Natural Burials

September 1, 2022

For those seeking a more environmentally friendly burial option, we are pleased to offer natural (or ‘green’) burial, defined as the burial of an unenbalmed body in a biodegradable shroud or container. At Mount Auburn, natural burial graves are added in carefully selected locations of the Cemetery’s historic core, among the our stately trees and monuments.


NATURAL BURIAL OPTIONS

Mount Auburn’s natural burial graves come with various options for memorialization:

Unmarked Graves are recorded in our mapping system but do not have any physical marker on the grounds beyond a small numbered metal plate.* These types of graves range from $9,000 to $20,000.

Shared Marker Graves are those which provide permanent memorialization on a communal stone, which is shared by all those buried in nearby graves. These spaces range from $15,000 to $20,000.

Natural burial graves with private flush markers are also available, starting at $25,000.

*A separate purchase of a memorial tree plaque is allowed.  

Each grave, regardless of memorialization, allows the interment of one body as well as one set of cremated remains.  Interment fees and fees relating to memorialization are not included in the purchase price. 


GUIDELINES FOR NATURAL BURIAL AT MOUNT AUBURN

For more information about our Natural Burial Program please visit our Guidelines for Natural Burial at Mount Auburn.


PURCHASING BURIAL SPACE

We are currently working to replenish our inventory of natural burial graves. Please fill out the form below to be notified via email when space is available for pre-need purchase.

If you are facing an immediate or imminent need, please call the main office at 617-547-7105. 


FURTHER READING

 Eternally Green: Mount Auburn founded on ‘Natural Burials’


Death can seem sad and meaningless, but when connected to life, it can be so much more and that’s what green burial does. Through green burial we can utilize our end-of-life rituals for the betterment of the planet and help ensure a brighter future for the younger generations. We can come to appreciate death as an integral part of a natural process that continues long after we perish.

Joe Sehee, Founder, Green Burial Council

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