Articles and Advice

Is Embalming Required for Cremation?

If you plan to cremate your dearly departed, you do not need to embalm their body. Refrigeration can have the same effect as embalming, and most reputable crematories and funeral establishments have an available refrigerator on site.

What Is Embalming?

Embalming is a process of preserving a dead body. After death, the body’s cells quickly start to break down and decay.

The practice of embalming has been around since Ancient Egypt, which was then called “mummification.” However, it’s been practiced in its modern form since the early 20th century, after the process was tested and perfected.

What Is the Embalming Process?

There are two phases to the embalming process: surgical embalming and cosmetic preparation.

Surgical Embalming

In a four-step process, bodily fluids are removed and replaced with chemical solutions.

1. 
   The body is prepared. It is washed with disinfectant, and the limbs are massaged to combat rigor mortis.
2. The facial features are set. Your loved one’s eyes will be covered with caps to help keep the eyelids in place, and the lower jaw is secured with wires or sewing thread. This will not be visible during any funeral.
3. The blood is removed from the body through the veins. It is then replaced with a formaldehyde-based chemical through the arteries.
4. Organs in the chest cavity and abdomen are drained of fluids and gases. Formaldehyde-based chemicals are then injected into the organs.

Cosmetic Preparation

This part of the process doesn’t help to preserve the body. Instead, it helps to make your loved one appear as they did in life, which is often preferred for open-casket ceremonies.

1. 
   Makeup is applied to the deceased. This is mostly to mask skin discoloration that naturally occurs after death. 
2. The deceased’s hair will be washed and set depending on the family’s preference.
3. Finally, your loved one will be dressed in clothing that the family provides.

Why Do People Get Embalmed?

Embalming is most often used for families who wish to have an open-casket funeral. Open-casket funerals are known to help certain people through the grieving process. It’s a way to get one last visit with the dearly departed and say their final goodbyes.

Aside from the emotional aspect, embalming is also done for sanitation reasons. Embalming, or refrigeration, can slow the decomposition process. Otherwise, it is very unsanitary to keep the deceased at room temperature without being embalmed.

When Is Embalming Required?

California law dictates that a body must be embalmed or refrigerated if it is not buried or cremated within 24 hours of the death. Families who conduct home funerals are exempt from this rule.

Families who wish to have a public viewing or visitation with the deceased must first embalm the body. If the body needs to be shipped on an airplane, it must be embalmed. If that is not possible, then the body must be sealed in an approved container.

Do Any Religions Forbid Embalming?

Bahá’í, Muslim, and orthodox Jewish faiths believe embalming to be a desecration of the body. Meanwhile, Hindus and Buddhists more often use cremation, but do not have rules against embalming.

Most Christian denominations neither encourage nor discourage embalming.

Can An Embalmed Body Still Be Cremated?

Embalmed bodies can still be cremated. So if you feel that embalming your loved one lets you spend a little more time with them, it’s not going to limit your options. 

Do You Need to Embalm for Direct Cremation?

If you’re planning on direct cremation, which is a pre-planned cremation that occurs immediately after your loved one passes on, then you do not need embalming. 

Direct cremation services generally happen quickly, so the deceased’s body won’t even start the decomposition process. But, as an extra precaution, most cremation services will have on-site refrigeration to ensure a sanitary environment for the workers.

Choose Whatever Is Best For You

How you want to celebrate the life of your loved one is completely your decision. Funeral homes and services are simply a means for you to plan that celebration.

All California Cremation offers direct cremation services, which is a simple and cost-effective way to respect your deceased and give them a dignified send-off from this life.

If you have any questions about cremation or would like to schedule a cremation for when a loved one passes, don’t hesitate to call All California Cremation. We’ll help you plan a hassle-free appointment so you’ll know your loved one is properly taken care of and respected.