Making a Difference, at Last…

My wife had told me that she wanted to be buried in a simple casket in the earth, without embalming. The Natural Funeral gave us a choice of pine or wicker caskets, and when my daughters and I saw the wicker casket we knew it was exactly what their mother would have chosen. After they washed and dressed my wife's body in clothes we provided, we were able to spend 45 minutes covering her in flower petals and placing special objects in her hands and on her body in our own ritual before they transported her body to the cemetery. At the cemetery we carried out our own brief ceremony with assistance from The Natural Funeral staff. They helped make this a loving, tender, and beautiful experience that we greatly appreciated.

In this tone of loss this was the best experience I could ask for. Everyone was was so caring, compassionate and truly supportive through every step of figuring out how to honor my husband. I cannot recommend them higher. This is truly how it should be when outlived one’s pass. I bbc am forever grateful.

I am so grateful to have found the Natural Funeral. I had seen The Natural Funeral logo posted a few months back, loved the image and sound of the name and kept a mental note. When our mother unexpectedly passed away we were asked what funeral home we had selected. Even though I had not done any prior research I said, “The Natural Funeral.” From the moment we walked in the door of this home environment at The Natural Funeral I felt like we had come to honor and create the most beautiful passageway for our mom’s transition, and be preciously held like delicate flower petals by the staff during our process. We shared conversations with Seth and Karen, always with tea, over a timeless period in the living room of love and acceptance. When it was time to view our Mother’s body we realized how attentive their listening was for we were graced with the vision of our mother’s body covered with shawls of the colors she loves, and she was placed in a beautiful candle lit room with essential oils to use for purification. In our process of making decisions there was no pressure, no sales, no time limits, no push to use certain plans, only information presented so we could make our own clear choice. This experience is incomparable to other funeral homes I have experienced where profits take the lead. We chose water cremation because of zero negative impact on the environment, rather, positive impact for being able to use the liquid cremains to bring nutrition to earth’s soil. We were able to create a meaningful ceremony in our own gardens with these deep nutrients. The Natural Funeral is beyond measure in their offerings: willingness to witness; listen without a timed clock; support with events; offer their lending library; offer affordable natural options for burial or cremation; and offer local artists to create memorable pieces bringing more beauty to our memories. Most of all, meaningful and authentic friendships are developed. Thank you with my deepest sincerity to The Natural Funeral.

Karen was a great help to our family with the tragic loss of our stillborn grandson. Karen helped us know what our options were, communicate with the hospital, review our plans and allow us to do our own vigil and natural burial for our dear baby. We can not say enough about Karen and Seth also appeared at just the right moment o keep things going smoothly. You have more options than you think but you need someone with the knowledge and experience to help you through it.

My father recently passed away and had requested that we use The Natural Funeral for his cremation. We were extremely grateful for the kindness and the efficiency of Jane and Gretchen in taking care of some of the many details that have to be handled after a loved one passes. Highly recommended.

The Natural Funeral provided the most wonderful and calming experience during an especially difficult time for our family. Sophia and Madi went out of their way to assist the family in every step of the process, easing our minds during our time of grieving. When we asked for Green Burial, they worked to help us make the best choice, explaining the whole, natural process. They also coordinated with the cemetary and the originating funeral home for transport from another state during an ice storm! In addition, they assisted with the online and newspaper obituary, which turned out beautifully. Then, when plans suddenly changed, they did not charge for all their extra work, sincerely wishing the best for our family. We could not ask for a more empathetic, caring and excellent crew than the folks at The Natural Funeral. We thank them for their outstanding service to our family.

We enjoyed every part of the process as much as funerals can be enjoyable, you know what I mean. People were lovely, friendly, kind, professional, respectful, understanding, reverent, relatable. can't think of enough words of praise. we are very happy we chose Natural Funeral and we will confidently recommend it to our friends. We feel so good about the end of life we gave her. They thought of everything.

Karen and Seth were incredibly compassionate and understanding of our needs during a very difficult time for our family. This experience was completely different from others at more traditional funeral homes, in the very best of ways. We felt our loved one was well cared for and treated with great respect. We felt so fortunate to have found The Natural Funeral, and I would (and have) recommend it highly. Thank you for making a very difficult situation a lovely experience.

Even though it was a very difficult time in our lives, we are so grateful for the team at the Natural Funeral. They made sure we were comfortable with every step which started few years prior to my father's passing. Every step was explained to the simplest, every wish was granted, we were treated with respect, they were sensitive to our culture and questioned what was needed to follow with the traditions of the family. The chapel is beautiful and quaint. Nicole did an opening which felt like a family member who had known my dad and our family for years. Reception was beautiful, perfect and warm! The staff genuinely cares and enjoy their rule which shines through their service. Thank you for all you do to care for the families at their most vulnerable time of loss.

Truly a beautiful service and one that will be Remembered with love as we said goodbye to a dear friend!

The Natural Funeral and everyone there showed us kindness and compassion and grace in the most devastating situation. Being able to honor our loved one in this setting with holistic, natural care means more than I can adequately express. I will be forever grateful for The Natural Funeral.

We were in a challenging position with meeting the desires of our dearest friend who lived in the mountains outside of Boulder, and the folks from Natural Funeral came through on every aspect. We were relieved when they came to us and took considerable time in getting to know our precious friend and her wishes, which included finding a way for her to stay on the land she loved. That day we all learned about water cremation to her great relief, and just as importantly, that she and we as caregivers were given agency in shaping every aspect of how to honor our friend along the way. The Natural Funeral staff were true to their word of leading or being as present as we needed them in some moments and letting us pace and care for other parts as they unfolded. They gracefully supported us through a very tender and difficult time that ended up feeling about as right as can be for such a challenging transition. Thank you!

My dear friend died suddenly and the kindness and beauty that was extended to his friends and family was beautiful! The ceremony where family and friend could share stories and offer flowers to our friend as he journeyed to other places made this ceremony meaningful in our memories! I have seen our friends brother since and he shares how the service impacted and helped in his grieving and his memories!

The Natural Funeral provided me and my family a wonderful experience after my husband passed away last fall. From the first time I walked in their doors and met their staff, I felt welcome. Seth was amazing to work with through the services we chose for my late husband. My husband was diagnosed with cancer for the second time last year and his wishes were to be composted in the event of his death. He passed away in November, just a short 2 months after human natural reduction (AKA composting) was legalized in the state of Colorado. The Natural Funeral was fabulous at explaining the natural reduction process to me and my family and made us feel extremely comfortable with the process. We chose to start the process with a laying-in ceremony that was beautiful and took place at a beautiful location. The caretaker who looked after my late husband for several months was amazingly wonderful and took great pride in his job. The facility where my late husband spent several months was located near me and my family, so we were offered to come sit on a bench in front of the facility whenever we wanted to spend time with my late husband. We took the caretaker up on his offer and I spent many of my lunch breaks at the facility. I know that my late husband was in good hands at the Natural Funeral. The soil that we received at the end of my late husband's natural reduction was rich soil that has been shared with many friends and family and has been used to plant trees, flowers, etc. all over the country now! Lastly, the Natural Funeral officiant, Ben Martin, that provided services at my late husband's Celebration of Life did an absolutely amazing job. He took the time to get to know my late husband through interviews with me and members of the family and that came across in his memorial service. His service was beautiful and I cannot thank Ben enough for the wonderful words he had to say. Everything about my experience with the Natural Funeral was very natural/organic. I highly recommend the Natural Funeral for all of your natural funeral needs!

I could not recommend the services of The Natural Funeral highly enough. Every step of the process with my mom was handled with professionalism, grace, and tenderness. From the pick up and transport from our home in Glenwood Springs, to the special and meaningful laying-in ceremony, to the return of my mom's composted remains, it felt like we were being held and cared for each step of the way. Unlike with other funeral homes, it was apparent that the employees here truly were serving a calling and not just doing a day job. I would recommend the loving human composting services to any and everyone I know. We received my mom's remains back as lush soil that now nourishes wildflowers and trees.

My wife passed away on 6/28/2019 from metastatic breast cancer. She was a librarian who helped develop a library public outreach program on death and dying. Through this outreach program, my wife became great friends with the outreach program's founder. Through this friendship, my wife learned about The Natural Funeral in Lafayette, Co. Among my wife's last wishes was to have friends and loved ones gathered around her, and to enlist the services of The Natural Funeral for the wake following her death. In the tradition of home vigils/wakes common in America until recent times, Karen's body was kept in state using ice packs. The wake was held at our house the morning after my wife's passing. It was an intimate setting where visitors could pay their respects and choose to view my wife's body if desired. After her body was reverently prepared for the vigil/wake, her body and face looked beautiful and restful. In my opinion, our home vigil was a much more sacred and intimate way for family and friends to pay their last respects. Everyone from The Natural Funeral was very helpful and respectful during the entire process. They came over to our house before my wife passed away and provided great guidance on their services and what to expect. I'm grateful The Natural Funeral was part of my wife's life and end-of-life. They enabled intimacy and reverence during my wife's passing and also during the vigil on the following day. I'm eternally grateful to TNF staff for their professional and respectful conduct during an emotionally vulnerable moment. -Andy

Karen and Dan helped our family with arrangements when Kathleen my husband's sister passed away. Karen and Dan came to house the day before Kathleen died and helped our family craft a plan for Kathleen's service which we reviewed with Kathleen and she approved. This gave us peace knowing she was in favor of our approach. I think it also gave. her peace of mind knowing we were all unified. Kathleen passed that night. Karen and Dan's guidance that day helped us handle it calmly. Instead of whisking her away, we held a vigil at her bedside until all family members were able to arrive. This was a sacred and bonding time for all of us. Had we not had the support and guidance of the Natural Funeral we would not have known that we could wait that long, dress her ourselves and just be with her that day. i am so grateful for this compassionate support that empowered us in a time when we were all so tender.

These folks at the natural funeral home are wonderful. My husband died in a very traumatic way and we were a total mess because of it. The staff there were so caring and compassionate. They were absolutely amazing in helping us to bury him. I would totally recommend them. The respect and how they honored my husband was so healing. They were so good at following our wishes. Never once did I feel like they didn’t “get” where I was coming from. They definitely “get” cultural sensitivity. They returned my calls even on holidays and in the wee hours of the morning. It was an Amazing experience, even though the experience of his death was traumatic. I don’t know how they managed to do that, but they did.

This company was amazing to work with. Made us feel very comfortable and really compassionate. They just really go the extra mile to honor what you want and just sending little things meant so much.

Such a uniquely warm, comforting and caring experience at a time of unbelievable pain and tragedy. Such an incredibly blessed experience to have had, I can not tell you how grateful I am to have found your business and benefited from your services during this time. The ability to be surrounded by our friends and family and our departed loved one together in such a way…words escape me…I wish that everyone could have such a healing experience in what is an inevitable part of life, but so incredibly hard to plan for. Saying “Thank you” and highly recommending your services feels entirely inadequate. Bless you all, and please accept our deepest gratitude from the entire Stonacek clan.❤️

I cannot say enough about my family's experience with The Natural Funeral. I now find myself recommending their services as often as I can to other families searching for a meaningful and environmentally-mindful way to care for a loved one after they have passed. The experience offered by The Natural Funeral gave me a whole new perspective on and healthier relationship with death and grief. Staff are truly supportive and in no way prescriptive. The experience was so healing, empowering and supportive and I am so grateful.

This is the way for your final event. Dying and living need not be separate - they are both important and spiritual parts of this game. The Natural Funeral celebrates life, doesn't hurry death, and makes sure love, acceptance, and grief is all welcome.

I came to know about the Natural Funeral in my connection with Willow Farms Contemplative Center in Hygiene when my husband, Bill died on October first, last year. He did not want a funeral but I needed closure and I was put in touch with Seth Vidal who guided me through the process of creating a private ritual in which my sister and I were accompanied by the staff at The Natural Funeral. Bill's body was in their beautiful wood and light filled room. There were candles, water, flowers from my garden and Bill's photo on an altar. We spoke our love to Bill, remembered special times, then washed his body and I read the first poem I wrote for Bill thirty two years before. My sister and I were joined and supported by everyone there. We sang, prayed and as I released Bill's spirit I felt the heaviness lift from my heart. It was such a gift to have exactly the kind of closure that I needed. A goodby must be personal and they made it so for me.

The Natural Funeral provided compassionate, professional, individualized postmortem care for my family member. The staff really listened and provided the natural experience my family member wanted while being kind and generous throughout. They went above a beyond during a tough time and our whole family is grateful. Highly recommend this company.

We had a wonderful experience with Madi and The Natural Funeral. Very knowledgeable on all options and some I’d never heard of. Highly skilled, helpful, relieved all anxieties and ensured a beautiful event. We endorse and encourage you to work with this company without hesitation!!❤️

The relatively sudden passing of a very close friend's mother this summer required some fast action on my friend's part in her planning an intimate and meaningful end-of-life honoring ritual for this remarkable 91 year old. I'd been encouraging my friend to be in touch with the staff at Natural Funeral for years in anticipation of her mother's passing, but that so rarely happens in life! So, the literal "midnight hour" flurry began, and, even without any pre-planning, it all worked out beautifully,. Every member of the caring team of staff at this extraordinarily beautiful and professional facility was warm and embracing of the plan that was put forth, and within 24 hours a unique and personal ritual of bathing, anointing her body, and celebrating this woman's rich life unfolded. In a circle of community surrounding my friend and her mother, with exquisite live music and singing, poetic readings, and story-telling so rich in memories, we all shared final farewells that were touchingly sung, spoken and whispered. I know that everyone present carries comforting impressions of the day, and feels deepest gratitude and respect for all of the staff at Natural Funeral for what it is they hold so sacred for each and every client and visitor who crosses their threshold. Thank you for doing what you do. I will ALWAYS recommend your service.

My family and I want to extend a huge embracing thank you and the deepest of appreciation for the beautiful and meaningful celebration of life for our dear Lucy. The gathering , exceeded our hopes and expectations for creating a space and setting the environment to experience our love, laughter, tears and grief so fully. Ray walked us through every step with such caring and compassionate guidance, and this support continued through our entire experience. You all provided the safest and softest landing for my heart and soul during this time of loss and grief. Please extend our heartfelt gratitude to your entire team and to Susan and Steve with the Willow Farm Contemplative Center. With deep appreciation, Amy Brown and family