Undertaken With Love

This listing is not an endorsement, as we might not have had personal experience with all of these entities. In general we favor entities of a not-for-profit and noncommercial nature that are at least national in scope. We reserve the right whether to include a particular organization or individual on this page and to make changes to the listings from time to time.

Home Funeral Training and Education Sites

Crossings, Caring for Our Own at Death: Beth Knox provides educational seminars that prepare individuals to carry out family-directed funerals.

Final Passages: Jerrigrace Lyons provides educational seminars preparing individuals to carry out family-directed funerals.

Home Funeral Info: Donna Belk's site includes a wealth of useful information on home funerals, including a state-by-state directory of home funeral providers and consultants.

Islamic Burial Society of North America: A resource for preparing the dead for Islamic burial.

Jewish Funerals, Burials, and Mourning: Organization providing information and assistance with traditional Jewish death practices.

Biodegradable Casket Suppliers

We would welcome a directory of biodegradable casket suppliers but can't list individual firms here. In the meantime, we suggest that you "Google" "biodegradable casket" or similar key words and phrases.

Suppliers of Shrouds and Alternative Burial Coverings

We would welcome a directory of sources for alternative burial coverings here but can't list individual firms here. In the meantime, we suggest that you "Google" "burial shrouds" or similar key words and phrases.

Natural (Green) Burial Sites and Directories

The Centre for Natural Burial: A resource center for green burial information and products, including a green cemetery locator.

Green Burial Council: Founded by Joe Sehee, the council establishes standards and provides certification for green cemeteries.

Cemetery Group: A directory of green cemeteries in the U.S.

Funeral Consumer Sites

The Funeral Rule of the Federal Trade Commission: A resource of information about funeral consumer rights and options, industry compliance guidelines, and the registration of complaints.

Funeral Consumers Alliance: A nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of funeral consumers. FCA has about 100 state chapters. Online forums and a discussion group are also offered.

Funeral Ethics Organization: Founded by Lisa Carlson to promote ethical dealings in all death-related transactions.

Committee Nurture and Governance

The Consensus Building Institute: A not-for-profit institute founded by Lawrence Susskind, author of Breaking Robert's Rules of Order, to promote effective negotiation, conflict resolution and consensus building as forms of leadership and governance.

Books and Publications 

A Plain Pine Box: A Return to Simple Jewish Funerals and Eternal Traditions

Caring for the Dead: Your Final Act of Love

Dealing Creatively With Death: A Manual of Death Education and Simple Burial

Grave Matters: A Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial

The Natural Death Handbook

More suggestions coming soon.

Mutlimedia Resources

Passing Through Our Hands: A Home Funeral Care Guide Video

A Family Undertaking: A POV Documentary