Funerals and cemeteries in the USA

Pictures from my visit to San Francisco College of Mortuary Science.

I was informed that according to the law in California it is illegal for anybody but the personnel to be present when the dead body is taken care of.

In Sweden I could photograph my project without much resistance.

In California it is possible to scatter the ashes to the winds, but only over the sea. The minimum distance from shore is three miles. (In Sweden 1 km). The scattering is performed by authorized personnel only. (In Sweden the relatives can perform this).

Since so many cultures are represented in the USA there are lots of different funeral ceremonies.

The cascets in the USA are most commonly made of metal and may cost $1,500 - 6,000.
An urn costs $75-3,000.

Photo Gallery

© Harry Peronius

Part 1
Part 2

death, funeral, undertaker, coffin, die, dead, death, graveyard, church yard, morbid, funeral home, obituary, crematorium, body, corpse, embalm