Nomis Publications – the folks who brought us the “Yellow Book” of Funeral Homes, has just announced a completely 
updated and easy-to-use website. I’ve been a Nomis fan since I got my first “Yellow Book” from them (I believe that was 1986). Dollarhide knew about my interest in Nomis, and emailed yesterday with the information that the new site was up. So I went over to www.nomispublications.com/ to take a look.
Nomis is in the business of publishing directories of interest to those in the funeral business – whether as principals in funeral homes, cemeteries, or as suppliers to these services. However, they also have a website that every genealogist should be aware of. The following online directories are of interest to genealogists:
Directory of Funeral Homes: International in scope, and divided into three parts; United States, Canada, and International. Note that these aren’t just mortuaries that happen to belong to an association, but a listing that should cover all of them.
Cemetery Directory for the United States: It may be subdivided into three categories prior to a search (human, pet, veteran).
U.S. Daily Newspapers: Searchable by city and state.
Cemetery and Funeral Associations: Searchable by city and/or state. At a quick glance, it looks to me like there are in excess of 175 associations of this nature in the United States.
Of course, the Funeral Home and Cemetery directories are probably the databases of the most interest to genealogists. It looks to me like there are right at 1000 funeral homes currently listed as operating in the United States alone. Searches can be made by name of the funeral home, city, and state or any combination thereof. The directory listing gives the name of the place, address, and phone and fax numbers.
Searching on the City of Everett, in Washington State, I got four hits. See the following screen shot:
In searching the cemetery listing, I just looked for Forest Lawn, leaving out any specific place. Would you believe there are better than 60 of them in the U.S? Again, the directory listing gives the name of the place, and address, as well as phone and fax numbers.
One more note. The use of the Nomis Publications website is free. However, they do ask that you register when you first visit the site. It only takes a minute or two…
Now for a few old John Denver lyrics…
Forest Lawn
Oh lay me down in forest lawn in a silver casket
Put golden flowers over my head in a silver basket
Let the drum and bugle corp play taps while the cannons roar
And sixteen libertied employees sell souvenirs from the funeral store
I want to go simply when I go
They’ll give me a simple funeral there I know
With a casket lined in fleece
And fireworks spelling out rest in peace
Oh take me when I’m gone to forest lawn
Oh lay me down in forest lawn they understand there
They have a heavenly choir and a military band there
Just put me in their care I’ll find my comfort there
With sixteen planes and a last salute they’ll drop across in a parachute
I want to go simply when I go
They’ll give me a simple funeral there I know
With a hundred strolling strings
And topless dancers with golden wings
Oh take me when I’m gone to forest lawn
Oh, come, come, come, come
Come to the church in the wild wood
Kindly leave a contribution in the pale
Be as simple and as trusting as a child would
And we’ll sell you the church in the dale
To find a simple resting place is my desire
To lay me down with a smiling face comes a little bit higher
My likeness cast in brass will stand in plastic grass
While hidden weights and springs tip it’s hat to the mourners filing passed
I want to go simply when I go
They’ll give me a simple funeral there I know
I’ll lie beneath the sand
With piped in tapes of billy graham
Oh take me when I’m gone to forest lawn
Rock of ages cleft for me
Forest’s lightly higher fee
Oh take me when I’m gone to forest lawn
Amen
Made popular by John Denver; Words & music by Tom Paxton