This eye-opening passage from the book, "The American Way of Death," written by Jessica Mitford was both informative and distressing. Ms. Mitford elected to take on a subject that is rarely a topic of conversation and provide details generally undisclosed outside of the industry of those trained to prepare the deceased for burial. She investigated the way cadavers are handled in America and explains in great detail the process from the time the body is released to the mortician through the preparation for public viewing.
It was interesting to note that in the early history of the United States, a family member was required to be involved in this process serving as oversight to the work being performed on a loved one. This is certainly not the case today and Ms. Mitford implies that it is actually discouraged by funeral directors and for good reason. The process seems cruel and heartless. Although at times described in a satirical tone, it is not lost on the reader that Jessica Mitford’s intention is to entice the reader to her viewpoint by divulging the minute details of the procedure of embalming.
When you think about it, was it necessary to vilify an industry that is trying to comfort those experiencing loss by providing a service that many would not dare to approach? Sure, morticians have to manipulate and reconstruct the body; they are truly cosmetic surgeons most perform amazing work. Talk about skills! If a family has made the choice to hold a memorial service with public viewing, there is no other way to do it. To give credit to Jessica Mitford, full and fair disclosure to the public is noble and necessary. However, why are other options not introduced? In the end by mocking the memorial process, she mocks the grieving family. Does the average person need books or visuals of what goes on after you leave the earth? Personally, we believe that most don't care about the process of embalming the body after death.
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