THEIR LIFE IN A VERY ECO FRIENDLY WAY. THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED AFTER DEATH IN A VERY ECO FRIENDLY WAY. IN THE MEADOWS OF SAINT KATERI, SOME FAMILIES ARE RETURNING TO BURIAL TRADITIONS OF THE PAST. THE REQUESTS HAVE INCREASED YEAR AFTER YEAR. NAMED FOR THE PATRON SAINT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THE MEADOWS LOCATED AT SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC CEMETERY FEATURES ABOUT 650 PLOTS FOR NATURAL BURIALS. WE'VE LAID OUT CURRENTLY ABOUT AN ACRE AND A HALF. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CATHOLIC CEMETERIES, TED RATAJCZAK SAYS HE CONSULTED WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE GREEN BURIAL COUNCIL. THE CASKET WOULD EITHER BE BAMBOO, WICKER, NATURAL PINE, SOMETHING BIODEGRADABLE THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY METAL. NATURAL BURIALS HERE WILL ALSO FORGO TRADITIONAL EMBALMING FLUIDS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. WE DO NOT REQUIRE EMBALMING. EMMY AWARD IS AN ASSOCIATE DEAN OF HEALTH SCIENCE AND CAREER PROGRAMS AT MALCOLM X. YOU'LL NOTICE IF YOU'VE WITNESSED ANY BURIALS, THAT THERE IS A CONCRETE LINER OR A BOLT. AND SO ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE SAYING, NO, WE'RE ALLOWING THE BODY TO AS NATURALLY AND SAFELY BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE ELEMENTS. JUST AS NATURAL BURIALS HAVE PIQUED THE INTEREST OF MORE FAMILIES, SHE SAYS THE COLLEGE'S MORTUARY SCIENCE PROGRAM HAS SEEN MORE STUDENTS INTRIGUED BY IT, TOO. MANY DO GO INTO TRADITIONAL FUNERAL PRACTICES, BUT WE HAVE SEEN A RISE OF STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING INTO MORE NATURAL BURIAL PRACTICES IN KEEPING WITH A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. ROCKS WILL REPLACE HEADSTONES. CEMETERIES ARE REALLY ABOUT YOUR LEGACY, AND SO IF YOU COULD HAVE YOUR LEGACY LIVE ON THE WAY YOU LIVED YOUR LIFE, IT'S GREAT TO PASS ON THOSE STORIES AND TRADITIONS TO THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS. THE MEADOW OF SAINT KATERI WILL BE BLESSED DURING AN OUTDOOR MASS ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH AT NOON. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND AND TOUR THE BURIAL