End of Life Preparation, Support and Cemetery Information
Preparing for the dying can give meaning to life and ease to death. The End of Life and Cemetery Committee of Nahalat Shalom wants to let you know about the support that Nahalat Shalom can offer you and your family at your time of need. Your membership packet includes an End of Life form on which you may have indicated some of your end-of-life and burial/cremation choices. These forms are kept in a secure location at Nahalat Shalom. The form can be updated or revised at any time. The synagogue has secured a section in the cemetery, La Puerta Natural Burial, for its members.
Nahalat Shalom strongly recommends pre-need planning with the cemetery and mortuary of your choice. In addition to decreasing the number of hard decisions to be made when mourning is most intense, pre-need planning may be less expensive. Pre-planning may include the selection of a cemetery, a plot, coffin or urn, and choice of other funeral home services (e.g. transportation). All of the cemeteries and mortuaries listed in the Resources List have sensitive and trained people to help you with pre-planning. Nahalat Shalom coordinates with local mortuaries and cemeteries at the time of death to facilitate your burial wishes.
If the family chooses Tahara (Jewish ritual preparation and washing of the body), the family should inform the funeral home during pre-planning or at the time of death. The funeral home will contact the Albuquerque Chevre Kadisha at the time of death. The Chevre Kadisha volunteers will perform this ritual anonymously, at no cost to the family (donations are always appreciated for this mitzvah).
At a time of illness or mourning, the Nahalat Shalom’s Mishpocha Committee has dedicated volunteers who can offer a variety of support. Members of the Mishpocha Committee may provide for short term needs such as meals, visits, running errands and help with referrals. When death occurs, as a member of Nahalat Shalom, you are eligible to receive pastoral care and religious funeral/memorial/life celebration services officiated by Nahalat Shalom Religious Leaders you choose, along with a shiva service. These could be at the synagogue, at graveside or at another location, in coordination with the clergy you have chosen.
If you have any questions about how Nahalat Shalom can support you and your family, contact nikihanna, End of Life point person at nscemeterycomm@gmail.com