Intro to Natural Burials - Part 1

In a culture dominated by expensive and impersonal end-of-life ceremonies, many seek a holistic body of funeral rites and practices that honor our dead and comfort the living in ways that reflect progressive values. We can empower ourselves in caring for our beloved dead (and our finances!) by educating ourselves about our legal/consumer rights, how our death choices affect the earth and the workings of the funeral industry.

Join us at the Athens Public Library for this two-part program:

Session one: Monday October 30th, 6-7:30pm:

Interested in the idea of alternatives to standard funerals but have never yet explored much about the topic? In this introductory discussion led by local natural burial educator Charlene Suggs, expect a frank and lively roundtable on death, natural processes and current death care practices, including natural burial, home deaths and death midwifery.

Session two: Monday, November 20th, 6-7:30pm

Are you local to the Athens area and ready to plan out the details of the natural burial you hope to hold for yourself or a loved one? Join Cheryl Cesta of the Southeast Ohio Natural Burial Working Group for an informal Q and A to explore end-of-life legalities and options specific to our county.

Presenter Bios:

To help grow public awareness about memorial and legal alternatives to conventional death care in America, Charlene Suggs has been researching and presenting introductory workshops on this topic since the late 1990s.  Her ongoing work emphasizes more meaningful and less costly experiences with death that also contribute to the health of the planet and our own well-being.  

Cheryl Cesta is a founding member of SONBWG, whose mission is to educate and empower community members regarding our rights and options for affordable and environmentally friendly burial in Ohio. Cheryl has networked and developed relationships with area Funeral Directors and Township Trustees in Athens County to provide related services and sites for natural burial.