Here we explore the trends and news about the funeral industry and death care in our society.
What the death positive movement is, where it came from, why it is growing, and how it is changing funeral choices, medical aid in dying, and end-of-life planning for American families.
Can you really be buried in a pod and become a tree? The honest 2026 guide to tree pod burial: what’s real, what’s myth, plus the legal US options and what they cost.
How human composting (natural organic reduction) works, what it costs in 2026, the leading providers, what happens to the bones and soil, and how it compares to cremation and green burial.
Most funerals happen after someone has died. But a growing number of people are choosing something different — a living funeral, sometimes called a “celebration of life while living.” A living funeral allows a person who is approaching the end of life to gather with friends and family, reflect on their life, and say meaningful … Read more
In the evolving landscape of funeral practices, a groundbreaking eco-friendly option has emerged: the mushroom coffin. This innovative approach uses mycelium, the root structure of fungi, to create biodegradable coffins that significantly accelerate decomposition. Unlike traditional wooden or metal caskets, which can take decades to break down, mushroom coffins decompose within 30 to 45 days, … Read more
For generations, the American funeral followed a familiar and largely unquestioned path: a traditional burial service centered around a casket, a cemetery, and a formal funeral ceremony. Funeral homes were built, staffed, and priced around this single model. Today, that model no longer reflects how most families choose to say goodbye. Over the last 20 … Read more
Why do so many funeral homes not display funeral prices on their websites? Surely, to complete the process of selecting a service, we need to know the price. And aren’t more of us discerning consumers now using the Internet as a valuable means to research a purchase? The funeral industry calls the purchase of a … Read more
The funeral industry, long characterized by the image of a stoic man in a black suit, is undergoing a profound transformation. Once a male-dominated field, it is increasingly becoming a space where women are not only participating but leading the way. This shift is more than just a change in demographics—it’s a reclamation of a … Read more
An obituary is a written notice announcing a person’s death. It typically includes a brief biography, details of the person’s passing, and information about memorial services. Traditionally published in newspapers, obituaries serve as a formal announcement and a tribute to the deceased. Over time, this practice has evolved, with online obituaries now offering new ways … Read more
The U.S. has some unique and sometimes bizarre funeral and burial laws that vary by state. Some of these odd rules reflect local historical, cultural, and legal nuances, and many are somewhat archaic and demonstrate the powerful lobbying of an industry worth $8 billion. A funeral purchase was once one of the major spends an … Read more
In recent years, the US funeral industry has undergone significant transformation, driven by changes in consumer preferences, technological advancements, and economic pressures. This death care disruption reflects broader societal shifts towards more personalized, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective end-of-life services. Let’s delve into these changes, focusing on the growing preference for cremation and the impact of … Read more
The funeral industry in the United States is undergoing a significant transformation as more and more families are opting for simple cremations as a more affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional burial services. This shift in consumer preferences is reshaping the way funeral homes and crematories operate, leading to changes in pricing, services offered, … Read more
Listed below is a list of the Medical Examiners’ Offices throughout Oregon. If your loved one is in the care of the Coroner, you can use the table to find your local ME Office and contact information. Once the Medical Examiner releases the deceased (following a satisfactory investigation), the body can be transferred into the … Read more
Obesity has become a significant concern of modern society, and the effects of obesity are already impacting our healthcare industries in the United States. But how is the growing obesity rate impacting the deathcare industry? What does it mean if you are fat and need a funeral? How do funeral directors have to change practices … Read more
Dealing with a death & making funeral or cremation arrangements Dealing with a bereavement that has recently occurred, or is imminent, is an extremely distressing time. For those who have not had to deal with making the necessary arrangements following a family death, this can be additional stress, especially with the need to take care … Read more
Green funerals cost less money and are friendlier to the environment. More people today have commented that they are unhappy with the way the funeral industry has convinced people that a traditional funeral is the only proper way to deal with a death. You know the kind of funeral service they mean, usually involves purchasing … Read more
It may not be the ideal venue for all, but funeral homes are now moving into the market as life celebration event venues. It is not surprising when you consider that the industry estimates that around 50% of funeral chapel and gathering facilities are largely stood unused these days, and that many funeral homes have … Read more
Baby Boomers – a generation that has effected change! They are a generation that has been known for making their mark and choosing to do things differently, and there is no exception when it comes to death. The Funeral Industry has been eagerly anticipating the influx in what has been a declining death rate, when … Read more
With our lives so documented in a digital world today, the deceased are even easier victims of identity theft than ever. It can be extremely distressing to discover that your loved one’s identity has been stolen following their death. Not only can it be very emotionally tormenting, the financial implications to the good-standing of the … Read more
“Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.” — John Lennon Have you created a ‘bucket list’? Have you consciously thought about all the things you want to do before you die? Urgh, no, you may say, that’s very distasteful! Why? Because in our culture the “D”words are still rather … Read more
‘Homegoing’ funerals have gained some notoriety of late, first The Learning Channel (TLC) aired a feature reality show based in a funeral home in Dallas where elaborate and unusual homegoing funerals were staged. Now, Christine Turner, a filmmaker in New York has made a documentary centered around an African-American funeral home in Harlem, NY that … Read more
Last month whilst on a trip to New York City, I took the time to visit Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. As I stepped off the noisy, chaotic streets of Brooklyn into the acres of quiet tranquility sitting above Brooklyn, it was like stepping into the ‘Secret Garden’. The history of Green-Wood Cemetery Green-Wood cemetery originally … Read more
Typing ‘Funeral’ into a Google search recently, I was completely surprised when Google suggested ‘Funeral Potatoes’ as a searched phrase. Curious, I clicked on the suggestion to find out more. What I discovered is that “Funeral Potatoes” is a term given to a dish, made largely from potatoes, that is traditionally served at Mormon funerals. … Read more
America’s first funeral home to cremate bodies by liquefying them has been ordered to stop performing the process. The process called alkaline hydrolysis, or also known as resomation, uses lye and heat, to speed up the natural process of a human body breaking down. In an age where ecological and environmental policies are rife, and … Read more
Funeral People Explained Funeral Service Terms Cremation Terms Explained Burial Terms Funeral Home Terminology Explained Funeral Merchandise Terminology Death Care Legal Terms explained Funeral People Explained – the different roles you may encounter when dealing with a death We have listed below some of the people you may encounter when you visit a funeral home, … Read more
Federal Trade Commission ‘Funeral Law’ conducts Undercover Investigations The ‘Funeral Law’ is a federal law that protects consumers. The Funeral Industry needed to be governed by trade laws just like any other retail industry, as funeral homes can take advantage of consumers and exploit them. Grieving families who don’t know their legal rights are vulnerable … Read more
Preplanning a funeral or cremation Visitor 77116313 04 Apr 2014, 02:31 PM My mother, perhaps unfortunately, signed up for direct cremation with PRENEEDS Family Service Eastern Region. The rate they charged her in 2006 is double what you cite here. Now they want to charge for death certificates. Is this a fee I can get … Read more
The old cliché resonates “Nothing is certain but death and taxes” and I have heard many talks about the ‘death’ industry as a “recession-proof” business. Yet the Funeral Industry is now feeling its own pinch as the current troubling economic times continue. This once very traditional industry has to move out of the dark ages … Read more
Bizarre, or just a sign of the culture of our times: Drive-thru Viewing at Funeral Homes The funeral industry that has often been criticized for being something of a ‘dinosaur’ is certainly now demonstrating some assimilation of modern cultural trends. The introduction by some funeral homes of web-casting of funeral services, was viewed by many … Read more
Our great shopping icon ‘Walmart’ always there to offer us “choice” and “value” has rocked the media and funeral world this week by announcing that they are to start selling caskets. Is this a good move? I am sure many funeral homes do not think so, but this nationalized news has brought one key message … Read more
Securing your DNA: A wise step to take before cremation! I was first introduced to the concept of securing DNA by a funeral director earlier this year. DNA has become a household word these days, one that we generally think of in terms of genealogy, genetics or paternity. This was the first time I considered … Read more
In the United States there is a rich cultural heritage of black owned and operated funeral homes. Indeed black funeral parlors were some of the first businesses to be set up by African-Americans after the abolition of slavery. How do you locate an African-American owned and operated funeral home? Often at US Funerals Online we … Read more
The ‘fusion funeral’ – the alliteration works well doesn’t it? As Dan Katz rightly points out in his post ‘The emergence of the fusion funeral’ we are witnessing some amazing examples of innovation by some funeral companies now. It is an interesting time for this industry, with the huge shift towards cremation, a radical shift … Read more
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