Direct burial involves burying the body shortly after death without which component?

• A. Embalming
• B. A cemetery plot
• C. A formal funeral service or viewing
• D. A headstone

Answer: (C)

Direct burial is a disposition where the body is buried soon after death with minimal ceremony. The defining characteristic is that there is no formal funeral service or viewing as part of the burial itself. The family may choose to hold a separate memorial later, but the burial occurs without a viewing or service. Embalming is not required for direct burial and is often avoided to keep costs down, though it may be used if there’s a later service or other reasons. A cemetery plot is still needed to bury, and a headstone is not required by law and can be added later. So the component that’s typically not included in direct burial is the formal funeral service or viewing.