Natural Death Care: Learnings from Dying Matters Week

Go With Grace Founder Katy Mandeno highlighted the importance of people understanding all their options when it comes to death care and farewell planning.

Natural Death Care Workshops & Presentations

At the ‘Natural Death Care & Creative Funerals’ presentation, the team from A Graceful Undertaking led a lively discussion about how we can stay engaged in caring for our own after death, natural options for caring for a body, home funerals and what it takes to create a unique, personalised, family led funeral. More about Home Funerals and Keeping a Body at Home…

Stephen from Maunu Cemetery in Whangarei talked about how the Maunu Natural Burial Site came about and why it is different to the rest of the country, why they do not plants trees/plants and what is required to be a natural burial.  He also explained the difference between a natural burial and a green burial, and natural burials after cremation. More about natural burials in New Zealand…

Karen Williamson from Ake Ake Shrouds showcased her shroud-making process, and demonstrating the ritual of shrouding. Attendees were able to touch and feel the stunning natural fabrics and try their hand at shrouding. As Karen says, “These simple wrap style shrouds for those concerned about the impact of funerals on mother earth, and for families and friends who wish to be personally involved in the sacred act of shrouding their deceased loved one.”

In most regions of New Zealand, End of Life Doulas championed and spoke at Dying Matters Week events. An End of Life Doula is a companion who supports a person, and their family, as they navigate life leading up to their death and beyond.  Their primary role is to offer non-medical, holistic care, supporting the person’s choices in a kind and non-judgemental way. More about end-of-life doula services…

Learnings from event attendees

We asked attendees at Dying Matters Week events what the most interesting and relevant thing they learnt was at each event they attended. Below are a few of the responses…

• The wide scope of the different mediums you can be buried in.
• It opened my eyes to options that I had been told weren’t options. It was very refreshing to know who is in control – ‘the family’.
• The many ways our funerals can be personally organised.
• Confidence to be shrouded. 
• The availability of natural burial.
• How a body is preserved with ice.