The mission of the NHFA is to educate individuals, families, and communities about caring for their dead.
THE NATIONAL HOME FUNERAL ALLIANCE
National Home Funeral Alliance
OUR MISSION
The National Home Funeral Alliance (NHFA) is a nonprofit membership organization committed to reconnecting to our heritage, educating individuals, families and communities, empowering families, and encouraging those who further the practice of home funerals.
REVIVING A FAMILY TRADITION
Until the 19th century, funerals were family, church, and community affairs. The family washed and laid out the body, dressed or draped it, and ordered the coffin from the local carpenter or made it themselves. It was the family who carried the coffin from home to the graveyard, often digging the grave as well. Despite the rise in professional death care, it is and has always been legal in every state and province for families to care for loved ones at home from death until final disposition.
The National Home Funeral Alliance (NHFA) is a nonprofit membership organization committed to reconnecting to our heritage, educating individuals, families and communities, empowering families, and encouraging those who further the practice of home funerals.
REVIVING A FAMILY TRADITION
Until the 19th century, funerals were family, church, and community affairs. The family washed and laid out the body, dressed or draped it, and ordered the coffin from the local carpenter or made it themselves. It was the family who carried the coffin from home to the graveyard, often digging the grave as well. Despite the rise in professional death care, it is and has always been legal in every state and province for families to care for loved ones at home from death until final disposition.
WHAT IS A HOME FUNERAL?
Home funerals occur when a loved one is cared for at home after death,
giving family time to gather and participate in:
Home funerals occur when a loved one is cared for at home after death,
giving family time to gather and participate in:
Photo courtesy of Jerrigrace Lyons Final Passages
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THE VALUE OF HOME FUNERALS
Home funerals invite family, friends, and community into an authentic and healing after-death care ex-perience in a safe and familiar place, with care performed by loving hands.
Home funerals invite family, friends, and community into an authentic and healing after-death care ex-perience in a safe and familiar place, with care performed by loving hands.
"Families choosing home funerals express gratitude for the intimacy, connection, and sense of purpose that results from this organic and timeless practice."
THE ROLE OF HOME FUNERAL GUIDES
Home funeral guides do not conduct after-death care as do licensed funeral directors. Guides teach, demonstrate, advise and support families and friends who then conduct their own care and make their own informed decisions.
NHFA WEBSITE RESOURCES
Our website www.homefuneralalliance.org is rich in resources, including archived and recent articles, interviews, blogs, newsletters, how-to manuals, member education, and information gathered just for you. We welcome the opportunity to answer questions, present programs, and teach workshops and trainings. Our Get Assistance Directories webpage lists:
FUNERAL COSTS
A full-service contemporary funeral in the US costs on average $10-12K. Even direct cremation or im- mediate burial is out of reach for many. By contrast, a family willing to care for their own will spend a fraction of that cost. Old-fashioned virtues of frugality, simplicity, self-reliance, and care for the earth guide us in demonstrating our love and esteem.
ENVIROMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
From rainforest woods and imported steel to toxic chemicals and concrete, the negative impact on the environment associated with standard funerals is staggering. The NHFA encourages environmentally friendly practices, such as natural cooling methods rather than embalming, green burial without vaults, and the use of locally made caskets and shrouds sourced from sustainable regional materials.
BECOME A MEMBER
By becoming a lifetime member of the NHFA, you are supporting home funeral education and home funeral guides, educators, and advocates. Members enjoy benefits such as monthly conference calls, mentorship programs, a monthly e-newsletter, and discounts on conferences and other NHFA events.
Home funeral guides do not conduct after-death care as do licensed funeral directors. Guides teach, demonstrate, advise and support families and friends who then conduct their own care and make their own informed decisions.
NHFA WEBSITE RESOURCES
Our website www.homefuneralalliance.org is rich in resources, including archived and recent articles, interviews, blogs, newsletters, how-to manuals, member education, and information gathered just for you. We welcome the opportunity to answer questions, present programs, and teach workshops and trainings. Our Get Assistance Directories webpage lists:
- speakers near you • instructors and trainers
- home funeral guides • home funeral-friendly funeral directors
- celebrants, chaplains, and clergy
FUNERAL COSTS
A full-service contemporary funeral in the US costs on average $10-12K. Even direct cremation or im- mediate burial is out of reach for many. By contrast, a family willing to care for their own will spend a fraction of that cost. Old-fashioned virtues of frugality, simplicity, self-reliance, and care for the earth guide us in demonstrating our love and esteem.
ENVIROMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
From rainforest woods and imported steel to toxic chemicals and concrete, the negative impact on the environment associated with standard funerals is staggering. The NHFA encourages environmentally friendly practices, such as natural cooling methods rather than embalming, green burial without vaults, and the use of locally made caskets and shrouds sourced from sustainable regional materials.
BECOME A MEMBER
By becoming a lifetime member of the NHFA, you are supporting home funeral education and home funeral guides, educators, and advocates. Members enjoy benefits such as monthly conference calls, mentorship programs, a monthly e-newsletter, and discounts on conferences and other NHFA events.
Support NHFAWe ask you to give to the National Home Funeral Alliance because in all 50 states it is your right to care for your own loved one after death. The NHFA is working to make sure communities and families know their rights. Please consider becoming a sustaining donor and help us continue this important work
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