The time that we spend caring for our loved one does not end with death. There are a lot of questions that must be answered after a loved one has passed, and some of the questions revolve around the preparation and proper disposal of their body. A loved one’s death can be just as unique as their life, and having the right information will help you know how to make important decisions.
Preparing a deceased human body can be carried out in a lot of ways. There will be an option that will satisfy your needs, meet your personal and religious beliefs, and correctly represent the life of your loved one. There are cremation services and burial services that you can avail for your loved one, but there are processes that need to be done before that.
What happens to the body after death?
The body is removed from the place of death, and it is brought back to the funeral home. Before anything is done to the body, the funeral home staff will get your permission and will explain what exactly will be done. If they do not, you can ask them.
The first step is bathing and disinfecting the body, and this is done regardless of what type of disposition that you choose. This is done not only for the safety of the funeral home staff and the family and friends of the deceased but also for the respect and dignity of the deceased. A human body starts to change immediately after death occurs, and bathing and disinfecting are necessary.
The next steps are decided by the family or friends in charge of arranging services. The body can be prepared and embalmed for traditional services, dressed and placed in refrigeration for cremation, prepared for body donation or green burials, or arrangements can also be made for transport to another state through the ground or air travel. In case of traumatic death or accidental death, autopsy or organ donation, special services may be required to provide restoration to the body.
After disposition has been chosen and the preparation has been completed, you will need to consider the clothing and other mementos like glasses and jewelry. Options will vary depending on your previous choices. Some religious beliefs will dictate simple garments or outfits, or you may be able to choose any style of clothing. You may also use clothing that is previously worn by the deceased, or you may purchase new clothing for them.
When it comes to mementos and jewelry, you need to keep in mind that anything you place with the deceased such as glasses, wedding rings, tie clips, and others can always be returned to you before the final disposition takes place. These items can be for temporary viewing purposes, or they can be left with the deceased indefinitely. It is up to you.
The final step is preparing the body for private or public viewing. Cosmetics will be applied, and the hair will be styled according to what you want.
Keep in mind that when making these final decisions, you have a lot of options. Aside from the basics, you can dictate to your funeral service professionals what you want when it comes to your loved one.
Embalming is an important step when taking care of a body for a funeral. It is a method of temporarily preserving the body to make it easier to transport the body over a long distance, give the survivors time to schedule and hold funeral services and to enable the body to be viewed in an open casket. In addition to preservation, embalming helps guard against health hazards.
Embalmers are licensed technicians, and they are also Funeral Directors. To embalm the body, they inject preservative chemicals into the circulatory system. Using a special machine, the blood is removed and replaced with the embalming fluid.
Refrigeration can also preserve the body, but it is not always available. If it is necessary to transport remains that did not undergo embalming, they may be packed in ice.
Is embalming necessary?
The federal law prohibits funeral providers from misrepresenting the legal necessity of embalming. Funeral providers are required to inform their consumers that embalming is not required by law, except in certain special cases. And it is unlawful to represent that embalming is required for direct cremation, immediate burial and a closed casket funeral without viewing or visitation when refrigeration is available.
The history of embalming
Embalming dates back thousands of years to ancient Egypt, where it was used for mummification. In the 1800s, European scientists embalmed the bodies they used for anatomical studies. In the United States, embalming gained favor during the Civil War as a way to preserve the remains of the dead soldiers for the long trip home. Some religions are opposed to embalming because they believe the body should not be altered.
The advantages of DNA sampling for preserving genes
Advances in genetic research and technology make it possible to make a unique genetic profile for each of us from our DNA. Many scientists believe that many if not all, diseases and disorders are rooted in our genes.
There are a lot of facilities which offer DNA typing and banking. This means that a DNA sample of the deceased will be evaluated, typed, and stored for 10 or more years in a secured and highly regulated facility.
DNA testing can be very beneficial in a number of ways. Biological ties to the family such as paternity or kinship can be made, and genetic uniqueness can be established as well as genetic family history and heritage which could be useful if an unusual inheritance claim is made upon the death of a loved one or settle estate issues.
Another important benefit is the health and genetic disease diagnosis. This can be used to assess a predisposition to certain diseases among current family members and future descendants. This valuable information can be utilized to prevent and treat diseases and disabilities.
The sample can be taken before an imminent death and after a death occurs before the interment takes place. If a body is cremated, the opportunity for DNA testing is lost.
The funeral director should have the resources to find a suitable facility to handle the testing. Make sure that the selected company follows the Chain of Custody Procedure Guidelines that ensures that all information related to each specific DNA profile is handled correctly and can be used as a medical reference or legal evidence.