“We are passionate about sharing our knowledge with others, many of whom are shocked when they learn how many “facts” about death care and burial are actually myths. For instance, in most states, there is no law that requires embalming of a body. Embalming and crypts are more human conveniences than necessities.It’s a joy sure to see how empowered people become when they learn what to do and how to do it, when they come to understand the fullness of choices they actually have in the final stages of life and death.”
“Natural death care education gives individuals and their families the power and knowledge to serve as their own funeral directors. Regardless if they work with a funeral home or not, the family is prepared for their loved one’s crossing and gets to make the best decisions based on what she or he wanted.”
“I remember, as a child in the foothills of North Carolina, home funerals were part of our family and community life. Many times, the loved one who had crossed was brought home for a vigil of family and friends. People brought food; children played; people visited; all the while, love and respect was paid to the “deceased” loved one.Home death care continues to be part of cultures around the world, and there is a growing number of death care groups around the U.S. Quakers are considered to be leaders in the U.K.’s home death care movement.”
“There are so many options available when it comes to natural death care. We don’t have to poison the earth with embalming fluids and tons of metal and concrete. We can talk about death as a natural part of life that it is. We can plan ahead and make arrangements that work for the entire family. Most importantly, we can return to the simplicity, the beauty, and the sacredness of the end of life by honoring our own at the time of their death in this way.”
“I wasn’t sure if I could actually handle it when the time of my mother’s death came. But, when she did pass, I found that by staying calm and taking my time, the next best thing to do just came naturally to me. I’d been trained enough to feel comfortable with the process, and I loved my mother enough to figure out the rest.I feel that I did right by my mother and will never forget the experience of loving her into her next existence with the same care she showed me when I was born into this one. Neither one of us knew completely what we were doing at the time, but love helped us figure it out.”
Sophia Center is a Home Funeral and Green Burial education resource based in Southern Appalachia.