Loretto Woods Natural Cemetery

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Planning a service

Natural burials are unique to the person who has died and to the community gathered to honor them. 

Some families and loved ones might value ritual and a planned graveside service while others may prefer very little ceremony or planning. Our role is to offer logistical support as you plan a meaningful and personal burial.

People dressed in winter coats processing along a path into a snowless winter woods.
A funeral procession into the woods.
Photo by Donna Mattingly
What to expect

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Scheduling the burial

Loretto Woods staff will coordinate with you and the funeral home to schedule the burial.

Most services will be scheduled on weekdays before 3 pm although Saturday services can be arranged for an additional fee. Burial services are not scheduled on Sundays or holidays.

Participation

Natural burials allow for direct participation in the burial process such as pulling the burial cart, transferring the body or filling the grave so we will work with you to determine how much or how little you wish to do yourselves.

People gather around the grave in the woods to place greens and flowers into the grave.
Natural burials allow for a variety of participation levels.
Photo by Josh Ballard

Possibilities for gathering

Each burial and the ritual involved will be different. Some families and loved ones might gather at a funeral home or church for a funeral service followed by interment at Loretto Woods. 

Others might prefer doing the burial first followed by a memorial service at a later date.

Still others might want to arrange to gather at Loretto for a service, a meal or informal sharing. 

A large group of people sit on benches in a circle in an open-sided shelter near the shore of Mary's Lake.
A ritual held at the outdoor pavilion on the shore of Mary’s Lake.
Photo by Josh Ballard

Possibilities at Loretto include:

  • The Loretto Motherhouse Church
  • Outdoor pavilion at Mary’s Lake
  • The Old Tobacco Barn
  • Motherhouse catering
  • Guest House for overnight accommodations

Please contact us if you are interested in these options.

Planning the graveside service

Planning includes determining who will lead the farewell ritual. Suggestions include a religious leader, death doula, chaplain or friend who can facilitate the service.

Loretto Woods staff will be in direct contact with the person designated to lead the burial service for details about the number of expected guests and mobility needs.

Sample ritual

Site selection and grave preparation

Loretto staff will select the site and dig the grave based on best practices for woodland management. If the reservation form included a preference to be buried next to a loved one, we will honor that preference as long as doing so is in accordance with best practices for managing the woods.

Staff will prepare the site so that the area is accessible and safe.

In a snowless winter woods, a shovel stands in front of a framed and empty grave, with the pile of dirt behind the grave.
Grave preparation.
Photo by Susan Classen

At the cemetery entrance

The hearse will bring the deceased to the cemetery entrance where staff will welcome family and friends. The welcome includes explaining what to expect.

The body will then be transferred from the hearse to a hand-pulled cart. Attendees will have an opportunity to place flowers and greenery on the body before walking about 1/10 of a mile to the burial site. A golf cart can be arranged for those who find walking difficult.

A wicker basket full of colorful flowers.
A basket of flowers for scattering in the grave.
Photo by Susan Classen

At the gravesite

At the site, the celebrant will facilitate the graveside service. When it’s time to lower the body, Loretto staff will guide the process respecting whatever participation the family has requested. 

Once the body has been placed in the grave, flowers and greenery will be added. Participants will then be invited to add a handful or shovelful of earth back into the grave. At the conclusion of the ritual, anyone who wishes is free to keep shoveling to fill the grave. Participants are welcome to stay as long as they wish. 

An iron bench placed in the woods beneath a large tree. The fall leaves cover the ground and a few are on the bench.
A bench in the woods for honoring and remembering.
Photo by Susan Classen