What is a home funeral? How can I have a green burial? Do I have to hire a Funeral Director? On this podcast we’ll be focusing on reclaiming our innate right to care for our own loved ones at death in natural, and often, environmentally friendly ways. We’ll demystify the tasks related to after death care through hearing stories from people who have ventured into culturally unfamiliar territory and cared for their own deceased loved ones at home, chose a natural burial or both. Hearing what’s possible and how lives have been transformed by engaging in this final act of love is one path towards changing our culture and our relationship to death. A Path Home is a production of the National Home Funeral Alliance.
Today Sarah shares her conversation with De Clarke following the sudden death of her beloved husband, Jonathan Knowles. De was faced with many challenges that she had to navigate in order to provide the natural burial Jon wanted in the midst of the shock and grief of his unexpected death. Support the show
Maru's Generosity
Moreka Jolar shares the story of attending to her mother at the end of her life. Her mum, Maru, lived an unconventional life so it was no surprise that she chose to die in a rather unconventional way as well. Her spirit of generosity shone throughout her life and included helping her 8 year old granddaughter come to terms with her death. Support the show
Weaving a Life in Deathwork
Today, Sarah talks with India West, a farmer, willow casket weaver and natural burial advocate in Indiana. India made the funeral arrangements for their mother after her sudden death, followed by caring for their father at the end of his life and honoring his wishes to be buried in the conservation burial ground he was instrumental in developing in the state of Indiana. See the links below to view (and order!) India's handcrafted willow caskets and the Warren Prairie Sanctuary. https://www.riverstyxwillow.com/ https://www.instagram.com/riverstyxwillowfarm/ https://www.warrenprairiesanctuary.org/ Support the show
On the Bones of Ancestors
On today’s episode I have a conversation with Noba Anderson, a resident of Cortes Island in British Columbia, Canada. Cortes has an active Community Death Care group that has provided death care education, helped greatly with navigating the paper trail that accompanies a death, and generally supports people to know their rights regarding home based funeral care. Noba shares her experience of tending to her dear friends, Kristen Scholfield-Sweet and John Shook, as they died in their home and the natural burial that followed. Support the show
Meeting Grief at the Holidays
Updated audio as of 12/10/2025. On this episode we hear from death and grief doula, Joslyn Roadstrom, who shares with us the many ways she meets her grief five years after her son, Israel, died in the hospital just a couple of months shy of his second birthday. You can find and follow Joslyn on Instagram at sacredroaddoula. She posts helpful videos and offers one on one grief support. https://www.instagram.com/sacredroaddoula/?hl=en Support the show
Naomi and Doug Co-Creating Art with his Death
On today’s episode I have a conversation with Naomi Hayter on Cortes Island in Western Canada. The community-led deathcare group on the island provided the circle of support and logistical guidance that Naomi needed to get through the death of her life-partner, Doug, not long after she had tended to her mother’s dying and death in a faraway city. Naomi shares how the after-death care and the green burial they provided for Doug was a real eye-opener and a transformative experience for her. Support the show
Reflections on NHFA Board work
On this episode, Sarah Crews has a conversation with Isabel Knight and Winx Gall as they reflect on the work they did while serving on the Board of Directors for the National Home Funeral Alliance. You can download the Home Funeral Guidebook, that they were instrumental in creating, at the link below. https://www.homefuneralalliance.org/ Support the show
Father in the Garden
On this first episode of Season 6, Sarah talks with Csenge Kolozsvari who, along with her four year old daughter, traveled from Montreal to her home village in Hungary to accompany her father on his dying journey. She shares the intimate and personal details of being present to her father's needs during his final weeks. Csenge is an artist and bodyworker. You can reach her here: https://www.thebreathing-room.com/en/home And she mentions this book, Die Wise , by Stephen Jenkinson in our conversation: https://orphanwisdom.com/shop/die-wise/ Support the show
The Path Brent Took
On this episode Sarah has a conversation with Ed Nelson and his son, Erick Nelson. In February of 2023 Ed's brother Brent died from throat cancer. He had mentioned to Ed that he wanted a natural burial. Erick arrived in Kansas a couple of days before the scheduled burial and participated in an anointing ceremony with his dad, honoring his uncle. Support the show
Caring for Jeff at the Ashram
Naomi Worob and Tina Zuccarello share the story of bringing Jeff to the ashram he loved to spend his final weeks surrounded by people who loved him and bury him on the property. Support the show
Known for Her Smile
On today's episode, Carolyn Dehnbostel describes the home funeral she and her family provided for her mom, Betty, at their cabin in Minnesota, followed by a natural burial on their own land and the logistics involved in getting it all arranged. Support the show
Holding her Heart
Today, Sarah has a conversation with Leslie Stager about the after-death care she and a small circle of friends provided to her mom at her home in Maine. Leslie's mom died unexpectedly which made keeping her home a little challenging. Support the show
Grandfather Hank
Today, Sarah speaks with Krista Marshall in upstate NY who shares the story of the after-death care provided to an elder in the community she lived in for a time in Vermont. Grandfather Hank was beloved in the area for his presence and helpful spirit from his work with teens to his active pursuit of making life better for the people in his ever-widening circles. https://www.nancyjewelpoer.com/product-page/living-into-dying https://malidoma.com/main/ Support the show
The Deathwives on Grief
For today's bonus Winter Solstice episode, Sarah has a conversation about grief with Colorado-based Deathwives, Lauren Carroll and Erin Merelli. To listen to Erin's Tedx Talk click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryIS6RdU5KI And to peruse all the amazing courses and content the Deathwives have to offer check out their website here: https://deathwives.org/ Support the show
Community Deathcare Ottawa
On today's episode Sarah has a conversation with three members of the Ottawa Death Care Collective in Ottawa, Canada. Kelly Butler, Heather Martel and Deb Charbonneau share with us the personal paths that led each of them to engage in the important work of community death care. You'll find their website here: https://communitydeathcareottawa.com/ And read about the wind phone here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_phone Support the show
Glenda Villegas of Thresholds, Home and Family-Directed Funerals
Glenda Villegas is the funeral director at Thresholds, Home and Family-Directed Funerals, LLC. based in San Diego, California. Glenda represents a growing group of progressive funeral professionals who recognize the value of supporting families who choose to do most of the after-death care themselves. https://thresholdsfamilydirectedfunerals.com/ Support the show
Sally's Last Gathering
Sarah has a conversation with Anne Archbold and Paul Sommers about the plan Paul's mom, Sally made to donate her body to the medical school at the University of Minnesota after she died. Sally also requested a natural burial. Everything aligned in order for Sally to accomplish both. Support the show
The Weaver Boys Take Care of Dad
On this first episode of Season 5, Sarah sits down with three brothers, Zach, Kevin and Sky Weaver, who share the story of preparing their dad, Phil for a natural burial. To check out the music of The Gravy Ladles here is the link to their YouTube page. https://www.youtube.com/@thegravyladlesmusic You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram Support the show
Following Sue's Lead
On today's episode Sarah has a conversation with David Schinsing about his wife Sue's experience with ovarian cancer and the home funeral they planned together. Sue was a nurse, a birth doula and home-schooled their children. Support the show
Nora "Bird" Takes Flight
Today I have a conversation with Lauren Sample about the home funeral and natural burial her family held for her daughter Nora, nicknamed "Bird," and the many final acts of love provided to Bird in her last hours of living and following her death. Support the show
