In many traditions all over the world, death is viewed as a transition from one existence to another. Life co-existed with death, both in the literal and metaphorical sense. To lose a part of one’s self was necessary to allow a place for new growth to begin. Discarding what was no longer needed, often had a concrete basis in the everyday lives of villagers working the fields, enduring the hardships of storms, diseased livestock and loss of crops. There was little room for being sentimental.

Besides being a less expensive option, handling a loved one's funeral at home can be an intimate, therapeutic way to say good-bye. Here are the basics:

Visited an old church graveyard in Virginia Beach this morning. There among graves of people born during the Civil War was a new development - a cremated remains niche wall. Something to think about, and talk about, with your family.