A workshop on green burial options and possibilities is set for 7:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall, 429 Warrick St., Morgantown. Those interested may also attend via Zoom.
The workshop is free and open to the public and will be facilitated by Dr. Bill Reger-Nash.
Green or natural burials are becoming more commonplace throughout the U.S. However, sites for such burials are limited in and around Morgantown and across West Virginia. Conventional wakes, burials and cremations consume enormous resources and can be problematic for the planet. In a green or natural burial, the deceased are buried without caskets, coffins or concrete vaults.
Reger-Nash is a retired public health professional interested in burial alternatives that emphasize balance with nature, simplicity, affordability and environmental sustainability. The session will include a presentation by Reger-Nash, followed by a discussion of available resources and the establishment of a timeline for future work.
An introductory workshop was conducted in September by Lynne Ireland-Knight, a certified death doula and hospice nurse with years of experience providing compassionate and personalized end-of-life care. Strong interest was expressed, and the suggestion was made to invite the WV Land Trust to a subsequent meeting. The trust will have a representative at Wednesday’s meeting. A previous meeting of the National Land Trust Association examined the possibility of using its lands for green burials.
Green burial cemeteries exist in Preston County (sunsetmem.com) and the Pittsburgh area, including Penn Forest Cemetery. The Smith Funeral Home in Westover is certified to provide green burial services. These professionals can answer questions.
To join the Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/872995046?pwd=cDhOSUluUmRmdmV6Rk83K21ZY3paQT09
Meeting ID: 872 995 046, Passcode: Serenity1
