What happens to a body before cremation?

Question

My friend died recently so I've been thinking a lot about what happens after we die.
I hate to sound shallow, but is it necessary to re-dress the body or for makeup to be applied? I don't want anything like that when I die. I'm paranoid enough in life about people looking at me, I wouldn't want anyone to have to look too closely at my corpse, nevermind my naked corpse. That's one of my fears of dying, people seeing me like that.

Can you be cremated exactly as you died, same clothes, same makeup? And not let any family or friends view your body?

What happens during embalming? Is it neccessary? Do they have to undress the body?


Maybe I've been thinking into things too deeply, but I'd like to know.

Answer 1

When the person is to be cremated, we always bathe the body and either dress is in clothes that the family brought in or in a clean hospital gown. We do this out of respect for the deceased. Embalming is not required by any state laws, however it is necessary for a public visitation. And yes, we undress and bathe the body during the embalming process. We apply cosmetics to make them look natural and not so pale. Hope this helps, take care!

Answer 2

A number of changes take place in the body during the period after death. The body starts to become stiff after around three hours as a result of rigor mortis, before relaxing again after thirty hours. Blood drains from capillaries in the skin of the upper surface, and collects in blood vessels in the lower surface. Fluids may leak from natural body openings, particularly if decomposition is allowed to occur.

Hospital staff 'lay out' the body of someone who dies in hospital, washing the body, placing the hands on the chest or lap, applying bandages to keep the mouth and limbs in position, and packing absorbent material around the body openings. These activities can also be performed by a funeral director or family member in the case of deaths at home.

Funeral directors may apply make up, to mask the pallid appearance, and they can also embalm the body if required. Preservatives are injected into the circulatory system during the embalming process, and this treatment slows the rate of decomposition by a making the body unsuitable for the growth of bacteria and insects.

Full arterial embalming is required by law if the body is to be 'buried' in an above-ground vault or if the body is held without refrigeration in the care of a funeral director. This situation often arises when the body is made available for viewing or for extended vigils. Embalming can only be performed by a qualified and registered embalmer.

Answer 3

I always think about that too. I have no idea about if you can be cremated exactly as you died, but, yes they do undress the body during embalming. If you like, you can watch an episode or two of the show "Six Feet Under."

Answer 4

My partner died a year ago, aged 42, and I wondered exactly the same things. It's good that we are not expert in these matters but it is important to talk and ask questions and find out the answers so as it becomes less frightening.

We were able to have him dressed in his own clothes. His motehr wanted him to look smart in a suit but we eventually went with the casual clothes he generally wore. He was cremated in those.

I and his mother wanted to see his body. When we went to the chapel of rest, the people in charge warned us that when a person has been dead a few days, the bodily fuids start to secrete from the ears (not sure if he said anywhere else) and I was terrified at the thought but it was fine. The chapel of rest warn you about that but they clean the body before visitors arrive. I was glad to spend time with my partner and get used to him being dead. It gave me an opportunity to say things I had not said.

It also gave us the opportunity to leave his childhood teddy with him and a photo of both his mother and me to be put in the coffin. to be cremated with him. I even took some photos. It sounds horrendous but I am glad I did that to be able to complete something and retain a memory of peace and calm.

Scattering the ashes gave us another opportunity to get together with some friends and celebrate his life.

Answer 5

After an post-mortem is complete, the organs are replaced interior the physique and the incision is sewn up. The physique is in spite of this to the custody of the family members, and that they make the techniques related to what occurs next. in the event that they desire to have a prevalent burial, the physique is frequently picked up by way of the funeral homestead representatives who prepare it for that. If the family members needs to have the keeps to be of the guy cremated, then preparations are made for that. It merely relies upon on what the subsequent of family members comes to a decision. If the guy has no next of family members, and has made no preparations, the main suitable disposition of the physique is desperate by way of the regulations of that state or community area. frequently in maximum places, unclaimed bodies are buried by way of the community funeral residences. even nevertheless, there are some places that are looking into changing that, as cremation is extra low fee. After a cremation, the ashes are returned to the family members or placed in a perfect place. Autopsies on television do seem particularly undesirable, and while you're unused to them i be responsive to it seems as though the guy does no longer be in undertaking to have a prevalent funeral. even nevertheless, i will assure you from own journey that medical experts do endure in ideas that the physique will in all hazard be seen for the period of a funeral, and that they do return bodies in a undertaking that makes it tremendously impossible to tell an post-mortem became even executed. that's different from Frankenstein's monster.

Answer 6

Well, it depends on the circumstances of your death - if there is any doubt to the cause, there will be an autopsy. After which, usually an undertaker prepares your body for the funeral.

You can make a will to ensure that your body is not put on display in an open coffin - but you cannot prevent some officials from looking at your naked body after death.

But I wouldn't worry about it - what's the point?

Answer 7

You'd really have to ask a mortician.