Embalming is one of the most important elements at funeral homes Evanston, IL. It involves attempted preservation and disinfection of a lost loved one, chosen by families if they wish to arrange funeral service before burial or cremation.

It comes as no surprise that many families have a lot of unanswered queries about embalming. In this article, we will try to answer some common questions of people about embalming.

Let’s dive in.

1. Does a body have to be embalmed?

Embalming is not mandated by law in most states, but most funeral homes usually insist upon embalming if the family decides to hold a public viewing or open-casket funeral.

That is, the funeral home requests the bereaved family to embalm the body to make sure the guests can offer their tribute in a safe and healthy environment.

2. Are organs removed during embalming?

Contrary to what people believe, the organs are not removed during embalming. The mortician leaves the organs in the body cavity. The organs are also embalmed during the cavity embalming process.

Note that the embalmer replaces the blood with embalming fluid. The blood is flushed down the drain along with other waste.

3. How long does embalming last?

Embalming is a way to slow down the natural decomposition of the body; it does not stop decomposition. Generally, an embalmed body placed in a casket can last for many years.

How quickly the body will decompose after embalming also depends on the strength of the embalming chemicals used. But even then, decomposition start after a week or so. So, if you plan on having an open-casket funeral, then you should not leave the embalmed body out for more than a week.

The process of embalming takes roughly two hours. But it can go a lot longer if the death occurred due to a violent accident or the body was subject to an autopsy.

4. Why does the funeral home recommend embalming?

Aside from slowing down the decomposition process, embalming also helps to make the deceased look as better as possible. Thus, it is a way to show proper respect to the body as well as help the family and friends to have closure once they offer respect in the Viewing service.

5. What happens if a body is not embalmed?

It will decompose at a natural pace. The decomposition rate will depend on the cause of death, the weight of the deceased, and environmental factors.

In terms of the funeral industry, if the body is not embalmed, the family needs to hold a service and bury or cremate it very soon after death.

6. Do embalmed bodies look different?

The answer is yes. Embalmed bodies look different than living people as the blood is replaced with embalming chemicals. The patrician tries his or her best to make the body look as natural as possible, but still, some results may be better or worse than others.

But there are cases when the embalmed body is better than when they died. This happens when the person has died after a long illness or due to a violent accident; embalming can fill them out and give them color. Learn more at funeral homes Evanston, IL. Were here to help.