A little about us

Dr. Donal W. Key's formal education is human development and counseling. He worked for decades in mental health in-patient psychiatric care and private practice, healthcare management, and consulting. He has been a hospice director, educating staff and assisting the dying and their families in obtaining a peaceful death. Dr. Key also hosted The Journey radio show, chronicling people’s end of life stories, and is a national speaker for healthcare providers on Hospice and Palliative Care End of Life Rights and Choices.

Linda Jo Canyon, OTR/L, is a registered, licensed occupational therapist with a dual degree in psychology and specialties in the rehabilitation of cancer patients and hospice and end of life care. She educates and empowers families and friends of the dying in end of life care and assists with burials. Linda is also a long-time national speaker for healthcare providers on the topics of rehabilitation after cancer treatment andHospice and Palliative Care End of Life Rights and Choices.

Donal and Linda, having worked for decades in end of life care participating intimately with the dying and their families, saw the need for an environmentally sound, respectful, low cost, kind, gentle, burial and this became their mission. 
​
Maria is pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology, joining the mission with her passion for people and nature as the Community Outreach Director.

 
                                                Donal W. Key                          Linda Canyon
                                                                505-716-2543                                   505-360-4480

                                                                Maria Canyon, Community Outreach Director   
                                                                            naturalburialnewmexico@gmail.com
                                                                                     Mailing address:  Natural Burial New Mexico
                                                                                                                601 Griegos Rd NW,
                                                                                                                Albuquerque, NM 87107

                                                                              www.facebook.com/naturalburialnm/

                                              * Downloadable, printable directions are also available at the bottom of the About page of this website *
Directions to La Puerta Natural Burial Ground
  From Albuquerque:
  1. Take I-25 S to Belen Exit 195 and through downtown Belen.
  2. Turn left (east) on W Reinken Ave/NM 309/River and continue across the Rio Grande River (about 2.4 miles).
  3. Turn right (south) onto Rio Communities Blvd/NM 47 South.
  4. Follow NM 47 S about 15 miles to just beyond the BNSF railroad crossing.
  5. Shortly after mile marker 4, which will be on your left (east) look for a LA PUERTA sign with two red flags next to a green gate. The gate is never locked. Please close this gate behind you, coming and going.
  6. La Puerta Burial Ground is 2.5 miles east toward the Manzano Mountains from the gate.
  7. There is also a green gate at the entrance to the cemetery. It is never locked. Please close the gate behind you.
From Socorro:
  1. Take I-25 N to NM 60 East. 
  2. Follow NM 60 E to the intersection with NM 47 North.
  3. Follow NM 47 N to a green gate on your right (east) after mile marker 3, just before mile marker 4. There is a LA PUERTA sign with two red flags next to a green gate. The gate is never locked. Please close this gate behind you, coming and going.
  4. La Puerta Burial Ground is 2.5 miles east toward the Manzano Mountains from the gate.
  5. There is also a green gate at the entrance to the cemetery. It is never locked. Please close the gate behind you.
From Mountainair:
  1. Take Highway 60 West to NM 47 North toward Belen.
  2. Follow NM 47 N to a green gate on your right (east) after mile marker 3, just before mile marker 4. There is a LA PUERTA ​sign with two red flags next to the gate. The gate is never locked. Please close this gate behind you, coming and going.
  3. La Puerta Burial Ground is 2.5 miles east toward the Manzano Mountains from the gate at the highway. 
  4. There is also a green gate at the entrance to the cemetery. It is never locked. Please close the gate behind you. 
                                       Call Donal at 505-716-2543 or Linda at 505-360-4480 if you have any trouble locating La Puerta Natural Burial Ground.

                                 Certified by Green Burial Council - greenburialcouncil.org, member of National Home Funeral Alliance -homefuneralalliance.org
                                    For additional information visit fathersbuildingfutures.org, passages international.com, Kinkaraco.com