The Body

At the funeral home the first words you may hear from the funeral director is “we have your loved one here and we need to make arrangements for the body”.    One purpose of the funeral is technical, to take care of the body or as I like to say “the shell” of a loved one.    There are options and procedures to know about before making a decision regarding embalming, burial, cremation, and what to do with the ashes.   The person with the legal authority to make arrangements in order are:   Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare aka DPOA, spouse, parents, and then children at least 18 years of age.   It is a good idea to discuss funeral plans with all family members and friends involved with direct grief of the death.

If you opt for traditional burial, embalming has been the standard way to prepare the body. This surgical procedure involves the removal of blood through the veins and the injection of embalming chemicals through the arteries. The main purpose is to preserve the body to provide more time to prepare for services.  Embalming involves sanitation, preservation and restoration.  Blood is drained from the body, and specially formulated chemicals are injected in its place to delay the process of decomposition.  If preserving the body with chemicals is not acceptable as your choice of disposition, you may wish to contribute to the natural ecology of the earth by opting for natural burial services.   This includes care and concern for Mother Earth and minimal carbon footprint.  Read more on green funerals and green cemeteries.

It is important to know that although airlines may require embalming when shipping bodies by air, there is currently no legislation in the United States that requires a body to be embalmed.  You may have the full service including viewing without embalming; you will need to discuss this option with your funeral director/embalmer.

The use of cosmetics on our departed loved ones is not uncommon. Makeup has long been used to mask blemishes, age spots, razor burns, and scars. If you don’t want makeup used on the body,  tell your death care consultant. If the deceased has wounds or abrasions on the face or hands from trauma, cosmetics will most likely be applied to restore damaged features. Ask your death care consultant to tell you what to expect before viewing your loved ones.

It’s hard enough for many of us to decide what to wear every day, let alone have to figure out how a body should be dressed.  You may wish to purchase a biodegradable burial shroud, cotton or linen cloth to wrap the body.  If you prefer to dress the body; here are some suggestions to think about.  Dark colored clothing is preferred over light colors; the contrast will bring out the face. Turtlenecks or high collars are often appropriate because the bare neck of someone no longer living can be visually off-putting to viewers. Long sleeves are recommended to cover up any blemishes, I.V. marks from hospital stays, or age spots. However, if the deceased’s favorite article of clothing was a ratty t-shirt, then by all means, go for it. Loose clothing and button-up shirts are optimal for ease in dressing the body. Shirts and dresses that don’t open easily may be cut by the death care consultant to make the clothing fit. (Since the body is laid out horizontally, no one will ever notice.) If you choose to purchase new clothing, it’s a good idea to buy a few sizes larger.

Clean hosiery, socks and undergarments are suggested for peace of mind. You can decide on gloves for the deceased, and jewelry always makes an excellent accent. You might want to place a cell phone in your loved one’s hand—it may be reassuring to think you can call and say hello.