Elizabeth Fournier — The Green Reaper on Death, Funerals, and Dying Differently

This week, I’m talking with Elizabeth Fournier, also known as The Green Reaper. Elizabeth runs a funeral home in Boring, Oregon and is one of the most well-known advocates for green and home-based burial in the country. She’s also the author of The Green Reaper: Memoirs of an Eco-Mortician, which tells the story of how she built a funeral home in a repurposed goat barn and started helping families return to more natural, hands-on ways of saying goodbye.We cover everything from what’s actually involved in a green burial to lesser-known options like human composting and water cremation. Elizabeth also shares her personal relationship with death, how she came to this work through early loss, and what she believes happens when we die.A quick note before listening: this was our second time recording the episode. We lost part of the original due to a tech glitch, and Elizabeth was gracious enough to do it all over again. Also, toward the end of this version, a client arrives unexpectedly and she needs to wrap quickly. I’ll step in during that moment to give you a heads-up.In this episode:What green burial really means and how it works legallyWhy families are increasingly interested in natural and home burialsHow Elizabeth got the nickname The Green ReaperHer personal belief about what happens when we dieWhat she’d want her loved ones to know if she died tomorrowBooks Mentioned in this episode:Elizabeth’s memoir: The Green Reaper: Memoirs of an Eco-MorticianHer follow-up book: The Green Burial GuidebookConnect with Elizabeth:Website: thegreenreaper.orgInstagram: @elizabethgreenreaperFuneral Home: cornerstonefuneral.comAmori - Your Mortality CompanionVisit amori.life and use code WHENWEDIE50 to get 50% off your download.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.About When We Die Talks: When We Die Talks is a podcast built around anonymous conversations about death, loss, and how contemplating mortality shapes the way we live. If you’re new here, start with the Episode Guide. It’s designed to help you find conversations that match where you’re at—curiosity, grief, hesitation, or openness.Stay Connected🌐 Website: whenwedietalks.com📰 Substack: When We Die Talks📸 Instagram: @whenwedietalks▶️ YouTube: When We Die Talks✉️ Email: [email protected] to share your thoughts? Leave a voicemail at 971-328-0864 and share what you believe happens when we die. Messages may be featured in a future episode. If you’d like to have a full conversation, you can apply to be an anonymous caller at whenwedietalks.com.