Cemetery Services Guidelines for Natural Burial at Mount Auburn | Page 4

Burial Containers

Planning Ahead

Do you plan to be wrapped in a shroud or buried in a simple wooden casket ? Will you be utilizing the services of a funeral director or are you planning for a home funeral ?
As you make plans for your own funeral , or plan for the funeral of a family member or a friend , please keep Mount Auburn ’ s natural burial policies in mind . These guidelines have been created in partnership with both local funeral directors and natural death care advocates to ensure that we are providing flexible options that meet the needs of our many clients .

Burial Containers

Mount Auburn allows for shrouds , simple wooden caskets , or any other biodegradeable container .
Caskets Wooden caskets must be free of toxic materials ; they should be held together with wooden dowels and non-toxic glues . Wicker , bamboo or other natural materials are permitted . They must not be painted with toxic paints or varnishes . A handmade casket cannot exceed the standard size casket . If an oversized casket is required , please notify Mount Auburn to ensure the grave may be expanded to the dimensions of the casket .
Shrouds A shrouded body without any other container is allowed . A wooden shrouding board must be used for transporting and lowering the body into the grave . The shrouding board will be used to stabilize the body on the lowering device , and subsequently , will be placed into the grave along with the body .
* Please note that even if the shroud has straps sewn into it for the purpose of lowering the body into the grave , Mount Auburn ’ s lowering device will be used .