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Large cities are more likely to have earlier funeral home records. Most rural areas did not have funeral homes until the early twentieth century. Funeral directors are now responsible for initiating and filing the death certificate. Since the 1950s many funeral homes have merged with other firms or gone out of business. | Large cities are more likely to have earlier funeral home records. Most rural areas did not have funeral homes until the early twentieth century. Funeral directors are now responsible for initiating and filing the death certificate. Since the 1950s many funeral homes have merged with other firms or gone out of business. | ||
==Information in Funeral Records== | ==Information in Funeral Records== | ||
The records may contain a list: | |||
*surviving immediate relatives, sometimes the names of grandchildren, in-laws, and other relatives. | |||
*Residences for surviving relatives. | |||
*Obituary or notes used to prepare the obituary may be in the record, along with a record of newspapers where the obituary was placed. | |||
*Deceased's former residences, education, church affiliation, military service, membership in clubs, lodges and other organizations. | |||
*Grave location or type of marker. | |||
*Information regarding the funeral services, such as the officiating minister, pallbearers, and music may also be included. | |||
*Information may also include life insurance information where additional genealogical information could be obtained. | |||
==How to Find Funeral Records== | ==How to Find Funeral Records== | ||
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