Embalming Requires Several Steps and We Have them Listed Here

Funeral homes in Boones Mill, VA, are an excellent choice if you are looking to create memorable services. They can help you with multiple aspects of the experience, and if you plan on having a memorial service with an open casket, you may need to include embalming. This is an essential part of the process, so we have gathered the steps required to help you understand the experience. 

Why do People Choose Embalming? 

Embalming is an essential part of the process, especially if an individual is viewing the deceased's body at the memorial service. The process will help preserve their remains for an extended period to ensure that the appropriate services are completed and stay in a viewable state. For some people, physically viewing the individual after they have passed can help give them a sense of closure and start working through the grief process, so it can be an incredibly positive experience. 

What are The Steps for the Process? 

Once the individual arrives at the funeral home, their body will be washed and disinfected as one part of the preparation for the embalming. If rigor mortis has set in, the individual's remains will be massaged, and joints will be moved to help make the individual more flexible. Any facial hair will be removed, including women and children, unless the individual had a beard or mustache, which will stay in place. 

The eyes will be closed and secured with eye caps, or special skin glue will be used, and the mouth and lower jaw will be secured together either with wires or by sewing them. The body will then be taken for the embalming process, and the first stage is called arterial. Any blood remaining in the body is removed, and the embalming solution, a combination of methanol, ethanol, formaldehyde, fennel, glutaraldehyde, and water, is put in its place. 

The next step is cavity embalming, which will be done with a small incision near the belly button. The organs are punctured, drained of any gas or fluid, and replaced with the same formaldehyde mixture. 

Once this is completed, the body is fully embalmed, and it will need to be washed and disinfected again. The cosmetologist will then apply makeup, do their hair, and dress them in any clothing provided by the family. The body will then be placed into the casket used for the memorial and burial service. 

Services Based on Experience and Knowledge 

Seeing a loved one after they have passed away can help with accepting the loss and begin the grief process. The details of the services at one of the funeral homes in Boones Mill, VA, can help create a sense of closure and be an honorable way to lay an individual to rest. Having a company on your side that can help create a meaningful event is essential, and we are here for you. We are a locally owned company that understands the pain of loss, so contact us today for more information.