How to Dress and Casket the Deceased at the Funeral Home 

When my 34 year old sister suddenly died in 2015, the funeral home asked us to bring her clothes by. Our family was so devastated and in such shock that it was hard to think straight. She died of lung, liver and lymph node cancer 9 days after she even found that she had cancer! Our entire family discussed what we thought she would like to be buried in and her husband dropped it off the next day. I asked the funeral home if I could be allowed to come and do her hair and make up before the funeral. I'm not any kind of professional or anything but my sister and I were best friends and I was always the one who she would ask to help her with her hair and make up anytime she had somewhere nice for and I wanted to be able to help her get ready one last time. Honestly I wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to handle it emotionally- but when the day came I had No problem at all. I felt honored. When the funeral home called me on the day to come and get her all ready I noticed the clothes they were putting her in and the undies that her poor husband, in his grief, had brought her was just some old ones that he grabbed quickly from a basket and tossed in there. She and I used to joke about "period panties" that you wouldn't want to be caught in. So I told the funeral director not to get her dressed yet that I would be right back and I bought her nice new matching bra and panties to wear. I knew no one would ever ever see them but I couldn't help wanting her to go in style. It might seem petty to some people but I knew she would have done the same for me. It felt very comforting and humbling to be able to help her get ready just like I had always done before. That was 6 years ago and it seems like just yesterday. I'm really grateful for being allowed to do that.

I bought my mum some cosy PJ's to keep her warm even though she was dead. The funeral Company dressed her perfectly. I'm did say to them just cut the clothes if you need to as I thought of the logistics of manouvering my mum. They made her look so nice. I really appreciate what you all do for the deceased. 👍❤️

These are the real things in life that we often wonder about, but never asked. Thanks for the info.

Videos showing you actually performing your job functions are very compelling. This is an outstanding video, Kari!

God bless you Kari, it takes a special person to do this type of work

I applaud you and all others in your field for the excellent work you do. Thank you for the care you give our loved ones, and your teaching videos. Much love to you.

Looks really hard to do. I really appreciate the hard work that you and other embalmers do for people's loved ones.

That is quite a job for one person to do. No doubt it takes a while to learn the best ways to do it. I respect those of you in the industry and all of the unseen work you do.

that's a lot of work for one person. Hard enough to dress a little kid who's alive - can't imagine how hard it would be to dress dead adult weight. Thank you for showing this, gives a new perspective and appreciation.

The funeral director allowed me and my Aunt to dress my mom and grandma and for the most part the assistant was there with us while we dressed them. My mom and grandmother passed a day apart from different illnesses and in less than 30 hours of each other. In reality there was no way of truly explaining the peace this gives but I’m thankful for the opportunity.

Wow, Kari, you really work hard as an embalmer/ funeral director! I got a new appreciation of your work. Great video; thank you! Robert

My younger brother died a little over a year ago & odd questions sometimes keep me up at night. Last night and tonight, I found myself wondering how they dressed him. I'm grateful to have come across your video. Thank you.

I remember in nursing school...my patient passed away and I was emotional as his family disowned him at his greatest time of need and he died in my arms. My nursing preceptor made me wash him up, pull all feeding tubings, catheters and redress him on my own. I remember feeling like I was treating him so disrespectfully as I had to roll him on his stomach to clean to vomit that had ran down his neck and back. I bawled the whole while. But doing the task alone is definitely not easy by any means. Hats off to you all that care for the remains...I respect and appreciate how difficult it can be. Coordination is helpful...something I definitely lack!

When my sister passed away, 4 years ago, my nieces and I dressed her, as per her request. The funeral director did have to cut her dress down the back. It WAS much easier. I was surprised by the valve or pressure button on her belly. We found a bit of humor by saying it was her Butterball Turkey button. Saying...she's done! Thanks for all of your helpful information!

This can be nerve reckoning when you have no knowledge of the process. Thank you so much for sharing , I feel more comfortable & confident to dressing my deceased father. This was extremely helpful . Bless you 🙏🏾♥️

It’s so nice to see how gentle you are as respectful as well. Another good video

Hats off to you. I've always said that people who do undertaking are pretty special. Now I know why funeral services are so expensive. A lot of work goes into the presentation. Your guys make the end result look great.

How interesting, and involved this process..... and I can imagine how each case can be different and how you have to improvise at times ! Thank you for taking the time to show and explain this process. You could do a part 2 showing make up, jewelry , hair, and anything else that has been requested by the family....you make it look easy ! . stay well and happy Kari..... Deanna

A most excellent video, Kari! Thanks to Randy for his participation! 💚

I have so much respect for most funeral workers and medical examiners you guys are truly amazing people you really are YALL see things and do things and cover things so the families don’t have too YALL are truly amazing people to me

I think it is so wonderful that you do these videos one to help some face there worries about death secondly to help a person decide if they might want to have your career. Blessings

So similar to caring for a quadriplegic with the Hoyer lift. Thank heavens they now make clothes that are open in the back to make dressing easier for the living. Lifting without mechanical lifts could cause serious injury to the mortician. I hope it is an industry standard for safe lifting.

What a wonderful thing you do caring for peoples loved ones! Such a vital job 🙏

Wow, thanks for working so hard showing how things are done at a funeral home. Most of my life I have been so curious about the process. You have answered all of my questions. I can't say thanks enough for your hard work and professionalism.

It was so nice of Randy to join your video! Randy you are welcome here anytime! 😊

I find all of this so interesting!! Thank you so much for taking the time to show us this!!

I learned the hard way, on my own. My grandpa had me dress a couple , a man and his wife, . I was btw 6 mon pregnant and helped my grandpa, I wish now I followed his footsteps and became a mortician. I learned a great deal from him.

I want to thank you for this instructional video. I had honor of dressing my church bishop in his temple attire. I had never done anything like this and o was so worried about getting it right. After viewing your video I had an idea of how to proceed. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge it helped me tremendously.

Looking forward to seeing this! Hope you're having a great day, Kari!

My dad was a big and tall man. I can’t imagine there was one person dressing him. Thanks for going through and showing this. I’ve wondered how they dressed him . He died back in June. But he was a big teddy bear . He was dressed sharp too. Cuff links too . He had a vest a tie and a suit coat. Putting on the vest is the same as the shirt. I didn’t know you cut clothing!! Interesting. Thanks for giving me so much closure.

I always watch her videos .. she's very thorough in explaining step by step what she's doing .. thanks for sharing this info

Thank you to you and Randy for taking the mystery out of what happens to our loved ones in the funeral home.

Theres that beautiful young lady that we've came to both adore and respect. Thank you very much friend for these awesome videos.

Thank you for sharing. It is what you call tedious work! Pretty impressive, your love for dealing with dead bodies.

Kari thanks for showing. you morticians works so hard.may God blessed you and all morticians

I am not a mortician but for some reason I’m watching this . This lady seems lovely

Thank you for demonstrating how to dress the deceased!

Happy Birthday Kari! Have a blessed day. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. ❤️

Awesome, Kari! Thank you! You obviously are so respectful of those deceased.

I started watching your videos just to see what is done to a person after they go to the funeral home . When my daughter died I was so curious about that . I just needed to know. Which may sound crazy . You have answered so many of my questions. Thank you for putting my mind at ease about so many things and answering my many questions.

You spent an incredible amount of time making this video for us. Thank you!

HAPPY WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY KARI !!!!!

Thanks Kari, great job. Your care and concern for the families you serve, shines thru each and every one your videos. Salute😊

Thank you for sharing this video ,You are a strong person and I can only imagine how difficult your job is.

I have watched many of your videos and I think you are amazing but after watching this...whatever you are being paid is not enough. There are so very many aspects of your job and all the details. I commend you because you are so committed. You are really an EarthAngel..may God always bless you.😇🙏💙

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and teaching us.

That was very interesting. I could see where you could hurt your back. Thanks for the info, and Randy had the best care possible. 😀

Thank you. This was very informative. And thank you Randy for being our model lol

So fascinating! God bless you Kari for everything you do. 🥰

From a "Randy" who is not ready to dressed and casketed, thanks for the great videos it is good to have some take the mystery our of what goes on behind the scenes at a funeral home.

Watching you Kari always make me think about my husband who died this year in January.

So interesting and you show things that we take for granted! I kept thinking your poor back!!! Kari Thankyou! You are very caring and it shows!!!

I never realized how much lifting and maneuvering you do. This was an interesting video. Thank you.

If there is someone heavy or obese…the cut technique of clothing would surely be the best option.

You did a lot of work making this video, thank you.

Coffee and Danish helped me thru this! Thank you for taking the time to explain and show us the procedures!!

Thank you for DOING WHAT YOU DO. Many ppl, including me, could NEVER deal with dead bodies, but I have no problems assisting in eye injections for retina issues.

Happy early bday! I wish I were born in June. On the 19th, I made 61 1/2. 6 more most to go. Wishing u many, many, many more of them. Sincerely 🙆🏽‍♀️💐🤸🏽‍♀️

God bless the ones who have this tender profession.

It’s a great profession. A comfort to families.

Thank Goodness there are people like you who do this and do a great job!🙏🏼 I couldn’t do it! Nope, nada, never, I’m out! Y’all deserve increased salaries and better benefits! The Funeral and death industries are an absolute HELL NO for or my spouse. I might be able to handle it if one of my kids worked in it. Thank you for doing what you do❣️

I'm waiting to see if I get into mortuary school right now! Love your videos they are so educational 💚

can’t imagine what compelled you to do this job career; your sweet gentile personality just surprises me you would ever want to do this job. Being comfortable at the funeral home late at night ALONE is hard to imagine

Dead weight is no joke with no assistance but in due time it becomes easier with different techniques learned and applied along the way! Great video

Wow not as easy as I thought...value the tips and tricks guys...Happy Birthday Kari 🍷🎂💐 🍾

Thanks for your time, I have often wondered how this and other works that go on in funeral homes

Bless your Heart Kari it's so Wonderful to see a person with such loving care for a deceased loved one Thank you for being such a sweet loving person it means so much to the Family......May God Bless you !

Starbucks coffee and learning how to dress and casket.

I sense a 100K Subscribers & a RU-vid Silver Play Button will be coming Kari's way very soon 😊

Thank you I always wondered how that was done. I thought cutting the cloths happened I just wasn't sure. Thanks Randy for your help. 😆

Fascinating and extremely informative. Thank you Kari.

Hey Kari, nice cliffhanger to your up coming video! Nice touch 👍

The physics and mechanical engineering that goes into dressing a body is far more extensive than I thought it would be.

Extremely informative vid! A lot more difficult than I thought:)

Wow!! You really have to get up close and personal!!! You get closer to the person than most family members do!!!

When my younger Sister passed on in October 2020 after a long battle with Anus Cancer it was the hardest time in my life to accept it , however me , my mom and my neighbour went to wash and prepare the body for burial but we could not as it was not easy to do it , but the Funeral home did it for us she looked so beautiful and alive .

Happy Birthday June 25th my birthday also from Midland Michigan. Thank you for what you do.

The first decedent I ever dressed was a premature baby. The parents had brought in the suit they had planned on using when they would have brought him home from the hospital. Needless to say, it was WAY too big. But I did it. Also, RIP Randy!

Yet another excellent and informative video. Your hard work and expertise is greatly appreciated.❤

Being a nurse aide in a nursing home for years, we used what they call a hoyer lift to move large people from a bed to a wheechair or other sitting position. That saves alot of back problems.

My son has a condition that causes him to often become paralyzed I’m leaned from hospital nurses the art of rolling to the side to put pants on. You tips will add to my skills

Happy Birthday Kari! 🎂🎉🎈

We can do without many professions....your's is not one of them. Families & the friends of the deceased need to feel secure that their loved ones are being cared for with dignity...and you are providing that care. I'm sure the community you serve are grateful for your kindness & caring nature.

I didn't realize how physical your job is........ many more kudos to you Kari for doing what you do....... very informative tho for us that had no clue.

Kari! I can’t believe I MISSED your BIRTHDAY! I hope you did something special with the girls!

Very well explained with good demo! Would like for u to do a demo on how embalmers reaspirate bodies.

Hats off to you Miss, you do an outstanding job, I do hope when I die that someone like you prepare my body, my respect to you and all of the ppl that work in the field

Kudos to you Kari. I could never ever do what you do. May God continue to bless you 🙏😂

Wow...just Really learned some interesting things and now I finally know how they got the beautiful suit on my Father when we Had to bury him in September of 2017 God REST His Soul.....I GUESS his suit was cut from behind but you couldn't even tell at the Funeral.....very interesting 😪😪😪

Very interesting Thank you for sharing 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Thank you so much. This was so interesting. Thanks for sharing,

This looks and sounds really involved. I really had no clue the extent to which morticians had to go in terms of preparing for viewing. I could imagine it, sure, but all the lifting, arranging, etc - that's a lot of work.

That looks strenuous!

And in the nursing home & home health care, those lifts are called the 'hoyer lift', I remember them well :) We had one with Mom, she had MS & couldn't help us with transfers, anyone who's used them knows the larger mesh pads that you put under (and sometimes leave under) the person. We also had sheepskin that we used with the hoyer pads to prevent skin damage.

This video is very educational very soothing and ensuring really appreciate the knowledge that you are sharing with the rest of us who finds your occupation very fascinating and intriguing I like how you handle the body with care and so much dignity as it should be

I have learnt so much from this video. Thank you for sharing i and appreciate what you do for our loved ones..May God bless you abundantly..

Happy Birthday Kari !

Oh Wow! I always wondered about this. Interesting. Thank you

Been woking as FA for many years I enjoy every minute of the job

Thank you for all your informational videos👍❤️