This is because the shape of feet can change dramatically after a person passes away. Why is a grave 6 feet under? Given the need to focus on ensuring that the deceased looks peaceful, the legs will usually be covered in these circumstances. Whether you want cremation or traditional burial, services are costly, and by law, the funeral consultant must share the costs with you. How is a body prepared for a closed casket funeral? If a body is ever too tall for a standard casket, the mortician will find one that is larger. When swelling is not present, the legs may still be covered at a funeral due to cultural preferences, the type of casket used, the size and condition of the body, and aesthetic considerations. The table below shows the approach different religions generally take: The implications of presentability do not only apply to the condition of the body. I confirmed this by looking through the websites of a couple of New Zealand based casket stores. Moreover, depending on the cause of death, if half of the body is not presentable for viewing during the funeral, its reasonable that they will cover the bottom half for privacy. This doesnt only apply to legs but to other body parts too. Sometimes, the decision is made based on what is custom in the region. On this page on my website you will be able to find more information on open casket funerals. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. If you need some guidance as to what is best for you, check with the funeral director. Tall bodies may not fit into a standard-size casket. Some people request to be placed in the casket in a certain position, such as with their head on the left side. As part of funeral care, the body is dressed and preserved, with the prime focus on the face. Or, if someone has been to a funeral that covered the legs of the deceased, then they may choose to do the same when the time comes. ultimately, it is up to the deceased and their family to decide how the body will be positioned in the casket. We believe reflecting on our mortality can help us lead more meaningful lives. permits you to bestow an aesthetic funeral. This emotional concern is another reason of why the coffin casket inside body is covered by the legs. James legs were cut off to fit into the casket. During the. Post embalming, bodies are often placed without shoes; hence covering the legs is the way to offer Why Do They Cover The Legs In A Casket? That said, they dont always get it right, leaving family members concerned that they may cut or distort bodies to fit. My suggestion is the person planning the funeral should accept that advice it has probably been given for a reason. All caskets do not cover legs, and you can plump for a half-couch(half open) or full-couch(full open) one, depending on how you wish to show the. Read More with the approval of the family. Though many might jump to conclusions, this is usually a practical feature of many caskets. Rabbit Cremation : 7 Things You Need to Know, The 12 Best Obituaries Ever Written [Famous Obit Examples]. Though budget may not be a concern for some during a loss of a loved one, its worth considering based on how expensive funerals can be. In this post, I will explain the many reasons why the deceased bodys legs might be covered in the casket at a funeral service. Open-casket funerals are supposed to help people remember their loved ones, touch them, hold their hands, and say their final farewell. In many cultures and traditions, its common to have the casket present at the funeral service. Yet, half-couches are preferred, and it's crucial to understand why. Other than the legs of the deceased, other body parts might be covered in a casket. As a result, its reasonable for his followers to want their dead buried in ways that will help them attain salvation. Though you likely dont realize it, funeral homes go to great lengths to present deceased loved ones under the best lighting. Typically, legs are covered in a casket because of swelling in the feet that makes fitting shoes difficult. That said, in the United States, its not uncommon to see an open casket, so loved ones can say a final farewell. Then, once the service has finished, the gifts can be easily removed from the top of the casket and given to the deceaseds family. As a result, the deceaseds body appears more peaceful and serene, while mourners have a better chance of seeing the deceaseds face. Lincoln Heritage Funeral Advantage: Guide to Casket Prices: How Much Do Caskets Cost? But, you might wonder why you would cover the legs at a funeral. Jenn Park-Mustacchio:I spend my time with dead bodies, cleaning them and preparing them for funerals. The funeral industry is a huge industry with good reason. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. , and its common practice in the funeral industry. on trustedcaskets.com, View If a person organizing a funeral chooses a half-couch casket, they are choosing to cover the deceaseds legs with the lower half of the casket. This is on top of any already present rigor mortis. To cover this, the lower half will not be exposed at the funeral viewing. Caskets are typically two feet wide, which allows for a decent amount of bending without breaking or damaging the body. Although most of us tend to want to avoid the topic of death, whether it is us or a loved one, it is inevitable. A full-couch casket opens fully, while a half-couch casket has two panels on the top separating the top half of the body and the lower half of the body from view. Most people calling a funeral director for the first time have no idea where to start. A body donation benefits research and education. Some traditions demand you to cover the legs of the deceased as a sign of honor. For example, it is traditional to choose a half-couch casket in the southern area of the United States. More on this: How Do You Slope A Trench? After all, not only do the legs and feet need to be treated and dressed, but they also need to be placed in a way that looks presentable and maintained throughout transportation. Pam Berg is a former English teacher with a passion for writing. Finally, showing the bottom half of a body at a funeral can be seen as disrespectful to the deceased. 2. Families are laid to rest together in a mausoleum. Family members can be laid to rest together in a mausoleum, whether they choose a niche or a crypt. It is a common practice to cover the legs as there is swelling in the feet and shoes don't fit. Why do they cover the legs in a casket? Many are comforted by the idea that their loved ones are well cared for by their funeral directors in these final stages. One outlandish myth is they cover legs at funerals because they break them to fit into the caskets! I assure you there is no merit in this claim. There isnt much more you can do if you want to save money without hurting, destroying, or breaking the deceaseds body. complete answer Similarly, if your loved ones legs or feet need to be removed at any stage of their lives, a funeral home will likely recommend a half-couch casket to allow the primary focus to remain on the top half of the body. People can receive lifesaving transplants while they are still alive thanks to an increase of 30% in organ and tissue donation in recent years. Are Open Casket Funerals Common? Sometimes, covering the legs is done due to cultural or religious beliefs. Most wish for this to be as peaceful and life-like as possible, lending to some coverings. There is a difference between a full- or half-couch casket. The more you understand how bodies are placed in caskets, the better prepared you are to make decisions about your own end-of-life wishes and loved ones final arrangements. The position of the body in the casket also depends on the wishes of the deceased and their family. There is a difference between a. . Thats the only way we can improve. The entire body requires extensive care when you opt for a. Posthumous Care is essential to the funeral process because bodies start decomposing post-death. It is no secret that some of the most profound human connections are developed through the eyes and face. However, in many cases, the legs are covered within the casket either by the lid of the casket or a blanket. First, the body will experience rigor mortis, which is when the muscles in the body stiffen. Unlike many funeral home pre-planning packages, there are no additional charges that will arise when the casket is required. Whether youre attending or planning a funeral viewing, you might have wondered why some parts of the body are covered. However, your decision to show the legs or not is a personal choice. Because it would look odd to show socks or bare feet at a funeral service, this is usually covered with a blanket or cloth. Why are legs covered in the casket at a funeral? Instagram. If the person who has passed away is wearing a dress or skirt, the family may want to make sure the legs are covered so that the clothing is not revealing. This is done for practical purposes as well, though the family is free to insist on their own wishes. This includes the grave, vault, opening . Families choose between a closed or open-casket funeral. Another reason is for comfort. Post embalming, bodies are often placed without shoes; hence covering the legs is the way to offer a dignified funeral. Also, it would help if you considered multiple traditional and detailed reasons behind covering the body's leg in the casket. COPYRIGHT 2023 TRUSTED CASKETS If you want to know how to save some money on a casket, check out this page on my website. Thank you for joining us on our mission. I help clients dealing with death everyday, and I hope the content on our site can do something similar for you. However, if youre unsure of what is best, keep reading. To prevent this from happening, half-couch caskets can give space for loved ones to give these items without touching the body or crowding the coffin. 5. Otherwise, the rest of the body below the neck is hidden from view. Family and friends viewed his body laid out in a half casket by the Cave Funeral Home of Allendale, SC, and some commented that the casket looked too small, but Hines widow Ann Hines thought no more about it until ongoing rumors that James legs were cut off to fit into the casket motivated her to question the funeral home. One reason is that it can be difficult to find clothes that fit properly over the bottom half of a body that is in a casket. When a casket is filled with bodies, the legs are covered because the deceased is not wearing shoes. Reason for Death: Death can occur for several reasons, like accidents causing trauma to the lower portion of the body. I get up the best I can and start to swim up to reach the surface. Ann Hines claimed that Cave never offered the option of an oversized casket for her larger-than-life husband. With that comforting knowledge out of their way, lets talk about what they actually do if your loved one is too tall for a casket. The ensuing criminal investigation found violations of South Carolina law and eventually led to the mortuary paying fines and shutting its doors in 2009, but not before an urban legend resurfaced that mutilating the body was standard practice in the funeral industry. Here, the casket is kept open until the departed persons waist is up, and the legs in the casket are usually covered. Regardless, a body with bent knees does not look comfortable. After this, the body will relax and become flexible again. Needless to say, most people dont die in traumatic accidents. With funeral and casket prices rising significantly every year any extra cost can be substantial. They are not open to the public at all. When 67, 300-pound funk guitarist James Hines died in 2004, the funeral director covered his legs in the casket. However, its important to note that embalming is not usually required. For example, embalmers and funeral homes arent allowed to make any physical alterations to a body that the family disagrees with. After Your Time is a free resource providing trusted information about everything beyond life. One of the biggest concerns of those with tall family members is whether or not theyll fit in a casket when the time comes. This just shows the role culture and regional differences play in funeral practices. What happens with the body in a casket after 2 months and after 10 years? Closed caskets are better if someone passed away from an accident or illness that caused changes in their appearance. If someone donated their skin tissue after death, this is usually taken from the lower half of the body. If the individual is embalmed, their abdomen is always covered. I managed to get on the phone with a funeral director in my home country, New Zealand. generalized educational content about wills. Hide The Lower Body In Case of Physical Trauma. 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