funeral home news stories on Newser

Bad Economy Boosts Cremations Over Burials

Dustin Lushing — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 08:10:32 CST

The dismal state of the economy has prompted more Americans to choose cremation over traditional burial services to save money, reports the New York Times . Cremations have been steadily rising in popularity since 1985 (41% now vs. 15% then) but the spike has been more pronounced in the last decade....

'Dead' Baby Cries Before Burial

Tim Karan — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:07:10 CDT

It was almost a miracle: A Brazilian baby believed to be dead started crying at the funeral home where an undertaker was about to prepare her for burial, reports the AP . Cops say doctors declared the infant dead yesterday, moments after her 14-year-old mother gave birth to her two months...

Funeral Homes the New Spot for Weddings

Kate Schwartz — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 09:35:46 CST

Til death do us part, indeed: Funeral homes across the country are opening their doors to events centered around the living, from weddings to holiday parties, reports USA Today . It may seem a wee bit creepy, but as far as venues go, it's cheaper, and often just as classy. The...

Cops: Man Steals Game Boy From Teen's Casket

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 02:04:20 CST

Now that's low. Indiana cops have busted a 37-year-old man they say swiped a Game Boy from the casket of a teen killed in a car accident. The heist occurred during viewing of the 11th-grader's body at a local funeral home, said investigators. The teen's uncle confronted the robber outside...

2 Dead in Gang Shooting at St. Louis Funeral Home

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:58:03 CST

Two people were killed and two others injured in a gang-related shooting today outside a St. Louis funeral home while a service was being held inside, police said. Two victims died at a hospital, a third was listed in critical condition, and a fourth was believed to have been shot...

Stacked Bodies Found in Funeral Home Garage

Jane Yager — Wed, 05 May 2010 04:36:00 CDT

Inspectors visiting a Maryland funeral home were shocked to find about 40 bodies stacked on top of each other in a garage, leaking fluid. The bodies, some of which had been donated for scientific research, were awaiting cremation, but "even somebody who donates their body to science... should be treated...

'Dead' Woman Wakes Up at Funeral Home

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:00:00 CST

A Colombian woman declared dead of a heart attack moved one of her arms just as an undertaker was about to embalm her, doctors said today. Noelia Serna, 45, was rushed to a hospital in the city of Cali, where she was in critical condition in an intensive care unit....

Family Gets Grandma's Brain in Bag, Sues

Kevin Spak — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:48:16 CST

A New Mexico family is suing a pair of funeral homes they say gave them their grandmother’s brain in the same bag as her personal effects. One of the family members says he took the bag, which was unsealed, unaware that it contained the brain, and left it in his...

Wal-Mart Enters Coffin Biz

Rob Quinn — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:08:06 CDT

America's leading big-box store is now also a pine box store. Wal-Mart has started selling a range of discount coffins on its website and plans to expand its death products to include pet urns and memorial jewelry. Prices start at just $895 for a steel coffin. Funeral home owners say...