What to Expect at a Natural Burial
Getting Here
Nestled within the beauty of the Columbia River Gorge in the Pacific Northwest, Great River Natural Burial lies just 3 miles from the quaint, rural town of Mosier, Oregon. Conveniently situated right on Interstate 84, Mosier provides accessibility for those coming from near or far. Parking is available on-site, and carpooling is encouraged. Journeying to Great River is a transition from the bustle of everyday life to a serene natural environment and a peaceful and meaningful experience.
Navigation apps are generally correct when providing directions to Great River Natural Burial. As you travel to Great River, the road will switch from a paved road to a gravel road where slower speeds are recommended.
Arrival
Just beyond the entrance is a kiosk with a map of the Great River site and directions to the natural burial ground. After parking in the designated parking area, cemetery staff, or funeral director if one has been hired, will greet family and friends.
What to Wear/Bring
Because the burial will be outdoors in a natural setting, it is prudent to wear sturdy outdoor footwear and dress for the weather. Bringing water is recommended. A portable toilet is available at the burial ground.
Accessibility
Handicapped parking is available close to burial areas and the roads within Great River Natural Burial are paved. There is a central graveled path with a slight slope through a large portion of the burial grounds to enable access for those with mobility challenges. Those needing additional assistance should contact the family, funeral director, or Great River ahead of time to arrange for appropriate assistance so that all may be included.
Service animals are always welcome.
The Burial
The departed may be transported to the cemetery by the family or in the care of a funeral home, if one has been hired. Family and friends are invited to carry their loved one to the gravesite or use our hand-drawn funeral caisson. The casket or shroud will be made of biodegradable, natural materials. If shrouded, the body form will be visible and secured to a rigid shrouding board. Attendees should know that some people choose to keep the head uncovered until the moment of lowering.
THE GRAVE
The grave will be 3′- 4′ deep and wide boards will be placed around the grave edges to inhibit collapse. The gravesite may be adorned with natural greenery along the grave floor and covering the excavated dirt mound. A motorized lowering device may be used, but more likely there will be slats across the grave with lowering straps. The casket or shrouding board may rest across these slats for a ceremony before being lowered by hand.
THE SERVICE
Loved ones may be honored in ceremony and ritual as the family desires. This may include clergy services, military honors, and music. You can expect to experience a family’s traditions or something different they may have chosen to commemorate their loved one. The family may choose to have the burial recorded or live-streamed.
LOWERING THE BODY
If a lowering device is not used, family and loved ones are invited to lower their loved one into the grave. Once the weight is transferred from the slats to the lowering straps or ropes, the slats are removed, and the casket or shrouded body is lowered into the grave.
FILLING IN THE GRAVE
Flowers and other biodegradable items may accompany the body into the grave or be thrown in after lowering. Family and loved ones may participate in shoveling the dirt back into the grave and decorating the burial mound. Cemetery employees may place sticks, rocks, and other biomass in the grave while it is being back-filled to maintain an active soil layer. When finished there will be a mound of dirt over the grave which may be adorned with evergreens or flowers and is left to naturally subside over time. If the family has chosen to have a natural stone (or wood) grave marker installed, this may be installed at the time of burial or in the future after the ground has settled.
