About Us

Endswell Water Cremation and Urn Gallery

Endswell is one of only three providers of aquamation in North Carolina, and the only one located in Central North Carolina. Aquamation is simply an environmentally-friendly alternative to fire cremation that uses less energy and doesn’t pollute the environment. Learn more about the aquamation process and its many benefits on our Aquamation Page.

Endswell is part of a growing movement to reclaim death care from the funeral industry. We are honest and upfront about our services and our pricing; and we disclose our prices on our website.

Endswell provides clarity, transparency, and affordability by offering one simple funeral arrangement at a straightforward price of $2500.00.

Endswell is a family-owned business, founded by long-term North Carolina residents. We are a part of the local community, and we strive to build lasting relationships. By offering simple, affordable, water-based cremation, we demonstrate our commitment to our community and to future generations.

Working With Endswell

STEP 1:

Arrangements

Endswell is available 24/7 via phone and email to assist with arrangements.

STEP 2:

Pick Up

We work with reputable transportation companies to ensure the safe and timely transportation of your loved one.

STEP 3:

Paperwork

We assist with the necessary paperwork and help obtain death certificates.

STEP 4:

Aquamation

We provide water cremation in a gentle alkaline solution.

STEP 5:

Ashes Returned

We ship or hand-deliver your loved one’s ashes in an eco-friendly urn.

The Inspiration

Desmond Tutu, a South-African Anglican bishop and theologian, was the inspiration for Endswell Aquamation. For his last act on the planet, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and anti-apartheid activist chose to be aquamated rather than cremated. News sources all over the world picked up the story; and it was the first time that most people had ever heard of aquamation. His decision has had a profound impact on the death care industry and served as Hunter Beattie’s inspiration to open Endswell.

Hunter Beattie

Owner & Founder, Endswell

Our Story

While sitting near a cemetery in Carrboro, North Carolina, I read that former Archbishop of Capetown, Desmond Tutu, had chosen to be aquamated. Coincidentally, no more than 50 feet away, a grave was being prepared. I sat there, considering the non-biodegradable caskets, the carcinogenic chemicals like formaldehyde, and the practice of cutting off public land from productive use by the community. These characteristics of our modern burial practices stood in stark contrast to Tutu’s decision to be aquamated.

Over the next few days, I read countless articles about green burial, aquamation, embalming, cremation, funeral care and anything else related to this sphere of human experience that goes largely unnoticed until we need these services. On day five, I purchased an aquamation machine. It seemed impulsive at the time, and my wife and I both questioned my sanity; but every experience along this journey has confirmed that this adventure will be a profound and meaningful one.

After my father’s traumatic death, I buried his loss and my memories of him under an avalanche of diversions and distractions. Starting Endswell is both an offering to this community as well as my own attempt to heal my relationship with loss and grief. Funeral care involves the profound act of caring for the deceased – of being the last person to care for the body. It also involves being present and supportive of the individuals facing their own death or the death of their loved ones.

Death can feel disorienting and isolating, especially in a society that wants us to get back to “normal” after the funeral. From my own experience, I know that grief is not linear. And each step along the death journey is incredibly impactful. One of the most vulnerable parts of this journey is trusting a funeral home to care for the body of the person you love. This requires intimate respect, consideration and experience.

At Endswell, my hope is that you, your family, and friends feel supported, informed, and connected during this process. Each family I meet is an extension of my own, so I want to thank you for putting your trust in me. It is an honor to serve you and this community.

Veronica Penn Bartoo Beattie

Owner, Endswell

Veronica is Hunter Beattie’s life-partner and the co-owner of Endswell Aquamation. She currently serves on Orange County’s Commission for the Environment and works in the solar industry as the Vice President of Quality for Blue Ridge Power. Veronica has backpacked all over the world, homesteaded on a mini-farm in Hillsborough, and dedicated her professional career to renewable energy.

Jordan Woods

Family Care Manager, Endswell

I was drawn to this role at Endswell because of my deep sense of empathy for individuals who are confronting their own mortality or dealing with the death of a friend or family member.

Through my own experiences with traditional funeral homes, I became inspired to find a different approach to death care. This led me to join an organization that is changing the way that people experience death, dying, and remembrance.

My previous life experience has involved lactation support, serving as a deputy register of deeds, managing an electrical company, and working in estate planning law.

At Endswell, my goal is to guide and support individuals as they plan for end-of-life care by offering a modern approach to funeral care that is human-focused and environmentally friendly.

Augustine & Karina Cotten

Cotten Mortuary Removal Services

Augustine and Karina Cotten founded their transportation company to elevate this service within the funeral industry. They show the highest level of respect when caring for the deceased and transporting them to Endswell. We work with them 24/7 to take your loved one into our care, with absolute respect and dignity.

LeVonda Deloatch was one of the first people who Endswell entrusted to manage our transportation services. Like others on our transportation team, she shows unparalleled respect and care for the families we serve.

LeVonda Deloatch

Respectful Transporter, Endswell

LeVonda Deloatch founded her transportation company to elevate this service within the funeral industry. She shows the highest level of respect when caring for the deceased and transporting them to Endswell. We work with them 24/7 to take your loved one into our care, with absolute respect and dignity.

“Hunter and the Endswell team made my mother’s passing so much less complicated and painful than I’d been led to believe it would be.
Hunter communicated everything clearly and respectfully while being genuinely warm and kind. The whole process allowed me to be present with her during her last days knowing that she would be carefully and respectfully taken care of.
Hunter brought me her ashes in person and I felt nothing but warmth and care.
Endswell made the transition as easy as possible. Thank you.” – Evie Watts

“Hunter met my mom and I at the drop of a hat as we were facing end-of-life decision-making moments with my beloved father. He was kind, informative, tender and we felt in awe of his vision and this important venture of Endswell. When dad passed away, Hunter observed our desire to sit vigil with him over the evening, and arranged the family-owned transport folks to come right at 7 am upon our request. Everything and everyone was so gentle and so loving and we felt like we (and dad) had received the utmost care.”

Christine Ashley

“I am thrilled with the exceptionally compassionate service provided by Endswell founder, Hunter Beatte, and I’m so thankful that he answered the call to open an aquamation facility here in the Triangle. Aquamation is gentler process, a more ecologically sustainable practice, and a more affordable option. The Endswell facility is a peaceful and beautiful, and Hunter’s kind nature brings a much-needed touch to all those who are navigating end of life transitioning.”

Kim Jordan

“Compassion. Understanding. Kindness. Flexibility. Details matter to him. “Being here now” at its most present describes Hunter Beattie and Aquamation services. He is the most compassionate and professional of anyone I have met in the industry, and was of great assistance during an unexpected complication upon the passing of my 99 year old parent. What a blessing that he found this calling.”

Tofu Dave

“I highly recommend Endswell Aquamation as an environmentally friendly alternative to burial or cremation. Hunter was extremely accommodating and patient in supporting me through all the details of final arrangements, documentation and memorial resources. He takes care of all the things I didn’t have the clarity to manage after my father’s death.”

Jean Masse

“In the wake of the sudden and worst loss of my family’s lives, I will be forever grateful that we were referred to Endswell aquamation. Hunter with Endswell took such amazing care of Ian, and us. He was incredibly responsive, informative, communicative, and met all our requests as a family, even hand-delivering Ian’s urn to us with care on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. I cannot say enough about the service provided. When your world comes crashing down without warning, I cannot express what those services meant and alleviated for us. Thank you, Hunter, for your professionalism and compassion.”

Kathleen Wilson

“Multiple friends recommended Endswell to us and it was clear from my first interaction with Hunter that he and Endswell were the perfect fit. He was calm, clear, compassionate and a great communicator. The services offered were just what we needed without any pressure. Endlessly grateful for Hunter and Endswell.”

Ennis Baker

“We were so pleased with the services and support our family received from Endswell. Hunter is kind and compassionate and handled the remains of our father with great care. The urns curated in the gallery are beautiful works of art and the perfect vessels to hold the remains of a loved one. I would highly recommend Endswell.”

Kari Fine

“I cannot express how grateful I am to Hunter and Endswell Aquamation for the patient, sympathetic, and graceful handling of my husband’s arrangements. Living out of state, there were some complications that had to be handled and Hunter took care of everything. It was a relief knowing my loved one was being cared for as he wished. In a time of stress and grief, Hunter was a constant calming presence that allowed me and my family to concentrate on each other.”

- Jodi Virgilio