As a licensed funeral director, a large portion of my day-to-day work at Kuhn Funeral Homes, Inc., relates directly to the care of decedents entrusted to our mortuary. I am entrusted with performing the necessary procedures so that a family is able to see their loved one. My friends and family have a lot of questions about the work I do, and I am sure there are many people in the world who would love to have some questions answered about what happens in the funeral home “behind the scenes.”
One such question I am frequently asked is, “Do I really need to be embalmed?”
What does the law say about embalming?
The short answer is that embalming is not required by law (in fact, the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Law forbids any funeral home from stating the contrary)...
...BUT the Pennsylvania Code that dictates professional conduct for funeral directors within the Commonwealth does require that that if human remains are not embalmed within 24 hours of death, then those remains must either be sealed inside a container that does not allow fumes or odors to escape OR those remains must kept under refrigeration. If remains are kept in refrigeration until the time of a funeral, disposition of those remains must occur within 5 hours of removal from refrigeration. The Code further states that the public should not view an unembalmed body that has been kept in refrigeration for longer than 36 hours.
That’s a rather long “but.”
If a family is choosing for their loved one to be cremated without first having a public viewing, then there is no need for their loved one to be embalmed. Furthermore, the Federal Trade Commission forbids any funeral home from claiming that embalming is necessary inorder for human remains to be cremated. (The FTC also forbids a funeral home from stating that a casket is necessary for cremation, but that is a separate topic altogether.)
Some cemeteries require that human remains be embalmed by a licensed funeral director in order for those remains to be entombed in a mausoleum. This is a cemetery requirement, not a federal or state law.
When the public is invited to a funeral with an open-casket viewing proceeding the service, we at Kuhn Funeral Homes recommend that we be allowed to perform the embalming.
What is embalming?
What is embalming? Embalming is a surgical procedure by which the body’s blood volume is drained and replaced with specialized chemicals. Embalming accomplishes three goals: disinfection, preservation, and restoration. The remains are disinfected so that harmful microbes are destroyed, preserved so that the natural processes of decomposition are slowed, and restored so that an eased appearance can be returned to the person. Embalming cannot completely halt the natural process of decomposition; in fact, it is against federal law to suggest that embalming can completely stop decomposition. Embalming is one method funeral directors have to ensure that human remains are able to be interacted with by the public.
But what about refrigeration?
Some critics of embalming argue that the availability of refrigeration makes embalming completely unnecessary. They say that refrigeration can do a sufficient job controlling the rate of decomposition. The truth is a little more complicated than that. Refrigeration can slow decomposition, that is true, but human remains decompose at different rates according to different factors. A person’s weight, height, age, and medical conditions all affect how quickly sign of decomposition become noticable. For one person’s remains, it may take several days; for another person’s remains, signs of decomposition may be very noticeable just a few hours after death. Rates of decomposition aside, refrigeration does impact the way a person looks. Refrigeration causes a body’s skin to dry out and the facial features to sink and sag. These changes in appears can be startling, even rendering someone utterly unrecognizable.
Creating a Final Memory Picture
When restoring a deceased human being during the embalming procedure, the goal is to create a positive final memory picture so that the last time an individual sees the person he or she loves, he or she is not left with the memory of someone suffering sickness or trauma. Signs of trauma like wounds, scrapes, or cuts can be closed and the skin restored with a little bit of special wax and a fine coat of mortuary makeup. Signs of sickness like sunken eyes or hollow cheeks can be addressed during the embalming procedure. Bruises, whether from the trauma of a fall or the results of a hospital’s IV line, can be artfully blended away.
Brad Krick, another Funeral Director here at Kuhn Funeral Homes, recently worked with a family whose loved one had suffered tongue and throat cancer--this woman’s entire lower jaw had been removed in an effort to beat her cancer. It was very important to the family to be able to have an open-casket viewing as the deceased had been a vibrant woman with many friends and connections to the community. Brad was able to reconstruct her jaw with wax, a stippling brush, and mortuary cosmetics. Brad’s reconstruction was so accurate and detailed that mourners who came to this woman’s services were shocked when a family member mentioned in the eulogy that the deceased had been missing a significant facial feature.
For survivors who had suffered a sudden or traumatic loss, such as their loved one dying in a car crash, being a victim of violent crime, or suicide, it is common to want to see their loved one’s remains. The restoration work performed during and after the embalming enables funeral directors to restore human remains affected by trauma to a condition familiar to their loved ones. For remains that have been autopsied in order for a medical examiner or private doctor to determine the cause of death, or for remains that have undergone a long-bone or skin donation, the unembalmed body may simply be not suitable for viewing. The challenges an embalmer faces for such cases are numerous, but the work enables a family to see their loved one one last time.
Time and time again we hear from our families how helpful and healing it was to see their loved one laid peacefully for viewing with an expression of serenity. Recently, a woman testified she was so anxious about seeing her mother again. She had been present at the nursing home after her mother’s death, and the image of how her mother looked was haunting her. She said her mother’s eyes, open, blank and unfocused, were all she could think about.
We invited her to come before the day of her mother’s services so she and her brother could spend some time with their mother without distractions. Their mother had been embalmed, dressed, and laid in her casket in our funeral parlor, just as she would be for her funeral the following day. The siblings spent almost an hour with their mother. When they came out of the viewing parlor, the woman had a soft smile on her face and told us that her mother looked the way she did when she still had the energy to go have her hair done. “My mother hasn’t looked this much like herself since the chemo began,” the woman expressed.
Grief studies demonstrate over and over the important role viewing plays in accepting the reality of a loss. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross writes that denial’s purpose is to help survivors through a loss by making survivors numb to overwhelming emotions. That denial must be overcome in order for healing to progress. When a body is viewed, the death is confirmed. Being able to reach out and touch a loved one’s hands or caress a loved one’s cheek enables the survivors to demonstrate their love for the individual and confront their own feelings about the loss. Seeing is believing, and seeing the body of a loved one is an important means of breaking through the natural impulse to deny death.
The same grief studies that highlight the importance of viewing a body also address the possibility that choosing not to view a body can leave someone with feelings of regret. He or she might wonder if their loved one is really deceased or if their loved one is really the one in the casket. There is some comfort in certainty.
There are some who argue that we funeral directors place too much importance on viewing a body. They argue that it would be better to remember the good times with a loved one rather than see them dead. While I sympathize with the desire to focus on the good memories, I argue that the decision to view a deceased loved one’s body is an entirely personal choice. No one should be forced against his or her will to view the remains of a loved one . No one. Forcing someone to view human remains against his or her will can be incredibly damaging and traumatic. Each person must decide for his or her self what feels appropriate in a given situation. My professional opinion is that allowing the funeral home to perform the embalming offers the greatest chance of a family having a peaceful final image of their loved one.
In summary
Embalming is not a legal requirement according to federal law, but it is Kuhn Funeral Home’s recommendation that a family allow us to perform the embalming when planning a public, open casket viewing. Embalming best enables the funeral home to ensure the deceased’s appearance is peaceful and true to their appearance in life. As a licensed funeral director, I take great pride in the work I do to care for the bodily remains of loved ones families entrusted to the funeral home’s care.
FAQs
But embalming is entirely unnecessary for any hygienic or legal reasons. In fact, the only time there's a legal requirement to embalm is when someone who has died is being repatriated.
What happens if a dead body is not embalmed? ›
Oftentimes, there will be at least a few days in between a person's death and their burial, and during that time, their body will begin to decompose if it's not embalmed. Embalming can stop decomposition from taking place so that families have a little bit more time to honor their loved ones.
Can a body be viewed without embalming? ›
Many funeral homes will not allow a public viewing unless embalming is performed. It is not a state or federal law that embalming be required. It is only a regulation by certain funeral homes. The regulation exists for many reasons including health safety, liability, and other undesired effects of decomposition.
Why would a body not be embalmed? ›
Why NOT embalm? The thing about draining a corpse of all its blood and replacing that blood with chemicals is…well, it's unnecessary. Most states don't require embalming unless a body hasn't been buried more than 10 days after death (which, if you're pre-planning your funeral, would not be the case for you).
Is it better to be embalmed or not embalmed? ›
Embalming is recommended for delaying disposition or requesting a public or private viewing time. Due to certain religious preferences or personal beliefs, embalming may not be desired. In such cases, refrigeration or placement in a sealed casket meet the legal requirements and still allow for ceremonious burials.
How long will a body last if not embalmed? ›
However, like embalming, it's important to remember that this merely slows the decomposition process – it doesn't stop it. A refrigerated body will last three to four weeks.
Can you avoid being embalmed? ›
The short answer is that embalming is not required by law (in fact, the Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Law forbids any funeral home from stating the contrary)... ...
Does the body decompose faster if not embalmed? ›
The common practice of embalming has one purpose: it slows the decomposition of a dead body so that a funeral can be delayed for several days and cosmetic work can be done on the corpse. Despite the appearances it creates, it is a violent process, and the corpses still decompose.
Does a body smell if not embalmed? ›
Bodies can begin to decompose within 24 hours of death. If a body is not embalmed in time, smells caused by the decomposition process may be difficult – or impossible – to control. Funeral homes will recommend open casket funerals only for bodies that have been embalmed shortly after death for this reason.
Is it safe to touch an embalmed body? ›
It is very unlikely that meningococci would survive in a body, including the nasopharynx, for long after death, especially if the body is embalmed. Transmission of meningococci through hongi (pressing noses), kissing, or other close contact with the body is extremely unlikely.
What does the Bible say about cremation? According to most Biblical study websites, there is no explicit scriptural command for or against cremation. There are no passages that forbid cremation, according to most Biblical scholars.
Do bodies sit up during cremation? ›
Does the Body Sit Up During Cremation? While bodies do not sit up during cremation, something called the pugilistic stance may occur. This position is characterized as a defensive posture and has been seen to occur in bodies that have experienced extreme heat and burning.
Why do they cross the arms of the dead? ›
Burials may be placed in a number of different positions. Bodies with the arms crossed date back to ancient cultures such as Chaldea in the 10th century BC, where the "X" symbolized their sky god.
What are the disadvantages of embalming? ›
Cons of Embalming
Although embalming fluid is biodegradable, it is still considered to be a contaminant that is buried and disposed of during the embalming process. Another con to embalming is the cost associated with it. This will add some expense to the overall funeral costs which can be a deterrent.
How long does a casket last in the ground? ›
Caskets made from either metal or wood will take an average of 50 or more years to decompose underground. The casket's duration depends on the type of wood used to build it and the composition of chemicals found on the grave.
How long can you wait to bury an embalmed body? ›
If the deceased will be embalmed, their body can be kept at the funeral home for up to a few weeks before burial. But even if the deceased is embalmed, if there will be an open-casket funeral, it should occur within seven days of the person's death.
What happens to an embalmed body after 1 month? ›
After 1 month, the liquefaction process commences. During this stage the body loses the most mass. The muscles, organs and skin are liquefied, with the cadaver's bones, cartilage and hair remaining at the end of this process.
Do you have to be embalmed for closed casket? ›
Avoid Embalming: While embalming is necessary for open casket services, it is generally not required for closed casket funerals. (Note: There are a few exceptions.) Some people object to embalming for religious or environmental reasons while others consider it an unnecessary final expense.
What do funeral homes do with the blood from dead bodies? ›
What Do Funeral Homes Do with the Blood from the Dead Body? The funeral home drains off the blood via the veins. They then send the blood and other fluids such as lymph into the municipal sewage system. In turn, the waste disposal officers treat these fluids before entering the town's wastewater system.
What does an embalmed body look like after 3 months? ›
But if we were to talk about what happens to the body after embalming, well after three – four months, the yellow-green complexion would have turned to a brownish-black colour because of the blood vessels that have deteriorated to the point that the iron inside of them spills out.
However, on average, a body buried within a typical coffin usually starts to break down within a year, but takes up to a decade to fully decompose, leaving only the skeleton, Daniel Wescott, director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University, told Live Science.
Why do they cover face before closing casket? ›
Over time, coffins underground will decompose and eventually collapse. Covering the face before closing the casket adds an extra layer of protection and dignity for the deceased's face and can act as a symbolic final goodbye.
Can you watch an embalming? ›
Some people choose to embalm before viewing because they prefer the life like appearance that embalming imparts. Some are embalmed, have a viewing and are cremated. It's strictly the choice of the family.
Do funeral homes freeze bodies? ›
Refrigeration is often employed when there will be no viewing, wake, or visitation, or if the casket will remain closed during the service (as many funeral homes require that the body be embalmed if it is to be on display).
What happens when they close the casket? ›
Understanding Closed Casket Funeral Protocols
In a closed casket funeral, the body is not able to be seen during the viewing or the funeral service. The casket will be closed the entire time, but that does not mean that people have to distance themselves from the body of their loved one.
Why do they put gloves on the dead? ›
They may wear white gloves in order to prevent damaging the casket and to show respect to the deceased person.
What does the Bible say about touching dead bodies? ›
"Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days. He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean.
What does God say about keeping ashes? ›
In the Bible, there are no passages that prohibit or encourage cremation and scattering of ashes. However, many Christian sects believe a burial funeral aligns with best end-of-life practices. As a result, some Christian clerics may discourage cremation or prohibit it entirely.
What does the Bible say about seeing loved ones in heaven? ›
The reunion of believing loved ones
When Paul writes to believers who grieve the loss of a loved one, he offers them this comfort: “We who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17, emphasis mine).
What religions do not allow cremation? ›
Of all world religions, Islam is probably the most strongly opposed to cremation. Unlike Judaism and Christianity, there is little diversity of opinion about it. Cremation is considered by Islam to be an unclean practice.
The body does not feel pain during cremation because the person is no longer alive. When a person dies, their brain stops sending signals to the body. This means that the person cannot feel pain or any other sensation. In fact, a dead person feels nothing at all.
Is a body drained of all fluids before cremation? ›
Is a body drained before cremation? Draining a body of fluids does not happen before cremation. If a body is embalmed before cremation, the bodily fluids are exchanged (drained, and then replaced) with chemicals during the embalming process.
What body parts are removed before cremation? ›
The only parts of the body that are removed before cremation are artificial ones like a medical device or implant with a battery, silicone, pins, radiation pressurization, pacemakers, and large hip, knee, and shoulder replacements along with any external jewelry.
What is the last reflex before death? ›
Gasping is a brainstem reflex; it is the last respiratory pattern prior to terminal apnoea. Gasping is also referred to as agonal respiration and the name is appropriate because the gasping respirations appear uncomfortable, causing concern that the patient is dyspnoeic and in agony.
What happens minutes before death? ›
In time, the heart stops and they stop breathing. Within a few minutes, their brain stops functioning entirely and their skin starts to cool. At this point, they have died.
How long does the brain work after death? ›
Although death has historically been medically defined as the moment when the heart irreversibly stops beating, recent studies have suggested brain activity in many animals and humans can continue for seconds to hours.
What happens to a body in a coffin if not embalmed? ›
In a coffin or casket, a body will decompose over time. During the first few months underground, the body will typically undergo active decay, putrefaction, and blackening. Over several decades, the tissue and organs will continue to break down and liquefy until only the teeth remain.
Is it cheaper to not embalm a body? ›
Many funeral homes require embalming if you're planning a viewing or visitation. But embalming generally is not necessary or legally required if the body is buried or cremated shortly after death. Eliminating this service can save you hundreds of dollars.
How long does it take for an embalmed body to start smelling? ›
This process of bacteria producing noticeable gas can take 2-3 days. A decomposing body will typically have a smell of rotting meat with fruity undertones. Exactly what the smell will be like depends on a multitude of factors: The makeup of different bacteria present in the body.
Can you touch an embalmed body? ›
A. If you have an adult with you at the funeral home, it is ok to touch a dead body, and you will not get in trouble. You are naturally curious, and sometimes when you see and touch a dead body it helps you answer your questions. Remember to be gentle and have an adult help you.
It is a common practice to cover the legs as there is swelling in the feet and shoes don't fit. As part of funeral care, the body is dressed and preserved, with the prime focus on the face. Post embalming, bodies are often placed without shoes; hence covering the legs is the way to offer a dignified funeral.
How long can a body last in a casket? ›
The body takes between ten to fifteen years to decay to a point where you may just find bones, teeth and hair remaining in the casket. There may also be some excess tissue and clothing fibers that withstood the ten years of decay.
What is the most expensive part of a funeral? ›
Casket. A casket is often the most expensive item that factors into the average funeral cost.
How much does the average person spend on a funeral? ›
Funeral costs can be planned for be setting aside a fund or taking out an insurance policy. The average funeral cost is between $7,000 and $9,000, with the median cost being $7,360.
