This is probably the most thought about the question in regards to funerals. What happens when a person has died? and where is their body taken?

The Funeral industry is one of or if not the most unique industry for many reasons. It deals with death in the legal, physical, cultural, religious sense. It deals with an event when the people attending are usually at their weakest and most of the time totally unaware of what has happened is happening and will happen in regard to what they have just ‘purchased’.

First and foremost

So if a person dies in a hospital a private home or another facility the body is taken away, where are they taking it? what will they do with them? who will be with them?

It firstly depends on how the person died. For a funeral to occur in Australia a death certificate must be completed and submitted to the deaths and births registry.

This certificate must be completed by a registered medical professional who has the authority to declare the cause of death. They will need to examine and detail the cause, time, and the location of death. If there is a concern to any of the details that must be included in a death certificate then the deceased person will be taken to the Coroner.

Where does an undertaker or funeral home take the body?

If there is no for the coroner to be involved the body is taken to a mortuary. A Mortuary is a place where a deceased person can safely be stored. This area is similar to a large cool room. Most funeral homes have their own mortuary. A deceased person must be placed in this cool room to prevent deterioration of the body so that a funeral can be carried out. It is a legal requirement for deceased people to be preserved in order to comply with health regulations.

Are all bodies embalmed?

No. If the deceased person has opted to be embalmed then a mortician will prepare the body to be embalmed. If this has not been requested then a deceased person will not be embalmed. Certain religions follow a tradition where a deceased person should not be embalmed.

Preparing the body for a funeral

Once the funeral is ready to occur the deceased person will be dressed and placed in the chosen coffin or casket and taken to the funeral location. Certain religions require family and other members to prepare the body of the deceased. Tradition may also require the deceased to be dressed a certain way. The preparation of the body is therefore largely influenced by religion and culture.