There is a lot of the funeral process that takes place out of sight of the family. The family sees the final product of what has gone into making the funeral, but they don’t see the work behind the scenes. There is the cleansing of the body, the dressing, as well as the embalming of the body if the family chooses to have it done. This process, the embalming, is extremely important as it helps to keep the body of the deceased in good condition until the time of the funeral. Without it, the body will start to decay much quicker than anticipated. If you and your family are planning a funeral, and you have any questions regarding the embalming process, you can contact funeral homes in Goodlettsville, TN. They would love to help you with any questions that you may have.

What Is Embalming?

Embalming is the process of injecting chemicals into the body of a deceased person Tso that it will hold its form. Formaldehyde is the chemical that is most often used to embalm people. It is important to know that embalming should only ever be done by someone who has been trained and has a license to perform the procedure.

Is It Necessary?

Do I Need to Have It? No. You do not have to have yourself or a loved one embalmed. If you have a religious reason, personal preference against embalming, or you flat out don’t want it, then you do not have to have the body embalmed. There are a few instances where a family may be required to have their loved one embalmed.

What Are the Benefits of Embalming? 

Open Casket – Many people will want to have an open casket funeral for their loved one. This is the last time that you will be able to see them, and the same goes for friends and family members. Having the ability to have the casket open is important. And thanks to embalming it can be done. The chemicals will help to slow the process of decaying that may make your loved one’s body look unsightly to guests.

Transportation – There is a lot of moving around that a body does after death. It must be transported to the morgue, cleaned, dressed, and positioned at the funeral home. And then put into the hearse at the end. There is a lot that it must endure. And to keep anything from happening to the body during all of this, embalming is the answer. It can keep the body in good shape and make it a bit more durable.

Funeral Arrangements – Planning a funeral can be a lengthy process. And if you are lucky, then you will be able to have a funeral that is relatively soon after the death of your loved one. But this isn’t always the case for many families. Embalming a body can give a family a little more time when it comes to making the arrangements.

If you and your loved one are curious about all that comes with the process of embalming, you can contact funeral homes in Goodlettsville, TN. They would love to answer any questions that you may have and that's who we are.