What Is Home Funeral: Definition, Legality, Cost

The expediency of the funeral industry often leaves families feeling detached. Its high costs and impersonal settings don’t help the matter either. A home funeral, however, is a more intimate and authentic grieving experience, celebrated in a space filled with cherished memories. 

• So, what exactly is a home funeral? 
• Is it even legal to have a home funeral?
• Why are more and more people considering it as an option?

Join us as we explore these questions, illuminating the profound impact a home funeral can have on the grieving process. We’ll equip you with the necessary knowledge to make an informed decision, potentially reshaping perceptions of the final farewell.

What is a home funeral?

A home funeral is a funeral ceremony usually organized in the house of the dead or dying. It is a perfectly legal option in the US that can have a profound impact on the dying and the mourners alike. Home funerals provide a degree of control and closure in the final moments.

While somewhat unconventional, it’s an increasingly preferred way to say goodbye.

The comfort of familiar surroundings and the soothing presence of family and friends are the best preparation for the final journey into the unknown.

Definition of Home Funeral

Home funerals were once the norm, offering an intimate, personal farewell to loved ones within the familiar settings of their homes.

• About a century ago, the funeral industry as we know it today was in its infancy and most people were sent away by their families.
• The practice provides closure and meaning that is often hard to achieve within the impersonal confines and expedience of the professional funeral industry.
• Yet, as the latest funeral industry statistics show, societal changes, urbanization, and evolving perceptions of death have led to a surge in outsourced funerals in dedicated facilities.
• Today, for many of us, the notion of a home funeral is alien, and dealing with death is uncomfortable.

However, a resurgence in funerals at home is happening as people seek more holistic and authentic experiences in all life aspects, including death. The last act of personally caring for a departed loved one — washing, dressing, and spending time with them — reinstates a powerful connection with death that contemporary society sometimes avoids.

This intimate process reminds us of life’s fragility and the preciousness of our time, leading toward reflection, acceptance, and healing. This resurgence of home funerals stems from a shift towards more authentic end-of-life experiences.

The Growing Popularity of Home Funerals 

The rising trend of home funerals reflects a change in our views on death. The expedience and remote convenience of professional burial services are supplanted by personal intimacy and active involvement. In turn, death takes its natural place as a part of life’s continuum not an abrupt termination.

This inclination towards alternative funeral options is quickly becoming a mainstream choice, driven by several factors. 

• The active participation in the funeral process contrasts with the passive spectating role often assigned to mourners in traditional settings. Involvement in every step of the process, from preparation to ceremony, and eventual burial or cremation, is part of the grieving process. 
• Home funerals encourage a personal, intimate goodbye. Celebrating life at home, within a known environment, allows families to reminisce and honor their departed loved one authentically, without the time constraints of traditional services.
• Home funeral ceremonies can be set up however you want, veering away from a standard protocol. Families can incorporate bespoke rituals or traditions that echo the values of their loved one, imparting a deeper meaning to the event while providing closure.

Home funerals provide an unmatched degree of control. While emotionally charged, they allow us to say our goodbyes through acts of care and love. Facing grief and death on your own terms is the best way to meet them.

Benefits of Home Funerals

Personalized home funerals can be set up in a way that authentically mirrors the departed’s life and personality, from the choice of music, through room arrangements and decorations, to selected readings.

Home funerals afford the opportunity to honor cultural and religious practices authentically and reverently in a familiar setting. They provide a private space where rituals can be observed, contributing to a sense of closure and peace. 

• Every ceremony aspect can be customized to create a unique tribute to the deceased.
• Some families prepare the deceased’s body, washing and grooming it post-death. Spending even a few hours with the deceased makes the funeral a profound emotional experience and helps to accept the loss.

A home funeral ceremony is also a cost-effective alternative to professional services. Without traditional funeral home overheads, families can make economic choices, leading to more affordable ceremonies.

Legal and Other Requirements for a Home Funeral

A home funeral guide can help greatly in planning a home funeral. A funeral director is necessary to involve in some states, but a death doula or death midwife can also be invaluable.

Here are a few pointers to help you navigate the legal and practical aspects of a home funeral:

• Start with researching state requirements and planning the funeral. Some states like New Jersey, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, New York, Nebraska, Louisiana, Indiana, and Connecticut require funeral directors to file the necessary paperwork. 
• Completing paperwork involves obtaining preliminary death certificates and a transport permit for the body.
• Transportation of the body from the place of death to the home may require professional services or could be done personally, but with respect. 
• Caring for the body includes cleaning, dressing, and cooling. Supplies like ice packs and natural cleaning products should be obtained in advance.
• Caskets, urns, or shrouds can be made, bought, or rented.
• Celebration and ritual are key to planning home funerals; proceedings can be personalized with readings, music, or shared memories. 
• Notify attendees through phone calls or messages.
• The body’s disposition — burial, cremation, or donation to science — should align with the departed’s wishes and local laws.
• Backyard burials depend on zoning laws and health department regulations, with states like Indiana, California, and Washington strictly prohibiting them. Check with local authorities to ensure compliance.

Learn how to plan a home funeral, which covers all aspects of the process. 

Challenges of Home Funerals

Navigating the legalities is one of the primary difficulties with home funerals, given the varying regional laws on permits, body handling, and burial or cremation timelines. While the paperwork is not that overwhelming by itself, dealing with administration in times of grief compounds the issue.

• Another challenge is the need for careful planning and organization. Home funerals demand a level of coordination that many may underestimate. 
• From preparing the body to managing visitors and conducting the ceremony, it requires a well-thought-out plan. 

In addition to this, home funerals can bring about significant emotional and logistical stress.

• The responsibility of caring for the deceased can prove to be overwhelming, not to mention managing all the other aspects of a funeral.
• One thing to consider is that home funeral ceremonies can be held soon after death occurs. And if the organization of the entire ceremony is too much, simply keeping the body at home for a few hours is very helpful in providing closure and a proper chance to say goodbyes.

A home funeral could be simple and short, indeed, with the main ceremony organized by a funeral home. The degree of control and involvement can be adjusted the way you see fit.

Home Funerals vs Funeral Homes

When it comes to saying goodbye to a loved one, there are many options available, each with its own set of benefits. While some families prefer the traditional funeral home approach, others opt for a more personal, intimate home funeral service. 

Advantages of home funerals:

• Personal and intimate setting.
• Control over the funeral proceedings and timing.
• Less expensive as there are no costs for using a funeral home’s facilities. 
• More time for viewing and saying goodbye, as there are no strict schedules to adhere to.
• Less formal and more comforting.
• More customization and personal touches in the setup and decor.
• A sense of closure as it takes place in a familiar and comforting environment. 

Advantages of funeral homes:

• Professional services and guidance.
• Handle all logistics, from body preparation to legal paperwork, reducing stress on the family.
• Provide facilities for large gatherings.
• Various packages that can cater to different budgets and preferences.
• Experienced staff who can handle unexpected situations or special requests.
• Post-funeral services such as grief counseling and memorial services.
• Can free up family members to focus on grieving and supporting each other.

Conclusion

A home funeral is a ceremony held within one’s house, enabling a more intimate, personal farewell. All states allow families to care for their own dead, which means it’s legal too