While it is common to associate funerals with funeral homes and cemeteries, these ceremonies were once handled quite differently. In fact, it wasn’t until the mid to late 19^th century that families relied on professionals to handle funeral arrangements. Here is a closer look at how they’ve evolved over time. 

How Funerals Changed Over the Years

What Were Early Funerals Like?

From the colonial period into the 19th century, funerals took place at home. Every community had a select group of women to help set up the body. The visitation and wake were generally carried out in the parlor rooms at the front of the house. Afterward, there would generally be a service at the nearest church, followed by a burial on a local, family plot. 

What Caused the Shift?

During the American Civil War in the 1860s, families wanted the bodies of their fallen soldiers sent home. Undertakers began to emerge as a new profession to meet this need, taking the responsibility of preparing the body from families. Additionally, military cemeteries were established, creating a new norm of communal burial grounds. 

What Are Funerals Like Now?

Today, these ceremonies usually take place at a funeral home. Mourners rely on these institutions to help with the many tasks involved in a modern funeral. They prepare the body, provide elegant caskets, offer a meaningful space for a service, and fulfill any last preferences of the deceased. While the memorial service tends to take place there or a house of worship, the home still maintains a role as a place to gather later on in the day with friends and family.

If you need a trusted funeral home to help prepare a memorial service and related duties, get in touch with Robert W. Waid Funeral Home in Meadville, PA. Serving the community for over a century, the family-owned and local institution has a staff that makes themselves available 24 hours a day to ensure their client’s needs are met. They’re a member of the Selected Independent Funeral Homes (SIFH) and National Funeral Directors Association, along with other reputable industry institutions. To speak with the courteous staff, just call (814) 724-1021. Learn more about their services by visiting the funeral home’s website.