We believe it’s time for a more open conversation about death, dying and funerals.
In this blog, we give practical advice and ideas to help you if you are arranging a funeral or experiencing bereavement; answer your frequently asked questions/FAQs; and share stories, interviews and opinions.
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As part one of our series tackling the issue of funeral poverty, we’re looking at public health funerals, which used to be known as pauper’s funerals. A public health funeral is simply a funeral that’s arranged and paid for by a local authority or council. Applying for a public health funeral can be a challenge, so we’ve spoken to Quaker Social Action’s Down to Earth, a charity that supports people struggling with funeral costs.
It can feel challenging to talk to children about death, so we’ve put together a selection of helpful books. Some of the authors use storytelling to share their message, and others focus on straightforward practical advice. While these books take different approaches, they’re all poignant, thoughtful and sometimes even funny.
Katrina Spade is on a mission to transform how we think about death care. She’s the founder of Recompose, a Seattle-based company that uses an environmentally-friendly process to convert human remains into soil. With its first facility planned to open in 2020, Katrina tells us about building death-friendly cities, connecting with nature and how recomposition actually works.
Have you ever considered choosing a natural burial ground? Natural burial grounds gently return people to the earth without using embalming or non-biodegradable coffins. They’re usually found in green spaces like forests, meadows or parkland. Natural burial grounds can be absolutely stunning and are a brilliant choice if you’re planning an environmentally-friendly funeral. There are so many wonderful options to choose from, but here are some of our favourites.
Aindriú Peers used to work as a practical lead here at Poppy’s, driving hearses, helping at burials and collecting people who have died from homes and hospitals. He’s also an author, teaches Shamanic Druidry and is a former Trappist monk. Aindriú explains his path from punk to monk to working in death care.
Women have played a hugely important role in the history of how we care for people who are dead or dying. It’s time to celebrate their work, from the pioneers of the hospice movement to the doctors and inventors changing how we think about death and dying today.