Why a cemetery professional chose a Tree

After working in a mortuary, David knew he didn’t want to be embalmed. David and Bindy found their forever home in the forest near the mountains.
After working in a mortuary, David knew he didn’t want to be embalmed. David and Bindy found their forever home in the forest near the mountains. In this photo, they stand beside the tree they selected at Better Place Forests.

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From the mortuary room to a Memorial Forest

David worked at a cemetery in Southern California. He initially planned on being buried in a casket. After spending some time in the mortuary area and seeing the embalming process firsthand, he decided burial lost its appeal to him. David and his wife Bindy agreed they preferred cremation. Being in the industry, David knew he needed a plan for where his ashes would go.

A couple named David and Bindy pictured together. David works at a cemetery but the couple decided that a Memorial Tree in Better Place Forests Flagstaff location was a better fit for their end-of-life plans.

“If you’re put in the ground, in a casket, you’re just taking up room that no one’s ever going to go see and it’s wasteful. With ashes under a tree, it’s perfect.” – David, Flagstaff Memorial Forest, Arizona

Forever in their Happy Place

For David and Bindy, it was an easy decision to move to the mountains and live in a forest. “The forest just calls to us. We’ve traveled a lot, and it’s always been our dream to live in the mountains” reflects David. “The Flagstaff Memorial Forest has a view of the mountains and is close to the Grand Canyon. When the wildflowers are blooming in the meadow it gives me goosebumps!  It’s just a spectacular property.”

A woman named Bindy standing in a field with trees in the background. Bindy's love of nature was part of what made Better Place Forests appeal to her.

David and Bindy shared their plan with close family: their siblings and daughters. Everyone understands why the Flagstaff Memorial Forest is the perfect fit. David shared why a forest is his perfect final resting place: “It’s important to take care of forests. They give life to our planet; they’re our oxygen supply. And if you’re put in the ground in a casket, that seems wasteful. To have ashes placed by a tree is perfect, it’s giving back to the earth”.

A woman named Bindy standing in a forest taking a photo with her cell phone. Bindy's love of nature was part of what made Better Place Forests appeal to her.

“Our family understands our choice, and they love this concept. It’s our happy place, just being in the mountains. To be under a tree that’s going to flourish and grow – that’s everything.” – David, Flagstaff Memorial Forest, Arizona

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A woman with her hand on the tree trunk stands next to a very tall Memorial Tree located in a Better Place Forests protected location.
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