According to Gemini AI, “(the number of) articles can indicate short-term reactions, they can also foretell longer-term trends by reflecting shifts in public and business attention and sentiment”.  And, if you read the number of articles that I do while researching for Funeral Director Daily, you would probably believe, as I do, that there is great interest in the subject of “green or natural burials”.

However, like anything new and somewhat different, there seems to be a great deal of caution from governmental organizations in granting permissions for green or natural cemeteries.

That preamble brings us to the case of Matt Connell and his 20-acre parcel located about 25 miles southwest of Duluth, Minnesota, in Minnesota’s Carlton County.  According to Connell, and from information in this article, it appears that Connell bought his acreage with, what he claims “was (already) zoned to allow for a private cemetery, without the need to acquire a conditional use permit.”

Turns out that now we are over two years later and Connell has survived a 2-year moratorium from the Minnesota legislature on Minnesota natural cemeteries and now another moratorium on an approval process, expected to last at least one year put in place by Carlton County officials.

According to the same linked article as above,  “(Connell) and his business partner filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing Carlton County officials of illegally blocking his project on land zoned to allow for private cemeteries. He also alleges that the county is violating his constitutional and religious rights.”

Carlton County in response filed a motion to have the lawsuit dismissed and those arguments were heard on Wednesday, October 22, in Federal Court.  A decision on that motion is expected in 60 to 90 days.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily:  The eventual decision in this case may give some clarity about green cemeteries vs. traditional cemeteries and the associated factors about public health, environmental concerns, and the public acceptance of things that are new and different in the greater Death Care world.

According to an expert quoted in the article, there is no cemetery specifically devoted to the green or natural burial method as of this time in Minnesota.  According to that same expert, there are green or natural burials in Minnesota but they have taken place in areas of traditional cemeteries.

From my point of view, I don’t know if green or natural cemeteries will become mainstream or continue as a niche business in the greater Death Care universe, however, there seems to be plenty of interest in them and it will be interesting to see where this disagreement ends up.

Related Articles:

1. Proposed green burial cemetery in Carlton County in federal lawsuit.  Northern News Now (MN)
2. Petition for burial in shroud to National Assembly.  City News – Montreal, Quebec (Canada)

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

According to this issue of the Indianapolis Star an Indiana court of appeals ruled in late August that the State of Indiana “violated the First Amendment rights of a Fort Wayne “death doula” after it required her to obtain a funeral director license to provide end-of-life transition services”.

Indiana state (mortuary) regulators had argued that a business owned by Lauren Richwine called “Death Done Differently” was operating in a manner that required a state funeral license and had previously moved for a “cease-and-desist” order for that business.

The court ruled that ” her business does not offer services under the scope of such a license, and by asking her to cease to provide the bulk of her services, the state is infringing on her right to free speech.”

According to the article, Richwine and the state differed on what duties they considered to be the responsibility of a licensed funeral director.  The article states, “A funeral director arranges for the removal of a dead body, prepares the body, files death certificates, assists with death benefits and directs funeral ceremonies, according to the Indiana Funeral Directors Association. Obtaining a license requires schooling, exams, an apprenticeship and various fees.”

Again, according to the Indianapolis Star article, Richwine countered by inferring that “(her) practice consists of consulting with clients to plan and support end-of-life planning. . .  She advises clients on post-death procedures, components of the funeral service and burial options. She also provides general advice to ease stress and provide support.”

The circuit court said “the state’s enforcement of the Indiana Code was too broad and limiting such access to information qualified as “overregulation.”

They also commented that “… (W)e do not see how the statute furthers the state’s interest in consumer protection by depriving its citizens of the opportunity to have a neutral third party assist survivors in selecting which items and services to purchase from a funeral home.”

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  This is not the end to this case which, according to the article started when a “member of the funeral services industry alleged Ms. Richwine was unlawfully practicing as a funeral director”.

I believe that there has to be some regulations around the mortuary science profession, especially when it comes to handling the remains.  However, I also believe that there is room for somebody like a “Death Doula”, “Event Planner”, or “Funeral Concierge” to operate a business that helps those with little knowledge of how the business operates navigate the decisions that have to be made.

It’s my opinion that some of the market for these types of third-party helpers could be limited if funeral homes were more open about their pricing and systems of operations.  And, it is not only funeral homes that are a little opaque in giving the consumer public information to make informed decisions.  I think the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) muddies up the dynamics of funeral service in the way they seem to want “General Price Lists” detailed for consumers.

I’m of the opinion that “Death Care Decisions” are sub-consciously divided into three categories by the average consumer.  Again, it is my opinion that services and prices would be easier understood by the consumer, requiring less third-party intervention, if they were arranged in packages of these types:

1. Disposition of the Body  (Traditional Burial, Green Burial, Cremation, Alkaline Hydrolysis, Natural Organic Reduction, etc)
2. Services/Celebrations (Private or public visitation, church service, other memorial service, luncheons, receptions, etc)
3. Memorialization (Cemetery, monuments, entombments, Better Place Forest, scattering, Parting Stone, Cremation Jewelry, etc)

And, I think the Federal Trade Commission should move in this direction with the note to consumers that the “Disposition of the Body” portion requires a licensed funeral director involvement.  The other components (Services/Celebrations/Memorialization) may or may not require the services of a licensed funeral director  —  dependent on the choice made.

Until the Death Care profession can get consumers to easily understand the services and prices that we offer, the traditional death care providers are simply asking for more competition by Death Doulas, Funeral Concierges, and the like who will offer these “helping hand” services to confused consumers.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”