The Evolution of the Funeral Industry

When a loved one passes away, the thought of having to pick the details for memorial services, caskets, and more can be overwhelming. Before the 20th century people had to do the burial and everything else by themselves. It is hard to imagine ever having to do that, and that is why the funeral industry evolved to what it is today.

Before communities began to grow and there were designated areas like cemeteries for burials, people would bury their loved ones on their private property.People caring for their own dead began to dramatically change during the civil war. Families of soldiers who passed wanted their bodys to be sent home for burial. This is when the practice of embalming became popularized, soldiers bodys had to be able to make it on the long trips home.

Prior to the advent of embalming, families would lay their dead out in their own homes for viewing and blessing by religious figures. The scent of patchouli became popularized during this time, as it was one of few scents strong enough to mask the scent of death and decomposition. Once bodies were embalmed and scent and decomposition were no longer a concern, funerals became something of an event to be managed and so funeral homes started to form.

Each community had a group of women that would come to help with the “laying out of the dead”. Then as things progressed there were specific people called “undertakers” who undertook all of the responsibilities of the burial. These individuals were usually furniture makers since they could craft the caskets, and then offer further services. Most of the people that offered these services had small family run businesses.

Casket making soon grew into a large business. Independent casket making companies grew rapidly in the mid 1900s until there were more than 700 companies that did so. Eventually, a consolidation of the casket-making industry put the manufacture of over 60% of all metal caskets into the hands of just two casket-makers. There are still some smaller companies that continue to make caskets but the industry has downsized considerably.

Most Funeral service companies today are still family owned and operated today. There are tons of different funeral homes that offer different services. The competition makes it better for you, the customer. The diversity encourages innovation, affordability, and more options available to the consumer. Looking for a Funeral Home that is family-run and has been around long term could make a big difference in the kind of care your family receives during your time of grief. It’s a choice you’ll want to make carefully.