The funeral home as we know it today emerged after the Civil War when the process of embalming came into general practice. Many funeral homes were known during the late 18th – early 19th century as ‘funeral parlors.’ The reason for this is that during this period the deceased was traditionally laid out to rest in the family home in the parlor. Throughout the late 19th century the practice of embalming became commonplace, and this resulted in more businesses opening up to offer this trade. The word ‘mortuary’ originates from the Latin ‘mortuarium’ meaning receptacle for dead things. The use of the word mortuary was first recorded in 1865 replacing the term ‘deadhouse’.
Over the years, funeral directors at the funeral homes have been the standard organizers of the details after someone dies. The Funeral Director takes care of the necessary paperwork, permits, arrangements with the cemetery and providing obituaries to the newspapers/media. A traditional funeral service consists of a viewing, which is a pre-funeral visitation of the dead. For the viewing, the funeral director or funeral cosmetologist prepares the body by preserving it with embalming liquid, sees that the body is dressed and makeup is applied and hair arranged. The viewing is open for friends and family. Funeral homes offer the comfort of large visiting rooms and even chapels for religious services. Funeral Directors may also direct immediate burials graveside for a prompt, simple burial, as well as memorial services for those whom are cremated. Reportedly, there are over 20,000 funeral homes in the U.S.
For those who would like their end-of-life processes and rituals to be more personalized, the trend for conducting funerals at home has again surfaced world-wide. There are professionals who guide those who would like to have funerals at home, as people are looking for more affordable, earth-friendly and meaningful partings.
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