A method of forming a portion of a sheet metal casket shell, the casket shell having a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls, the portion of the casket shell being formed from a piece of sheet metal having a desired profile, opposite ends, and a length about equal to the combined length of one of the side walls and one of the end walls of the casket shell, comprises the steps of supporting the piece of sheet metal on one side with a female die having a center die portion and opposite end die portions configured to pivot relative to the center die portion, supporting the piece of sheet metal on the opposite side with a male die having a center die portion and opposite end die portions, and pivoting the end die portions of the female die relative to the center die portion of the female die to cause the opposite ends of the piece of sheet metal to fold around the end die portions of the male die, the resulting portion of the casket shell having a side wall, about half of one end wall at one end of the side wall, and about half of the other end wall at the other end of the side wall. The method can be repeated with a second piece of sheet metal thereby forming two shell halves which can be welded together to form the shell.
