http://www.essortment.com/history-care-dead-21141.html
          Basically in this article, they talk about family methods used when around or taking care of the dead people.  But it isn't just families.  They also have way back in time how people would tae care of the dead.  For example, they talk about how the egyptians would take care of their dead pharoah, they would embalm them.  Embalm basically means to treat (a corpse) with preservatives in order to prevent decay.  Another example of way back were the Roman's.  The Roman's would either cremate the dead, or leave there body out for everyone too see.
http://www.findyourfate.com/deathmeter/religion-death.htm
          This article is different and at the same time really interesting because it talks about all other different types of religions and what they do when taking care of the dead.  This article has Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddism, Zoroastrianism, and Judiasm.  FOr more information click on link to discover differnet beliefs concerning the dead.