Episode 186 - A Mother's Legacy and the Evolution of Life Forest Cemetery
Join Jennie and Dianne on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast as they welcome Mel Bennett, founder of Life Forest cemetery, for a heartwarming and insightful conversation. Mel shares the personal story of how Life Forest was born out of her desire to give her mother a better burial after a long and painful battle with dementia, and how this vision has grown into a revolutionary approach to death care. Life Forest's two locations offer a profound connection with nature, believing that this connection is not just an experience, but a source of healing. As leaders in eco-friendly practices, Life Forest sets a new standard for conservation burials, providing GPS-mapped deeded rights and legal protection under cemetery law. Tune in to learn more about this Ordinary Extraordinary sanctuary for celebrating life and eternal rest, and how Mel's vision is changing the way we think about death and burial.
Be sure to check out the end of this episode on YouTube where you can view the video of Mel's mother and experience the wonderful woman, she was before dementia and death took her from this Earth.
To learn more about Life Forest Cemetery and it's two locations, visit their website: https://www.thelifeforest.com
Mel shared this NPR article regarding our conversation about young children losing parents: https://apple.news/AjHZNSBEpQiK6I3PfqVQmrw
Mel Bennett
Founder of Life Forest Cemetery
The concept of Life Forest was created by Mel and her desire to bury her mother in a place that did not yet exist. Her dream of a space unlike any other where healing would be found through nature by burying cremains under trees, but also having the protective qualities of a traditional cemetery became a mission within reach thanks to the talents and efforts of the people introduced here.
As the concept designer for this non-profit cemetery approach, and with graduate studies in Leadership and a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Sociology Mel has always been intrigued by the human condition and how our life experiences such as pain, illness, belief, community, tradition, and family can shape us. Mel believes that a genuine kindness and respect for others, as well as the situations that have shaped people's lives, is the starting point in achieving that feeling of fulfillment that we all deserve to have.
Listen On