Embalming has become a more approachable, even fascinating topic in Singapore. With local news and media outlets featuring the stories of embalmers, the image of low-spirited undertakers in dingy funeral homes has been shattered – giving way to fresh faced millennials who pay respects to traditions are beyond willing to get the job done. Embalmers all over the world practise their craft differently, seeing that different cultures and climates present varying types of bodies and circumstances. This article has been written in close collaboration with the all-female embalming team of Serenity Casket & Funerals  for an insightful read and who knows, maybe one day you’ll be lying on an embalming table, under their care. 

WARNING: Some text in this article is graphic – if you are uncomfortable with these portions, skip to “Embalming In Singapore”.

anatomy poster

A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF SCIENCE AND ART

What is embalming?

Embalming is the act of preserving a deceased body to temporarily prevent decomposition from taking place. This is carried out by injecting a chemical fluid into an artery (found near the neck) to be pumped throughout the body while blood is being drained out. It can restore a rosy, lifelike hue to the skin where visible heavy bruises or heavy discolouration had previously occurred. Apart from this procedure, the person’s features are set for a pleasant final look. It’s the embalmer’s job to disinfect, preserve and present dead bodies with dignity. 

The ideal end result of embalming would see a peaceful, healthy appearance to the deceased that family and friends will recognize and feel comforted by. 

Sarah Ang (Certified embalmer of Serenity Casket & Funerals) shares this tidbit of information, “Sometimes, we lightly massage the legs and arms to improve distribution of chemicals into the body. If we still have doubts on whether the chemicals are present in some areas, we will raise another artery accordingly. We always make sure to pay extra attention to this part because if it’s not done right, it defeats the purpose of embalming in the first place. Everyone deserves to be treated with an equal amount of respect.”  

Bodies are brought into the embalming room wrapped in white cloth, which is removed and kept aside to be washed. Clothing is removed from the person and they are given a shower while assessment of the condition is done. The area of work is sanitized thoroughly as well. 

With that being said, there are some religious laws that do not encourage embalming and have their own rites that are carried out during a funeral. Moreover, embalming is not done to erase the natural characteristics and features of a person but enhances them to present them in a comfortable, peaceful manner. Embalming does not mummify a body or completely prevent it from decomposing, which can happen even a week after being embalmed. When an embalmed body starts to decompose, it deteriorates at a much slower rate as compared to a body that has not been embalmed.  

 

Why do people need to be embalmed? 

Embalming ensures that bodies do not decompose before, while or during funeral events. The human skin starts to discolour within a few days. Embalming also removes potent odours, aims to plug any orifices from leaking and retains a uniform appearance over the course of the funeral. For many, seeing a family member or friend lying peacefully in a casket instead of a hospital bed is a great comfort. If a person dies in a violent manner, it makes for a highly distressing final memory for family and friends. Embalmers remove these unpleasant details from the appearance of the body, to present them in a composed, dignified fashion. Some families request to give the deceased a kiss or touch their hand one last time and embalming the body makes it safe to do so. When a body is donated to educational and research purposes, embalming is necessary for prolonged longevity of a body. For many, it boils down to having a sense of reassurance that a loved one who has died, is no longer in pain and is at total peace. 

With Singapore’s tropical climate, embalming is especially helpful in retaining the body’s appearance and deterring decomposition from taking place while the funeral is still ongoing in an outdoor location.

 

Facts About Embalming 

Not everyone needs to be embalmed. If you are headed to your burial or cremation within 24 hours of passing, you’ll be showered, dressed and kept at an embalming room or morgue while the necessary bookings are made. If funeral procedures take place more than 24 hours after a death, it is recommended to embalm the deceased so as to retain the body’s condition as much as possible, before decomposition kicks in. It is not required by law, and depends heavily on the condition of the body before the funeral and the duration of the funeral as well. Embalming can take anywhere from an hour onwards to complete, depending on the severity of the physical damage to the body as well as its weight. The volume of fluid used changes with the body weight of the decedent, explaining why proper attention, knowledge and technical skills are required to embalm. 

Biohazard bin

More on the process

The organs of a decedent are not removed by an embalmer. If there is no cause for investigation upon death, a body is embalmed with the organs intact. If the body was sent to a mortuary for post-mortem autopsy, the organs would have been inspected by a medical examiner, who will then stitch the body back up and send it to an embalmer. If the embalming has been done appropriately, only a thin layer of moisturising foundation is applied to the face so as to retain one’s natural beauty, unless the person had requested for a specific makeup look earlier on. The makeup application is meant to highlight natural features, not mask them. After all, this is the final stretch in someone’s time on Earth and embalmers look forward to fulfilling their wishes and providing them with a righteous send-off. 

 

EMBALMING IN SINGAPORE

In the local context, lawful requirements to enter the profession have remained largely overlooked and practically unheard of over the decades. Singapore does not have an embalming institute or school of its own, making it a loosely regulated practise to enter. The trade relies heavily on personal ethics and thorough communication within a company. There are no qualifications required to learn embalming, despite the mental and physical skills needed to carry out the job. Seeing that such loose regulations exist, embalmers in Singapore are determined to hold themselves to an impeccable quality of service and safety in their work. Aspiring embalmers have to first undergo an apprenticeship with professionals, never embalming without supervision until they are deemed ready to do so by a practising embalmer – which usually takes around a year or so. They are also required to attend and pass courses on safe and proper handling of bodies and hygiene upkeep throughout the procedure.

Whilst pursuing her certification in embalming in New Zealand in 2014, Sarah witnessed and worked through the honourable, highly regulated practises of embalmers overseas. Classes were kept small and highly involved while maintaining an upbeat environment, always stressing the importance of this line of work. Having attended theory classes and practical attachments at funeral homes, Sarah received a certification of embalming with the New Zealand Embalming Association (NZEA).  Known as one of the first certified female embalmers in Singapore, this experience ingrained in her the importance of taking pride in the craft, despite the ‘taboo’ nature of it back home.

death certificate

The regulations on embalming bodies who are hosts to infectious diseases and other illnesses vary for each country. In Singapore, bodies who are infected with the COVID-19 virus are not permitted to be embalmed. At the hospital, medical staff may perform funeral rites before sanitizing and double-bagging the body. Upon arrival, the funeral team gears up in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and transfers the body to a casket. The casket is sealed thoroughly before proceeding with burial or cremation. 

 

NUMB, BUT NOT IMMUNE 

While constantly treading the fine line between life and death, embalmers have to align their mental with their physical health to remain unaffected by personal worries and deliver their best work. Like many others, they operate with a certain degree of professionalism and serve others wholeheartedly through an irregular work-life schedule and work hours. With this in mind, embalmers are still human and empathetic. Though most of them do not come into direct contact with bereaved families, just hearing some of the heartbreaking circumstances the deceased was under can drive them to work with greater compassion towards both the living and dead. 

Not just that, administrative and logistical skills are useful in the act of embalming and are another facet of the trade that not many possess or are willing to learn. During one’s final chapter on Earth, there is absolutely no room for errors in paperwork or arrangements. It is paramount to the sanctity of the bereavement process that embalmers are confident of their knowledge, skills and abilities, on top of being able to think quickly on their feet to adapt to the different needs of each case assigned to them.  

A great deal of understanding, respect and privacy is needed to embalm with a calm heart and steady hand. There is much more to the job than just handling bodies. If you think that embalming is a thrilling, sensational career to pursue just because you are able to stomach graphic sights and enjoy the idea of constant excitement, you could not be more wrong.  

To the ladies at Serenity Casket & Funerals, fulfilment is found in carrying out their work sincerely. When a family says “Thank you” and encourages them to continue pursuing and refining their abilities, it motivates them unlike any other. When a family is able to continue living without regrets after a funeral, the team knows that they carried out their duty in assisting them to live freely. Working in the funeral industry entails a hectic, unpredictable schedule since death happens at any time, at any place. Over time, the team at Serenity has found a rhythm to work with, and are always aiming to be better people and professionals.

 

Read more about our team of embalmers here or contact us for further information.