Can I have a funeral in my home?

It depends on where you live and what your definition of funeral is. For most people, funeral is the ceremony that commemorates that someone has died, and that can happen with or without the body present. If the body is not present, you can of course have the ceremony in whatever way or location you want. If someone died at home and the family wants to keep and care for the body there and then have a ceremony or wake, it depends where you're located. 

The National Home Funeral Alliance and the Funeral Consumers Alliance both keep track of the rules and regulations of where that's allowed, so that's a great resource. In Canada, we don't have a definitive source yet to go to and find out where the laws are. I know there's a lot of limiting legislation in Quebec, but not in Nova Scotia. You would need to connect with local authorities to find out if you're uncertain.

It depends on where you live. Home funerals are legal in the majority of states, but not all. The National Home Funeral Alliance is an amazing organization and they offer a lot of info online for free. They have the laws listed by state and a list of resources and a list of home funeral guide educators, aka, death midwives who can help families cross that territory.

Yes, yes and YES! A funeral can be held at the place of your choosing and if that is at home there is no issue. Regardless of whether you have chosen to keep your person at home with you from the time that they die or if you have engaged a funeral home for the care of your deceased and they have had your person held in their care, you are able to have your person in your home for any ritual or ceremony you choose. There may be regulation or restriction in relation to transport of the deceased, this can vary from state to state, but it is perfectly possible to achieve a home funeral within the guidelines of regulation. You are able to decide if those attending your home can see, sit vigil with or otherwise spend time with your person. You can include your community and family in the washing and dressing of your person. As a group or individually you can contribute and carry out the decoration of coffins, the production of multimedia, the organization of booklets and mementos and importantly you can also conduct your own service and ceremony.