of the other items that is often included in the “basic services of the director” is called “sanitary care.” This generally includes washing the person’s body as well as preparing it for shrouding or casketing. While sanitary care is included in the basic services for some funeral homes, with others it is a separate line item and service. This is one of the reasons we suggest contacting multiple funeral homes before deciding on one—their pricing structures can look different.
The more you know when planning a green burial, the more empowered you will feel in making the right decision.
If you have any questions about burial at Larkspur, or would like to know more about how to plan for a natural, green burial at our nature preserve, please contact us. We would be happy to walk you through the step-by-step process and answer any of your lingering questions.