Change and Innovation in the Funeral Industry

Abstract

The “modern” or traditional funeral, as it is known in the funeral industry today, that includes embalming, casket, service, and burial in a cemetery, emerged as a result of four forces in American society: the Industrial Revolution, the Civil War, the emergence of a genteel code of conduct as a result of increased wealth in our society, and changing cultural views toward death. While the traditional funeral ritual remains the most popular funeral selection in the United States today, the industry is experiencing changes that are reshaping the death rituals and methods of body disposal. A meta-analysis of relevant news articles from 1987 through 2014 finds that these changes are occurring as a result of two general motivational themes: a Business-Related Motivation and a Consumer-Related Motivation, each with corresponding subthemes.