Funeral Support Services
Helping Hands
The Funeral Support Services section introduces the professionals and guides who help families navigate death, dying, and after-death care. From licensed funeral providers who handle legal and logistical arrangements, to home funeral guides who empower families to care for their own dead, and end-of-life professionals such as hospice workers, death doulas, and gerontologists—each plays a vital role in ensuring that care is delivered with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Funeral Providers
Funeral service professionals are licensed providers who coordinate the care, preparation, and final arrangements for deceased individuals. Regulated by both federal and state laws, they ensure that legal, logistical, and ceremonial requirements are met—handling everything from transportation and paperwork to services and burial or cremation. In some states, hiring a licensed funeral provider is legally required.
Home Funeral Guides
A home funeral allows families or communities—rather than licensed funeral directors—to take an active role in caring for their own dead. The National Home Funeral Alliance offers guidance, education, and encouragement for those choosing this approach, along with a national directory of individuals and organizations that provide support throughout the process.
End-of-Life Professionals
From gerontologists to death doulas, the End-of-Life Professionals section explores the wide range of professionals who provide guidance, care, and support in end-of-life planning and decision-making.