Burial

                                                                                                    

In-ground whole body burial and above ground entombment are established and respected practices which many still choose today. If other family members have been buried or entombed in a mausoleum, it can be reassuring for the surviving members and future generations to know that their family tradition continues.

The resurgence of green burial and natural death care options in recent years has encouraged people to continue their sustainable life values at death.

Photo taken at Salt Spring Island Natural Burial Cemetery.

       

Conventional Burial

KORU’s definition of “Conventional Burial” is when the deceased is buried in a conventional cemetery which requires the use of a wood or metal casket to enclose the deceased, the deceased is often embalmed even though it is not mandatory, a grave liner or vault is placed over the casket before final burial and individual headstones mark the grave.

Green Burial 

KORU is one of a select number of funeral homes that meet the criteria for providing green funeral service by the Green Burial Council.

“Green Burial is a statement of personal values for those who seek to minimize their impact on the local and global environment. For people who are mindful of the cyclical nature of life, green burial is a spiritually fulfilling alternative to conventional burial or cremation. It is an environmentally sensitive practice: the body is returned to the earth to decompose naturally and contribute to new life.”   

 –  Green Burial Society of Canada

There are five principles of green burial that are essential.

1. No embalming (natural body care only)
2. Direct earth burial
3. Ecological restoration & conservation
4. Communal memorialization
5. Optimize land use

For a detailed explanation of these principals, visit Green Burial Society of Canada.

 Green & Natural Burial Cemeteries

The cemeteries in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands that have achieved a green burial designation from either the Green Burial Society of Canada or The Green Burial Council (USA) are listed below:

• Denman Island Natural Burial Cemetery, Denman Island
• Heritage Gardens Cemetery, Surrey
• Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver (hybrid green burial cemetery)
• Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria
• Salt Spring Island Natural Cemetery, Salt Spring Island
• Yates Memorial Services, Parksville

If Green Burial is not possible for you but you are interested in reducing your environmental impact during the funeral planning, here are 10 simple things you can do to make a difference:

1. Carpool to any gathering
2. Donate to a charity rather than sending flowers
3. Choose a biodegradable urn (if cremation has been chosen)
4. Choose an eco-friendly casket
5. Leave a living marker in memory of the one who has died by planting a native tree or shrub
6. Choose a memorial marker made from local stone, rather than using markers made of imported stone
7. Choose to use local foods and beverages for your gatherings
8. Use recycled paper for memorial cards
9. Leave condolences online rather than sending a card
10. Tell others about the option to choose eco-friendly funeral products and services