Embalming is sometimes a necessary process that funeral homes in Salix, PA offer, but it is not a forced procedure. It is something that families can choose to do or to skip. You might think that it is something that absolutely has to be done, but that is not the case. You get to decide on what procedures you have done for your loved one. It can help to know what embalming is and when the best times to use it are so you can make those decisions.
If you want to have a visitation for your loved one, or you wish to have an open casket at their funeral service, then embalming is something you will need to do. Open caskets and viewings can help people get closure and say a final goodbye so it’s something you will want to think about and consider when you make arrangements.
The problem with embalming is that it makes the overall costs you are paying more, and it might not be something you can afford. If you have a limited budget, you can take another option, such as skipping the embalming and visitation and just having a funeral with a closed casket.
You will also want to know that the chemicals involved with embalming are not the best thing for the environment. If you bury your loved one, eventually, things around them will break down and the chemicals will seep into the ground. You will want to keep that in mind if your loved one was eco-conscious, and you want to be friendly to the environment on their behalf.
The best way to decide is to think about what your loved one would want and to talk to the people in the funeral home and see what they recommend. Embalming is only an essential if you are having a visitation and open casket. Otherwise, you can choose to skip it, save money, and spend in other areas.
Embalming is never done in cases of direct cremation. Your loved one goes right into cremation after the paperwork is in order and there’s no need for other services. With a full cremation, however, it can still be in question, just like with a regular funeral. Your loved one would have the funeral first, complete with a visitation, if you want. Then, the cremation happens later. That might make embalming necessary for the visitation and funeral portion of the services. But you won’t have to buy a burial plot or headstone so perhaps you will be more able to afford it.
When you are talking to funeral homes in Salix, PA about the various options, it’s important to talk about all of the services you are considering so you can get the full details, including embalming. This process isn’t always necessary, and you have the power to go for it, or avoid it. The professionals at Simple Alternatives Funeral Home & Crematory are here to help you with the process from start to finish and we will help you understand embalming.