Arranging A Green Funeral: Five Ideas To Consider
When planning a funeral for your loved one, you may want to consider green funeral options that can reduce your impact on the environment. If conservation and eco-friendly funeral options are important to you, or if they were important to your loved one, here are some green ideas to consider.
Burial Shrouds
You can forgo the casket completely by using a burial shroud for interment. The shroud is a simple, biodegradable cloth that is used to cover the body for burial. You can rent a casket from the funeral home if you prefer to have a viewing before the burial, and the funeral home can arrange the shroud after the viewing.
Living Flower Arrangements
As an alternative to cutting fresh flowers for the funeral service, consider using potted plants instead. They can be placed on pedestals in the funeral home in much the same way as traditional floral arrangements, and the plants can go home with you as a living memorial to your loved one.
Limited Funeral Procession
Instead of having a long line of vehicles drive to the cemetery, consider using a limited funeral procession. You can arrange for one or two limousines to accompany the hearse, or you can opt for a traditional funeral procession on foot if the cemetery is nearby. Some funeral homes will help to arrange to transport the casket by wheeled bier, which eliminates the need for a hearse completely.
Flower Bush Grave Marker
Some cemeteries offer green options for headstones, which can include using a flower bush instead of a stone grave marker. This option creates a positive effect on the environment, and it ensures that fresh flowers are ready to bloom at your loved one's grave site. Be sure to ask the cemetery if it will maintain the bush for you or if you need to tend to it yourself.
Electronic Programs
Paper programs aren't necessary in the electronic age. Instead of wasting paper on programs, consider electronic delivery to the email addresses of your mourners. If you have a website set up for your loved one, you can also place the program online. Everyone in attendance can use their smartphones to access the programs throughout the service. Discuss these options with the funeral director, and ask for any other suggestions he or she may have to help create an eco-friendly funeral for your loved one. With a bit of planning, you can create a touching memorial that has a positive impact on the environment.
For more ideas, talk with someone such as Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home Inc.
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