October – Let the Creepiness Begin with Embalming

Even though October has only just begun, scary movies are popping up in earnest on streaming services and in theaters. So, to keep up, we want to share some creepy stuff about our own industry. We are funeral directors, after all. This week, we will start by covering something a bit arcane, embalming.

As you can imagine, embalming is unpleasant. We know this firsthand since we perform the service for our clients (but only when they are dead). If you’ve ever wondered what’s involved, continue reading. For the squeamish, you might want to pass this particular post and check back next week. But since it’s October, we can’t promise that topic will be more user friendly.

1. The first step in the embalming process is preparatory. Embalmers:

• Wash the body in a disinfectant solution.
• Massage the limbs and manipulate them, as needed, to relieve rigor mortis, which is stiffening of the joints and muscles.
• Massages cream on the face and hands to keep the skin soft and pliable.
• Use cotton in the nose and a form in the mouth, with cotton or gauze in the throat to absorb fluids.
• Unless the person wore facial hair, we shave it off (we are equal opportunity, so women included).
• Close the eyes, often using skin glue and/or plastic flesh-colored oval-shaped “eye caps” that sit on the eye so as to secure the eyelid.
• Close the mouth and secure the lower jaw with thread.
• Finally, we tie the two ends of suture string together.
• Once we secure the jaw, we can mold the mouth (to give it a natural impression).

2. The next step is surgical. The Embalmer:

Removes bodily fluids and replaces them with a formaldehyde-based chemical solution. (Yeah, that’s the stuff lab frogs marinate in before high school students dissect them. Pretty stinky stuff.) We use an eco-friendly process that replaces this archaic chemical. These chemicals are a safe, effective, non-toxic, non-hazardous alternative to traditional toxic/formaldehyde embalming chemicals. What’s more, the Green Burial Council certifies them. When we say bodily fluids, we are talking about blood. We drain their blood. But we aren’t vampires, so we properly dispose of it, following biohazard guidelines.

3. The third step is cosmetic. Embalmers:

• Prepare the body for viewing by giving the body a post mortem makeover. (Not really. This just means we style the hair, apply makeup, and set facial features to make sure the expression doesn’t raise eyebrows.)
• Cover incisions and holes made in the body with trocar “buttons.”
• Wash and dry the body again.
• Manicure nails.
• Mold missing facial features using wax.
• Dress the body and place it in the casket.

How effective is embalming?

Now that we know how gross embalming is, let’s examine its effects. Instead of preserving the human body forever, embalming merely delays the inevitable, natural consequences of death. The rate of decomposition varies, based on the strength of the chemicals and methods used, as well as the humidity and temperature of the final resting place.

Ambient temperature plays a major role in the decomposition process. It is more relevant even than the amount of time that has elapsed since death, regardless of whether the body was embalmed. In a sealed casket, in an above-ground entombment in a warm climate, a body tends to rapidly decompose.

About Foothill Funeral & Cremation

Although we jest, we take death very seriously. We know your loved one was very important to you. And we value the opportunity to celebrate his or her life or help you pre-plan a service for yourself. Feel free to contact us now to pre-plan your own memorial or at your time of need (626) 335-0615. Or, if you prefer, reach us by email or drop by our Glendora showroom. Our relationship with United Methodist Church is the perfect place for mourners to host funerals and memorials. You’ll love the grandiose yet intimate setting.

We proudly serve the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire. Finally, working in the mortuary industry since 1996, our reputation is one of quality, sincerity and trust. Please allow us to help you at your time of need or in the future. Call today (626) 335-0615 or contact us via email.