Demystifying Funeral Concepts: Care of the Deceased
Whether we are confronted with a sudden death, or planning for the future, breaking a funeral down into a few simple concepts can help us understand what we are facing.
It can help to break the process into the following 4 key elements:
- Care of the deceased
- Service details and specifics
- Final disposition
- Remembering and honoring
Here we will discuss the first topic: “Care of The Deceased.” This is simply referring to everything that goes into the physical care and transportation of the deceased. After someone dies, their body needs to be transported from the place of death (home, hospital, facility, etc..) to a funeral home. Your funeral director will coordinate this process, ensuring that everything is handled with sensitivity and professionalism. They should be able to tell you exactly where your loved one is being taken and what steps will occur.
Next there will usually be some preparation needed, especially if the deceased will be viewed by family or friends. This can involve washing and dressing the person with clothing of your family’s choosing. It can be a deeply personal act, and some families choose to participate in washing and dressing their loved one, especially if informed by cultural or religious traditions. There might be certain prayers or psalms read aloud, or a special blanket or piece of jewelry that will be worn.
Embalming is another preservation technique often used if there is a public visitation, or if the funeral is delayed for some reason. It’s important to note that embalming is not always required, usually for immediate burials or cremations. In many cases, refrigeration can be used instead of embalming, especially if families are pursuing an eco-friendly option such as natural or green burials, water cremation, or soil transformation.
Caring for the deceased is about honoring their dignity and ensuring their body is treated with the respect they deserve. We take this opportunity to explain what options are available, and encourage families to share in a meaningful act of love.
