What is a "mortuary" or "funeral home"?

What is a "mortuary" or "funeral home"?

Dan Redmond (Cemetery and Funeral Inspector, California Department of Consumer Affairs ) gives expert video advice on: What services do most funeral homes offer?; Do I have to embalm the body before burial or cremation? and more...

A mortuary or a funeral home is the building where bodies are prepared, funeral services are held, merchandise is sold and your arrangements are made. Most of the time, mortuaries have a chapel where they can hold a funeral service. Funeral homes usually have a large variety of caskets, urns and other merchandise that you might be interested in. Sometimes they even have a place where you can hold a reception afterwards, so that if you want to meet with the family and friends after the funeral is done, the funeral home can give you a location to be able to do that.