Mission Moment: Building relationships
Alice first reached out to us in 2023 after reading an article in the Washington Post about natural burial. Her grandson told us it was the wicker casket that really won her over –- fitting, since much of her furniture is wicker. As she was making her own burial plans, she chose the Windsor Willow Casket, saying it sounded regal. And she was right; she was a queen!
Picture: Susan adds flowers to Alice’s grave.
Alice’s burial was a first for me in two ways: it was the first time I got to know someone before their burial at Reflection Park, and the first time we interred the cremains of a beloved pet alongside their person. Alice was 96 years old and wasn't comfortable with electronic signatures, so I made a few house calls. I’m so glad I did. She was a gem, and I loved hearing her stories about life and her outlook on the world. Alice had one important request: that the cremains of her dog Cody, "the apple of her eye," who had died just weeks before her, be buried with her. I promised I would make absolutely certain of it.
At our last visit, she mentioned that she had made arrangements years ago with a local funeral home but worried the package included embalming. We looked through her paperwork together and discovered that the 2019 contract was actually for cremation. I helped her connect with the funeral home’s advance planning coordinator, and she updated her arrangements to have the natural burial she so wanted.
The following week, I called to arrange a time to drop off Alice’s paperwork. Honestly, I was just looking forward to another visit with her. Her daughter called back two days later to let me know Alice had died the night before.
On a beautiful day in May, Alice’s family and friends gathered to remember her and bury Alice and Cody together. The next time you visit Reflection Park, I hope you'll stop by and pay your respects to my sweet friend, Alice.
Please click the image above or here to see a heartfelt clip from this graveside service shared on social media (with permission of the family). For us at Reflection Park, every burial is a unique experience and a profound privilege. We are grateful to walk alongside our families for a small part of their journey in honoring their loved one.
