Here is a brief illustration of services offered by a Home Funeral Guide:
Home funeral assistance is sought by those dealing with an unexpected death as well as individuals and families with imminent or future needs. I have acted as an educator, providing information that would help fulfill their wish to take control of either their own or a loved one’s end of life experience. And, I have acted as a guide to assist them in carrying out their wish.
My experience has been with people under hospice care either at home or in a hospice facility. This has allowed me to meet with the individual in advance. To the dying I represent a safe and neutral person with whom to communicate. It is possible they do not want to burden their families with questions and requests pertaining to what will happen after their death – questions of a practical nature as well as philosophical. If applicable, and with permission, I relate any pertinent information to the family. I meet with the person as often as requested and find this to be the most personally rewarding aspect of the support I offer.
I also meet with the family to address the practical aspects of what, in terms of paperwork they need (such as death certificate and transportation document) as well as how and where to obtain the documents. I offer to coordinate a time line of who is doing what and when. Together we may create a plan for the ceremony, if there is to be one.
I am available to sit vigil with the family as death nears. After death I may then instruct and support the family in the process of washing and preparing the body. I do not perform the washing of the body myself. My participation simply serves to empower the family through instruction and attentive support to carry out this simple ritual in a steadfast atmosphere. A family may prefer to conduct this ritual in privacy without assistance using a protocol we have discussed in advance.
A service may or may not be held at the discretion of the deceased and their family. If they wish, a burial box, or cardboard box for a cremation, may be decorated by attendees and their written remembrances, thoughts and wishes placed inside to accompany the body. If they wish, I will join them as they transport the deceased to the cemetery or crematorium.
As a Home Funeral Guide we serve as facilitators. The family’s desire to participate directly and intimately in the end of life experience is the motivation for our service.
DATE: January 17, 2010
FROM: Nancy Ward, Sacred Endings



