August 2000
The Director - Features
The Value of Embalming
No other aspect of funeral service has a greater impact than embalming
Embalming is one of the most important aspects of funeral service. It allows grieving families the opportunity to view their deceased loved one, which can have a profound, positive impact on their adjustment to the death. It is the reason these families make comments such as, "I am so relieved, she looks so good," or "Mother was so sick, but now she looks so at peace." Of all the aspects of the funeral service profession, however, embalming is often given the least attention.
The Value of Embalming focuses on the importance of embalming and looks at how it can help bereaved individuals. It includes comments taken from non-funeral service professionals who have written books on death and grieving and reveals the complaints most often heard from embalmers.
Ralph L. Klicker, Ph.D., wrote the article. He is president of Thanos Institute and author of Funeral Directing & Funeral Service Management, Ethics in Funeral Service, Sudden Unexpected Death and the Funeral Director, and A Student Dies, A School Mourns.
