Funeral Parlor vs Funeral Home: Is There A Difference
When making funeral arrangements, you might come across the terms “funeral parlor” and “funeral home.” If you aren’t sure whether there’s a difference, you’re not alone.
Here’s the thing: “funeral parlor” and “funeral home” mean the same thing—they both describe businesses that help families arrange and hold funeral services.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Funeral Parlor vs Funeral Home
I hear people using both terms, but honestly, they’re close enough interchangeable. What matters most is the reputation and quality of service you get from the business.
From my experience, it’s smart to focus on the staff, location, and what services are offered. That’ll help you make the right choice during a tough time.
Understanding Funeral Parlors and Funeral Homes
When arranging end-of-life services, you’ll often hear the terms “funeral parlor” and “funeral home.” Although their histories differ slightly, they primarily serve the same purpose these days.
It’s worth knowing how each one serves families, what kind of spaces it offers, and how location might affect your decision. Sometimes, the little things—like the feel of the space—make all the difference.
Origins and Differences
Funeral parlors started out as smaller, personal spaces—sometimes even private homes—where families could gather for funeral rites. These places have roots in tradition and offer a cozy, comforting setting for viewing and ceremonies. They offer a traditional funeral service.
Funeral homes grew from that idea, becoming larger, more professional businesses. People sometimes call them mortuaries or funeral chapels. Many began as family-run parlors and expanded their services and staff over time to meet community needs.
Today, people use the terms interchangeably. A funeral home often provides more comprehensive options, but the distinction isn’t as significant as it once was.
My advice always is to go with the funeral provider that works best with your needs and financial constraints.
Types of Services Provided
Funeral homes usually offer a more complete selection and a variety of services, such as embalming, cremation, burial arrangements, and grief support. You’ll also find arrangement rooms for private planning, a chapel for ceremonies, and sometimes a reposing room for viewings.
Smaller funeral parlors might offer more limited services. For example, they may not offer on-site cremation or space for large receptions. Some partner with other facilities for certain services, acting as a secondary spot for specific rites to work around the space limitations.
Funeral homes can help you coordinate complex religious or cultural rites, while parlors might focus on smaller, family-centered gatherings.
Key Facilities and Features
Funeral homes usually have several specialized rooms: a private arrangement room, display rooms for caskets or urns, and a reception room for guests.
Many have a chapel for services and often include tech for virtual attendance.
Funeral parlours focus on creating a comfortable, intimate space. You’ll likely see a smaller viewing room for close friends and family members. Some have a display room, but it’s usually on a smaller scale. Because they’re smaller, parlors may serve fewer visitors at once.
Sometimes, a parlor is part of a bigger funeral home or acts as a secondary facility in a different location. That gives you more flexibility if you want both privacy and extra space.
Choosing Between a Funeral Parlor and Funeral Home
Picking the right place for a funeral or memorial service shapes your family’s experience. While parlors and homes look similar, but the services, environment, and costs can differ.
Factors to Consider for Families
Consider how many guests you expect, what kind of service you want, and any special needs your family has.
Some places offer everything—celebrations of life, traditional funerals, and private viewings—all under one roof.
I always want to stress how the tocation is a big deal. Full-service funeral homes often have reception spaces, event coordinators, and options for service booklets, audio-visual displays, and unique caskets.
An independent funeral director might work from a smaller parlor or your living room if you want a more personal touch.
Consider how easy it is for everyone to get there and how close it is to the burial site. Sometimes, a cemetery and a funeral home are next to each other, which is convenient.
Services and Personalization
Full-service funeral homes usually offer many options, including on-site cremation, direct burial, help with death certificates, grief counseling, hair styling, and more. You might also find video tributes or unique celebrations of life.
A funeral parlor might focus more on direct services, like arranging a burial or cremation, and have fewer extras for prominent memorials. If you want lots of personalization—custom caskets, special booklets, audio-visual support, or formal ceremony planning—full-service funeral homes usually deliver that.
In my experience, having a team at a funeral home can make handling all the details much smoother, especially when you’ve got a lot of family opinions to juggle.
Cost and Financial Considerations
Costs can swing a lot depending on the provider. Full-scale memorial services with all the bells and whistles generally cost more.
Direct cremation or burial at a funeral parlor can save you money, which is essential if you’re watching your budget. The average cremation cost is usually lower at places that focus on direct service and skip the extras.
It’s smart to ask for detailed price lists and compare the costs of the things that matter most: type of service, guest count, cremation process, and any extras like unique caskets or formal receptions.
My advice; keep your budget in mind so you can make sure the arrangements fit your family’s needs.
Conclusion
Choosing between a funeral parlor and a funeral home depends on what best suits your family’s wishes, budget, and emotional needs during difficult times.
Whether you’re seeking a private family viewing in a more intimate setting or a full-scale memorialization service with ample space and multimedia capabilities, both options can play an important role in honoring a person’s life.
I always remind families that even minor differences—like proximity to the cemetery for the burial service or the availability of confidential space for planning—can have a significant impact.
As someone who’s worked closely with funeral service workers and independent funeral directors, I’ve seen how the full-service experience can ease the burden, mainly when it includes help with the death certificate, cremation arrangements, and coordinating the time of burial.
Remember that the most important part of a traditional funeral isn’t the label on the building—it’s the care, attention, and respect shown to your loved one and your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What services do funeral homes typically offer to families?
Most funeral homes help arrange funeral and memorial services, prepare the body, set up viewings, handle transportation, and help with paperwork. They’ll guide you through cremation or burial, help with obituaries, and coordinate with cemeteries.
They usually have grief support resources, too.
Is there any distinction in the roles of a funeral parlor director versus a funeral home director?
No real difference, honestly. Both directors handle all the arrangements, work with families, and ensure everything follows state and local rules.
The title mostly depends on local tradition or what the business calls itself.
Can you explain why some places are called funeral parlors while others are termed funeral homes?
“Funeral parlor” was more common in the past, when services often happened in private homes or converted houses. As the profession modernized, “funeral home” became more popular, reflecting bigger, more welcoming facilities.
Local customs, history, and even marketing all influence the terms people use.
How do funeral chapels differ in function from funeral homes?
A funeral chapel is usually just a space for holding services or ceremonies. Chapels might not offer complete preparation or arrangement services on-site.
Funeral homes typically include chapels but also handle logistics, body care, and family support. I’ve noticed chapels sometimes work alongside bigger funeral homes.
What factors might influence the selection of a funeral home or parlor?
You might consider location, price transparency, available facilities, staff experience, and personal or cultural preferences. Recommendations from family or online reviews can also help.
The range of services—like cremation or traditional burial options—can tip the scales in one direction or another.
How long can a deceased person be held at a funeral parlor before the service?
Most funeral homes can keep a body for a few days, sometimes up to a week. It depends on their refrigeration and how they prepare the body.
Some places have laws that require embalming or refrigeration if you need to wait longer. If you need extra time, you can usually work something out, especially if the burial is far away or needs special planning.
