If funeral supplies are sold and delivered before a person's passing, who bears the risk of loss or damage during storage?

In this scenario, the risk of loss or damage during storage of funeral supplies that have been sold and delivered before a person’s passing typically falls to the contract provider, which is the funeral home. This is because once the funeral supplies have been sold, the funeral home assumes responsibility for those items, including their safekeeping and condition until they are used.

When goods are sold, the seller usually retains a certain level of responsibility for the product until it is either delivered for use or picked up by the customer. In a funeral context, even if the supplies are stored at a location not directly involved with the funeral (like storage at the provider’s facility), the funeral home would still be liable for ensuring that those products remain in good condition until the time comes to use them.

On the other hand, the customer assumes risk once the items are in their possession or when they are used, which does not apply in this case since the supplies are still with the funeral home. The manufacturer and the delivery service also do not retain responsibility for risks once the sale has been completed. Therefore, the funeral home bears the risk during storage.