Do-It-Yourself Funeral

If you are representing a loved one who has passed, you may want to have death care professionals (funeral homes or crematories) handle a death in the family or you may want to handle it yourself. Most likely, you may choose some point in between. How much you want to do may depend on your availability, knowledge and budget. How much you can do depends on your state and your support system.

Most states allow home death care, as long as related regulations are followed. Some states, like Texas, require a funeral director but allow individuals to act as funeral directors as long as no payment is rendered. A few states require that a funeral director be involved but you will still be allowed to do some things. There are memorial societies and home death care agencies across the country that can help you understand the pertinent regulations in your state and provide you with resources.

The main components of death care that are normally handled by death care professionals are: handling the paperwork, transporting the body, preserving the body temporarily, preparing the body for viewing, placing an obituary, conducting a memorial service, locating a cemetery space, handling disposition of the body (interment or cremation). If the body is cremated, any one can handle the cremains.

Lisa S.
August 2, 2010