THE HAVEN
MEMORIAL Services
We're here to help make your loved one's ceremony personal and memorable.
MEMORIAL SERVICE IN THE FOREST · $500
Having a memorial service offers the opportunity to be hands-on in the burial which helps provide closure in the grieving process. Play music, sing, pray, read poetry, read bible passages, or simply let the heartbeat of the forest comfort you as you say goodbye.
This is your family's time to define what's meaningful - whether the experience is small and intimate, or the forest is filled with family and friends.
Our goal is to enable you to carry out a very personal experience during a very difficult time.
In a typical year, ground conditions allow memorial service reservations from mid-April to mid-November.
*Customers receive a $200 discount if their funeral home representative is present for the ceremony. Funeral director, clergy, or celebrant onsite fees are charged independently by those parties.
What to expect
The Day of the Memorial Service
On the day of the memorial, a member of our team will welcome you to the forest and share what to expect. You will be invited to mix the ashes of your loved one with a pH-balanced soil amendment. This special soil makes the ash bioavailable for trees and plants so it can become integrated into the forest ecosystem. You are invited to be as involved as you like depending on your comfort level.
After the ash and soil are mixed, we will make our way to the prepared site where we will place the mixture into the cradle of the earth. Then we will cover the ash mixture with forest soil. This can be a very powerful experience. With every scoop, you see and feel and touch. The earth is there beneath your feet supporting you and sheltering someone who was so dear to you. Your sadness lingers, but the active nature of the experience somehow lightens the load.
We will take care of these steps if the family chooses not to participate in this aspect of the burial.
In addition to gathering pine cones, pine needles, and other forest detritus, guests can bring fresh flowers to decorate the space. Family and friends can share eulogies, memories, poems, readings, and music. Just as each of us has unique characteristics, that difference can and should be reflected in this special ceremony.
After the service, our team will provide other guidance as requested and allow your family to have private time for reflection.
Getting Here & What to Wear
Before the memorial, we’ll make sure you have directions and a weather update so you know how to dress accordingly. In all cases, we suggest wearing appropriate shoes for walking/hiking.**
Parking and Access
Parking is offered for about 10 vehicles plus additional parking on the road next to the driveway entrance (about a 1-2 minute walk).
**Trees, forest glade plots, and the cremation garden are all accessed by walking trails. Although the trails are maintained, visitors should expect uneven ground and, depending on the location of your spot, perhaps a short walk off the trail. We have walking sticks available for guests who would like them.
Still have questions?
To start your journey and understand how THE HAVEN can be a powerful source of healing and joy for your family, book a discovery meeting so we can be sure to answer all your questions. Schedule Now