How we care for our dead in the U.S. is a reflection of prevailing cultural, spiritual, and economic norms that are being challenged for a variety of reasons. Learn how the funeral industry came to be in the U.S., what influences are still at play, and how you can negotiate your way through the design and purchase of goods and services that resonate with your values.

We’ll debunk some myths about health and public safety, explore the laws around who owns the dead, and explain in detail how to create meaningful, affordable, and healing funerals that are family-directed and community supported. And we’ll talk about social justice in the death space, the ecologically and spiritually redeeming qualities of home care and natural burial, plus emerging processes and products that seek to provide life-affirming activities and outcomes at prices more can afford.