What is the difference between a cemetery and a funeral home?
Funeral homes are responsible for the care and transportation of deceased individuals from the place of death to the place of final disposition. Cemeteries, including crematories, are places of final disposition. Funeral homes arrange funeral and memorial services; prepare bodies for burial, entombment, or cremation; and post death certificates and obituary notices. Cemeteries do not transport or prepare bodies. Cemeteries receive bodies in caskets or cremation containers from funeral homes and effect the final disposition as authorized by the next of kin. When caskets are purchased from the cemetery, the cemetery delivers the casket to the funeral home of the purchaser’s choice.
