Funeral home services and types

Cremation services are funeral providers that arrange cremation, from direct cremation without a ceremony to cremation with a viewing or memorial service.

Crematories operate the cremation chamber itself. Some are open to families directly, others work only for funeral homes.

Mortuaries are funeral establishments that prepare the body for burial or cremation. In most of the US the word is used interchangeably with funeral home.

Funeral chapels are funeral homes with a chapel for services on the premises, so a family does not need a separate church or hall.

Pet cremation services cremate companion animals, individually or communally, and return ashes to the owner on request.

Monument dealers design, engrave and install headstones, grave markers and memorial benches. They are listed separately from funeral homes.

Jewish funeral homes follow halakhic practice: tahara by a chevra kadisha, a plain wooden casket, no embalming and burial as soon as possible.

Catholic funeral homes work closely with parishes on the vigil, funeral Mass and rite of committal.

Muslim funeral services arrange ghusl, shrouding and a swift burial facing Mecca in keeping with Islamic practice.

Christian funeral homes state a church affiliation in their name or record where the specific denomination is not recorded.

These funeral homes are confirmed to offer green or natural burial, biodegradable caskets or no-embalming options.

These funeral homes are confirmed to offer prearranged and prepaid funeral plans.

These funeral homes are confirmed to livestream services for family who cannot attend.

These funeral homes are confirmed to arrange military honors and VA burial benefits.