The Ad Hoc Committee on Burial made an 11:40 Hour presentation on March 22, 2009. Some 18-20 people attended. We briefly discussed the results of our 2005 Burial Ground Survey. Among other things, we learned from the survey that none of the respondents wanted a conventional burial at Mt. Toby; many planned on cremation; and several were interested in green burial. Complete results of the survey are posted on our committee page, on the Meeting's website (as a Word file or Adobe file.)

Carol Coan summarized the status of Mt. Toby's burial ground, and then offered information on legal requirements regarding burial in Massachusetts. To wit, there is no requirement that bodies be embalmed; funeral homes often require it for particular situations. There is no state or federal requirement that a casket be used; Massachusetts requires that a “suitable receptacle” be used for cremation and recommends that a sufficiently long vehicle be used when transporting a body to preserve the dignity of the deceased. There is no state or federal requirement that an outer burial container (that is, a vault or grave liner) be used; cemeteries often require them, though Mt. Toby’s guidelines for use of the burial ground do not. There is no legal requirement concerning the depth of casket burials. Families are not required to hire a funeral director; a family member or other authorized person may handle arrangements.

“Green,” or “natural,” burial harks back to an earlier tradition in burial than is widely practiced now. It involves no embalming, no metal caskets (and preferably no hardwood caskets), and no outer burial container. It accords with Quaker testimonies on simplicity and stewardship. Some logistical practicalities would need to be sorted out at Mt. Toby.

Those present were clear that green burial ought to be an option in our existing burial ground. There was not agreement on whether green burial ought to be required. There was strong support for the committee investigating the possibility of opening a separate woodlands cemetery on meeting land behind the meetinghouse.

Resources available to the meeting community include a CD of the 11:40 Hour presentation, in the library; a copy of Grave Matters, by Mark Harris, also in the library; and our committee page on the meeting’s website, to which we will post information from time to time. All of us on the committee welcome ongoing conversation with the members of the Mt. Toby community as to your concerns and desires relating to death, burial, and the burial ground.