Most people assume that mortuaries are more bare-bones operations than funeral homes. They focus on mortuary science and offer a few basic services like on-site cremation without chapels or viewing rooms.
While movies and television often portray morgues as cold, unwelcoming places, this is not always the case. There are many mortuaries that also have friendly staff and a comforting atmosphere.
Body Storage
Despite their importance to the living, bodies are delicate and sensitive. They require a special type of care to preserve them for long periods of time, allowing families enough time to make funeral arrangements. This is what a mortuary cold room does.
Depending on the circumstances, a temporary morgue may also be used in an emergency or during a disaster to evaluate and track personal belongings that have been recovered. It is common for bodies to release fluids while in storage, so the mortuary should have mechanisms to contain these leaks and prevent distressing situations for bereaved families.
The way a society handles its dead reveals a great deal about attitudes toward the self and others, social organization, beliefs, cultures, religions, economic systems, and technology. In archaeology, mortuary rites are an important starting point in the reconstruction of past societies. Mortuary archaeology has emphasized the role of social factors in mortuary behaviours, while more anthropological approaches have also recognised other kinds of determinants, such as philosophical-religious beliefs and environmental factors.
Embalming
Embalming is an important mortuary practice because it slows the decomposition of the body and disinfects it. It also allows family members to view the body before the funeral service and say their last farewells.
During embalming, the mortician removes blood from the body and replaces it with embalming fluid (formaldehyde-based chemicals) through the arteries. He also aspirates the abdominal and thoracic cavities, using a tube connected to a pump and a needle called a trocar.
Choosing to be embalmed is an individual choice. Some people want to be embalmed in order to be able to have an open viewing and a chance to say their last goodbyes, while others prefer to be buried without embalming. Whatever your decision, it is important to discuss it with your family and friends so that everyone is on the same page. This will ensure that your wishes are carried out and that any concerns you may have can be addressed.
Cremation
Mortuary practices may include cremation, a traditional alternative to burial. The practice is generally accepted by most Christian religions, but some groups, such as the Orthodox Jewish community, are opposed to it.
During the cremation process, the body is heated in a cremation chamber to between 1400 and 1600 degrees Fahrenheit. The cremated remains are then swept from the chamber and put into an urn, or a temporary container if family has not selected one yet. Identification is checked against the paperwork and stainless disc once again, then the urn is sealed.
Mortuary practices are a reflection of social phenomena. Studies of them can provide clues to the structure and organization of early societies, but interpreting them requires linking them with models developed from ethnology. The field of mortuary archaeology, or “archaeothanatology,” attempts to do just that. It utilizes methods drawn from both anthropology and forensic science.
Funeral Services
Mortuary practices are an important source of archaeological evidence about the beliefs and behaviors of past peoples. For instance, burial patterns can reveal vertical and horizontal social positions and the types of relationships that existed between people in a community.
Funeral services are a way for families to pay their respects to the deceased. They may also be a time for family members to reconcile with one another. Funeral homes often offer support for grieving families through counseling and assistance with funeral arrangements.
Many funeral homes provide educational events in the community to help people plan ahead for their end-of-life care. These events can cover a range of topics, including advance health care directives, writing wills, senior safety tips, and planning for funeral wishes. In addition, funeral homes are required to provide customers with written contracts detailing their services, merchandise, and costs. This transparency helps families avoid unexpected expenses. This is an important aspect of funeral home ethics.