Traditional Burial Services in Kansas City, MO & KS
Traditional burial remains a deeply meaningful choice for many Kansas City families, providing a structured way to honor, remember, and say farewell to a loved one. A traditional funeral typically includes embalming, a viewing or visitation, a funeral ceremony, and burial in a cemetery. While cremation rates have risen nationally, approximately 40 percent of Kansas City families still choose traditional burial, drawn to the ritual, the physical resting place it provides, and the cultural or religious significance it carries. Kansas City is home to more than 100 cemeteries and dozens of full-service funeral homes on both sides of the state line, offering families a wide range of options for every budget and tradition.
The Traditional Burial Process
Arrangement Conference
Within 24 to 48 hours of death, the family meets with a funeral director to plan the service. You will select a casket, discuss embalming preferences, choose a ceremony format (religious, secular, or military), decide on flowers, music, readings, and select a burial site if one has not already been chosen. A good funeral director guides you through every decision without pressure.
Embalming & Preparation
If a viewing is planned, the funeral home embalms and prepares the deceased for presentation. This includes cosmetic restoration, hair styling, and dressing in clothing chosen by the family. Missouri and Kansas do not legally require embalming unless the body will be present at a public viewing or if burial is delayed beyond a certain timeframe.
Viewing & Visitation
The viewing, often called a visitation or wake, provides an opportunity for family and friends to pay their respects. In Kansas City, viewings commonly take place at the funeral home chapel, a church, or occasionally at a family home. They typically last two to four hours and may include a prayer service, rosary, or informal gathering.
Funeral Ceremony
The funeral ceremony can be held at a funeral home chapel, a house of worship, or another venue meaningful to the family. Services typically last 45 minutes to one hour and may include music, eulogies, scripture readings, and a message from a clergy member or celebrant. Many Kansas City funeral homes now offer livestreaming for family members who cannot attend in person.
Procession & Graveside Service
A funeral procession escorts the casket from the ceremony location to the cemetery. Kansas City police departments in both Missouri and Kansas provide escort services for funeral processions. At the cemetery, a brief graveside service is held before the casket is lowered into the ground. Military honors, if applicable, are typically performed at this time.
Local Kansas City Information
Kansas City offers a rich variety of cemetery options for traditional burial. Historic cemeteries such as Elmwood Cemetery (established 1872), Forest Hill Cemetery & Funeral Home, and Mount Washington Cemetery provide beautiful, well-maintained grounds. For families seeking newer facilities, cemeteries like Johnson County Memorial Gardens in Overland Park and Floral Hills Cemetery in Kansas City offer modern amenities including mausoleums and columbarium niches. Catholic families often choose Mount Olivet Cemetery or Resurrection Cemetery, both operated by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Jewish families may select the cemeteries within the Rose Hill burial grounds. The average cost of a full-service traditional burial in Kansas City ranges from $7,000 to $12,000 or more, which includes the funeral home services, casket, cemetery plot, vault, and headstone. Comparing providers can save families thousands of dollars while still receiving compassionate, dignified service.
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Compare Burial ProvidersFrequently Asked Questions
A full-service traditional burial in Kansas City typically costs between $7,000 and $12,000 or more. This includes the funeral home's basic services fee, embalming, viewing, ceremony, casket, transportation, cemetery plot, vault, and marker. Costs vary significantly between providers.
Neither Missouri nor Kansas requires embalming by law. However, most funeral homes require it if there will be a public viewing. If no viewing is planned, refrigeration can be used as an alternative. Some religions prohibit embalming, and funeral homes will accommodate those wishes.
Consider factors like location and proximity to family, religious affiliation, cost of plots, perpetual care policies, and available amenities such as mausoleums or memorial gardens. Visit several cemeteries in person before making a decision. Our directory can help you compare options across the metro area.
Yes. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes must accept caskets purchased from third-party retailers, including online sellers, without charging a handling fee. This can save families $1,000 or more. However, be sure to coordinate delivery timing with the funeral home.
A burial vault is an outer container placed in the grave to prevent the ground from settling over time. Most Kansas City cemeteries require a vault or grave liner, though this is a cemetery policy rather than a state law. Vaults range from basic concrete liners ($800 to $1,500) to sealed metal or stainless steel vaults ($3,000 or more).
There is no strict legal deadline in Missouri or Kansas, but most burials occur within three to seven days of death. If embalming is not performed, the body should be refrigerated. Religious traditions may dictate timing; Jewish and Muslim burials traditionally take place within 24 hours when possible.
Yes. A graveside service is a simpler, more affordable option. The ceremony takes place entirely at the cemetery, eliminating the need for a funeral home chapel. This option works well for smaller, more intimate gatherings and can reduce overall costs significantly.
Green burial uses biodegradable caskets or shrouds and skips embalming and concrete vaults. While dedicated green cemeteries are limited in Kansas City, some local cemeteries offer green burial sections. This option costs less than a traditional burial and has a smaller environmental footprint.
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