Planning for Burial  

You may be considering Bluestem as a final place of rest. 

If this is the case, several other important decisions must be made as part of your end of life plan. Green burial requires a good deal of planning, not only at the cemetery but from the moment of death. In the middle of grieving a loved one, families are faced with decisions about caring for the body, calling in family, transportation logistics, scheduling, readying the gravesite, crafting a service, and participating in the lowering of the casket, scattering of flowers, and closing of the grave.

​We offer the following Six Decisions as a starting place to begin your planning.

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Six Decisions 

YOUR BODY AFTER DEATH 

• Who will take care of your body after death?
  
• ​Can your family and/or friends perform this service? 
• Does your faith community provide this service?  
• Will you need the support of a Home Funeral Guide? 
  
• Will you prefer to work with a Funeral Home?

WHO WILL FILE FOR YOUR DEATH CERTIFICATE 

• Can your family and/or friends perform this service? 
• Does your faith community provide this service?  
• Will you need the support of a Home Funeral Guide? 
  
• Will you prefer to work with a Funeral Home?

BIODEGRADABLE BURIAL CONTAINER  

• What type of container will you be buried in?
• Burial containers at Bluestem must be biodegradable  
  
• Consider natural fibers, a wood or woven casket, a family quilt, a cardboard box
  
• Have you purchased your burial container?
  
• Will you need to consider construction or shipping time?  

TRANSPORTATION TO BLUESTEM   

• How will your body be brought to Bluestem?
• Can your family perform this service?  
• ​Do you have a friend willing to transport you? 
  
• Will you work with a Funeral Home? 

GRAVESITE SELECTION
Once Bluestem is open you can make these arrangements with us ahead of time. Stay tuned for instructions.

• Have you selected a grasslands or woodlands burial?
• Have you signed an Interment Agreement with Bluestem?
  
• Have you paid for the burial plot and burial fees? 

BURIAL SERVICE    

• Do you have a faith/spiritual leader who will lead your service?
  
• Will family and/or friends lead the service?
  
• Will family and/or friends participate in the service? 
  
• ​Who will be the point of contact for Bluestem? 

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 Home funeral guides, hospice volunteers, some funeral homes and other professionals in the death care industry can help you with these decisions. We are currently building a list of these service providers and plan to share our list on the website soon. 

Every month, Bluestem offers a scheduled presentation or learning opportunity during our Bluestem Conversations program. Check out past offerings and upcoming sessions here.