Bluestem Burial Crews

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Burial crew volunteers perform a significant role in supporting staff and incoming families during burial services. Individuals are invited to serve on a burial crew only after participating in some volunteer capacity at Bluestem.

Burial services are very personal, intimate and organic. We learn as much as we can about the burial service prior to interment but we cannot dictate nor predict a family's personal choice, nor ritual. 

Our role is best described as a silent and compassionate witness. We create the space for families to hold their service and their experiences, privately. It is a privilege to support families with the required tasks rather than to expect to participate in the service itself.

“Training” for burial crew positions occurs in the field. If you are new to the position, you will shadow a seasoned volunteer on your first crew. Feel free to ask them questions.

Burial services occur in all manner of weather, in rain, wind or under the hot sun. They are frequently unscripted. Family members can be fragile. Burial crew volunteers must be attentive and responsive to these conditions.

Regularly, we have circumstances that we are not prepared for. We do the best we can in the moment. If you find you need a break, please alert one of your crew members and take a pause. If the position does not meet your needs, please notify us and we will relieve you. 

Crew Member Responsibilities

Tasks you may be asked to perform can include any below as well as covering for a spontaneous moment that takes us all by surprise.  

• Welcome guests and direct them to parking areas
• Transport burial attendees using a golf cart
• Assist with set up and break down of both the gravesite and the service area
• Transport burial equipment and Bluestem benches around the property
• Support staff with trapping, digging, moving, and shoveling dirt
• Carry the deceased from a transportation vehicle to the gravesite
• Lower casket/shrouded body into the grave if family chooses not to
• Backfill the grave at the end of service
• Maintain standby with the golf cart for any emergencies
• Monitor public access during the service to ensure the privacy of the burial party
• Spontaneous troubleshooting

Crew Member Expectations

As an important contributor to the burial crew, we ask you for:

• Discretion. Please respect all matters of family confidentiality. 
• Your full and quiet presence during burial services.
• Familiarity with Bluestem mission, protocols and layout.
• Respect for teamwork and group processes.
• Ability to recognize and recover from mistakes.
• Willingness to give and receive constructive feedback.
• Comfortable moving bodies that are casketed or shrouded.
• Your participation in our post burial reflections/evaluations.
• Direct communications with the Co-directors if at any time you are unable to completeyour responsibilities.
  

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Please wear closed-toed shoes and long pants for safety, and wear a Bluestem shirt and/or hat so you're easily identified as part of the crew. Casual, hiking or outdoor work wear is fine. You may want to bring a water bottle, hat, sunscreen, rain jacket, and/or bug spray depending on weather.

If during your experience, visitors or family members ask questions about Bluestem, feel free to respond in your own words. You can also direct them to another volunteer or the Co-directors. We maintain a robust FAQ page on the website that you can also reference.

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Thank You 

Burial crew volunteers are one of the most essential and meaningful roles at Bluestem.  Your time is a gift to Bluestem families and to us. Thank you for being a part of this journey. As we grow in our experiences together, we welcome your feedback and ideas for improving our processes.

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Header photo courtesy of Martha Walton. (V-10)