A mortician has revealed what happens to your body after you pass away - and it's pretty graphic.
Death happens to everyone, and yet what actually occurs to our bodies in the hours and days that follow remains something most people rarely understand - or even want to talk about.
With that being said, let's talk about it.
The journey begins not with grief, but with protocol.
Asha Dooley, co-owner of Grace Funerals and recently appointed National President of the Australian Funeral Directors Association, explained to News.com.au what really goes on behind the closed doors of a mortuary.
“When a body is brought into our care we embark on a rigorous identification process and comprehensive paperwork sign-in,” she said.
From there, the deceased is respectfully placed in a cool, temperature-controlled environment, critical for slowing down decomposition and preserving the body.
Every person who passes through the mortuary is treated with the same meticulous attention. A hygienic wash is performed before any further preparation.
“Generally speaking, we begin by carefully removing the body bag, placing them on a mortuary tray, and giving them a hygienic wash,” Asha explained.
Death changes the body almost immediately. Skin loses tension and color, muscles relax, and, yes, bodily fluids are released.
But in a mortuary, these changes are handled with both care and professionalism.
“Bodily fluids after death are very common,” Asha noted. “Firstly, a strict hygiene protocol is followed, which includes essential PPE for the mortuary team, sterilisation of all mortuary equipment, and disinfecting all surfaces.”
To help contain these fluids, an adult nappy is commonly used.
Within six hours, gravity causes blood to settle in the lowest parts of the body, creating dark red or purple discolorations. At the same time, rigor mortis - the stiffening of muscles - sets in, beginning with the eyelids and jaw.
But even in these changes, there’s care and artistry.
“In most cases, by using a special massage technique, the lid can be manually closed without any additional intervention,” Asha said, debunking the myth of using coins to weigh eyelids shut.
“If dentures were worn and have not been provided, we will likely use a mouth former to bring this shape back,” she added. “Sometimes a cream can be used to keep the mouth closed, but usually we will use an invisible suture.”
Hair is washed, blow-dried, and styled. Clothes selected by the family are gently put on the body. “We then gently ‘set the features’ – which includes a wash and blow dry of their hair,” she said.
Handling a body that has begun decomposing is one of the most difficult parts of the job, not just physically, but emotionally.
For Asha and her team, mental well-being is taken seriously.
“We are always aware of a traumatic case entering our mortuary, as they would have been through the coronial process and each member of the team is able to decide how much involvement they would like to have with that deceased,” she said.
Decomposition also brings its own challenges, particularly when it comes to odor.
“In this industry, we are all accustomed to many smells,” she said. “Personally, the smell of decomposition is fine for me — I struggle much more with the smell of faeces.”
Her tricks of the trade - “Eye covers, a mask, and a touch of vaseline under the nose… and there is always tiger balm when that hasn’t worked.”
Though not always necessary, embalming is required in specific situations, like repatriation or crypt burials.
“Embalming is required when a person is being repatriated or buried in an above-ground crypt,” Asha said. “It can also be used specifically to improve the viewing experience.”
She explained that embalming can be full or partial, depending on whether the internal organs are treated. Skilled embalmers can also target specific areas to restore volume and skin tone.
When a death involves trauma or injury, restorative work becomes a vital part of the farewell process.
“Restorative art is a very technical skill that provides families with the ability to view their loved one and to say goodbye, even when there has been a traumatic death,” Asha said.
In one example, she recalled helping a family say goodbye after their loved one had suffered a traumatic head injury. “Without a skilled restoration worker, that family would not have been able to have that crucial experience to say goodbye.”
Despite the harsh realities, Asha said the mortuary is a surprisingly peaceful space. “We actually chat with the deceased and treat them as if they were one of our own.”
What drives her and her team is simple: giving families peace of mind.
“When you watch a family see their loved one dressed and peaceful, and I can see the relief in their face, I know that we have truly helped.”