History of the Funeral Industry

How the Funeral Industry has Evolved

In the U.S., the funeral service industry is relatively new. Until the 20th century, funerals in the U.S were organized by family and neighbors and held at home. People were often buried on family property. As communities became larger and more established common cemeteries began to be used. Funeral homes were later established to relieve the family of the logistical problems presented by a death.


Funerals 101: Everything You Need to Know

Guide to Funeral Products, Services, and Providers Here you'll find comprehensive, unbiased information about funerals. It's where you can learn what you need to know to make smart choices in planning funerals, purchasing funeral products, and supporting friends in grief.


Sharing Your End-of-Life Plans

May 2022 DO YOUR LOVED ONES KNOW WHAT YOU WANT?Creating a funeral plan can be rewarding since it lets you slow down and reflect on what’s important to you regarding end-of-life arrangements. Once your plan is in place, you know that your family won’t be burdened with trying to guess what you want when the […]


Grief And The Holidays

Most of us look forward to the sights, sounds, and celebrations of the holiday season. For those who have suffered a loss, however, this time of year presents many challenges, not the least of which is how to make the difficult journey through grief when it seems all those around us are filled with joy. […]


Word to the Wise Newsletters

Subscribe to our newsletter Don’t worry, we only send out a newsletter about four times a year, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Please sign me up for the WORD TO THE WISE NEWSLETTER   First Name * Last Name * Email *   SIGN ME UPSend My Free Guides Read Our Past Newsletters […]


Word to the Wise: A Series of Guides

  Advice to Live By — Our Handy Guides The WORD TO THE WISE series is a set of handy reference guides from Funeralwise.com. These concise guides provide tips and information about funeral etiquette, funeral customs, buying funeral products and services, and much more. Among the Guides you can expect to receive are: Guide to […]


Prepaid Cremation Cost and Payment Plans

Prepaid cremation plans allow you to pay for cremation before you need it. In addition to the actual cremation, you can pay in advance for other elements, such as a memorial service or celebration of life. Prepaid plans are available for the full range of cremation services. Plans range from simple direct cremation (no service, […]


What is a Second Right of Interment?

From our Mailbag: Why do I have to pay to have an urn placed in a casket or have an urn placed in the grave with the casket? The short answer is: The cemetery will charge you a fee if you want a second set of remains in the space with the first set of […]


The Wise Protection Plan

A One-of-a-Kind Prepaid Funeral Plan The Wise Protection Plan is your all-in-one solution for prepaying your funeral. If you are worried about leaving your family with a financial burden at your end-of-life, this plan can be the solution you need. It’s more than a financial payment plan; it has everything your survivors will need to […]


Our Annual Planning Tips

February 2021 WHAT’S YOUR PLAN? We’re fond of saying that the best time to plan a funeral is before you need it. That’s because when you plan for your end-of-life needs, you are likely to save money and, at the same time, give your loved ones the peace of mind that comes with knowing exactly […]


How Much Will Your Funeral Cost? Try Our QuickPlan to Find Out.