My late husband was raised an Orthodox Jew and later changed to a Reform Jew (I don't mean to offend anyone and hope I am phrasing this properly), before I met him.

When he died I was told by his Uncle and cousin, both Rabbis, that he had to be buried before sundown (or a day later if people needed to travel a great distance), in a shroud, in a plain pine box with no metal, in the ground.

Is this not correct? I am aware of another death in which the person is not being buried for days and then is being placed in a crypt. I was told that the info I posted above is incorrect and only Muslims have to be buried by sundown. I don't know.

Did my late husband's family somehow take advantage of my lack of knowledge? Did the funeral director?

I know some Jewish sects allow for cremation but my husband did not want to be cremated.

Guide to Jewish Funeral Practice : The United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism (USCJ)

Judy,I'm afraid my knowledge on the jewish faith is limited,but in an effort to help answer your question I looked over a few sites.

The one above echos your post (part 4) in regards to the time frame you gave (after death) and no adornments on the deceased.

I came across several good sites that would seem to be knowledgeable in the jewish faith both Orthodox and Reformed.

If you wish I can post the links so you can read at your leisure.

Would you, please? I don't know why anyone would have led me wrong and I tried very, very hard to bury him according to the religion he was raised in.

Leave it with me and ill read over them and check credibility.

burial | services | a-to-z-of-reform-judaism- The Movement for Reform Judaism

Paragragh 2.

Informative and easy to understand information.

Jewish Life Cycle / Rituals: Funeral Customs

Paragraph 2 and 4.

Paragraph 6... is this revelant to you?

Last paragragh relates to Jewish death rituals according to the jewish faith,I noticed a similarity in the list and your op.

There are a few more,shout if you need more information.