Preparing the body of someone who has passed away is one of the most important steps of a respectful and honourable send-off. The ideal end result is for your loved one to be presented in the most natural way to how you remember them.
From the moment anyone passes away, the process of decomposition will begin. Hospital staff, nursing home staff, carers and even family members can aid in the long-term presentation of the deceased by ensuring the head is kept in an upright position (not leaning to one side) and by contacting us as early as possible so that we can uplift the body and bring them into our care and begin the embalming process if required.
Here at Heaven Funerals, your loved one will be kept in a safe, homely and peaceful space.
Body preparation also includes hygienic cleaning, dressing, hair and makeup.
We’re available 24 hours a day, to bring your loved one into care.
We understand your need to let you grieve the way you see fit.
Affordable funeral plan options and finance options available
Embalming is a process involving medical procedures where the body is preserved and the natural decay process is slowed. This process usually takes between three and six hours but is necessary when an open casket home viewing is planned as part of the funeral. Many cultural rituals require the deceased to lay in state, unrefrigerated with the family for a few days prior to the final funeral service. This is only made possible through embalming.
Embalming is also required by law when international repatriations (flying a loved one to their homeland) take place.
We are qualified embalmers and take care of the entire process from start to finish. This gives families confidence that their loved one is being taken care of with respect and dignity by trained professionals.
The three key objectives of embalming are to:
Feature setting is the process of sanitising the body and setting the facial features to ensure that your loved one is presented in the best possible way. This may include grooming, hair and makeup options.It does not include embalming but does require refrigeration and only allows for short-term viewings just prior to the funeral service.
In some circumstances, the family may request that the coffin/casket remain closed, meaning there may not be a viewing at all.
In other instances, the body not being found for some time, may require the coffin to be hermetically sealed.