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Natural Burial

Natural Burial 

The Archdiocese of Chicago is proud to announce the establishment of its first natural burial area. Find peace and lasting beauty in a final resting place that honors the environment. Meadows of St. Kateri at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery in Palatine, Illinois offers a natural burial option inspired by Saint Kateri Tekakwitha's deep connection with nature.

What is Natural Burial?

Natural burial might seem like a new concept, but it’s actually a return to tradition. 

Natural burials forego harsh embalming fluids, traditional caskets, and outer burial containers in favor of biodegradable materials, organic fibers, and eco-friendly embalming techniques. This minimizes environmental impact while honoring the natural cycle of life and death.

Our natural burial grounds offer a beautiful area for quiet reflection and connection with nature. The peaceful setting features winding walking trails, native plants, and a mixture of meadow and forest terrain. 

Natural burials will be memorialized with a choice of flush lawn-level memorial, an engraved boulder, or a boulder with a bronze nameplate.

Meadows of St. Kateri Natural Burial Area

St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the "Lily of the Mohawks," was a resilient Mohawk woman who found solace and strength in Catholicism. Orphaned by smallpox as a child, she overcame adversity to embrace her faith, defying societal pressures. Despite facing opposition, Kateri dedicated her life to prayer and was a beacon of hope for her community. Her untimely death at 24 couldn't dim her influence, as she became the first Native American saint, inspiring countless people. Honored for her faith, resilience, and connection to nature, St. Kateri is a powerful symbol of cultural understanding and environmental stewardship.

Meadows of St. Kateri vIDEO TOUR


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