What is Embalming?
A part of funerals at funeral homes in Tallahassee, FL is embalming. While this process is designed to delay the natural decomposition of a body after death, it is so much more than just a scientifically-based part of the funeral process. Embalming extends care to a loved one even after they have died.
If you are having a viewing or the funeral will be an open casket funeral, then embalming is a necessary part of the preparation for these ceremonies.
When a person dies, the first thing that happens is that funeral home staff removes the body from where death occurred and transports it back to the funeral home, where it will be bathed and disinfected to both ensure the safety of funeral home staff and to show honor and dignity to the deceased. The body will then be stored at extremely cold temperatures to inhibit decomposition.
During your meeting with the funeral home director to make arrangements for the funeral, you will be asked how you want your loved one’s body to be prepared. You can choose to have the body prepared and embalmed, dressed and stored at very cold temperatures for cremation, prepared for whole body donation, or prepared to be transported to another funeral home where funeral services and burial will take place.
While you don’t have to choose to have your loved one embalmed, if you want to having a viewing or visitation and you want your loved one’s casket open or closed during the funeral service. If you want a visitation or a viewing, then your loved one’s body will be embalmed (the funeral home director will explain this to you).
Next, you will need to decide what your loved one will wear and what accessories – such as glasses, tie tacks, and wedding rings – you want them to wear. You can either bring these to the funeral home with you when you make the funeral arrangements or you can bring them after you have met with the funeral director. The accessories can be returned to you after the funeral service if you wish, or you can leave them on your loved one for burial.
Because only the upper half of your loved one will be displayed in the casket, you do not have to bring shoes or socks. However, you may, for sentimental reasons, to provide socks if your loved one always had cold feet. It’s just a little touch to show that you care as much about them in death as you did in life.
Embalming includes replacing bodily fluids with a preservation solution that will arrest the natural decomposition of the body. It also includes dressing the body, cutting fingernails, shaving (for men), applying natural-tone makeup to make your loved one look as close as possible to the way they did when they were alive, and hair styling.
Embalming has a long history that dates back to the ancient Egyptians. The royalty and rich who were buried in the storied pyramids of Egypt were embalmed to preserve their bodies and then wrapped in shrouds to further delay decomposition. Embalming became popular among European scientists during the 19th century when they wanted to preserve cadavers to do anatomical research. And in the United States, embalming became a standard funeral practice during the Civil War.
If you want to know more about embalming at funeral homes in Tallahassee, FL, our compassionate and experienced staff at Lifesong Funerals & Cremations can help. You can come by our funeral home at 20 S. Duval St., Quincy, FL 32351, or you can contact us today at (850) 627-1111.
