Preservation

After choosing a mortuary, the next urget decision to make is whether the body is to be embalmed or regrigerated. You may be surprised to learn that you do have this choice. Current California law now requries funeral directors to obtain permission from bereaved families before embalming. As a result, many mortuaries have installed special refrigerators or enlarged their current ones and offer refrigeration as an alternative to embalming.

Charges for refrigeration are often based on the number of days, so if for any reason the funeral, cremation, or burial is delayed, the refrigeration charges may be higher than the cost of embalming. If the prices are comparable, embalming would be your best choice, because more options for the funeral arrangements remain open to you. If members of the family would like to view the deceased, embalming is a virtual necessity.