Maine’s Home Funeral Resource
There are alternatives.
For those who want to be more in control of what happens to their own body after death, or would like to explore ways to care for a loved one’s body after death, there are options other than the standard funeral practices of our day. If you or a loved one long for a simple burial or would like to have after-death care centered on family and community, and have a desire to talk about and plan for these and other Last Things: Alternatives at the End of Life, our website offers an invaluable resource of information. Most of the links you will find throughout the site relate to Maine residents; where possible you might also find links to the same information for other states.
For additional information on end-of-life, funeral, and disposition options in Maine, visit: Die Well Death Education
Did you know?
You and your family can save a considerable amount of money by pre-planning your funeral, taking care and writing the arrangements, and having a conversation with the whole family to insure all agree with your wishes. Some alternative options to discuss include: using a green cemetery, alkaline hydrolysis instead of flame cremation, body donation, using a direct cremation service, and making the coffin yourself.
It IS legal to care for your own dead in your home.
It IS legal to bury a family member’s body on your own land.
You do NOT have to buy a casket from the funeral home that serves you.
How much you spend on a funeral is NOT an indication of how much you care.
The best way to pay for a funeral may NOT be through a pre-payment plan.
There are few limits on what you can do with ashes, and there are some wild possibilities. Basically, be discreet and respectful.
A vault or grave liner is NOT required by law.
You do NOT have to be embalmed.
Embalming is NOT necessary to protect the public health.
Metal caskets with sealed gaskets do NOT keep the body from decomposing.
additional offerings:
Individual consultations • Small group workshops • Introductory presentations • Resource sharing
Dying with Dignity
an article by Klara Tammany
When Klara Tammany’s father died, she and her mother both were so unsatisfied with the experience of dealing with a funeral director that Klara vowed that she would take care of her mother when she died. This is the story of the experience.
natural after-death care
A 25-minute video by Julie Lanoie
Julie Lanoie RN,MA is a volunteer educator and founding member of the NH Funeral Resources, Education and Advocacy, a non profit group that helps families and communities make informed decisions about after death care.
“Birth, life and death –
each took place on the hidden side of a leaf.”
- Attributed to Toni Morrison
