FAQs
Most funeral homes are privately owned, and increasingly, more funeral homes are owned by large corporations. Service Corporation International, the largest death-care corporation in the country, owns and operates more than 1,400 locations in North America and brought in more than $4 billion in revenue in 2023.
Are funeral homes predatory? ›
In large part, Big Funeral raises costs by resorting to a range of predatory practices that circumvent existing federal law, as evinced by Wood's recent ordeal with Fort Lincoln. They withhold information up front about all-in pricing and manage to stick on additional costs at the end, such as opening and closing fees.
What is the US Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection? ›
This collection is an index of information taken from online obituaries published by cemeteries and funeral homes in the United States between 1847 and the present. Many of the obituaries were found on funeral home websites, and the index may include links to the original sources.
What is the oldest funeral home in PA? ›
"The original Kirk & Nice funeral home opened in Philadelphia over 250 years ago, and is America's oldest funeral home. Relocating to the grounds of George Washington Memorial Park in 1999, Kirk & Nice Inc. continues providing quality service to Philadelphia and surrounding region."
Who makes the most money in a funeral home? ›
High Paying Funeral Professional Jobs
- Funeral Director. Salary range: $52,500-$76,000 per year. ...
- Embalmer. Salary range: $41,000-$58,000 per year. ...
- Cemetery Caretaker. Salary range: $42,500-$50,500 per year. ...
- Funeral Arranger. Salary range: $44,000-$50,000 per year. ...
- Crematory Operator. ...
- Funeral Attendant.
What is the largest expense for a funeral home? ›
Casket. A casket is often the most expensive item that factors into the average funeral cost.
Why are funeral costs so high? ›
A funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, with extensive facilities (viewing rooms, chapels, limousines, hearses, etc.), which must be factored into the cost of a funeral. A majority of the expense is typically in the funeral home professional fees and merchandise for the funeral or memorial itself.
Do funeral directors keep bodies? ›
Once the mortuary board and mortuary register are as up-to-date as they can be, the deceased person's body is then held in the funeral director's mortuary fridge to preserve the deceased body.
Why do funeral homes make so much money? ›
The most common way is through the sale of funeral services. This includes the cost of the funeral director, embalming, transportation, and other related services. Another way a funeral home business can generate income is by selling products. This includes caskets, urns, and grave markers.
Is it cheaper to buy a house next to a cemetery? ›
Homes near cemeteries may be more affordable.
Because a certain percentage of the population would not want to live next to a cemetery, homes nearby typically are more affordable. A buyer may be able to afford a nicer, larger home near a cemetery than if the house was a few blocks away.
If you've considered asking, “how long do you stay buried in a cemetery?” the answer is typically 100 years or more. Plots are sold for 50 to 100 years, but it's unusual to remove anyone from the burial grounds unless the need for space requires it.
What is the average cost of a burial plot in the US? ›
The average cost of a burial plot in the U.S. is $3,581 but can range anywhere from $500 to $10,000 depending on the type of plot, size, and location. Plot prices vary greatly and can change over time, so it's important to research them well in advance.
What is the longest a funeral home can keep a body? ›
If the human remains are properly preserved they can be stored for longer periods of time. In most cases, so long as the remains are properly refrigerated, funeral homes can store a body for a few days to a few weeks.
What did funeral homes used to be called? ›
The term funeral parlor (or parlour) was often used in the name of funeral businesses, as it was already associated with end-of-life events. The first funeral parlor or funeral home, Kirk & Nice Funeral Home, actually opened in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1777, and is still in operation today.
What company owns most funeral homes? ›
SCI operates more than 1500 funeral homes and 400 cemeteries.