Advantages to DIY
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You can take your time with your goodbye.
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The stress of cost is reduced.
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No one is trying to sell you anything.
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The body looks more natural and doesn't smell like embalming chemicals (embalming facts).
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A body can remain 24 hrs/day in your care (with proper cooling) until final disposition.
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Transporting across state lines is easy. You are not required to have a body embalmed for this (unless you hire a Utah Funeral Director since THEIR Licensure requires it of THEM).
DIY Families of Veterans
have wonderful experiences coordinating burial directly with Utah State Veterans Cemetery WITHOUT a funeral director.
Provided FREE:
-the grave (spouses or dependent children $828),
-opening and closing (Internment)
-marker
You BUY:
-a vault/grave liner (Beasley Monument is friendly to DIYers)
Hiring Partial Mortuary Services:
Compare Prices and willingness of Mortuary to cooperate by calling them
The Law
No law requires you to follow State Licensure Rules for Hairdressers when you cut your family's hair. Neither Federal nor State law requires family and friends who serve without pay to follow State Licensure Rules for Funeral Directors in the care of dead loved ones.
Definitions
"Zoomeral": For a free video course on hosting a virtual funeral:
https://www.redesigningtheend.com/
Virtual options with better sound and coordination than a simple Zoomed service: https://willowise.com/
Viewing: Mourners visit with the body on display.
Visitation: Mourners visit while casket closed or body not present at all (perhaps a single photo on display).
Either can be held at home (for hours or days). Or, just prior to starting time, at the location of ceremony.
Funeral: a ceremonial meeting where the body is present.
Memorial: a ceremonial meeting where the body is not present.
Step-by-Step
Home Funeral Instructions
When Death Occurs
Visual Flow Chart
Dead Bodies the "Danger" That Doesn't Exist
(quotes from experts)