A mortuary is a facility for the storage and preparation of human bodies for burial or cremation. It is often less opulent than a funeral home and focuses on the mortuary sciences rather than offering full-scale memorial services.
In the past, mortuaries were also known as morgues or undertakers. The term mortician eventually replaced the word undertaker.
What is a Mortuary?
A mortuary is a place where the bodies of dead people are stored until they can be buried or cremated. It is usually located in a funeral home and has licensed staff who perform embalming and other services for the deceased. A funeral home is a business that helps families cope with the death of a loved one by providing visitations, memorial services, and other arrangements.
A typical mortuary fridge has large metal handles that are pulled open to reveal a large concrete room inside. The bodies are stored in metal trays that fit in the refrigerators, and there is a little sink (that looks more like a toilet) that is used to drain blood during embalming. A white box on the shelf is an autoclave, which sterilizes tools.
Funeral homes typically have more rooms where memorial services can be held, and they have employees that can help families with all aspects of a funeral service. They also often have a relationship with a cemetery and can arrange for burial or cremation services.
A Mortuary is a facility for the storage and preparation of human bodies for burial or cremation.
In the mortuary, bodies are embalmed, if necessary, and prepared for burial or cremation. This process can take several days. Then, the body is moved to a casket or urn for burial or to a cremation niche where the ashes will be stored.
A person who works in a mortuary is called a mortician. They are specially trained to prepare a body for burial or cremation and to provide support and services to mourners. The job of a mortician requires a great deal of compassion and empathy.
In some countries, the term mortuary is also used to describe a funeral home. However, some funeral homes do not use the term mortuary in their marketing, preferring instead to refer to themselves as undertakers or simply as a funeral service provider. Some such as Myers Mortuary in Michigan and Hart’s in Georgia explain that the choice of terminology is a matter of tradition, a choice passed down by the founders of their firms.
A Mortuary is a place for memorial services.
A place for a service without the body present to commemorate the life of the deceased. A memorial service often includes music, selected readings, and a eulogy. It can be held at a funeral home, church, or private venue.
Mortuaries are sometimes criticized for being cold and industrial, with less of a focus on comforting the families of the deceased. It is possible that this perception stems from the fact that many mortuaries are located near medical facilities or crematories and have a stronger focus on mortuary science.
However, some mortuaries, such as Mountain View Funeral Home, offer on-site cremation and are more focused on a full range of services that are tailored to the needs of each family. They are also able to rent spaces at museums, libraries and historical sites that can add a unique touch to the ceremony. This helps families celebrate their loved one’s life in a meaningful way. Many people find that this is a comforting experience.
A Mortuary is a place for cremation services.
A cremation service is similar to a traditional funeral except the body is not buried. The urn holding the cremated remains is usually on display at the memorial services, but may also be buried or scattered depending on the wishes of the deceased and their family.
The process of reducing human remains to ash through intense heat. The ashes may be kept in an urn, buried in a grave or columbarium, scattered in a garden or other outdoor area, or incorporated into memorialization products like a plaque or bench.
Unlike a funeral home, mortuaries are typically more bare-bones operations. They focus more on the science of mortuary work and less on meeting the needs of families who are planning a funeral or memorial service. Nonetheless, they still offer many of the same services. They also often offer a selection of caskets, urns and outer burial containers. In addition, a mortuary can help a family make arrangements for green burial options.