The
Embalming Process
The first step in the embalming process is surgical, in
which bodily fluids are removed and are replaced with formaldehyde-based
chemical solutions. The second step is cosmetic, in which
the body is prepared for viewing by styling the hair, applying makeup, and
setting the facial features.
Preparing The Body For
Embalming
Before
the surgical embalming or cosmetic processes can
begin, the body is washed in a disinfectant solution and the limbs are massaged
and manipulated to relieve rigor mortis (stiffening of the joints and muscles).
Any facial hair is shaved off, unless the person who died wore facial hair.
Setting The Facial
Features
The
eyes are closed, often using skin glue and/or plastic flesh-colored oval-shaped
“eye caps” that sit on the eye and secure the eyelid in place. The mouth is
closed and the lower jaw is secured, either by sewing or wires. If the jaw is
sewn shut, suture string is threaded through the lower jaw below the gums, up
and through the gums of the top front teeth, into the right or left nostril,
through the septum, into the other nostril, and back down into the mouth. Then
the two ends of suture string are tied together. If the jaw is wired shut, a
tool called a needle injector is often used to insert a piece of wire anchored
to a needle into the upper and lower jaws. The wires are tied together to
securely close the mouth. Once the jaw has been secured, the mouth can be
manipulated into the desired arrangement.
Arterial Embalming
For
arterial embalming, the blood is removed from the body via the veins and
replaced with an embalming solution via the arteries. The embalming solution is
usually a combination of formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, methanol, ethanol,
phenol, and water, and may also contain dyes in order to simulate a life-like
skin-tone.
Cavity Embalming
For
cavity embalming, a small incision is made near the bellybutton and a sharp
surgical instrument used for drainage, called a trocar, is inserted into the
body cavity. Using the trocar, organs in the chest cavity and abdomen are
punctured and drained of gas and fluid contents and then replaced with
formaldehyde-based chemical mixtures. The incision is closed, and at this point
the body is fully embalmed.
What is Embalming exactly
"An embalmer is
someone who takes the measures necessary to preserve a human's remains for
a period of time. This may be done so that the deceased will be preserved
and make a comfortable appearance for a viewing, or sometimes because state
laws simply require that embalming, and the resulting preservation, must
be done due to the length of time between the death occurring and the final
disposition of the remains. There are also situations when even absent an
open casket viewing, a family simply feels better that their loved one's
remains be embalmed and preserved prior to disposition."
Tools Used
In Embalming
Shaving
Materials
Needle
Injector
Eye
Caps
Cotton
Aneurysm
Hooks
Forceps
of various sizes
Scissors
Scalpel
Drain
Tubes
Drain
Tube Hose
Massage
Cream
Vaseline
Trocar
Trocar
Button
Hypovalve
Trocar
Ligature
Needles
Cavity
Injector
How A Funeral Home Cosmetically
Prepares A Body
After the body is embalmed, cosmetics are applied to the body and the hair is
styled to create a more life-like appearance.
Makeup
The amount of makeup that is
applied and cosmetic work that is done depends on the condition of the body. In
most cases, moisturizing lotion is applied to the face, lips, and hands. Makeup
will be applied to the face, neck, and hands in order to make the person look
as alive as possible and cover up any blemishes, discoloration, or marks of
illness. Powder may be applied in order to keep the body dry and absorb any
naturally secreted oils. In some cases, fingernails will be painted with
polish.
Hair Styling
The hair will be styled for a
life-like appearance. If the person who died wore a wig or toupee, that will be
used. The hair may be washed and set, or simply brushed, depending on the
situation.
Cosmetic Reconstruction
In cases where the body
suffered from a degenerative illness or an injurious accident, cosmetic
reconstruction may be necessary. The embalmer will use wax, plaster, cotton,
and other materials to return the person's face and body to its earlier form.
Clothing The Deceased
Finally, the body will
be dressed in clothing that you have selected and placed in
the casket.
How To Choose Clothing For The Deceased
If the
person who died will be buried or cremated dressed
in clothing or with personal items, you want to collect and bring those items
to the funeral home so they can prepare the body. You
can choose to dress the body in new clothes that you’ve purchased or clothes
that the person who died already owned.
When
thinking about how to dress the person, consider what he or she would have
liked to have been buried in, such as a favorite or special outfit. While many
people are buried in formal attire, feel free to dress the person in any
outfits they might have loved, such as a favorite pair of jeans, a lucky hat,
or a beloved piece of jewelry.
Religious Considerations
If the
funeral will be following any religious or cultural customs, the clothing might
be dictated by those rules. Speak to your local religious leaders to learn more
about your religion's customs, or see our article Religious Funeral Traditions.
Items To Bring For The Deceased
If the
person who died will be buried or cremated with
personal items, you’ll want to gather those items before the service and bring
them with you to the funeral home before the service or to the funeral service
itself. There are no rules or regulations on what a person can or cannot be
buried with. Common personal possessions that people are buried with include:
- Family photographs
- Favorite
- Bibles or other favorite books
- Other sentimental items
If the body will be cremated, remember that all metal must be removed from the body prior to cremation. This includes jewelry, piercings, and belt buckles, which you may have to remove from the body before the cremation.
All You Need To Know About Caskets
Also known as a coffin, a casket contains the body if it's going to be buried or entombed, or as a means of burying cremated remains. It also serves as a respectful and attractive way to transport the body before the burial or cremation.
Casket Materials
Casket
materials are primarily stylistic. There is no casket material that can
preserve a body forever and no material that improves a casket's basic
function.
Caskets
are commonly available in the following materials (listed from least to most
expensive):
Caskets
are also available in alternative materials, such as bamboo, willow, woven
banana leaf, and pressed cardboard, among other materials.
Casket Features
Casket
features are entirely stylistic. There are no casket features that can preserve
a body forever and no features that improve a casket's basic function.
- Half
couch or full couch, which refers to whether the lid comes in two pieces
(half couch) or one piece (full couch). In the case of a viewing,
visitation, or an open casket funeral, either the upper half of the body
(half couch) or the entire body (full couch) will be on display.
- Interior
liners, or fabric lining the inside of the casket, which may be marketed
as puncture-resistant and leak-proof, and are generally made out of
polyester, satin, or velvet
- Commemorative
panels, which are embroidered interiors of the casket lid
- Internal
lift hardware, which will tilt the inside of the casket up so that in the
case of a viewing, visitation, or open casket
funeral the body may be viewed at an angle
- “Memory
tube,” which is a small glass tube that screws into the casket. In the
event that something should happen to the casket (should the casket become
dislodged from its space in a mausoleum or crypt, or unearthed from the
ground), the identity of the deceased can be easily known without having
to exhume the remains.
- Exterior
features, such as handles or ornamentation
Many
caskets feature a rubber gasket or some kind of sealer, which provides an
air-tight seal between the lid and body of the casket. According to the Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule, caskets described as
"gasketed," "protective" or "sealer" caskets are
designed to protect the casket, not the body, and are features that are never
required by law. In fact, a casket that is hermetically sealed increases the
rate of body decomposition. And if a casket is to be entombed in a mausoleum or
crypt, the cemetery will actually break the rubber seal to prevent accelerated
decomposition. The Funeral Rule forbids claims that caskets or special casket
features can preserve a body forever.
Cost
Caskets
are one of the most expensive purchases of a funeral, and can range in price
from $700-$20,000, with average caskets costing between $2000 and $5000. If you
will be purchasing a casket from a third-party or online retailer, it’s important to remember that the cost of
delivery for the casket may be quite high, and typically ranges from $300-$600.
Rental Casket
If you
would like to have a traditional casket at a viewing or funeral service but
would not like to purchase the casket, you might consider using a rental casket from the funeral home.
Personal Advocacy
Choosing
a casket is entirely a matter of personal choice. Before viewing caskets at a
funeral home or casket showroom, you may want to ask for a price list so you
can get a sense of the types and prices of the caskets offered, or figure out
how much money you’d like to spend before you visit the showroom.
When
shopping for a casket, it’s important to remember that you’re being sold a
product. Research has shown that when a customer is offered three caskets to
choose from, he or she will most often select the casket that is priced in the
middle, regardless of how high that price may be. Ask to see a complete casket
price list before you are shown any of the caskets; many casket showrooms have
less expensive caskets for sale but not for view on the showroom floor. The
FTC's Funeral Rule ensures your right to see a complete price list before
viewing any caskets.
Where To Purchase Caskets
Caskets
can be purchased from funeral homes, casket showrooms, and online retailers. Remember that the FTC’s Funeral Rule
guarantees that a funeral home may not refuse or charge a fee for using a
casket you purchased elsewhere, including a casket you may have built
yourself.
