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A mausoleum offers something many families find deeply comforting: a resting place above the ground, sheltered from rain, snow, and soil, where loved ones can visit in any season. Still, one question comes up again and again. Once a casket is placed in a crypt, what actually happens to the person inside? This guide explains…

Finding the right home takes time, money, and plenty of research. But few discoveries stop buyers in their tracks quite like learning that a property sits on or near a former burial ground. Some people walk away immediately. Others are curious, or even see an opportunity. Before you decide either way, it helps to understand…

Some mourning customs are easy to understand, like wearing dark clothing or sending flowers. Others leave people curious, and covering the mirrors in a home after a death is one of them. Families have draped cloth over mirrors for centuries, and many still do today. Understanding why mirrors were covered when someone died takes us…

Loss touches every family on earth, but the rituals people use to say goodbye differ remarkably from one culture to the next. Learning about funeral traditions around the world reveals how communities understand death, honor their ancestors, and find comfort in one another. In some places, mourners gather in solemn prayer. In others, they dance…

When October arrives, ghosts appear everywhere: fluttering from tree branches, peeking out of windows, and starring in the stories we tell after dark. Of all the holiday’s symbols, the ghost may be the most meaningful, because it reflects an idea people have held for thousands of years, that the spirits of those who have passed…

Pumpkins on porches, children in costumes, and bowls of candy by the door are the familiar signs of late October. But behind the modern fun lies a holiday with remarkably old roots. The history of Halloween stretches back more than two thousand years, weaving together harvest festivals, beliefs about the spirit world, church feast days,…

In certain old churchyards, especially in Scotland, visitors are often surprised to find graves locked beneath heavy iron cages. These structures, called mortsafes, look like something out of a horror story. Yet the truth behind iron cages over graves is far more human: they were built by grieving families desperate to protect loved ones from…

Few mourning customs surprise modern readers quite like postmortem photography. Also called memorial portraiture, it was the practice of photographing a loved one after death. Today it may seem unusual, but in the 1800s these portraits were deeply cherished. For many families, a memorial photograph was the only picture they would ever have of a…

Some farewells change the way you see things. That’s what happened when I attended a homegoing service for a dear member of my community. I’ve been to many funerals, but this one was different. Rooted in the African American church, a homegoing honors a life while lifting the spirits of everyone who gathers. Here’s what…

Few fears run as deep as the idea of being buried alive. Known as taphophobia, this dread has followed people for centuries, influencing how communities cared for their dead, sparking strange inventions, and inspiring some of the most chilling stories ever written. The good news for families today is that modern medicine and funeral law…

Few relics of the ancient world stir the imagination quite like Egyptian mummies. Thousands of years after they were laid to rest, they still tell us how ancient Egyptians lived, what they hoped for after death, and how tenderly they cared for the people they lost. Mummification was more than preservation. It was a sacred…

In many African American families, saying goodbye is both a moment of sorrow and an act of praise. A homegoing service honors a loved one’s life while celebrating the belief that they have finished their earthly journey and returned home to God. Through gospel music, scripture, heartfelt tributes, and a community that shows up in…

In the Catholic tradition, a final farewell is wrapped in prayer and hope. The Catholic funeral Mass brings together family, friends, and the parish to pray for the one who has died, give thanks for their life, and proclaim faith in the resurrection. It is a moment of grief, but also of deep trust that…

When families sit down to plan a traditional burial, the burial vault is often one of the most unexpected expenses on the list. Knowing what burial vaults cost ahead of time, and what drives that cost, can help you avoid overspending while still providing a respectful, dignified resting place. In this guide, we’ll cover what…

Many families quietly wonder what becomes of a loved one after a traditional burial, yet few feel comfortable asking. What really happens to a body in burial vaults over the years? It’s a natural question, and an honest answer can ease worry and help families make thoughtful decisions. In this guide, we’ll explain the purpose…