How a mortician deals with the most taboo trauma 

A family member of ours was in a terrible auto accident. There were several parts at the scene, and sadly some were undiscovered or unusable. She was a gorgeous young woman. We were unsure whether there would be a viewing or not. We were startled by how good she looked. A slightly less grieving member asked how the magic had been pulled off. Parts of her clothing had been stuffed with newspaper, but both hands and feet were located, and showing. They did NOT have a lot to work with and pulled it off, at the last minute, an open casket viewing. Miraculously. It was very very appreciated. ❤❤

I was a mortuary assistant for 10yrs & helped with a lot of autopsies - I was always teased because I liked to wash the bodies with warm water & talked to our patients too. I went on to become an RN & am due to retire next year. Thanks for your interesting videos ladies, new sub here. Best wishes from South Australia 🇦🇺 👏 ❤

I can't imagine having to work on a child/toddler that died with a shock or terrified expression on their face. It would haunt me forever.

My best friend hung himself. His eyes and mouth were sewn shut when i went to view his body, but i remember appreciating the fact that even though he had very thin lips, he still looked beautiful as they'd clearly opened his lips to do the stitch halfway inside, so that they weren't as visible. He still looked like him. Bless you and the work you do. It can make the difference between closure and further pain, that can last a lifetime.

My older brother didn’t lose any limbs but he was killed in a car crash. The dashboard came in so far it crushed his chest. I just remember his chest sounding so crinkly under his clothes. God bless you ladies and those who do the work that you do. Every time I’ve lost a loved one in a tragic way, it’s always been comforting to know they were taken care of in death.

I could listen to these two all day. It’s not morbid, it’s not an unnatural discussion, it’s fact

I know a lot of people find these topics morbid and horrific. I actually find it fascinating. The art of reconstruction and making a broken body look suitable for viewing is an amazing process, and I admire the skill and dedication of morticians, embalmers and funeral directors to enable family to have closure and sacred memories of their loved ones. It makes me feel less anxious about my mortality also. In the end, we are all merely a vessel which carries our soul.

A kid I went to school with liked to play chicken with trains. He'd try to cross the tracks as close as possible and one day he crossed a bit too close. The train hit the back tire of his bike and he was pulled under the train's wheels. He was cut in half just bellow the belly button and he lived just long enough to say to his friend, "Don't tell my mom." He'd been in trouble already for playing chicken with trains, and he lay there separated from his legs and all the other parts that make life fun, and he was worried his mom would be mad at him. This made me extremally scared of trains.

If a Mortitian, Funeral Director suggested that The Deceased might be too distressing to see, I would take their advice and remember the person as they were, alive and well

My mother would have been one of the ones that died in utter shock. I was 3 days past age 12 when she died suddenly when her aorta burst. I ran to her and her tongue was protruding and her eyes crossed staring at me. I was screaming at her to drink (as if she could). I ran to ring doctors and try and get help. I had nightmares for 16 years. She had just turned 49. I knew nothing about death. I often think of that time. Oldie now. I was healed of the nightmares at 28. Worse still I wasn't allowed to see her or go to the funeral so no closure!

What you do for the dead is an art. Not everyone can do it. Thank you for your dedication.

Here in Minnesota about 2 weeks ago a woman head was decapitated by her abusive boyfriend and broad daylight outside her home. Someone actually recorded the man killing her and the video circulated on Facebook. I seen the video by accident it was sent to me. Needless to say I didn't sleep well that night. R.i.p to the beautiful woman who lost her life to a evil scum.

When I was in my 20s my best friend's husband was hit by a semi truck. He'd been on foot (nobody could ever figure out why) in a snowstorm, and he was on the interstate. The accident took the left side of his head off. My friend told me she was having an open casket funeral for him, which shocked me. I was even more shocked when she took me to the funeral home to see him before the visitation--somehow, they had made him presentable, especially for a body that had undergone that kind of trauma. I think you folks must work some kind of magic.

My dad was on a ventilator before he died. We provided the mortician with a collared western shirt and a bolo tie. I don't know if my dad ever wore a bolo tie in his life; he certainly didn't make a habit of it. But the hole from the ventilator was completely concealed. Very grateful.

It's such an important (if traumatic) job to put the bodies back together with such care and attention. Thank you, mortuary workers, you do a great service.

A year and a half ago my father jumped off a bridge with a rope around his neck. He was decapitated. I don't know if his head was reattached, he ended up being cremated after a lengthy investigation. Thank you for being respectful, clinical, yet blunt. I love your channel ❤

You work in a field I call "the unsung heroes." You help families have closure and some peace of mind all with respect to the deceased and the family. Thank you for what you do.

I know nothing of the science of being mortuary professional, I can only extend my most sincere appreciation for the kindness and care exhibited on family members. Losing family is painful, somehow the sense of peace is a huge consolation and that dedication is appreciated.

I'm a retired nurse and the human anatomy and physiology is fascinating to me. The harsh reality of living and dying should be embraced. Thank you for all the compassionate work you do.

This was comforting. Facing death doesn’t need to be callous. The empathy here shows.

Over 55 yrs. embalming experience. I thought you gave a very honest appraisal of the methods we usually use to put the body back together. And it is very true that no two embalmers are going to tackle these situations the same. Most of us learned from the old-timers and then had to figure-out what methods work for us. I am impressed that you will repair an un-embalmed body. Only those of us with the old-time work ethics would do so. Here in the US, most of the young ones today, would not bother. And, if they did, the family would get a hefty "repair" charge. Obviously, I prefer to do repairs as I embalm the body. I want the tissues dry and firm. I also prefer the body to have been posted. It just makes things easier overall. Let all the parts rest overnight and assemble everything the following day. Anyway, just wanted to let you know it is obvious to those of us in the "business" that you are competent and professional.

I'd never thought of what you go through Tracey, when you're looking after people who've suffered such horrific injuries as you described here. You're amazing.

"Every head I have reattached..." "Not everyone can say that"😂😂😂 That was great. So true.

I love that she can still laugh. Life is so hard, hearing any adult laugh is a wonderful sound to me.

Ladies I've left a comment on the "Coffin Births" I'm a Retired ED Nurse and married to a Police Officer ( murdered ) and I'm very ( sadly ) familiar with many of the issues you address on your videos, I just wanted to write and tell you both that you are both very compassionate & caring as well as very accurate in your explanations regarding the issues and situations that happen once someone has passed. I believe you've given much comfort in a setting and time of heartbreak. Thank you, please don't stop. God bless❤️🕊️

My daughter wants to be a mortician. I'm going to have her watch your videos. I've witnessed a horrible accident and I saw people removing a body that got tboned on the passenger side. The man driving was on the street and when they moved the passenger I saw the person literally break in half. They had a sheet up but I moved to a spot where I had a clear view. Guts n everything. It was horrible but didn't scar me. I find this part fascinating. Absolutely sad of course. I looked into my dad's ashes and found pieces of bone and was fascinated as well. I'd of probably been good at this job because I'm not scared of it and I care.

Sadly, in Northern Ireland, we had 8 Covid Deaths today, and as Regulations relax, we are expecting more. Concerning decapitation, my best work mate's brother was decapitated in a Ford Capri (UK long-nosed car) accident, where he drove, head first under an articulated lorry when not paying attention. This was in the 1970s, but Trevor's mother was eternally grateful to be able to see her son, one last time, as a 'complete person'....Morticians/Funeral Directors/ Embalmers are AWESOME. Thank you❤❤❤

Father Time is undefeated. Some day he’s gonna get us all. No need to unpack, we’re just passing through.

My mother had a closed coffin for two reasons. She had been very obese and her lymph glands had stopped working. The fluids have to go somewhere so they weep out through splits in the skin and pores. It actually isn't unusual for obese. But secondly, she had had a number of mental health issues including diagnosed narcissism. I was there when she died and she truly had the most horrific look on her face - the nurses could do nothing to help. The funeral director told me that she would have given people nightmares so it was better that people remembered her as the beautiful model from her 20's.

In 2001, I went to the funeral of a girl my age (16 at the time) who had been decapitated and her body had been completely severed in half across the abdomen. It was an open casket funeral and I remember being blown away by how great of a job the mortician had done on her but I never actually learned about the methods used to "piece her back together" for viewing. Until recently, I hadn't thought of that in a very long time but had been extremely curious how they did it, so thank you for the information!

Blimey, just can’t imagine how hard that must be to deal with those poor people who sadly died of trauma. But how it helps the grieving process of the loved ones knowing the deceased is lying in rest put back together.

Here's to making those hard conversations less taboo. You two handled that with delicacy and grace.

Greetings from Alabama, USA! I love that y’all are educating the public about all things related to death! As a former hospice social worker, I know that all things death-related needs to be demystified so that it becomes just a natural part of the life cycle. Thanks for all you two do!

When I worked transport we had a body that was in a head on collision with a semi. His body was torn to pieces. We recovered the first set of remains from OMI and had to put them into storage until the investigation was complete. I was sent to OMI three months later to retrieve the rest of the body....I inventoried a left leg severed below the knee, a lower jaw bone, and assorted pieces of his skull... I can't even begin to explain the smell. I was relieved for his family he was finally able to be cremated.

Good to know theres people like that wonderful lady who can do this kind of work and bring some kind of relief to the bereaved.

I found this VERY interesting, not morbid at all. I think a lot of people want to know but are afraid to ask about death issues. You ladies are very kind and thoughtful and I think I'm going to enjoy watching your channel.

Sad but facinating. I'm the kind of person who likes to know things. Naturally inquisitive rather than into gore. Thanks for this video.

Morticians are so gifted in that they take away the ravages of disease, disaster, and long-term suffering. ❤

Helping care for the remains of a decedent is a sacred task that must be treated with loving care for the sake of their family, friends, and colleagues ❤ Thank you all for what you do and for discussing the sacred process ❤

I admire you Tracy, You are very special how you take such care of the deceased, as I'm in uk I'd hope there was someone as kind as you dealing with me when my time comes. Sending lots of love xx 😘

Creepy. We don’t give these people the credit that they deserve. They are truly amazing people.

Someone I knew lost her bf on her 21st bd, he'd driven home to get her gift and was killed in a motorcycle accident. She, on viewing his body broke down because his hair had been combed the wrong way. A shame a photo of him alive at not been provided to the mortician. This would have helped I believe. The poor girl was traumatised enough without having this last image to deal with.

Finally, someone who’s not afraid to ask anything! Thank you. It’s very interesting.

What a lovely lady Tracy is. She tells it straight but very respectfully. Id love to spend a day working an learning with her. Thank God for people like her 😊❤️

It takes a strong person to do what you do! It’s not for everybody, we are thankful for your passion and skill.

My cousin was murdered by decapitation. It is gruesome to think how someone could do something like that!

I'm so glad you asked what the facial expressions are like, as that's exactly what I was thinking. I'm so interested in all of this, I love your channel. I'm currently in the process of getting myself a job in a funeral directors which I'm hoping to then move onto embalming. Keep the videos coming! ❤️

Fascinating topic. I have two questions: 1) Double funerals-How do morticians handle the challenges of viewings for more than one family member? 2) Clothing/"Practical garments"- What happens if a deceased person does not have any appropriate clothing for a viewing?

Hi ladies! Thank you for the warning. It was indeed confronting, but I have often wondered. I lost my brother-in-law to suicide by hanging but he looked peaceful when he was laid to rest. You are both so awesome in answering our questions and educating us. Take care and stay safe! - Sharon

Tracey we love you for who you are, your aloud to talk and express, i love that you trish ask the questions, they do need to be asked, their not inapropriate, your both fab, you give great content but in a respectful way, this was a pretty hard topic but you ladies covered it perfectly aa always :) Thankyou both 🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍💯

I love how honest you are on the subjects. It is so nice to learn.

Thank you both for doing what you do, the way you do it. I've lost a lot of people in my relatively short life and it's comforting to know people care for the dead the way you describe it. The discussion was fascinating and light-hearted enough to watch but equally respectful enough to make it educational rather than a dramatisation. You're both beautiful people. Thank you. X

When my father died, I was 17, my mum went to see him first and advised me not to go. I don't regret not seeing him, I trusted my mum's judgement. My mum died when I was 26. I did go to see her and she looked beautiful. The mortician had washed and curled her hair and applied her face powder her favourite lipstick. The shade was Pink String and I think it was Yardley. Her hands were laying across her upper abdomen and she had been dressed in the satin and lace garment provided by the funeral director. The only thing I couldn't do was touch her. Even though the mortician said I could,I didn't want to feel how cold she was. I don't regret that decision but even now, 45 years later, it makes me cry.

My BF college was a nursing student, while I was in the respiratory therapist program. He was pretty handsome and I pursued him assertively. He was on the GI bill, so he lived at his parents home and our first date was pretty much MTV and chill. The next morning he had an invitation with to the local university morgue to view postmortems. He was hesitant about asking me, but I was HELL YEAH. And the pathologist said I was one of the few observers that never turned green or gagged. Great way to learn about anatomy.

It's so nice to hear how you try to do the best for the families, to help them get some degree of closure, especially considering how the events that caused the trauma have already caused a lot of distress. Thank you for doing the things many other people cannot, you and other morticians are gems.

it takes a very special person to take this on and give families the peace and closure they need after a loss. Not everyone could have this conversation and explain these things much less do them, Thank you for helping those heal who are left behind after tragic loss.

This is so intriguing. Haven’t came across this yet in the mortuary. Beautiful work Tracy

You do an absolutely invaluable job that not everyone of us could so I take my hat off to you and I have the deepest respect for your work. Thank You for sharing your experience in such a way the rest of us can appreciate....

I had a friend who was decapitated in a car accident many years ago. You answered a question I was always too afraid to ask.

I was amazed by the artistry of my brothers mortician. I’m so amazed by what you do. It really makes a difference for the family.

I want to be come a mortician so bad, I just don’t know where to even start. Especially money wise. Thank you for being such an inspiration to me && many others. When my father died abruptly of a heart attack, the funeral director && mortician helped my sister && I thru it. We were young && so scared && so full of grief. But they walked us thru every step && in the end, seeing my dad “sleeping” so peacefully really helped the process. That is the exact reason I want to become a mortician. I want to help people with one of the hardest parts of life, death.

Thank you ladies for your candid stories and answers to some fairly graphic questions. I came across this Chanel by accident and I’m hooked! Love your positive and respectful outlooks, very fresh and enlightening. Best wishes from down here in Oz

Im one of those people who listens too the warnings ONLY it makes me want to watch it more😊

You ladies are angels. You are the unsung heroes. You seem like you treat every job with dignity. I just subscribed.

I am so grateful there are people like you who do this work.

Thank God for people like you. We need more.👍

I appreciate your channel and the knowledge and honesty you provide.

Thank you for the work you do. After 6 cruel years of living with ALZ my mom finally looked like herself again.

Thank you for that. It was very educational, I never thought about facial expressions. I love watching your videos. Keep up the good work by educating the everyday person like me.

It's interesting to hear how a mortiction does these things . I couldn't do that job, but I'm grateful that there are those that can, for all the loved ones of the deceased. I do wonder what they do if a body is totally destroyed? I would imagine they would just have to tell the family that they just can't have an open coffin. What an awkward and a hard thing it would be to have to tell the loved ones.

Not bad girls! You explain it sensitively and very well! I talked to a mortician in the past and he shared a story where they could not find the person's head. That would be a tough one!

My mother died in a tough accident with lots of facial cuts and bruises. We did not think she would be able to be seen at visitation. However, the mortician did an outstanding job. Thanks to you and all caring morticians. You do a great job and this video helped me learn about trauma with a deceased.

Thank you for addressing such a tough topic.

Hi there!! I'm from Garland Utah and really enjoy watching and listening to you two. Thanks for filling us in.

This is honestly something I wanted to do 15 years ago. But after losing my baby, at birth, I realised I couldn't do it x

Y'all don't talk too much lol the banter is funny ! I can't imagine working with children or decomp...I admire what you do for the families🦋

Very interesting. Thanks for telling it like it is. Y’all are great!!❤️

I worked in a coroner’s office and we frequently had funeral workers call to ask if a person was “viewable,” usually at the time funerals were being planned, not in the presence of the family, of course.

Such an invaluable service for the family left behind. It helps so much to see your loved one looking similar to what they looked like when alive. Thank you for what you do.

I don't find these things morbid at all. It's a part of life and death, and I believe that knowledge if power. We fear the unknown, so if we educate ourselves about these things, they don't seem as scary. When our loved ones die, we put so much trust into the mortician, the makeup and hair artistry, etc., to make them look as beautiful or handsome as they were in real life. Love to you ladies, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada!

Thank you ladies for covering this difficult subject it's not easy yet again Thank you

I always wanted to be a funeral director/embalmer. I love listening to these 2.

Hi ladies Tracy I'm so glad the expressive hands stayed relatively still as you outlined the reattachment process. Another emotive topic handled with sensitivity which is your trademark. It's not really a taboo subject because the message you pass on is. No matter how your loved one dies we will do everything possible to ensure family and friends get the chance to view the deceased who will look as natural and peaceful as we can make them. You deal with the trauma so they don't have to witness the effects. BLESS YOU😉

Thank you for having compassion for the deceased and the family !

Thank you both for the asking, the answering and the sharing.

People die with expressions on their face didn't know that

I was an ER nurse for 8 years. The worst case seen was a 13 year old with half his face missing, like a cookie cutter removed it. I don't know how you could've fixed that except put a mask on it like Phantom of The Opera. Wasn't good for the family, but it was fascinating to me. It was a freaking carnival in the ER til the body left.

RU-vid is such a good resource, you can learn how to do literally anything here. I mean i came here to learn how to make sushi rolls, now i know how to re-attach a head.

You ladies are awesome. Thank you for the respect you show the deceased and the compassion extended to families. God bless you. 🙏🙏🙏

it's nice to see someone tell these things to the public....it's a part of life few can do but it is nice to see they go above and beyond

That must be traumatic to deal with. What an amazing job you are able to do for these families. This video was very interesting (and dignified) with how it's all done . Much respect to you. I have a question. I often wonder about the emotional aspect it must have on those in this industry.? (I know it's a chosen place to work) . But as someone dealing with these situations do you ever need to get some sort of counselling? The work you do is fascinating to learn about. Thankyou as ever .

A local person my wife knew blew themselves in half with fireworks accidentally, no bottom half left. They were aware on the way to the hospital begging not to die. They had an open casket since he was blown in half, though I don't know what of the bottom was left. If your curious, he was making a sparkler bomb. You take a bunch of sparklers with one already much further out and duct tape them together and light it and run. I saw my brother blow apart a metal outdoor grill with one, they are very dangerous. This guy forgot to leave one out that he could light. Instead of pulling the tape off and taking one out and retaping, he pulled on one to get it out and the friction set off all the sparklers and blew him in half.

Thanks ladies, totally fascinating as always!

This is a fascinating video, something ive always wondered about. You are truly skilled at what you do. Thank you for covering this topic.

I'm being cremated when I die so they can just shove all the parts in the furnace if I'm torn apart. No need to reconstruct. I don't want a viewing.

This is the first episode I've seen, but I'm now a subscriber. Wholly enjoyed the info. I'm a removal tech / cremationist here in the states. Although I don't have the responsibility of preparing people for viewings or making them whole after incurring some of the catastrophic damage you've described, I certainly see my share of it in dealing with the Medical Examiner's office and such (gunshot suicides and persons who weren't discovered for some time among them). Looking forward to viewing more of your episodes! Keep up the good work, ladies!

Thank you so much ladies! I’ve always been intrigued by this industry and more specifically these questions, I am so glad I am now the only one who’s interested to know! I have a question (sorry if you’ve answered it) but have you experienced any spooky/odd things occur with the body/whilst working? Thank you!

After watching this video and reading a lot of the comments.. For some reason..I'm wondering about the 55 dead Iraqis that I saw killed during the ground war during Desert Storm,how they were removed and laid to rest..Even though that was 32 years ago,l can still pretty much visualize how each one was killed..One was completely flattened under the treads of an armored vehicle...One spot I counted 18 dead in a burnt out truck that probably took an incidery round..3 in the front cab...The one sitting in the middle was trying to climb up out of the cab of the truck..He was gripping the dashboard,and was burnt to a crisp..All you could see of his face was like a skeleton painted black,and his white teeth..After 11 days,we passed back through that area,called the highway of Death..They were still there.. And,I remember the dead from Iraqi Freedom in 2004..I have know idea what brought this to mind after watching this video... Maybe its just crazy morbid me..Whom knows.. I,often wonder also of how well my Brothers and Sisters in Arms were treated on their final journey.. Thank you so much for the job that you do for the families..Sam

At least you made them whole again, for the families and the afterlife ❤

Hi Sweet Ladies, I love that both of you are so matter of fact with your descriptions of just how much you do to make the living comfortable with funerals. Unfortunately for our family, we had to wait 19 days before we could lay our Mama to rest. She died of heart failure and it was sudden. After being in the hospital for 5 days we were told to pick her up because she was well enough to go home. Very quickly we were told that she asperated her breakfast and was vomiting her feces! Cardiac arrested and had to be recesitaded for 20 minutes to bring her back. So.... we requested an autopsy. We were told that even with an autopsy the mortician could make her look natural. That was such a lie. Mom looked like a decomposed corpse!😢 There had been no trauma to her face or hands. Mom would have gone crazy if she knew how she looked dead. She had a vision of how she would look dead in her beautiful prepaid casket and funeral. Her funeral service was packed at least 250 people. I couldn't believe that they had an open casket for her. I was horrified to see Mom that way and I said, that's not my Mom! Everyone was so shocked and said that she looked NOTHING like our beautiful Mom. I couldn't wait to let her get buried so that people wouldn't keep looking at her. Not even a spot of lipstick or nail polish that she always wore. I dont know who should answer for the nightmare that we had to live thru.