Sudden Death: A Funeral Service Perspective

Following a sudden death, the family of the person who has died feels the loss intensely and this can have lasting effects. On many occasions, the body may have undergone significant change due to trauma or rapid post-mortem deterioration. The role of the funeral services is to prepare the body of the deceased according to their wishes. This chapter presents a detailed analysis of the funeral services, emphasising the reconstructive element of their role so that a closed coffin may be turned into an open coffin so that relatives may sit and view their loved one.