Prudence Memorial Park, PO Box 228, Prudence Island RI 02872
Additional Resources
For After Death Care
Regardless of the choice for after death care selected, there are four basic tasks that will need to be performed between death and burial. These include:
- Transportation from Place of Death: The body may need to be moved from the place of death (such as a hospital/nursing facility or home) to the place of after death care (either a home or a funeral home).
- Care of the Body: The body will need to be cared for until the time of burial. This care may include bathing, dressing, refrigeration or dry ice application (required in RI within 48 hours of death), and perhaps wrapping in a shroud before cremation or burial.
- File a Death Certificate: A death certificate will need to be filed. This includes gathering the information to complete the certificate to include a signature from the attending physician, and filing with the RI Dept. of Health.
- Transportation to Burial Site: The body will need to be transported from the place of care to Prudence Memorial Park when it’s time for the burial. For this you will need a burial-transit permit. Also, please bear in mind that in Rhode Island the transfer of human remains by common carrier (such as the ferry) requires the use of a “strong, sealed outer case” if the body has not been embalmed.
You do not have to take on responsibility for these tasks yourself. Funeral Service Providers will generally honor your choice to have a green burial and can assist you with the four basic tasks listed above.
Green Funeral Handbook for Funeral Directors
Another alternative is to engage the services of an end of life doula to assist with all aspects of death and dying. Visit the website of Bonnie Evans, a local doula in Bristol RI, for an overview of the types of services offered.
If you do wish to take on the responsibility for these tasks, several on-line resources are available that will help you to understand the laws pertaining to after-death care in Rhode Island.
Burial & Cremation Laws in Rhode Island
Arranging a Funeral or Cremation in Rhode Island
Making Funeral Arrangements in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Home Funeral Laws
A variety of appropriate funeral products are on display at Prudence Memorial Park, including wooden coffins and caskets made by a local craftsman. More examples are available on-line (see GBC Certified Product Providers). The following local Funeral Service Providers also have a selection of eco-friendly caskets and urns available:
PRE-PLANNING
When a loved one dies it is difficult enough to cope with that loss without the added stress of trying to guess what their wishes for final disposition might be. For the sake of your loved ones, please write down and share your wishes so others do not have to make these difficult decisions for you - a process which, sadly, can become contentious if your wishes are not laid out clearly.
Many resources exist for documenting your personal preferences for end-of-life care and final disposition. A brief internet search or personal contact with a funeral service provider will offer examples. Alternatively, you can use a fill‐in worksheet developed by the Green Burial Council to define goals, indicate preferences and choices, and identify persons designated to complete an individual’s final wishes by clicking on the link below.
Tell Others What You Want
Careful thought and planning won't do any good if your loved ones don't know what you want when the time comes.
Shae Irving