More Families Are Choosing a Final Resting Place Surrounded by Nature

Rosemary lived most of her 67 years pushing past the limitations and pain of myotonic dystrophy, a muscular condition that eventually required the use of a wheelchair. But the debilitating disease never impacted her enduring faith and positive attitude.

“Everyone called her Rosie, a nickname that described her perseverance, rosy outlook, and passion for life,” noted Rosemary’s husband, Joel Cochran. “She lived life to the fullest despite the challenges she faced every day. Most people didn’t know Rosie was hurting or facing difficulties, because she was always lifting others up.”

Joel retired from his dental practice about five years ago to start “the best job I’ve ever been blessed to have – caring for Rosie,” he shared with those who circled her final resting place under the towering trees. “She passed away at sunrise and we buried her at sunset the same day, right here in this forest with the incredible help of close friends and family and the caring and expert staff of Whispering Hills.”

As part of preplanning their final arrangements, Rosemary and Joel toured natural cemeteries near family in South Carolina and Alabama along with their daughter Kayleigh Mahone. “My mom loved the outdoors, the beach, meadows, and the idea of being in a beautiful place and not surrounded by tombstones,” Kayleigh shared, as she tossed rose petals on her mother’s grave.

“When we toured Whispering Hills earlier this year, my mom kept saying how peaceful she felt here. It’s a place where friends and family can come visit, take a walk, ride a bike, have a picnic. It’s wonderful,” she added with a smile. “My husband and I are planning to be buried here one day too.”

Whispering Hills Natural Cemetery, located at 3550 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, Georgia 30240, is at the heart of a 140-acre memorial nature preserve that features a forest, flower-filled meadows, rolling streams, walking trails, and grassy pastures for grazing horses.

To date, nearly 200 families from across Georgia, Alabama, the South and beyond have chosen Whispering Hills for loved ones passed or as part of their own final arrangements preplanning.

The Cochran family and dozens of friends met under a tent in August, just a week after Rosie passed, to enjoy three of her favorite things – family, reminiscing, and barbecue.

Framed photographs of distant and recent memories adorned the dinner tables, including a snapshot of Joel and Rosie strolling Orange Beach last Easter with their granddaughter Rosie. Another photo captures Joel and Rosemary running the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta more than 40 years ago.

“My Aunt Rosie may have had some physical disadvantages, but when it came to living and running this race called life she was a real winner – always happy, always making others smile,” recalls William Cochran, who walked one of the many trails throughout Whispering Hills to his Aunt’s final resting place. “I’m so glad she’s in this place that she explored and loved so much.”

“On the day we buried Rosie, we all picked up shovels and helped close the grave. It was the most amazing experience and brought us all closer with an incredible sense of closure,” Joel explained during Rosie’s tribute. “Before this celebration of Rosie’s life, a lot of my friends and relatives thought a natural burial was just for environmentalists, tree huggers,” he said with a grin. “But now they realize it’s simply a more beautiful and affordable way to leave your last mark on Earth. And a lot of them are considering it as a wonderful option for their own farewell someday.”

A natural burial and cemetery was always part of Denise Simmons’ plan, as she focused on her family and building the family chimney sweep business with her husband Jeff and her son Trent in Opelika, Alabama.

“She loved the idea of being surrounded by nature when her time came, in a simple casket covered in flowers,” recalled Trent Simmons, who found Whispering Hills while on a mission to fulfill his mom’s wishes toward the end of her battle with cancer.

Families can choose among a number of burial options at Whispering Hills, including a full natural burial in a pine or wicker casket or a shroud, or an ashes burial or scattering. The Simmons chose a wicker casket and a beautiful corner of the meadow that blooms with wildflowers every spring and summer.

“This place is so beautiful, how could you not want to be here when that day comes,” Trent said with a smile. “We had been running the business and caring for mom through about four years of tough cancer treatments, I guess I never really had a chance to grieve when she passed,” he shared.

Trent admits, “like a lot of guys, I rarely show any emotion, always try to hold it together.” But after the family finished tossing flowers on Denise’s casket, everyone took part in closing her grave “one shovel at a time,” Trent recalled. “Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins as young as four all participated. It was one of the most amazing moments I’ve ever experienced. I let my emotions flow, and we all found a level of closure that we couldn’t have found anywhere else. There’s something about a natural cemetery that a traditional setting just can’t match.”

The Simmons family not only helped to fulfill Denise’s final plan, everyone from Trent and his wife Lindsay to his father, sister, brother-in-law, and uncle have secured their own future final resting place at Whispering Hills. “My mom’s wishes became our wish when we experienced the beauty and peacefulness of a final resting place surrounded by nature.”

For more information about Whispering Hills Natural Green Cemetery and Memorial Nature Preserve, visit www.whisperinghillspreserve.com.