BURIAL SERVICES

Choosing a Full-Service Burial with O’Donnell

For centuries, burial was the standard practice. At O’Donnell Funeral Home, we arrange many traditional burials with or without an accompanying visitation, wake, funeral mass, celebration of life, or graveside interment. We are also proud to one of just five funeral service companies in the state of Massachusetts approved to offer a green burial package.

Person's hand resting on a polished wooden casket. A religious emblem and ribbon are on top, near a pew.
Stylized green leaf branch.
BURIALS
  • Visitation/Wake & Viewing

    Before the funeral service, family and friends may gather at one of the O’Donnell Funeral Home locations in Salem or Danvers. Families have the option of a public or private gathering, with times varying from days before the funeral to immediately preceding. The departed can be present in an open or closed casket.

  • Green Burial
    Green Burial Council logo: circular emblem with text "GREEN BURIAL COUNCIL" around three overlapping stylized leaves.

    O’Donnell is one of just a few Massachusetts funeral service providers that offers the environmentally conscious practice of green burial. For these arrangements, we avoid chemical-based embalming and the use of caskets, minimizing environmental impact.  Alternative bathing and preparation care options mean that traditional services—such as visiting hours, viewing, or graveside services—are still options.

  • Graveside Services & Participation

    Graveside Services & Participation

    The graveside takes on significance after the loss of a loved one, becoming a permanent memorial and place to visit in their absence. Many families establish the graveside as part of their memorial service, either as the site of the service with a celebrant or as a continuation of a funeral home service. If the family chooses to leave prior to burial, O’Donnell is one of few funeral homes that stay at the cemetery to ensure all is done properly.

Wooden casket with floral arrangement; people in background.

Visitation/Wake & Viewing

Before the funeral service, family and friends may gather at one of the O'Donnell Funeral Home locations in Salem or Danvers. Families have the option of a public or private gathering, with times varying from days before the funeral to immediately preceding. The departed can be present in an open or closed casket.

Green Burial Council logo: circular emblem with text

Green Burial

O’Donnell is one of just a few Massachusetts funeral service providers that offers the environmentally conscious practice of green burial. For these arrangements, we avoid chemical-based embalming and the use of caskets, minimizing environmental impact.  Alternative bathing and preparation care options mean that traditional services—such as visiting hours, viewing, or graveside services—are still options.

Graveside Services & Participation

The graveside takes on significance after the loss of a loved one, becoming a permanent memorial and place to visit in their absence. Many families establish the graveside as part of their memorial service, either as the site of the service with a celebrant or as a continuation of a funeral home service. If the family chooses to leave prior to burial, O’Donnell is one of few funeral homes that stay at the cemetery to ensure all is done properly.

EXPLORE OPTIONS

We invite you to review all the options we offer at O’Donnell Funeral Home: cremation or burial, visitations and ceremonies, transportation, flowers and more. Select services, review pricing, and even pre-plan from your phone or home computer.

OUR PRODUCTS

Meaningful Remembrances

Green outlined urn.

Urns & Caskets

O’Donnell will guide your selection of funeral products including caskets, vaults, or urns. We always offer to personalize the final vessel at no additional cost.

Pendant necklace with fingerprint design, in light green, hanging on a white background.

Keepsakes & Parting Stones

Unique, personalized keepsakes offer a lasting memory for family and friends. Explore the options available through our partners.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why choose a green burial?

    A green burial offers a meaningful, eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial methods. It’s not just about honoring your loved one’s memory; it’s about honoring the planet too. With its focus on simplicity, sustainability, and a return to nature, a green burial provides a peaceful, ethical, and environmentally responsible option for those who wish to make a difference, even after they’ve passed. If you’re located north of Boston, we are proud to provide services as a green burial funeral home near you. 

  • Should I choose burial or cremation?

    If you value tradition, a permanent place to visit, and religious customs, burial may be the best choice. If you prefer a more affordable, flexible, and environmentally friendly option, cremation might be better. O’Donnell Funeral Home can help guide you to the right choice based on your priorities, and explain the funeral costs associated with your decisions. By understanding the benefits and drawbacks of burial and cremation, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your values and preferences. We offer both services to families throughout the many towns of the Massachusetts North Shore.


    Choose Burial if:

    • You want a gravesite for family and friends to visit
    • You have religious or cultural beliefs favoring burial
    • You value traditional funeral ceremonies and long-term memorialization

    Choose Cremation if:

    • You are looking for a lower-cost funeral option
    • Your family prefers simplicity or flexibility (e.g., scattering ashes or keeping them in an urn)
    • You’re considering eco-conscious alternatives, like biodegradable urns or water cremation

  • Why have a public viewing?

    Viewing is a part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. A public viewing after the death of a loved one helps with emotional healing, community support, and honoring their memory, whether at a funeral home near you or another location. Choosing a public viewing can be an important step in the grieving process and in creating a personalized funeral experience. 

  • What is the purpose of embalming?

    Embalming allows the family to remember their loved one more as they were in life, bringing peace of mind seeing your loved one in a more peaceful state. Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body making it possible to lengthen the time between death and final disposition, allowing family members time to arrange the type of service most comforting to them. 

  • Does a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?

    No, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require it.