The Green Funeral movement is alive in New York City

December 11, 2025/Business, Cemetery, Products/

Amy Cunningham is a friend of mine. She was a writer/editor who has become a funeral director and she has teased me that I was a funeral director who has became a writer/editor with Funeral Director Daily.

This second career for Ms. Cunningham has brought her to the forefront of a growing movement in America. . . the movement of Green Burials. What is interesting about Amy Cunningham, however, is that she is not in some rural community in flyover country, but her and her funeral business are located in New York City and she is thriving in the world of Green Burials in that concrete environment.

This article from BK Reader and titled “Green Burials take root in Brooklyn” will give you a little idea about some of the thinking that is going on there when it comes to the world of “environmentally friendly” Death Care options. For instance, Green-Wood Cemetery in the city allows the deceased to be buried anywhere in the cemetery in a non-treated pine box or burial basket.

Theresa Wozunk, a memorial counselor at Green-Wood is quoted in the above article saying, “It’s certainly not traditional but interest, in general, is way up.” In fact, the article mentions that, “Inquiries about placing the body directly in the earth, forgoing embalming and using biodegradable materials have increased so much (that) staff there organized an hours-long seminar this fall that was packed with about 80 curious residents, death doulas and family members planning after-death care.”

Funeral Director Cunningham is also quoted in the article saying, “People who choose green burials like to think that their body has a usefulness to the earth.”

And while any type of burial at Green-Wood is not inexpensive, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, about 33 miles north of Brooklyn also offers a natural burial ground with a less costly grave site. You can see information on that cemetery here.

Related — Here is the website for “Fitting Tribute Funeral Services”, Amy Cunningham’s funeral service in NYC.

Related Article — Green Burials: Old methods a new option for funerals. The Signal (Nova Scotia – Canada)

Funeral Director Daily take: There is no doubt that what I term the “Niche” funeral choices, such as Green Burials will grow in popularity over time. There may actually be some emotional correlation between big cities and Green Burials. Emotionally we know about the contrast that the more involved in technology we get, the more human contact we crave.

Maybe there is also some correlation between living in a very large city and craving a more simple way of Death Care? That might explain what seems to be an odd, and seemingly growing, acceptance of Green Burials in large cities.

I also think that Green Burials will become more popular overall when a nexxus is reached between “interest” and “opportunity”. I think that there is a lot of interest in the idea at this time, but the businesses that can and will provide an easier “commercial opportunity” for the public are not built-out as yet. I think that will come providing easier access for the consumer and Green Burials will grow in commonality at that time.

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