Planning & Options
Funeral Options
Work with a funeral home or conduct a home funeral.
Funeral homes are well positioned to serve the needs of families who choose green burial options, having established expertise in family counseling, funeral and interment planning, publishing obituaries, transportation of the deceased, and regulatory compliance. Since conservation organizations do not have this expertise, Baldwin Hill Conservation Cemetery has developed partnerships with area funeral homes. Working with a funeral home is the most reliable way to ensure a successful burial.
Baldwin Hill Conservation Cemetery strongly suggests working with a funeral home.
Work with a funeral home.
Communicate ahead of time.
Those who have purchased or intend to purchase burial rights at Baldwin Hill Cemetery should communicate in advance with a funeral home of their choosing and inform the funeral directors of their plans to be interred at Baldwin Hill Cemetery. Certain requirements must be met to be buried at Baldwin Hill Cemetery (such as no embalmment), which funeral homes must be made aware of. For a comprehensive list of those requirements, which can be shared directly with funeral homes, see our Rules and Regulations and the Green Burial Council Standards that we follow.
Primary responsibilities of a funeral home.
Identification of the deceased and all other end-of-life legal requirements, such as filing of legal paperwork.
Planning the funeral and interment with families.
Preparation and storage of the body in accordance with Green Burial Council Standards.
Transport of the body to the Cemetery.
Communication and coordination of services with the burial contractor and Baldwin Hill Cemetery as needed to complete the burial.
Handling of all service fees associated with the funeral and burial.
Primary responsibilities of loved ones and family members.
If working with a funeral home, the primary role of loved ones and family members of the deceased is to work with the funeral home to complete the interment process. Planning ahead can help to relieve stress during the time of mourning immediately following death.
Primary responsibilities of Baldwin Hill Cemetery.
The Baldwin Hill Cemetery is not directly involved in the funeral or burial process. Cemetery operations managers are responsible only for setting burial standards, managing the sale of burial rights, and stewarding the land.
Looking for a funeral home?
Nearly any funeral home should be capable of adapting their practices to meet the needs of those planning a burial at Baldwin Hill Cemetery. Just be sure to communicate your intention with the funeral home and share the burial requirements found in our Rules and Regulations.
A highly regarded and helpful resource regarding funerals is the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maine.
Hybrid.
It may be possible to take on some responsibilities outlined in the home funerals section below while still utilizing certain services of a funeral home. This relationship will depend on the specific funeral home and is yet another reason to communicate with a funeral home in advance.
GBC Certified Funeral Homes.
While it is not necessary to use a Green Burial Council certified funeral home, it provides some assurance that the Green Burial Council standards are being met throughout the process. At this time, there are no GBC certified funeral homes in this region of Maine to feature here. If you are a funeral home seeking certification, we suggest visiting the GBC website.
Baldwin Hill Cemetery is open for burial year-round. Funeral homes provide seven-day-a-week call services for families who need to immediately begin the burial process. It is best, however, to establish contact with a funeral home of your choosing ahead of time.
Home Funerals.
Those considering a home funeral must understand the responsibilities of such an endeavor. The Baldwin Hill Conservation Cemetery is not able to assist in the planning or performing of home funerals, otherwise known as ‘self-directed funerals.’
To understand the role of the cemetery and why it is not able to assist in the home funeral process, see About the cemetery.
Resources.
In addition to the information provided here, we recommend seeking out additional information from a variety of resources. This subject is outside our area of expertise, and we do not cover every necessary detail here.
A small and non-comprehensive list of resources:
Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maine – offers resources and support for families looking to explore alternative funeral options.
National Home Funeral Alliance – provides access to information related to community-led after-death care.
Last Things–Alternatives at the end of life – a Maine-specific home funeral resource.
Cedar Brook Burial Ground: Planning for a home funeral – Cedar Brook Burial Ground is located in Limington, ME.
NOLO Maine Funeral Laws – legal matters discussed by NOLO.
Maine Statutes – relevant Maine statues.
Other green cemeteries – a list of other natural cemeteries that may provide more information on this topic.
What it takes.
An authorized person (usually a family member) must coordinate all end-of-life details that would otherwise be handled by a funeral home. All aspects of transportation, paperwork, and coordination with the burial contractor becomes the responsibility of the family.
If someone other than the next-of-kin is to be authorized to make funeral arrangements and complete the paperwork, an authorization form will need to be completed and notarized by the dying person or the next of kin.
Below is an outline of the steps that must be completed between the time of death up to interment (burial) at Baldwin Hill Cemetery.
Transportation from place of death: The body may need to be transported from the place of death (such as a hospital or nursing home) to a place of after-death care (such as a funeral home or personal residence). In Maine, it is a legal requirement to obtain a burial-transit permit (disposition of human remains permit) from the State Registrar of Vital Statistics or the clerk of the municipality where death occurred. See Maine Title 22, §2843 for more information.
Care of body: The body will need to be cared for until the time of burial. Care of the body may include refrigeration, washing, and dressing.
File death certificate: A death certificate, obtained from the municipal clerk or by calling the Vital Records office at (207) 287-3181, is required by the state of Maine.
Coordinate the burial: The burial must be arranged with the burial contractor. If you have committed to a home funeral, please contact us to receive the burial contractors contact information. The contractor is familiar with our burial standards, however it is good to familiarize yourself with the burial process. The disposition of human remains permit is needed for burial.
Transportation to the cemetery: On the day of burial, the body must be transported with the proper permitting to the cemetery. In addition to the permit, state regulations state that “Dead bodies shall be transported in private vehicles only by authorized persons and shall be enclosed in a suitable container made for that purpose which shall be concealed from public view.” (Maine Health and Human Services Rule 10-146, Chapter 1)