Funeral Practices in the United States

Resumo

Perhaps the most salient feature of funeral practices in the United States is American society’s denial of death.  Indeed, the word death is scrupulously avoided, with terms such as “passed on,” “deceased,” or “expired” used in its place.  The family typically seeks to detach itself from the funeral process, and so all details and arrangements are left to paid funeral professionals.  In fact, the detachment process begins well before death.  When family members begin to show indications of potentially fatal aging or illness they are relegated to nursing homes or hospitals to die, far from family and friends, out of sight out of mind.