A mortuary is a facility where bodies are stored. It’s often found in hospitals and medical centers. They can also be located at retirement homes and hospice care facilities.
A standalone mortuary typically focuses on autopsy and embalming services. They can’t help you plan a funeral service or arrange on-site burial or cremation.
It’s a place where bodies are stored
Mortuaries are refrigerated compartments where bodies are stored temporarily until they can be retrieved by the funeral home. They are typically located within hospitals, care centres and hospices. However, some private mortuaries are also available. These are usually managed by the funeral homes.
Most people have seen a depiction of a morgue in a movie or television show. They usually feature a large room with numerous storage drawer-like compartments. In real life, these rooms are much smaller and usually located in the basement or lowest floor of a hospital.
In addition to storing the body, a mortuary must also dispose of any sharps that are found on the body. This includes scalpels, scissors and lancets. These should be placed in a separate biohazard waste container for disposal. The mortician will then prepare the body for burial or cremation. The process may include a quick viewing or direct cremation. In some cases, the funeral home will take over from the mortuary and offer memorial services.
It’s a place for funeral services
Mortuaries offer some of the same services as funeral homes, but they focus on a more clinical environment. They are often located in hospitals, medical examiners’ offices or forensic facilities. Some also have a crematorium on-site to offer direct cremation.
A funeral service is a special occasion for the family and friends of the deceased. It can be a religious or secular event and can include music, readings, a eulogy, and a procession to the grave. It can take place at a church, a funeral home, or a private residence.
A funeral director can help families prepare for a memorial service by providing grief counseling, arranging transportation to and from the cemetery, and helping with paperwork such as a death certificate, obituary, and memorial preparation. They can even hold educational events for the community to teach people how to plan ahead for their funeral wishes. This is a valuable service to the community and a great way to spread awareness about end-of-life planning.
It’s a place for embalming
Embalming is the process of preparing a body for viewing. A skilled embalmer can restore a dead person’s appearance to make them look natural and healthy. They can also cover up wounds and bruises. Many people choose to have their loved ones embalmed because it can be a healing and consoling experience.
The first step in embalming is to disinfect the body. This is important for the health of funeral directors and others who will handle the body. In the past, deaths from typhoid fever and malaria put those who handled the bodies at high risk of infection.
The next step is to break the rigor mortis. The embalmer massages the main muscle groups and rotates stiff joints to release tension. They also massage the eyes to round them out and make them look more alive. They also use a special tool to drain the body and remove fecal matter from the body cavities. After this, the body is washed.
It’s a place for viewing
A mortuary is a place where bodies are kept for identification and investigation. These bodies are stored in refrigerated units to slow the decomposition process. They are also a way for loved ones to pay their final respects to the deceased. Viewings are usually held before a funeral or cremation.
Historically, viewings were done at home, but with the advent of embalming and funeral parlors, many families have moved to this more formal setting. These facilities also allow the use of rituals and prayers to honor the departed.
A mortuary is different from a funeral home, but both are important to the death care industry. A mortuary provides cooling and storage services for bodies, while a funeral home offers additional services such as a burial or cremation service. They also provide a more personalized experience for their clients. This includes private viewings for immediate family members. They also offer a more cost-effective option for direct cremation.