Death is expensive. It's also surprisingly bureaucratic, especially in a place like the Mile High City where the population has exploded and the ground is, well, occasionally frozen solid. If you’ve spent any time thinking about things to do when you're dead in denver, you’ve probably realized that the "traditional" path isn't the only one anymore. People aren't just picking out a mahogany casket and calling it a day. They are looking at carbon footprints, alkaline hydrolysis, and whether or not they can actually be scattered off the side of a mountain without getting a posthumous fine from the National Park Service.
Honestly, the logistics of dying in Colorado have changed more in the last decade than in the previous fifty years combined. We used to just have cemeteries. Now? We have "human composting" facilities and high-tech crematoriums that look more like Apple stores than funeral homes. It's a lot to weigh when you're still very much alive and just trying to figure out if your estate plan is actually going to work.
The Legal Reality of Your Final Denver To-Do List
Colorado is a bit of a wild west when it comes to funeral law, but not in the way you might think. We are actually the only state that doesn't require funeral directors to be licensed. Think about that for a second. It’s a quirk of our regulatory history that often surprises newcomers. While most funeral homes are run by deeply ethical, multi-generational families, the lack of a state license requirement means you really have to do your homework before picking a provider.
You've got rights, though. Under the Federal Trade Commission's "Funeral Rule," any provider in Denver has to give you a General Price List (GPL) the moment you ask about prices. They can't force you to buy a "package" if you only want individual services. If you want to provide your own casket—maybe you built one in your garage or bought a cardboard one online—they legally have to use it without charging you an "handling fee." It's one of the few consumer protections that actually has some teeth.
Beyond the Grave: Natural Organic Reduction
One of the most fascinating things to do when you're dead in denver is to literally become soil. Colorado became the second state in the U.S. to legalize "human composting," or Natural Organic Reduction (NOR), back in 2021. Companies like The Natural Funeral in Lafayette or JoyScore are leading this charge.
How does it work? Basically, the body is placed in a vessel with wood chips, alfalfa, and straw. Over about 30 to 60 days, microbes do their thing. The end result is roughly a cubic yard of nutrient-rich soil. You can't just dump this soil anywhere, though. While you can use it on your private property or in a garden, Colorado law has specific rules about where "remains" can be placed, even if they look and smell exactly like high-quality potting soil. Most people choose to have the soil donated to land restoration projects on the Western Slope. It’s a way of giving back to the Colorado landscape that many of us spent our lives hiking and skiing across.
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Scattering Ashes Near the Front Range
Most people assume they can just hike up to the top of Longs Peak and toss a handful of Grandma into the wind. You can, technically, but there are rules. If you're looking at Rocky Mountain National Park, you need a special use permit. It’s not expensive, but it is a requirement. Also, they generally ask that you stay away from high-traffic trails and water sources.
Then there’s the "dispersal" issue. If you’ve ever seen a movie where ashes blow back into someone's face, that’s a real risk at 12,000 feet. The wind in the Rockies is no joke. Pro tip from locals: check the wind direction before you open the urn. Better yet, look into "biodegradable urns" that are designed to be buried or dropped into water, which prevents the "Big Lebowski" scenario entirely.
The Riverside Cemetery Factor
If you prefer the historical route, Riverside Cemetery is Denver's oldest. It’s located in a gritty, industrial part of town near the Platte River, but it’s a masterclass in Colorado history. Silas Soule is buried there—the guy who blew the whistle on the Sand Creek Massacre. It’s not just a place for the dead; it’s a bird sanctuary and a historical landmark. However, because it’s an older cemetery, it doesn't have the lush, manicured look of Fairmount. It’s dry. It’s rugged. It’s very "Denver."
Fairmount Cemetery, on the other hand, is like a massive arboretum. It holds one of the largest collections of Old Garden Roses in North America. If you're planning on being interred there, you're essentially choosing to spend eternity in a massive, historic garden. They even have a "Little Ivy Chapel" modeled after a 13th-century French church. It’s fancy.
Why Green Burial is Gaining Ground
Standard embalming is, frankly, pretty toxic. It involves formaldehyde, which isn't exactly great for the ground water. Because Denverites tend to be environmentally conscious, "Green Burial" has become a massive trend. This means no embalming, no metal casket, and no concrete vault.
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You're just... put in the ground.
- No Embalming: The body is kept cool naturally until burial.
- Biodegradable Shrouds: Usually silk, linen, or wool.
- Shallow Graves: Buried about 3-4 feet deep where the aerobic bacteria are most active.
Seven Stones in Littleton is a prime example of a "botanical garden" style cemetery that leans into this aesthetic. They focus on the living landscape. It feels less like a graveyard and more like a park where people actually want to hang out. It’s a shift in how we view the things to do when you're dead in denver—moving away from mourning and toward a celebration of the natural cycle.
The Cost of the Final Move
Let's talk money, because dying in Denver isn't cheap. The average traditional funeral here will run you between $7,000 and $12,000. Cremation is significantly less, usually ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the "frills."
If you're looking at alkaline hydrolysis—often called "water cremation" or "aquamation"—expect to pay a bit of a premium over flame cremation. It uses water and potassium hydroxide to speed up the natural decomposition process. It’s much greener because it doesn't release carbon into the atmosphere. The Natural Funeral was actually the first in the state to offer this. It's becoming the "status symbol" of the eco-friendly afterlife.
Body Donation: The University of Colorado
If you want the cheapest and arguably most "useful" option, you can donate your body to the University of Colorado's State Anatomical Board. They use the bodies for medical training and research. It’s a rigorous process; you have to register beforehand, and not everyone is accepted (contagious diseases or extreme trauma can be disqualifiers). Once the medical students are finished, the remains are cremated and either returned to the family or interred in a communal plot. It’s a no-cost way to ensure your final act is one of education.
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Navigating the Bureaucracy
In Denver, the death certificate is the key to everything. You can't do anything—close bank accounts, sell a house, scatter ashes—without it. Typically, the funeral director handles the filing with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
You should know that Colorado allows for "home funerals" too. You don't actually have to use a funeral director by law. You can keep a loved one at home, handle the paperwork yourself, and even transport the body to the crematory. It's a lot of work and requires a strong stomach, but for some families, it’s a deeply personal way to say goodbye. Organizations like the Funeral Consumers Alliance of over the Rockies provide resources for people who want to take this "DIY" approach.
The "Body Broker" Scandal Cautionary Tale
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. A few years ago, Colorado made national headlines for a "body brokering" scandal involving a funeral home in Montrose that was selling body parts without consent. This is why the lack of licensing is such a hot-button issue in the state legislature right now. While new laws are being passed to tighten oversight, the lesson for anyone planning their things to do when you're dead in denver is simple: ask for a tour. A reputable funeral home will show you their facility. They will be transparent about where the body is kept and who is handling the cremation. If they are evasive, walk away.
Final Steps for the Living
Planning for the end isn't morbid; it's a gift to the people you leave behind. Denver's fast-paced real estate market and growing population mean that cemetery plots are limited and prices are rising. If you want a specific spot in Fairmount or a niche in the Cheesman Park area (wait, don't look up the history of Cheesman Park if you're squeamish), you need to act sooner rather than later.
- Draft a "Disposition of Last Remains" document. In Colorado, this is a legally binding paper where you name exactly who is in charge of your body and what you want done with it. It’s separate from your will.
- Interview two funeral homes. Don't just go to the one your parents used. Compare the "direct cremation" price versus the "full service" price.
- Check your insurance. Make sure your "final expense" coverage is actually enough to cover Denver's current rates, not the rates from 1995.
- Decide on the "Green" factor. If you want human composting or water cremation, you need to find a specialized provider now, as most traditional homes don't offer it yet.
- Tell your family where the "Death Folder" is. Include the deed to the cemetery plot, your social security number, and a list of any pre-paid services.
Denver is a city that loves the outdoors, so it makes sense that our afterlives are increasingly headed back into the wild. Whether it's becoming soil for a forest restoration or resting under a historic rose bush at Fairmount, you have more options here than almost anywhere else in the country. Just make sure you get the paperwork out of the way first.