The Benefits of Embalming
Craig Westbrook • February 29, 2024
Part One
Embalming is a practice that has been used for centuries in funeral rituals. It involves the temporary preservation and preparation of a deceased body for viewing, burial, or cremation. While opinions on embalming vary, there are at least three important benefits in which families or loved ones can know while planning funeral arrangements. At Moore Funeral Home, we consider it an honor and privilege to care for each family as our own.
- The Gift of Time: When a person is embalmed, it slows down the natural decomposition process. This preservation allows grieving families more time to plan a funeral, gather loved ones, and make important decisions related to the final disposition of the deceased . Oftentimes, family members may reside out of town, requiring them to make travel preparations to attend the funeral service. Embalming will ensure more time for them to plan their arrival without the additional worry of being rushed and arriving safely.
- Funeral Services with Open-Casket and Visitation: To us, embalming is a crucial aspect for open-casket viewing. It enhances the appearance of the deceased, allowing family and friends to say their final goodbyes in a respectful and dignified manner. Although visitations vary in length and attendance, it is our desire to give families and their friends the best experience possible while at the funeral home.
- Transportation of Remains: If the need arises for transportation of a loved one’s remains over long distances (e.g., airlines), embalming may be needed to ensure the health and safety of those handling the remains during and after the transport. Our funeral home takes this responsibility and is committed to not only following the laws of our State but those of others as well. Prior to transporting the remains, our funeral home will ensure proper communication to the receiving agency and/or funeral home during the entire process. If embalming is not desired by either neither the wishes of the deceased nor those of the family, our funeral home will take appropriate steps for an alternative means of transportation.
Embalming isn’t just about preserving bodies; it’s about preserving memories and honoring lives.
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Why We Love What We Do at Moore Funeral Home
At Moore Funeral Home, we understand that saying goodbye is as deeply personal as it is profound. We find that families often find comfort and closure in seeing their loved one at peace, and we do everything we can to create a meaningful and healing experience. But there are moments—sacred, sobering moments—when our professional duty calls us to recommend a closed casket. This is never a suggestion we make lightly. We know this suggestion may feel abrupt or even painful. As funeral directors, we are not only stewards of the deceased but caretakers of the living. We carry both roles with reverence and responsibility. When a loss involves traumatic injury, illness, or circumstances that compromise the peaceful image we wish to preserve, a closed casket may be the most compassionate course. Our team grieves alongside you. We understand the instinct to want one final look, one last moment. But when the visual reality may cause shock, distress, or even lasting emotional harm, we must gently intervene. Our goal is not to deny closure, but to protect it—by helping families remember their loved ones as they were in life, rather than as they appeared in death. Our highest calling is not just to prepare a body, but to preserve the peace of those left behind.
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This morning, during my run before work, I started mentally listing the tasks ahead—vacuum the parlors, clean the bathrooms, print memorial folders, and more. But as I ran, my thoughts drifted beyond my daily checklist. I found myself reflecting on how much funeral services have evolved over the years. This year marks 80 years of Moore Funeral Home serving our community, and yesterday was a perfect example of how things have changed. In one service, the speaker—unable to travel from Texas—delivered his message via Zoom. At the same time, we conducted a large funeral at a church in Higdon which was live-streamed, allowing hundreds of people to participate from the comfort of their homes. I can’t help but wonder what my great-grandfather would think. When he founded Moore Funeral Home in 1945 , he likely never imagined technology playing such a role in how we honor and remember our loved ones. Yet, while funeral services continue to evolve, one thing has remained constant—our commitment to serving families with compassion, dignity, and respect. As we celebrate 80 years, I’m incredibly grateful for the past and excited for the future. Thank you for trusting us to walk alongside you during life’s most difficult moments. It is our honor to continue this tradition of care for generations to come.
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