Grief can cause a mixture of emotions in us. We may be sad, angry, confused, and more. One of the hardest things for many people to do during the grieving process is to let go—sometimes literally. When it is time to allow a funeral home or crematorium to take over the care of your loved one’s body, it can be difficult to accept.
One way to help with this is for you and your family to understand what will happen to your loved one’s body once it is in the care of a funeral home near Hayward, CA. While this process may vary from location to location and depending on the services you choose, here are the basics of what to expect:
Preparation for Viewings or Visitation
If you plan to have a viewing, visitation, or wake, your loved one’s body will be prepared right away for this. Just as with standard burial, this will begin with gently bathing and cleansing the body. From there, the embalming process will begin. This allows the body to be kept as close to its normal appearance as possible.
If the funeral and other services will be several days or longer from the time of death, the funeral home will store the body in a refrigerated compartment to protect it until the time of the service.
Exceptions and additions
There are other things that may happen to your loved one’s body, depending on how they died and the laws and regulations in your area. A coroner may perform an autopsy before preparing the body for burial.
If you have chosen to have your loved one’s body cremated, there will be different preparations for their body. They will still be cleaned and dressed, but from there, their bodies will be taken to a crematorium and cremated. Often, this means that no embalming is necessary.
Regardless of which route you choose for your loved one, rest assured that their body will be treated with care and respect. Your local funeral home is well-versed in what they do and will be happy to answer any questions your family may have. To learn more contact Holy Sepulchre Cemetery & Funeral Center today.
