Blog Posts Archives - Carolina Memorial Sanctuary

Remembering Olive: Reflections on Grief, Love, & Loss

Posted on Sep 05 2025 by Chloe Kindred

When I was a little girl, I spent Sunday mornings driving my grandmother’s electric wheelchair up and down the hallways of her nursing home. She’d hand me shiny pink candies from the bowl on her nightstand and I’d pop them in my mouth as I hopped on her “scooter.” When […]

A Love Letter To The Sanctuary: Saying Goodbye

Posted on Apr 08 2023 by Cassie Barrett

Photo of Cassie holding a sickle with the text "A Love Letter to the Sanctuary"

Anyone who knows me well knows I love cemeteries. I have photos of me dating back to high school, wearing vampire fangs in a local cemetery for a photo shoot I did for a friend. I have SEVERAL selfies in various cemeteries all over the world. (I was definitely that […]

Cremated Remains: Options for Green Burial & Scattering

Posted on Mar 29 2023 by Carolina Memorial Sanctuary

burial of cremated remains grave with a stone with the text "Green Burial of Cremated Remains"

When considering disposition— what to do with one’s body after death— people generally fall into one of two camps: burial or cremation. Many factors go into the decision: cultural or familial tradition, cost, geographical location (lack or abundance of cemetery space), environmental impact, and personal preference. For those who opt […]

Sacred Loser: Reflections of a Steward/Gravedigger

Posted on Feb 07 2023 by Carolina Memorial Sanctuary

Stylized photo of Ben digging a grave with the text "Sacred Loser" on top.

I’ve spent a lot of my life wondering/worrying whether I was a Loser. Becoming more acquainted with death has helped me realize for sure that I am, and to claim that identity as sacred.

Jasper – Ambassador of Goodwill and Sanctuary Greeter

Posted on May 31 2022 by Caroline Yongue

Jasper the dog with the text "Tribute to Jasper 8.22.08 - 3.22.22"

Before Jasper came into my life (2014), someone asked me, “Caroline, what do you do for fun these days, what makes you laugh?” It took a while for me to answer their question and I was surprised at my answer of, “Absolutely nothing.” I knew the solution was to find […]

Meet the Sanctuary’s Feathered Denizens

Posted on May 19 2022 by Michele Skeele

Older couple standing back to back holding binoculars with the text on top saying, "Spring Birding at the Sanctuary."

We are so fortunate to have a wide variety of amazing habitats at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary which support so many of our furry and feathered neighbors (we’re proud to be a designated Wildlife Sanctuary!!). So this year, we were excited to introduce our community to some of the birds who […]

Biodegradable Burial Containers for Green Burial: Strange & Unusual

Posted on Aug 16 2019 by Cassie Barrett

Biodegradable Burial Containers for Green Burial: Part 3 – Strange & Unusual This is the last blog in our series, ‘Biodegradable Burial Containers for Green Burial.’ Part 1 covered the what & why behind green burial containers and reviewed the first and most simple option, burial shrouds. Part 2 explored […]

Biodegradable Burial Containers for Green Burial: Coffins & Caskets

Posted on Jul 31 2019 by Cassie Barrett

Biodegradable Burial Containers for Green Burial: Part 2 – Coffins & Caskets This is the second blog in our series about Biodegradable Burial Containers, where we explore biodegradable options for green burial. In the first blog we discussed, what is a biodegradable burial container, why choose a biodegradable burial container, […]

Biodegradable Burial Containers for Green Burial: The What & Why + Shrouds

Posted on Jul 22 2019 by Cassie Barrett

Biodegradable Burial Containers for Green Burial: Part 1 – The What & Why + Shrouds What do you want to happen to your body after you die? I’ve often fantasized about a Viking Funeral, imagining my body drifting away in a wooden boat as flaming arrows shower down and it […]

Death Happenings in Asheville – 2019

Posted on Feb 18 2019 by Cassie Barrett

Picture of Asheville with text "death in Asheville 2019"

As a death activist, someone who is committed to helping our culture heal its relationship to death, I feel so lucky to live in Asheville. We are a small city with just over 90,000 people and yet we have a thriving community that embraces the topic of death and offers […]