Q&A with Julia Brough about Death Doulas

Pearl Marvell • October 30, 2025

Julia co-founded End of Life Rhode Island, an organization with a mission to educate the public about the role of the end-of-life doula.

When Julia Brough is not sitting in front of a computer, she can sometimes be found by the side of someone who is dying. She is a death doula, also known as an end-of-life doula or death midwife, a growing vocation that is part of a larger movement that is changing how we look at death. 


Although the term “death doula” might seem new and different, for thousands of years, societies across the world have had individuals trained in helping the dying. Today, there are about 1600 death doulas throughout the U.S. 


Julia sat down with us to talk about her work and the organization she co-founded, End of Life Rhode Island, whose mission is to educate the public about the role of the end-of-life doula, as well as raise public awareness around death, dying, and end-of-life planning and support in Rhode Island. 


This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
 
Memorial Funeral Home:   So, Julia, tell me what you do and what got you into this work? 

 
Julia Brough: My 9-to-5 is a digital project manager, so I am at a computer a minimum of 40 hours a week. And then during 2020, I was speaking with my therapist at the time, I was just kind of ruminating on being on a computer for the majority of my week. I wanted to explore some other field to get involved in, ironically, during a healthcare shut down. 


I said, “What in this space could I do?” And I mentioned to her that I had just gotten a birth doula book, but I wasn't feeling compelled to open it, and she said, “Well, have you ever heard of a death doula?” I immediately went and googled it and found the University of Vermont Certificate program, which is one of the largest certificate programs, and signed up for it. I think it was about eight weeks. 


Throughout the program, I said, “This is literally what I'm equipped to do.”  It just felt like all the little puzzle pieces were coming together, being a project manager. And really, that's what an end-of-life doula is, we have a point A and a point B. You have to kind of see at a high level and understand what your client wants to accomplish within that time. So it felt like a really nice marriage of everything I have worked towards. 


After you get a certificate, there isn't really like a path. You have to either start your own business and have that entrepreneurial energy, or people will go and volunteer with hospice. So I went through the volunteer process with Hope Health. During that time, I was still talking about, “What do I want to do? How do I use this skill?” And I talked about it enough that at a dinner party, someone connected me to Judith Sutphen. Her and I met and we said, “We need a community.” So we started End of Life Rhode Island with the intention of public outreach, professional education, and giving ourselves a space to be together. 


We need to educate Rhode Island, like people don't know [what a death doula is]. And she happened to know a cohort of people that had gone through the program or were just really tangentially interested, like funeral celebrants and folks that work in grief therapy at the VA.  


We started organizing in 2022. And then we went through our strategic planning last year because we were like, “Okay, who do we want to be when we grow up?” And that was super helpful. Now, we're coming up on a year of having a marketing committee, a professional education committee, we've done a program every month and a  public outreach committee. 


MFH:  That's awesome. And how has the reception been? 

 
Julia: A lot of the first questions are, “How much does it cost?” We're not regulated at this point--some people are doing it for their livelihood, some people don't need to do it for income. I try to price myself  at a sliding scale. I'm very flexible. I have a full-time job. I'd like to make some money for the skill set, but also, I'd much rather get the work done. 

 

We most often get asked, "What is the difference between hospice and end-of-life doula work?" And so that's a really interesting question to get.


Mainly hospice is a medical provider and these medical professionals need to meet patients on a schedule. A doula can come at all of those in-between times and sit with their client, work with them, provide caregivers with respite. They are just more hands on deck, basically. 


I am 36 and I have talked a lot about this with a lot of my friends, many of them who are just starting a family or they already have kids, and a lot of them have responded with, “I could have really used this service with my aunt, uncle, grandfather, parent as they were dying of cancer.” Like just someone to sit in it with and be available.

 
MFH:   What do you think drew you to this work? 

 
Julia:  I've had a couple experiences that really resonated with me in different ways, one of them being my father died when I was 14 of a sudden heart attack at a a work Halloween party that I was not in attendance of - we were living in California at the time. I never saw him again. He went to the party with my mom, and then the next time I saw him was at the wake in Rhode Island.  


And then my two grandmothers passed. My mom's mom, she died in 2018. And my family, they know me to be very deeply emotional. And so there was this cajoling that needed to happen for me to come to her bedside. The whole family was around her deathbed and they reassured me, "Please come here, you can be here. We'll be here with you.” 


And then when I got there, I was like, “Oh, my gosh, I don't know if I can handle this.” I was encouraged to sit with her and speak with her, alone. That was incredible. To hold her hand and talk to her was something that I don't think a lot of people are reminded to do. 


And then my dad's mom passed, she was very lucid all the way up to the very end. And when she knew I was going through the doula program, she was like, “Will you come and be with me when I die?” She was in Laconia, New Hampshire. And the minute I heard she was not doing well I dropped everything and canceled my Thanksgiving plans with my mom's family. And I drove up there. I was by myself, and I spent two hours holding her hand, talking to her.


I got to experience her receive a prayer from the hospital chaplain. She held so tightly to her old worn scapular - a religious garment - as she nodded along with the prayer. And I relfected “I want to bear witness to that, to everyone's different religious views and like how that culminates at the end.” That was really, really intensely beautiful.


So these three stories kind of laid this foundation. When I learned that I can educate people on showing up and stepping into the death space and that it can be scary and it can be beautiful and you can be there for your people, it is really powerful and I wanted to do that work. 

 
MFH: That's really profound because it feels like we live in a very death-averse society and sometimes very emotionally averse, so to give people that opportunity to take those emotional walls down and give them that space, that's powerful. 

 
Julia:   I appreciate you reflecting that back. Our culture and relationship with death here in America is one of holding it all at arms length. This is a generalization of course, there are many cultures within this country that do handle death differently. But as a whole, we struggle with sitting close to death.


I can get a little extreme talking to my friends where I ask a question like, “Have you guys talked about your body disposition planning?” And a lot of them don't want to talk about it. I get it. I have two nieces: five and one years old, and that has definitely changed this journey of stepping deeper into the death care space.


It is scarier now knowing that I will miss time with them. But I try to ease that dread by reminding myself that our truth as humans is that we will all die. And to try to live a full and beautiful life with the time that we have is all we can do.

 
MFH: You refer to yourself as an emotional human being, does that work to your favor in this work? 

 
Julia: Oh yes, you can still be emotional in that space. Your humanness is what makes you relatable and approachable to those that are going through a very intense time of grief.  Doulas are providing their clients with the space and the strength to reach within themselves and navigate this new and final chapter. As well as the caregivers!


We all have these tools within us to advocate for ourselves and lean into vulnerability - we just need a little help from time to time. Doulas don't need to solve any problems. Doulas provide resources and ask questions to help clients travel through the forest of their final chapter.


The work that a doula is doing is showing up and saying, “Okay, we're going to sit in this space. We're going to talk about this, if you want to talk, and you're going to get to whatever that next point is.” 


MFH: So, walk me through what you're offering a family. Are you coming in weeks before a terminal diagnosis is given? 

 
Julia: You can start working with an end-of-life doula when you're healthy. One thing I have been doing is hosting death dinners where I make dinner for up to four people and facilitate conversation around death. Even just having these conversations when there are no ailments is a great way to work with a death doula - maybe once a year or so to keep documents up to date. 


You can start with working on an end-of-life planner! I have one that is titled, “I'm dead. Now what?” In it you have your passwords, you have who you want to be called upon death, which I love because I'm like, “Oh my gosh all my best friends.” And then there's also a document that we love to promote which is called Five Wishes and that is acknowledged in Rhode Island as your end-of-life document. There's like a whole bunch of things in there that you can circle. I've gone through it with my mom in pencil, and I just kind of reiterate to people that you can go through and change these documents at any point, as life evolves. This will help your end-of-life planning to start early and not be left for the last minute when things get very tied up in immense grief. 


Then when there is a timeline due to a diagnosis, working with that client to understand what they want their days to look like, if there are any efforts that they want to get such as recording your life's story, finishing a project that may be half complete, or combing through belongings to give them to friends and family - to name a few. 


I'm working with them to understand their body disposition options, because there are options that are not legalized yet in Rhode Island that they can take advantage of elsewhere, whether it be water cremation (aquamation) or human composting (natural organic reduction) or a natural burial verses a green burial. 


Then working with them to map out what their memorial would look like, in partnership with a funeral home. A living funeral could be a nice option where the client is able to attend and say their goodbyes, maybe pairing it as an opportunity to give those belongings away either to friends and family or donated in a specific manner (this is also known as Swedish death cleaning).  


Also taking time to understand what they want their space at the end of life to look like, feel like, smell like, and sound like. There is such a beautiful sense of autonomy that can be woven into this planning. 

Other things that can be planned is if the client would like a pet to be around or if there are people that they do not want to have in their space or if they would like to have their hands and feet lotioned - to again, name a few.

 

Doulas can help in so many different ways, and it really comes down to what that person's life looks like and what they need and you're kind of tailoring it for them.  

MFH: Once someone has died, does the work of the doula continue after that? 

 
Julia: Oh yes, we of course refer back to what the client's wishes are or what the family is comfortable with. Some doulas are available and able to help wash and shroud or dress the body. Putting the body on ice so visitors can come spend time to say final goodbyes. Prepping the body for the various internal changes that it will be going through - especially if it is not to be embalmed. A doula can assist with calling the doctor, calling the funeral home, spearheading that communication so that the loved ones can grieve. Doulas can help caregivers receive various tasks if they are interested in being involved such as opening the window to let the soul out or leading a prayer or song or poem. And finally, doulas can be available for the memorial / funeral / wake to make sure things go smoothly. There are lot of ways a doula can help after death. It is worth noting that not all doulas offer all of these services.

 
MFH:  Say there are people that you don't want in the room in those last hours or minutes. Do you designate someone within the family to be like, “Hey, you can't come in here?” Or does the doula take on the role of having those hard conversations with family? 

 
Julia:   Going back to whatever the client prefers - there definitely can be a bit of mediation involved in this role. Doulas show up as a neutral presence to create space for the dying to live their final days in the best manner they can. Being able to have those hard conversations, it's really guided by the client's wishes or if they are unable to communicate, deferring to what the immediate family would prefer. And maybe there's another way that you could communicate this to the individual. The client may not want the person in their presence physically so you could ask them to write a note instead or send flowers. As a doula, I am happy to have those conversations.

 
MFH:  Julia, thank you so much for this conversation. 


Julia: Thank you! And a should out to the folks I have been working with at End of Life RI, they are an incredible group of humans bringing so much to this corner of the death care space. If you are interested in learning more, we welcome you to join us to learn about our organization at endofliferi.org.  And I am always down for a coffee or tea or cocktail to chat more!


Thank you so much for your time and the space. 

 
 


Kim Shute's Review of This Time Tomorrow

By Kim Shute • January 8, 2026
How many of us wish we could go back in time to soak up more of the people we loved? I for one have wished for this multiple times since the death of my husband. I want to see him again because his life story is all jumbled in my memory. When did he take care of the grounds of that golf course? When did he walk off that roofing job in his 20s because they did not respect him? And I want more details on when he failed out of engineering school only to go back later after our son was born. Since all those things pre-date my entrance into his life, I have no way of finding out. No one in his life would remember or care about what seem like mundane details. The book review we have for you today is about this very topic. This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub was written while the author’s father was in the hospital. He had suggested she write a book about a daughter visiting her father in the hospital and that is exactly what she did. I am not a fan of Sci-Fi, but I can tolerate a bit of fantasy. I like my fantasy to be anchored in realism, no blue skin or characters named Tragorin for me. Emma Straub writes a time travel novel without any of the Sci-Fi vibes. Based firmly in realism unless you do the math on how old their pet cat is in 1996 and then in 2020. You may have to suspend your disbelief on that detail. It begins with the main character, Alice, on the eve of her fortieth birthday. Her life seems to be fine, albeit a bit lackluster. Her father who is a single father and famous for writing a time travel novel, is in the hospital. The next morning, Alice wakes up as her 16-year-old self, but she still has all the knowledge of her 40-year-old brain. The book does not have a Groundhog Day like quality to it, but she is trying to change the end result. With her father in the hospital in 2020 she finds herself wanting to spend lots of time with her dad when she goes back in time. She gets to ask all those questions that she did not care about the first time, when she was only consumed with her teen self and friends. This is a love story of a different variety, between a daughter and her dad, between her and her friends, and with herself. This book made me just want to read or listen instead of doing my grown-up responsibilities.  I hope you will give this book a try as it is both hopeful and wonderful.

Kim Shute's Review of Come See Me in the Good Light

By Kim Shute • December 2, 2025
Have you ever seen a film that stays with you for days and changes the way you approach and look at your own life? You can see the trailer and the film is currently available on Apple TV. This film follows two exceptional poets, Andrea Gibson and Meg Falley on their remarkable journey through love and loss. The cinematography, the words, and the meaning added together provide the audience with a gift. I have not often been a fan of poetry, but Maya Angelou, Amanda Gorman, E.E.cummings, and now Andrea Gibson and Meg Falley have made me reconsider this position. Andrea Gibson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in August of 2021, and this is their tale that begins with that news. The couple pull together and keep trying to stay alive through news both pleasant and unpleasant. Their love and dedication are breathtakingly showcased. This film is raw, authentic, uplifting, and deeply sad. It has won 5 awards so far including Festival Favorite at Sundance Film Festival in 2025. Gibson had rock star-like fame before their diagnosis as a spoken word poet. Their early career focused on social justice, gender norms, LGBTQ topics, and politics. After their diagnosis, the topics shifted to depression, mortality, life, illness, and love. This poet expresses feelings, sensations, and ideas that must be witnessed as they capture truths that touch all of our hearts at one time or another. 
Having The Talk of a Lifetime

Having the Talk of a Lifetime

November 19, 2025
When was the last time you sat down with a loved one and asked them questions about their life? Not just the day-to-day conversational questions, but the ones about the big and small moments? For many of us, we probably haven’t had these conversations. Unfortunately, many of us put these conversations off, thinking that we …

A Review of The Mortician

By Pearl Marvell • October 31, 2025
If you have been discussing movies and documentaries with your family and friends, you might have come across the HBO series, The Mortician, a three-part documentary about a funeral business in Pasadena, California back in the 1980s. We figured it was important to talk about it since you might have some questions about the funeral industry after watching it! The series primarily focuses on David Sconce, a funeral director at the Lamb Funeral Home, a family-run business that was established in the 1920s. The show draws on both horror and intrigue from how a family-run institution loved by the community betrayed the trust of hundreds of families. The Mortician lays out how Sconce turned the funeral home into a money-making machine by systematically violating ethical and legal boundaries: mass cremations, body mutilations, stealing materials of value like dental gold, returning misidentified ashes, and engaging in intimidation and even alleged murder. The series is especially chilling because of its access to Sconce himself—this is the first televised interview since his more recent release from prison (there have been many prison stays). His justifications, denials, and evasions reveal an unrepentant mentality that challenges what viewers might expect from someone caught at the center of such horror. This well-researched series is a must-watch if you are into horror and have a strong stomach! What The Mortician does especially well is bring death care into the spotlight and what it means to care for loved ones who have passed. For us at Memorial Funeral Home, it certainly is a reminder that it is understandable that some people might have some distrust in funeral homes! What we can do is assure you that we are held to the highest standard of ethical integrity, both by ourselves, the state and federally. If you do decide to watch this series, know that none of this would ever happen at Memorial Funeral Home! And please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Kim's Review of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

By Kim Shute • September 24, 2025
Life is too short, and it is especially too short for bad books, have I said that before? In this section we try to help you find books, movies, shows, and podcasts worth your time. This month you will need a box of tissues to read Marianne Cronin’s debut novel from 2021, but not for every page. Don’t worry, there are plenty of laughs within her novel too. This is a story of intergenerational friendship as well as life, loss, and resilience.  Lenni Pettersson, a Swedish born 17-year-old is in the terminal ward of the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital in Scotland. She is a bit of rebel and bored with her time there, she is often looking for ways to fill her days where she never gets out of her pajamas. The ways she relieves herself of boredom include going to the hospital’s chapel to ask questions. Lenni’s knowledge base about Christianity is mixed up between fairy tales and the bible. She is polite, playful, and direct. The priest, Father Arthur, takes a shine to Lenni. One exciting addition to her days is the newly opened art therapy space lovingly called The Rose Room. It is there she meets Margot Macrae, an 83-year-old, who has a bit of spunk. Lenni realizes that between the two of them they have lived 100 years. They decide to make a painting (mostly by Margot, a gifted painter) and story (mostly by Lenni who has a way with words) for every year of each of their lives. In between we get to hear the flashbacks of their individual histories. It is heartwarming and at times, heart wrenching. This book is loaded with storytelling that illustrates love, confusion, life, sadness, joy, and of course death. We hope you will consider this month’s recommendation. Let us know if you like it.

Kim's Review of Dying for Sex

By Kim Shute • September 5, 2025
Buckle up people this show is not for the faint of heart, as many TV shows challenge us these days, long gone are the days of Richie Cunningham and Happy Days. Once again, the content for this show is for mature audiences, I mean sex is in the title. Sex and death are not topics that typically go together, at least not out in public. This month we are covering a new show on Hulu and Disney + called Dying for Sex.  The story is loosely based on a true story. Molly, the main character (played by Michelle Williams) is in her 30’s and has terminal metastatic breast cancer. It is not hard to imagine when given such a grave diagnosis that a person might look for ways to escape reality or make the best of the days one has left. Molly does that in an unexpected way; she sets her sights on-- you guessed it-- sex and she dabbles in Fifty Shades of Gray territory. Molly has had an unhappy marriage and one that is sexually unfulfilling. What would you do in her shoes? She decides to leave her husband because he is unable to fulfill her sexual desires. He feels sad when he sees her breasts, as all he can see is her diagnosis and grim prognosis. We then watch Molly try to figure out how to meet her needs both alone and with others throughout the comedy drama miniseries. Molly’s relationship with her best friend, Nikki (played by Jenny Slate) is rich with humanity and humor. So much humor! The chemistry between these two actors is a treat to witness. They show us the messy side of being human and the beauty of how we come together to support one another in times of dire need. I find myself thinking about the subject matter of this show weeks after I have watched an episode. This story gives viewers the opportunity to walk in someone else’s shoes, no matter how uncomfortable. I wonder how people with a terminal cancer diagnosis or someone close to them experience this show? Is it a relief to see part of your journey on a TV show millions of others are watching or is it too soon? If you have thoughts about this, please send us an email at kim@memorialfuneralhome.com.

Welcome Norma Figueroa to Memorial Funeral Home!

By Pearl Marvell • August 29, 2025
We are proud to introduce one of the newest members of our Memorial team, funeral apprentice Norma Figueroa! Norma brings with her not only over 17 years of experience in the medical field but also a warm spirit, a deep sense of compassion, and a genuine desire to serve families during some of life’s most tender moments. Norma is originally from Ponce, Puerto Rico and raised in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Today, she lives in Central Falls. Her interest in the human body started early—when she was in high school and tasked with dissecting a cat during an anatomy class. That moment sparked a lifelong curiosity about anatomy and eventually led her to nursing school. She went on to work as a certified nursing assistant, central supply director, scheduler, receptionist, and lead CNA trainer. Reflecting on her years in health care, Norma says she has always been fascinated by “the amazing things a human body can do.” Her medical background, combined with training and certification in thanatology, gerontology, and funeral service preparation, makes her uniquely prepared for the next chapter of her career in funeral service. Though her background isn’t in funeral homes, Norma has found the transition both meaningful and inspiring. “I’m learning a lot,” she says. “Everyone here is eager to help me learn the ropes.” She has been shadowing at services and learning the administrative ropes that entail with this industry. Norma also knows firsthand how important it is to be sensitive to different family dynamics, a skill she developed through years of patient care. As a bilingual speaker of English and Spanish, she is especially passionate about helping families feel heard, understood, and comforted. “Being Hispanic, we turn everything into a party,” she jokes, “but I know that is not the case for everyone.” She brings that cultural awareness and perspective into her work, meeting families where they are and supporting them in ways that feel authentic to their traditions. Of course, not everyone understands her career choice. “Some of my friends have been weirded out about me working with the dead,” she admits. “And I’m like, ‘Well, you’re gonna need me someday!’” Norma is a proud mom of two college-aged children and she enjoys traveling, going to concerts, spending time outdoors with her kids, and doting on the family cat, Midnight. She also likes to eat tasty food and dance! We are thrilled to have Norma on our team. With her dedication, warmth, and professional experience, she embodies the heart of our mission: to provide care, comfort, and guidance when families need it most.

Newport Hospital to Open Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit to Address Growing Crisis

By Pearl Marvell • August 13, 2025
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for pediatric mental and behavioral health services has surged to crisis levels nationwide—and Rhode Island is no exception. For adolescents in Newport County, the situation has been especially dire, with no local acute care option for severe mental or behavioral health challenges. Until now, all of the state’s behavioral health beds have been concentrated in the Providence area—at Bradley, Hasbro Children’s, and Butler hospitals—forcing families in Newport County to seek urgent help off Aquidneck Island. Due to the lack of resources on the island, many families have relied on Newport Hospital’s emergency department. In 2022 alone, adolescents in crisis were boarded in the ED for 290 of 365 days, often waiting an average of 14 to 18 days for inpatient placement. These youth are among the most vulnerable, struggling with self-harm, aggression, or suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Recognizing this urgent gap, Newport Hospital is moving forward with plans for a dedicated Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit. The facility will be located on the hospital’s Sheffield 2nd floor and features six rooms and eight beds, including private and semi-private options. The space will undergo a complete interior renovation with substantial infrastructure replacements, advanced safety measures, and a secure outdoor garden for patient use. “It’s been almost a year in planning,” said Erin O’Dollard, Senior Philanthropy Officer at the Newport Hospital Foundation. “We’ve pushed the opening to January 2026 due to staffing challenges,” but, she said, they are well on their way to meeting the deadline in the New Year. O’Dollard explained that treatment for children is different than for adults, and the hospital has been seeing 30 or more kids a day at times, which makes this support so necessary. The unit will offer care ranging from single-day treatment to long-term hospitalization. Upon discharge, ongoing dialogue with families will ensure continued support for individuals and their loved ones. Newport Hospital is also working to secure funding for partial hospitalization programs in partnership with local schools and social workers. The need is undeniable. Nationally, suicide became the second-leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 24 by 2018. Rhode Island mirrors the trend: one in five children ages 6 to 17 has a diagnosable mental health disorder, and the Rhode Island Youth Behavioral Health Survey found persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in high school students rose from 25% in 2009 to 37.8% in 2021. Calls to Kids’ Link RI , the state’s behavioral health crisis hotline, doubled between 2019 and 2021. The project is made possible thanks to community philanthropy. Dr. Jim Nolan and his wife, Peggy, provided the lead gift, inspired by a deep commitment to adolescent mental health. Funeral Director and Owner of Memorial Funeral Home Kurt Edenbach, also contributed to the construction and development of the ward. “It is important to have such a vital resource in our community, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Edenbach said. “We’re proud to be part of the creation of this resource.” With this new unit, Newport County’s youth will soon have local access to the specialized care they urgently need—offering hope, safety, and healing close to home.

The needs of our families are changing, and so are we

By Pearl Marvell • July 22, 2025
Here at Memorial Funeral Home, we understand that the needs of our families have and will continue to evolve over time, and we try our best to evolve with those needs. One thing that has started to come up in conversations about pre-planning and other funeral arrangements is “What green options do you have?” As awareness of climate change and environmental impact grows, more people are seeking ways to align their values with how they live—and how they leave this world. Traditional burial and cremation methods can have significant ecological footprints, so natural burials and biodegradable urns are just some of the eco-conscious options that are reshaping how we approach death with care not only for loved ones but also for the Earth. We decided to break down some of the more eco-conscious options that we have at Memorial Funeral Home: Green burials In green burials, the body is buried in a way that allows it to decompose naturally without the use of embalming chemicals or other products that can harm the environment. Typically, the body is placed in a biodegradable casket or shroud and buried in a designated green burial cemetery. Currently, there are two cemeteries in Rhode Island that permit green burials. The Ellipse at Swan Point Cemetery and Prudence Memorial Park on Prudence Island also offer burial plots. To make the entire experience more eco-friendly, we offer electric vehicle transport services in a vehicle powered by solar panels on the roof of Memorial Funeral Home. These practices not only reduce pollution and carbon emissions but also help preserve natural habitats by supporting conservation and woodland preserves. Biodegradable urns Cremations can be more eco-friendly in that they are more space-efficient and do not necessarily require the use of formaldehyde to preserve the body, however, they do release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. To counteract some of the negative effects of cremations, one can choose biodegradable urns that grow into trees, allowing a loved one’s remains to become part of a living legacy. Families can also choose digital memorials instead of traditional gravestones, reducing the demand for quarried stone and physical markers. Green burials, for example, allow the body to return naturally to the earth without embalming or synthetic materials. The body is typically placed in a biodegradable shroud or casket, and interred in a natural setting without a concrete vault. These practices not only reduce pollution and carbon emissions, but they also help preserve natural habitats by supporting conservation cemeteries or woodland preserves. Aquamation, or water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis), is another eco-friendly alternative. It uses water and a gentle alkali solution to break down the body, resulting in significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to flame cremation. The bone fragments that remain are returned to loved ones in the same way that ashes created from flame cremation are returned. Other innovations include biodegradable urns that grow into trees, allowing a loved one’s remains to become part of a living legacy. How does aquamation work exactly? Aquamation, is currently legal in 28 states and will potentially be another option that we can provide in-state soon. The body is put into a stainless-steel chamber where an alkaline solution of water is mixed with potassium hydroxide. The chamber is then sealed, and both heat and pressure are applied. This breaks down the body’s tissues until only the bones remain, which are subsequently broken down and returned to loved ones just as they are in a traditional cremation. The whole process takes between 4 and 16 hours, depending on temperature and pressure. Aquamation uses approximately 90% less energy than conventional flame cremation—a process that emits the amount of carbon equivalent to a 500-mile car ride. Currently, water cremation is not offered in Rhode Island, but we work with another funeral home in Connecticut that offers the service. To make the process as green as possible, we offer EV transportation for this service as well. Choosing an eco-friendly funeral or memorial service is a meaningful way to reflect the values of a person who cared about sustainability in life. These choices help reduce the burden on our planet and offer a gentler, more natural process of returning to the Earth. As we continue to rethink how we care for the environment, it's only natural to consider how our final choices can leave a legacy of respect—for both people and the planet. Eco-friendly end-of-life services are more than a trend; they’re part of a movement toward a more thoughtful and responsible future.

Book Review of Eddie Winston is Looking for Love

By Kim Shute • July 15, 2025
Director of Community Relations Kim Shute shares with us her thoughts on the most recent book that she has read.