Mortuary services are typically more direct than those offered by funeral homes. They often offer a quick viewing of the body reserved only for immediate family members and on-site cremation.
Most people have seen a depiction of a morgue in a movie or on TV. In actuality, however, a morgue serves a very specific purpose.
Preparation of the Body
All bodies are going to decompose after death regardless of whether they’re embalmed or not, but it’s a good idea to use a body preservative like dry ice, Techni-ice, cooling blankets, refrigeration or air conditioning to delay that process. It’s also a good idea to make sure the eyes and mouth are sewn shut so that they don’t open during transport or when the funeral is being held.
Many families choose not to have their loved ones embalmed because they want to avoid invasive, toxic procedures or are uncomfortable with the idea of unnaturally looking at their bodies after death. Instead, they often choose to dress the body or have a shroud put on in accordance with cultural or religious practices and to lay it out for burial.
Some mortuaries have a crematorium on-site and perform cremations in addition to serving as storage facilities for the body. Because of this, some people think of a mortuary as being synonymous with a funeral home but the truth is that morgues and funeral homes serve different functions.
Disposal of the Body
Many cultures have rituals for disposing of the body after death. These usually involve burial or cremation. Those choosing cremation often choose an urn for the remains or a scattering of ashes in nature. Burial is a popular choice that involves the purchase of a casket; cemetery fees for opening and closing the grave; and maintenance and upkeep.
Some mortuaries offer “green” burials. This is a more natural way of disposal that avoids the need for embalming fluid or an urn. Instead, the body is buried in a simple wood or wicker casket or even in a shroud.
Some mortuaries also provide alkaline hydrolysis for cremated bodies or donated bodies. This process dissolves the body in an alkaline solution and reduces it to liquid and bone ash. This alternative to burial is popular in some states and is commonly used for people who donate their bodies to science. During this process, mortuary employees need to use PPE as described by OSHA regulations.
Transportation of the Body
After a loved one’s death, arrangements must be made for transporting the body to its final destination. A funeral home will be able to help make these arrangements, as they are familiar with state laws and regulations regarding body transportation. Generally, transportation will be by ground or air, depending on the distance of travel. If the deceased is being shipped to another country, additional laws will apply.
Typically, transportation of the deceased will require an airtight container and hermetically sealed casket for protection during transport. Most airlines have special shipping containers and procedures for carrying human remains. Often, families will be able to accompany the body on the flight as cargo, though this may depend on availability of seats. For example, American Airlines offers their Jim Wilson Service to support funeral homes with a dedicated help desk and considerate rates for bereavement travel. Delta Cargo also provides a bereavement rate and hermetically sealed casket options.
Final Disposition of the Body
A variety of options are available for disposing of a body after burial. The decision is typically based on the preferences of the deceased and specified in legal documents such as authorizations for final disposition.
The manner in which cultures dispose of their dead has varied throughout history. Nevertheless, the concept of dignity has been central. This has been reflected in various funeral practices including embalming; reserving a place for burial at the time of death; and ensuring that all parts of the body are buried together.
Mortuary services also include cremation, although not all mortuaries operate a crematorium. The most common cremation process is flame cremation. Other options for body disposal are alkaline hydrolysis, which uses pressure, heat and lye to reduce the remains to a liquid and ash; and natural burial. Some funeral homes have begun to offer these alternative methods of final disposition as more and more people express a preference for greener, less expensive alternatives to traditional burial.