Funeral Embalming And Arrangements

Embalming dates back to ancient Egypt when oils, herbs and body preparation were used to preserve a body prior to burial. Funeral embalming differs in that it aims only to preserve the body for a few days. No product can preserve a body forever and the Federal Trade Commission does not legally allow funeral providers to claim otherwise. It is still used frequently today, particularly by those who wish to have an open casket or vigil. However,when deciding whether to opt for funeral embalming you should bear in mind that it is an expensive procedure which is by no means essential.

While most religions are approving of a body being embalmed, there are several religions that do not approve. For example, Hindus do not prefer that their dead be embalmed, however to accommodate the desire to be buried in their homeland, many have to acquiesce in order to have the bodies shipped home. In addition, Muslims prefer to be buried within 24 hours of death and washed and wrapped by a same sex relative. The Muslim faith prefers burials to be performed without a casket, however this is not allowed in many areas so checks will need to be made if you intend to do this. Judaism also requires the body to to buried within 24 hours, however, in instances when this cannot practically be achieved, the body will be embalmed.

Nowadays there are two main reasons for selecting funeral embalming. The purpose of funeral embalming is to allow time between the death and burial, an open casket at the funeral and viewing as well as, in some rare cases, to halt the spread of disease or infection. How do I decide if embalming is the right option? First of all, it's an unnecessary expense if you're having a direct to burial service or a cremation. In general if the body is to be cremated there is no open casket. Instead, most display a large photo of the deceased on a table or picture stand. In instances where the body is being transported over a long distance for burial embalming will normally occur. The same applies when a body is being shipped overseas. State laws dictate what is done in cases like this, so check with your funeral director.

The bottom line when it comes to funeral embalming is that it is a personal choice of the family. Talk to your family members so that no one feels left out and get a consensus of what everyone wants and needs. Often it is best to remember your loved one as they were in life and opt for a photograph rather than an open casket, particularly if they endured a long illness before death. Ideally in making your decision you should consider the wishes of the deceased or, if there is no information available, the family.