Funeral History in the United States

The oldest funeral home in the United States began in 1759 in Williamsburg, Virginia, started by cabinet manufacturer Anthony Hay who made coffins as a side line. Prior to the mid 1800’s, women were in charge of preparing the deceased. Many communities had a group of women who came in to help with the “laying out of the dead” who were then placed in the parlor or nicer room of the family home. The body was closely observed for three days to make sure the person didn’t wake from a deep sleep or illness before the burial