Embalming is a term used to describe the care and preparation of deceased people in the care of a Funeral Home. The function of embalming includes disinfection and preservation of the body and restoration of a natural appearance to the deceased.
Embalming is a necessary procedure if the Funeral is to be delayed for any reason or if the deceased is to be transferred to another city or repatriated to another country.
While some aspects of embalming care are optional, our experienced Funeral Directors will aid you in making the right choice for your circumstances.
Embalming, carried out to ensure hygiene and preservation and a natural appearance for the body generally involves aldehyde based chemicals which have antiseptic, disinfectant and preservation properties as well as gentle humectants and moisturisers.
When cremated aldehydes in a body are completely destroyed.
In the case of burial, small residual amounts of aldehydes break down in the soil to carbon, hydrogen and water in a natural return to the elements.
Modern embalming chemicals are able to be used in very low concentrations and are not harsh on the environment.
This process uses the same careful, clinical procedures as Full Care Embalming but with very low concentrations of aldehyde based chemicals.
The development of embalming materials entirely based in plant extracts enables us to provide a truly Eco-Careful process in which we can give reasonable assurances to families about the duration of preservation and sanitation.
Eco Care products are safe and pleasant to work with but require some experience and skill to be effective. Duration of preservation is in the medium term in most cases and can be appropriate for a 3-6 day funeral duration.
In this process no aldehyde based chemicals are used at all. The deceased receives a complete outer cleansing using natural products.
The body’s circulatory system is flushed with cleansing fluids which are non-preserving. These include humectants and arterial conditioners, which aid the flushing of toxins and residue of recent drug therapy as well as pH restorers. This will help ease rigor mortis and make the deceased easier to dress and present.
This process has a very limited effect in most cases on the ability to prevent change during the death to funeral period but may aid the viewing process in many natural death cases for a short time. (1-2 days)
No-embalming does not mean no-care. The standard of care for deceased persons in our charge is high.
Unless specifically requested not to, all bodies in our care are washed and cleansed, their eyes closed and features posed in a natural appearance. Hair is cleaned and groomed. Cuts, abrasions and likely sources of contamination are dried and covered appropriately. Dressing in the deceased’s own clothes can then take place.
It will be necessary to use protective garments on some cases where moisture or exudate is an issue. In No-embalming cases low temperature storage or early burial or cremation is required to prevent the natural process of decomposition from advancing rapidly.
Where a family chooses this option it is sometimes necessary to contain and seal the body to allow for a safe and pleasant environment for all working in the funeral home or visitors attending the funeral.
