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Funeral and death care options narrowed in Humboldt County this June when three full-service funeral homes announced they will close, and are no longer accepting new clients. Sanders Funeral Home was the oldest of the three, serving local families for nearly 120 years.
All three were owned by an out-of-state company that cited financial losses due to a growing preference for cremation over traditional burial. Collectively they handled approximately 500 cases each year. That leaves Goble's Fortuna Mortuary of Fortuna and Ayres Family Cremation of Eureka as the sole remaining funeral homes in Humboldt County. Both are locally-owned and prepared for an increase in calls.
Families that prepaid for services with the closed funeral homes are protected, and can have their plans transferred to Ayres or Goble's. While these closures may present challenges for families, it can also open up conversations about alternative approaches to after-death care.
After-Death Care Options in Humboldt County- Simplified
Humboldt's two remaining funeral homes can provide all the required documentation and after-death care needed, but families also have the right to do some or all of these steps themselves.
The First 24 Hours
A deceased person's body typically needs proper refrigeration within 24 hours of death to slow decomposition while required documentation and arrangements are made. Families may use a funeral home, or keep the body at home with Techni-Ice or dry ice.
Option 1: Call a Funeral Home
(for full of partial funeral services)
Humboldt residents may call Ayres Family Cremation or Goble's Fortuna Mortuary to arrange for cold storage while making final arrangements. Out-of-county funeral homes can also be used, though costs increase with distance.
- Bodies can be stored at funeral homes, then transported home for after-death care
- For a small fee, funeral homes can handle the complicated task of securing death certificates and transportation permits for families.
- Some funeral homes may allow families to perform after-death care tasks at their facilities.
- Once the Sacred Groves Kneeland burial ground is open, Ayres Family Cremation will offer our burial services as an option to clients.
Option 2: Home Funeral with Techni-Ice or Dry Ice
A home funeral is when families and friends of the deceased provide after-death care, rather than Funeral Home professionals.
Whether this is the best option for your family is a matter of personal choice. While there are several steps involved, there are also many resources available to help navigate them.
If you are keeping the body at home or a place designated for a home funeral for over 24 hours, you will need to keep it cold. Techni-Ice (reusable gel packs) offers safe, easy cooling for family use, while dry ice provides longer-lasting cooling but requires careful handling due to extreme temperatures.
Support and Resources
Families interested in home funerals can learn more at:
www.homefuneralalliance.org.
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