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What is a "home funeral?"
"A 'home funeral' is a noncommercial, family-centered response to death that involves the family and its social community in the care and preparation of the body for burial or cremation, and/or in planning and carrying out related rituals or ceremonies, and/or in the burial or cremation itself. A 'home funeral' may occur entirely within the family home or not. It is differentiated from the 'institutional funeral' by its emphasis on minimal, noninvasive care and preparation of the body, on its reliance on the family's own social networks for assistance and support, and on the relative or total absence of commercial funeral providers in its proceedings." - Holly Stevens, Project Leader, Undertaken With Love: A Home Funeral Guide for Congregations and Communities
Is it Legal?
It is legal for the family to care for their own dead in the home for a few days immediately following death.
Do I have to hire a funeral director?
Yes. Current Michigan law states that a funeral director must sign the death certificate and supervise transport of the body to final disposition (crematory or cemetery).
In addition, most health care facilities will not release the body into the care of the family, so funeral home staff must transport the body to your home.
Referrals to a licensed funeral director or other care provider in your area are available upon request.
Is embalming required?
Very rarely. However, most funeral homes will not allow public viewing without it. If you know you do not want embalming, having a 'home funeral' will allow for as many visitors as you wish.
How does one care for the body?
The body is washed and dressed and laid on a bed or couch. It is cooled with dry ice.
For more information about "home funerals" and "caring for your own dead," please see the After Death Home Care video on YouTube, or consult one of the following websites or articles:
Chicago Tribune article about a Home Funeral Guide in Illinois
National Home Funeral Alliance
Threshold Care Circle (They have an excellent planning booklet)
A Sacred Moment
Crossings
Final Passages
Ceremonies for Life's Thresholds
Passing Through our Hands
Undertaken with Love
Natural Undertaking
Green Burials
Caring Connections, for information about state specific Advance Directives
Peaceful Crossings An enlightened and proactive alternative to conventional funeral planning
Kincaraco Green Burial Shrouds
The following links contain personal stories of those who have cared for their own dead at home after death:
My Stillborn Child's Life After Death
This is a very emotional story of my cousin's newborn loss. I caution you not to read the comments if you are grieving, however, because most are very insensitive.
NY Times article, July 20, 2009
Joanne Macy's story
A Final Cocoon, NY Times Nov. 10, 2010
Also available at some libraries is the following PBS special about caring for your own dead:
A Family Undertaking
