For many individuals planning their final arrangements, the challenge is not knowing what they want—it is knowing what they do not want. William P. Spence, a funeral director with more than 30 years of experience, has seen this shift firsthand. As the founder of Simple Funerals, he created a model that offers an alternative to both traditional services and cremation, giving families more personalized and environmentally conscious options.

“During my conversations with individuals contemplating their final arrangements, I discovered that an increasing number were quite certain of the type of funeral that they didn’t want, but were uncomfortable with their perceived alternatives,” says Spence. 

He explains that many people prefer to avoid public viewings, embalming, and the expense of a casket and a funeral, yet often assume that cremation is their only alternative. “Although popular, there remain people opposed to cremation for reasons of faith, ecological impact or opposition to being burned,” notes Spence, adding that cremation carries an environmental footprint due to fossil fuel use and carbon emissions.

In response, Spence founded Simple Funerals in 2021 to offer a broader range of choices. Central to the business is the concept of green burial, which he describes as existing in varying “shades of green.” 

“The lightest shade of green is that the body is not embalmed with formaldehyde-based chemicals intended for preservation and restoration,” he says. Without embalming, the body is allowed to return naturally to the earth.

For those seeking a more environmentally focused approach, Simple Funerals offers biodegradable caskets made from materials such as wicker or seagrass, as well as all-natural shrouds. These options eliminate the need for metal or concrete outer burial containers and can take place in hybrid cemeteries—spaces that permit greener practices while still maintaining traditional landscaping and memorial markers. 

“The darkest shade of green burial occurs in natural burial sites where the land is preserved in a conservation easement,” explains Spence. In these settings, the focus extends beyond burial to land restoration, including the reintroduction of native plants and the removal of invasive species. Burials must use fully biodegradable materials, with clothing limited to natural fibers like cotton, linen, wool, silk or bamboo. Graves must also be marked simply, often with a natural stone. 

Spence views green burial as a continuation of the environmentally conscious choices many people make during their lives. As awareness grows around sustainability, more individuals are seeking ways to minimize their impact—even in death. Choosing green burial, he says, allows them to leave behind a minimal environmental footprint.

Beyond environmental considerations, families often find the experience itself deeply meaningful. “Those that have attended a green burial are emotionally moved by the simplicity, beauty and dignity that green burial provides,” observes Spence. Services are intentionally simple and personal, often held outdoors without elaborate setups. Family and friends may participate in placing flowers, lowering the body and even filling the grave, creating a more intimate and connected farewell.

While green burial may seem like a modern concept, Spence points out that it is rooted in tradition. “It is the form of burial our ancestors practiced exclusively until the Civil War and the Industrial Revolution ushered in embalming, metal caskets and burial vaults,” he says, noting that many cultures still follow similar practices today.

Location: 40 N. Charlotte St., Manheim. For more information, call 717-664-1500, email [email protected] or visit SimpleFuneralsPA.com.