Funeral homes are also referred to as funeral parlors or mortuaries. These are all businesses that provide burials and funerals for the dead and their families. Mortuaries take care of the legal aspects of the memorial service, the family directs the other details. Options include a viewing, church service, or graveside gathering. It is also possible to have the body cremated. Burial without a service is an additional possibility, as is a service with a closed casket. It is up to the family to choose what is best, except in the rare cases when the deceased planned it out themselves before death.

Family members of the deceased direct what services will be done and how they will be arranged. Mortuaries can handle paperwork and permits that will also be required by themselves. In addition, arrangements with cemeteries and the provision of obituaries for news media are handled by the business as well.

An example of a traditional funeral includes a viewing, also known as a visitation, and a service at a church or funeral home chapel. At the visitation a large area is set aside in the home for people to congregate. It is common to have the casket in this area as well so that visitors can pay their respects.

Following this, there is generally a graveside service for committal as well. However, none of these elements are required. In some cases a family may wish to have a burial without the viewing or other services, referred to as direct burial.

When a body undergoes direct burial, the rest of the ceremony is skipped. Instead the main concern is to have a loved one buried as soon as possible. It is also possible to choose not to bury the body at all. If the body is not being buried, but instead cremated, the funeral home files the necessary paperwork and oversees the cremation process.

If a body must be transferred from one mortuary to another, it must be prepared for shipment while in a casket. This casket is then strapped to an airtray or combination type unit. Moving remains is necessary when the cemetery the burial will take place in is in another state or outside the country.

Upon arrival at a mortuary, the deceased may be embalmed to slow down the decomposition process. To do this blood is removed and replaced with preservative dyes and chemicals. The internal organs are also aspirated and personal features set according to specifications made by the family. Makeup may be used to help with appearance of the person as well.

When deceased individuals become disfigured due to disease or an accident, embalmers may be able to restore the body. This can make an open casket possible where it would otherwise not be. When this cannot be done, or is undesirable to the family, closed casket services are another option.

Funeral homes help the families of deceased individuals by providing them with burial and funeral services. They handle the legal aspects on their own but look to the family for guidance for other details. Family may choose to have a viewing, church service, and graveside gathering. Or they may just want a quick burial. It is also possible to cremate the body or select a closed casket service.

Author Bio: An Oshawa funeral home provider that helps families and friends honour their loved ones by providing all the necessary services to create to ceremony they desire. Whether you want burial or cremation Toronto services they can help you.

Category: Death
Keywords: family,death,funeral,funeral homes,religion, culture, services, ceremonies, depression