A mortuary is a facility that prepares a deceased person for burial or cremation. A mortuary includes laboratory-like prep rooms where the visual effects of death are minimized through embalming, covering wounds and coloring.
Many people are familiar with morgues from movies and TV shows. However, not all mortuaries are built the same. In fact, many mortuaries are also crematoriums and serve a wider range of funeral arrangements.
Arrangements
Many people believe that mortuaries are more bare-bones operations than funeral homes. They may not have a chapel for services, staterooms, or large parking lots. Instead, they focus on the body and the preparation process in laboratory-like prep rooms.
In fact, many funeral homes operate a mortuary as an offshoot of their business. This can be beneficial for consumers who are interested in a more budget-friendly arrangement.
The mortuary provides information on options such as casket burial, green burial, and cremation. They also provide grief counseling, coordinate paperwork such as the death certificate and obituary, and assist with memorial preparations. They also sell items like wreaths, urns, and grave covers. They also offer rosary flowers and gate arrangements that serve as religious tributes. Consumers should receive a General Price List prior to making any arrangements. This document identifies the prices for merchandise and services offered by the funeral home, and it is illegal to charge more than what is listed.
Legalities
Whether a funeral home uses the term mortuary or not, it’s important to understand the difference. The terminology might seem insignificant, but it has a profound impact on the way customers are treated.
Many people are confused about the distinction between a mortuary and a funeral home. In a LinkedIn poll, 68% of respondents agreed that both terms are used interchangeably. However, there may be some differences in services offered.
In general, mortuary law relates to the legal standards and regulations surrounding embalming, burials, cremation, and funeral homes and cemeteries. It also regulates how bodies are handled and who has the right to decide their final disposition.
For instance, New York state law grants next of kin the right to immediate possession and burial of their loved one’s remains. If a funeral home or cemetery violates this right and causes the family to suffer emotional distress, they can be sued for damages. This is why a mortuary must always be operated in accordance with the law.
Disposal of Remains
Mortuaries do not have the luxury of making decisions about burial or cremation on their own. Typically, the disposition choice is dictated by a Will or pre-arranged funeral services. However, a person’s wishes may change after death due to illness or other circumstances.
The most common methods of disposing of a body are burial or cremation. Burial has been practiced by most cultures throughout history. It can prevent odors, slow organic decomposition and give family members closure. Different religions and cultures have varying funeral rites associated with burial.
A mortuary is a significant source of chemical waste, particularly formaldehyde. Often, this substance is used in disinfecting equipment, as embalming fluid or to prevent blood-borne pathogens from spreading during an autopsy. Almost all morgues work with medical waste management companies that pick up and dispose of this hazardous waste. Those that do not are required to store it in a safe and secure area until the service provider can come.
Services
Mortuaries offer a range of services to help families through the loss of a loved one. Some of these services include arranging and directing funeral and memorial service events; conducting casket and urn selections; providing grief counseling; helping with legal paperwork, filing death certificates and getting permits; and more.
A mortuary may also provide a basic arrangements fee, which covers the cost of having a staff member available to respond to your call, holding an arrangement conference and securing necessary authorizations. This fee is included in the prices for direct burial and cremation.
Mortuaries typically do not have the same facilities as a full-service funeral home, like chapels, viewing rooms and spaces to host events or services. Instead, they focus on care in laboratory-like prep rooms. They do, however, often provide on-site cremation for clients. This can be a great choice for some families. The Mountain View Mortuary and Crematory in Ogden, Utah, for example, offers on-site cremation so that a family never has to leave the facility.