Meet the host with the compost

By Gretchen Ammerman

Oregon Coast TODAY

As both an environmentalist and claustrophobe who’s fairly horrified by the idea of being filled with chemicals and then placed in small, strong box for eternity, I was immediately intrigued to see the next speaker for the Art of Aging/Art of Dying program series presented by the Hoffman Center in Manzanita.

Elizabeth Fournier, AKA the “Green Reaper,” is at the forefront of two growing trends: female morticians, and home or cemetery burials where the decedent is buried without having been embalmed, then put into either a biodegradable container or no container at all.

Fournier will be sharing knowledge gleaned from more than 15 years as both a proponent and practitioner of environmentally positive burials in a virtual talk on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 3 to 5 pm.

“I want people that might be interested to know that this is going to be a gentle conversation on a tough topic,” she said. “I’ll be holding their hands through it, answering any questions on any topic, including funding. I’ve got some groovy slides and I’ll be covering some history.”

Trying not to bury the lead, I jumped right into what got Fournier interested in this niche part of her profession.

“About 15 years ago, I got a call from some people that wanted to do a burial on their own property,” she said. “I haven’t heard of that, so I got curious, and then they told me more about the person who had died.”

Looking back on it now, Fournier realizes they had her at “Wanda the Wanderer.”

“Wanda had moved to an intentional community and had blossomed there,” Fournier said. “The more I learned about her, the more I was captivated by her.” 

Wanda’s friends and family continued to charm Fournier through the planning process, but made it a bit more challenging with some of the answers they gave her to send to the state.

“They met me at a local pub, which I thought was a great place for filling out this kind of paperwork,” she said. “For occupation, they wanted me to put ‘Wanderer,’ and for industry they wanted 'The Earth.’ I had a feeling records was going to kick it back to me, and I was completely right.”

Bloodied but unbowed, Fournier did more research on the laws governing non-traditional burial practices.

“I found out that there wasn’t anything specifically saying you can’t do a burial on private property in Oregon,” she said. “And you can pretty much choose how you want to do it.”

Once Fournier had a better idea how to check the boxes for the permit, she was successful, and her first green burial service commenced in a way that cemented her resolve to provide the service in the future. 

“I think we did it in a way that was meaningful and beautiful,” she said. “They planted a sapling over her spot, and served fish that had been caught locally. It was really one of the most lovely services I have been involved with to date.”

Fournier, who owns and operates Cornerstone Funeral Services in Boring, Oregon, didn’t realize how much her business was about to change. 

“All the sudden I started getting calls saying, ‘Are you that lady that buried someone in their backyard?’ and I realized I was on to something,” she said. “Since then, there continues to be growing interest in green burials, and there are also more cemeteries that allow them, including a few on the coast.”

Fournier now serves as an advisory board member of the Green Burial Council, and has written three books: “The Green Burial Guidebook,” “The Green Reaper” and “All Men are Cremated Equal.” She also hosts a weekly radio show on KKPZ (1330 AM) in Portland called “Until We Meet Again,” where she addresses a wide range of topics related to death.

“I’m just so excited to educate people about their options,” she said. “Green burials can save people money and it helps save the environment.”

And even if you have questions on internment of a different color, Fournier encourages you to Zoom in.

“I like to create a safe space to ask questions,” she said. “Green or not, you’ve got a friend in me.”

To register for the workshop, go to hoffmanarts.org/register. Suggested donation is $5 to attend. For more information on Fournier and her work, go to www.cornerstonefuneral.com.