At funeral homes Johnstown, PA, you can embalm the deceased’s body before the funeral. Due to the paucity of information, not many people know what exactly is involved in the embalming process and if it’s the only option you have.
Without any further ado, let’s deep dive into embalming.
What Is Embalming?
Embalming is the art of preserving human remains to slow down decomposition. The procedure involves adding some chemicals to the body to make it suitable for public or private viewing or keeping it preserved for medical purposes.
The embalming process typically takes two hours to complete and includes washing and drying the hair and body of the deceased. This time may increase if the cause of death has affected the body in any way. With embalming, decomposition will begin after about a week.
Common Questions About Embalming
Q1. Is embalming necessary?
If the family chooses to arrange a viewing service before the funeral, then embalming becomes necessary to forestall the natural decomposition. Most funeral homes do not allow public viewing without embalming.
They suggest embalming and viewing as a way to show “proper respect for the body.” However, you can avoid embalming in case of a direct cremation or immediate funeral. But remember that you can cremate an embalmed body. Embalming does not affect the cremation process.
Q2. Are organs removed during embalming?
NO. Embalming doesn’t remove any organ in the body. Instead, the embalmer replaces the blood with embalming fluid – formaldehyde-based chemicals – through the arteries. For this reason, an embalmed body placed in a casket can last for many years.
Q3. What does the mortician do with the drained blood?
The drained blood along with other waste is allowed to be disposed of through standard drain systems which are then cleaned when it enters water waste management.
Q4. How much does embalming cost?
The cost of embalming can vary from one location to another.
Q5. What happens if a body is not embalmed?
The very purpose of embalming is to delay the natural decomposition of the body. Without embalming, the body will decompose rather quickly which is not a preferable option if you wish to arrange a viewing service.
To avoid any unpleasant situation, you will need to hold a service and bury or cremate very soon after death if the body is not embalmed.
Q6. Do embalmed bodies look different?
Embalmers do their best to make the body look as natural as possible. But they still look different than a living person as the body no longer has blood circulating in the tissues.
Since it’s a human art, the process can vary from person to person, some results may be better or worse than others. It also depends on how the person has died, whether it was a natural death or a tragic incident, or any severe injury.
There are also times after embalming that a person looks better than when they died. This happens mostly when the person has suffered a long illness, as embalming can fill them out and give them color. You can learn more at funeral homes Johnstown, PA. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
