Funeral Rights
Funeral Rights explores the increasing popularity for alternative funerals. The film presents the rising trend to turn away from traditional and conventional ceremonies and investigates exactly what alternative choices are available and just why many are now seeking the chance to take control of their own funeral and final goodbye.
There are 7 short 4 minute clips to watch (click more) and in this first clip the contemporary option of a “return to nature” through a burial in a nature reserve or woodland is explained.
Kate’s Story – In this clip Kate shares her reasons for pre-selecting her unconventional burial site and describes how important her right to choose her final resting place is. John Bradfield from the Alice Barker Welfare and Wildlife trust goes onto explain just how easy it is to have a burial within a nature reserve and the freedom of choice these alternative funerals can offer.
Gillian’s Story – Here Gillian explains her struggle against traditional funeral organisation, to ensure her mother received her final wish to have a woodland burial service.
Chris’ Story – In this clip Chris shares why the traditional, religious ceremony was not the right funeral for her partner, Peter, and how in planning a funeral to specifically reflect Peter’s life brought her comfort and consolation, knowing that he had the goodbye he would have wanted.
Joan’s Story –  Being able to have a choice when it comes to your own funeral is something Joan views as vitally important. Having the option of a woodland burial service and resting place is something that has brought her immense peace of mind.
Rena’s Story – Rena and her family share the funeral of their loved-one Brian as they fulfil their promise to give him a woodland burial. For Rena the chance to have this alternative funeral not only afforded Brian his final goodbye in his own way, but was an important source of comfort.
Mel and Kate’s Story – In this clip Mel explains how his wife Carol sought to ensure that she had a truly individual funeral and designed her own coffin with artwork that encapsulated her life. For Kate the chance to be involved in giving her mother the goodbye she wanted, helped her to cope with her mother’s death and realise that the choice of funeral can and should be personal for everyone.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOXmpA80yyY
