Morticians manage the delicate transition between death and final disposition, but their professional distance often shrouds their work in mystery. Preparation of the deceased is a complex, physical process requiring specialized skills, far removed from the somber public image of a funeral attendant. This discretion creates a gap between public perception and the practical, physical, and psychological truths of the profession. Understanding the reality requires looking beyond the viewing room to grasp the technical demands, logistical challenges, and emotional cost of this career.
The Reality of the Deceased Body
When a body arrives at the mortuary, it has often undergone several post-mortem physical changes, unlike the peaceful state depicted in media. Within hours of death, muscles begin to stiffen in rigor mortis, starting in the face and neck before spreading. Morticians must physically manipulate and massage the limbs to relieve this stiffness, allowing the body to be positioned for preparation and casket placement.
Gravity affects the body as soon as circulation stops, causing blood to settle in the lowest parts, creating a purplish-red discoloration called livor mortis. This pooling is visible on the skin and can become fixed if not addressed, requiring the mortician to manage the body’s position to prevent discoloration in visible areas. Loss of muscle control can also lead to the natural release of bodily fluids and gas, necessitating immediate and thorough disinfection and sanitation procedures.
The Unsanitized Truth About Embalming
Embalming is a highly invasive procedure designed to temporarily preserve the body and restore a life-like appearance for viewing. This surgical intervention uses the vascular system to replace blood with a chemical solution. A major artery, such as the carotid or femoral, is incised to inject embalming fluid, typically containing formaldehyde, while blood is simultaneously drained from a nearby vein.
After vascular preservation, cavity embalming treats the internal organs. This involves making a small incision near the navel and inserting a trocar into the torso. The mortician uses this sharp instrument to puncture and drain gases and fluids from the chest and abdominal cavities before injecting a stronger, concentrated cavity fluid. To set the facial features, eye caps are inserted beneath the eyelids for a natural contour, and the jaw is secured, often using wire or sutures, to hold the mouth closed.
The Limits of Restoration and Cosmetics
The ability to restore a body to a recognizable state is limited by the condition of the remains upon arrival. While morticians possess extensive reconstructive skills, these techniques are challenged by severe trauma, advanced decomposition, or prolonged illness. In cases of massive facial trauma or significant tissue loss, the best outcome may only be a partial restoration, relying on extensive wax modeling, suturing, and deep cosmetic application.
The goal of restoration is to create a “memory picture” comforting to the family, but this is not always possible. When remains are badly decomposed or heavily damaged, morticians may recommend a private viewing or a closed casket to prevent further distress. Even with an open casket, the cosmetic work masks the signs of death and the embalming process, involving specialized mortuary cosmetics that differ significantly from standard makeup.
The Unexpected Tasks and Discoveries
A significant part of the mortician’s work involves non-routine tasks extending beyond body preparation. One immediate logistical hurdle is the mandatory removal of implanted medical devices before cremation. Devices like pacemakers contain batteries or pressurized components that can explode when subjected to high heat, posing a serious risk.
The removal of these devices is a minor surgical procedure performed by the mortician, who must ensure the incision is closed and documented. Morticians also act as custodians of the deceased’s personal effects, often finding unexpected items in clothing pockets, ranging from large sums of cash to illegal substances. These items are meticulously inventoried, secured, and returned to the next of kin.
The Emotional and Psychological Toll of the Work
Working with death and intense grief daily places a unique emotional burden on morticians. To function effectively and maintain professionalism, many develop emotional detachment, viewing the deceased as a subject of work rather than a person. This coping mechanism prevents burnout, but constant exposure to sorrow can lead to compassion fatigue, where the professional loses the ability to empathize with the bereaved.
Among colleagues, dark or gallows humor often serves as a pressure valve to process constant exposure to tragedy, especially cases involving children or violent death. While morticians strive to be a steady presence for grieving families, the psychological strain of witnessing profound loss and maintaining an outwardly calm demeanor is taxing. The job requires a constant balancing act between professional stoicism and the personal reality of dealing with human mortality.
Common Misconceptions They Don’t Correct
Morticians often allow misconceptions to persist, primarily to simplify conversations and avoid complicating arrangements for grieving families. A widespread belief is that embalming is a legal requirement for all deaths, but it is rarely mandated by law. It is typically performed only when a public viewing is desired or if the body is being transported across state lines; refrigeration is a readily available alternative for temporary preservation.
Another common myth is that a high-end, sealed casket or burial vault will permanently preserve the body. No casket is airtight indefinitely, and embalming preservation is temporary, lasting only days or weeks. Sealing a container can accelerate decomposition by trapping moisture and gases, a detail morticians seldom correct to maintain the perceived value of these items.