When someone close to you dies, even if it’s expected, it knocks the wind out of you. You’re left juggling grief and logistics all at once.

This week, I spoke with funeral director Jamie Sarche to better understand what actually happens when someone dies.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s really in an urn, whether cremation is actually “green,” or what happens when no one claims the ashes? You’re not alone. I’ve worked in trusts and estates for more than a decade, and even I didn’t know the full story behind funeral planning until recently.

That changed when I sat down with Jamie Sarche, Director of Pre-Arranged Funeral Planning at Feldman Mortuary in Denver, Colorado for Episode 13 of The Death Readiness Podcast - What You Need to Know About Embalming, Cremation, and Eco-Friendly Funerals. Jamie walked me through planning my own funeral. And I learned a lot.