What is a place where dead bodies are kept before burial?

A Mortuary or Morgue is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, awaiting removal for autopsy, respectful burial, cremation, or other methods of disposal. In modern times, corpses have customarily been refrigerated to delay decomposition.

The term 'mortuary' dates back to the early 14th century, from Anglo-French 'mortuarie', meaning "gift to a parish priest from a deceased parishioner," from Latin 'mortuus,' pp. of 'mori' "to die".

In many countries, the family of the deceased must make the burial within 72 hours (three days) of death, but in some other countries, it is usual that burial takes place some weeks or months after death. This is why some corpses are kept as long as one or two years at a hospital or funeral home.