Nantucket’s Only Funeral Home to Close

Nantucket's only funeral home is set to close, leaving residents of the small island trying to figure out what to do with the dead.

The Boston Globe reports that the Lewis Funeral Home, a family-owned business, has decided to close on Friday.

Richard E. Lewis Jr was nearing 80 and an increasing number of people were selecting cremation for the deceased rather than the costly viewing and service.

Officials in Nantucket are reluctant at operating a town-run funeral business and convened a group of hospital, nursing home and fire and police officials to decide what to do when the Lewis Funeral home is gone.

One question is what to do when someone dies overnight and had no funeral plans.

[Associated Press]