Here are two situations in which a funeral home owner might recommend that their client have their deceased loved one embalmed.
The client has asked for an open-casket funeral service
If a funeral director has a client who has asked them to organise an open-casket funeral service, then the former might advise the latter to use the funeral home's embalming service. This is not usually a legal requirement for open-casket funeral services but is still advisable in many instances. The main reason for this is that many people do not realise how different the remains of a deceased person look, in comparison to the way they looked when they were alive. Even if the deceased died in a way that did not involve them being physically injured, their appearance might still be strikingly different.
If a funeral home client were to have an open-casket service for their deceased loved one, without having the remains embalmed, the appearance of the deceased might distress not only them but the other funeral attendees as well. Furthermore, many funeral home clients who ask for open-casket services usually do so because they want one last opportunity to see their loved ones. Without the embalming of the remains, it is unlikely that the deceased will bear much resemblance to their former selves when they were alive.
If however, a deceased person's remains are embalmed, this process could improve their appearance to the point where they look significantly more like they did as a living person. The sight of them looking peaceful and like themselves could be very comforting to their loved ones who come to view them at the funeral service.
The client is having the deceased person buried in a mausoleum
A second reason why a funeral home owner might suggest embalming to a client is if the client has asked for the deceased's remains to be buried in a mausoleum. Because this form of burial is typically above the ground, embalming the remains is, in many places, required by law.
Embalming a deceased person before they're buried in a mausoleum will not prevent the decomposition of their remains; rather, it will slow this process down so it does not occur too quickly. This, in combination with the design features of the mausoleum itself (such as drains and air vents), can prevent odours and sanitation issues within this burial structure. As such, a funeral home client who would prefer to have their deceased loved one buried in a mausoleum must factor in not only the costs of this type of burial but also the embalming service that they will need to use, too.
For more info, contact a local funeral home.
