What Happens to the Body After Death?

After someone dies, there is usually a process to confirm the death and issue a death certificate.  From there, a funeral home will provide services to prepare the body and assist with funeral services, with possible assistance from family members or religious leaders.

From a physical standpoint, death is confirmed when it is demonstrated that the heart has stopped beating and the brainstem is inactive. A doctor certifies death and issues a death certificate. He or she checks the individual’s pulse, heartbeat, and breathing, and tries to provoke a response from the individual to ensure that he or she is dead before writing the death certificate. 

If necessary, a postmortem examination is conducted, though these exams are usually reserved for cases in which the death involved drugs, alcohol, or some type of violence (intentional or accidental). 

If the person was an organ donor, the organs can be tested and possibly used in a recipient. The hospital maintains the deceased’s blood flow through mechanical assistance to keep individual organs functional until they can be donated to the recipient.

Funeral Preparation

After the death is certified, the funerary staff begins their work. They get the body from home or the hospital where the individual died. The body is refrigerated to prevent deterioration, and funeral preparations get underway. 

Depending on a person’s religious beliefs, members of the family or particular religious community prepare the body for burial, possibly including administration of last rites or, in some groups, a ceremonial washing. 

With the family’s permission, the body is embalmed. The family generally provides a favorite outfit or set of ceremonial clothes for the deceased to wear for the funeral. The funeral staff also does the deceased person’s hair and makeup in preparation for the funeral.  

Embalming

Most bodies are embalmed, meaning that the body is preserved with formaldehyde. The embalmers are careful to treat bodies respectfully, and they ensure that each body is presentable for the funeral.

They are also often the ones who style the deceased’s hair, apply makeup, and make the deceased look peaceful and natural. It is the embalmers desire to provide a low-stress, low-trauma moment for the loved ones of the deceased. 

Funeral Arrangements

The family or loved ones of the deceased make funeral arrangements, which can vary widely based on the deceased’s culture or religious background. Some people opt for a funeral in a house of worship, others hold funerals at a funeral parlor. 

Sometimes, the body is buried or cremated quickly and the family and friends of the deceased hold a memorial service. It is sometimes the wish of the deceased to have his or her ashes sprinkled at sea or a place that was special to him or her.  (You need to check the regulations of the particular area before attempting to sprinkle ashes.)  In the case of a cemetery burial, the funeral home transports the body to the grave site. The deceased’s loved ones can choose whether to attend a grave-side service. The coffin can be buried in the ground in a funeral plot or in a vault. It is helpful for the deceased to have left instructions so loved ones can fulfill his or her wishes regarding end of life issues like these.