In a message dated 6/1/2005 10:57:09 PM Eastern Standard Time, Rosewillis6649@aol.com writes: I don't know if Funeral Homes even existed in 1873. Even in the 1900's people were shown in their homes or maybe a church. This was the case in the rural area where I was born. I don't know either. I know my grGrandmother's brother died in 1891 and his funeral was at the church, but it was "handled" by an undertaker. I remember the deceased being viewed at their homes in the 1950s. But, always embalmed by an undertaker. When did they start embalming people? I know when my dad died they said he didn't need to be embalmed if we buried him in FL but since we were taking him to IN he had to be--crossing state lines. I don't know what IN law is or was in the 1800s. Seems to me the funeral home Isom Wray had in Shelbyville was there by 1870. And I think he bought it from someone else. Jill