The practice of embalming, or preserving deceased bodies, traces its origins to ancient civilizations. The Egyptians, renowned for their mummification techniques, were pioneers in this field. Their belief in physical resurrection after death fueled the need to meticulously preserve bodies, ensuring the soul could reunite with its corporeal form. Skilled embalmers removed vital organs, treated the cavities with aromatic resins, and wrapped the bodies in linen, creating mummies that endured for millennia. Continue reading Embalming
Category: Embalming
Cremation
Cremation is an increasingly popular method of body disposal. A more affordable alternative to other forms of disposal, the process reduces the amount of space and environmental impact needed for burial. Cremation also allows families to honor their loved ones in a meaningful way.
Eco-Friendly Option
Per body, cremation produces between 200-500 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions. Emissions offset in about two to three months. This green option appeals to people concerned about the environment. On the other hand, a body which has been buried will take more than 50 years to decompose. After this period, all that will remain are mummified skin and tendons. The lengthy process involves more than 200 human bones. Also, the body contains a few trillion microbes, and as many as 37 trillion cells. Continue reading Cremation
Reconstruction
In the 1972 classic movie, The Godfather, Vito Corleone calls upon an undertaker who owes him a favor following the startlingly traumatic shooting death of his son, Sonny. “Look what they did to my son,” he cries, imploring the mortician to work magic so Sonny’s funeral could include an open casket. As far-fetched as it may seem, requests for bodily reconstruction are more common (and do-able) in the real world than you might think. Continue reading Reconstruction
Crazy Cremation Urns
Years ago, people opted for cremation to save money. Determined to take the lease expensive way out, these bargain-hunters shopped for bottom dollar urns. But times have changed, and with them, the reasons people choose crazy cremation over traditional burial with embalming and a casket.
Today, motives tend more toward 
ecology in addition to economy. They prefer leaving a smaller carbon footprint. But whether you decide to be buried or cremated, the sky is still the limit when it comes to associated options relative to cremation-based ceremonies and final resting places — urns! Continue reading Crazy Cremation Urns
What Happens After You’re Buried?
If you’re a fan of any of the (original or remake) Laura Croft Tomb Raider or The Mummy films, you probably have an idea of what happens after death. The problem is that if it’s based on those movies, your impression misses the mark. Like most Hollywood fare, the truth is a little less sensational.
The Mummy
The term ‘mummification’ typically reminds folks of Ancient Egypt. But embalming is a more contemporary term for the processes used in funeral homes today. That said, embalming is actually just one step of the mummification process which could be defined as: “the purposeful preservation of a corpse to delay decomposition.” Short of Hollywood studios, people no longer mummify in order to protect the bodies of those who have passed. Embalming is de rigueur (which seems a fitting term to use since it is reminiscent of rigor mortis, something we encounter in the mortuary field.) Continue reading What Happens After You’re Buried?