The amount of time a deceased person’s body spends in the chapel of rest can vary depending on several factors. Generally, the body remains in the chapel for a few days up to a couple of weeks before the funeral service takes place.
What is a Chapel of Rest?
A chapel of rest, sometimes called a funeral home or mortuary, is a facility where deceased individuals are held and prepared for their funeral and burial or cremation. The chapel has private viewing rooms where family members can come to see and spend time with their deceased loved one before the funeral.
The chapel provides a quiet, peaceful setting for families to grieve and pay their final respects. Staff at the chapel prepare the body for viewing by washing and dressing it, and applying cosmetics. They will place the body in a casket or alternative container for viewing.
Why Bodies are Kept in the Chapel of Rest
There are several important reasons why a body is kept in the chapel of rest for a period of time:
- Allows time for family and friends to view the body and pay their respects
- Provides time to complete paperwork and make funeral arrangements
- Gives time for any requested medical tests or autopsy reports to be completed
- Allows time for family traveling from out of town to arrive for the funeral
Having this transitional time in the funeral home environment can help ease the grieving process before laying a loved one to rest.
Factors that Determine How Long a Body is Held
There are several factors that influence how long a deceased person’s body is kept in the chapel before burial or cremation:
Cause of Death
If the death was unexpected or the cause unknown, the body may need to be held for an autopsy report. This can take anywhere from a day to several weeks depending on the jurisdiction and backlog of cases.
Manner of Disposition
If the person is being cremated, this can typically be done within a few days. For a full body burial, it may take longer to schedule with the cemetery for the burial plot and service.
Funeral Planning
It takes time to coordinate schedules of family members, clergy, pallbearers, and others who need to attend the service. Complex funerals often have more attendees requiring additional planning.
Family Travel
If close family members need to travel far distances via plane to attend the funeral service, the body is kept until they can arrive. This also allows time for out of town family to spend time with the deceased.
Religious Customs
Some religions have specific requirements regarding how soon after death the burial must take place. Jewish and Muslim traditions often require burial within 24-48 hours of death.
Availability of Clergy or Cemetery
The schedule of the clergyperson officiating the service, as well as availability of the cemetery or crematorium staff, can factor into timing.
Average Time a Body is Held
While each case is unique, the typical timeframes a body is held in the chapel include:
- 1-3 days for cremation service
- 3-7 days for a memorial or funeral service with burial to follow
- 7-14 days if there is an autopsy or delays in scheduling burial
However, a funeral home will accommodate the family’s wishes regarding timing as best as possible.
What Happens at the Funeral Home
Once the deceased arrives at the funeral home, staff will complete the following:
- Transfer the body to a refrigerated holding area
- Remove any medical devices such as pacemakers as required by law
- Wash and dress the body for viewing if requested by family
- Apply cosmetic treatments to restore natural appearance
- Place the body into a casket selected by the family
- Move the body to the chapel of rest for viewing
- Provide a vigil room for family visits and gatherings
The funeral director will discuss options and help the family make decisions regarding final arrangements for services and disposition of the body. They will guide the family through the funeral planning process and arrange all details.
Visiting the Chapel of Rest
Family and friends who wish to see the deceased will be able to visit them in the chapel of rest. The funeral home staff will prepare the body and set up the viewing room with flowers, candles, pictures, and other personal touches at the family’s request.
There is no set time limit for visiting – family and close friends are welcome to stay as long as they need to mourn and pay their respects. The funeral home often has private rooms for families to use during this time.
Temporary Preservation of Bodies
Funeral homes use several methods to carefully preserve and slow decomposition of the body while in the chapel, including:
- Refrigeration at cool temperatures
- Embalming with preservation chemicals
- Topical disinfectants and moisturizers
Modern techniques allow funeral homes to safely preserve the deceased for viewing and services.
Are There Exceptions?
In most cases, the wishes of the family regarding timing are honored as best as possible. However, there are some exceptions where a body must be buried or cremated sooner:
- Contagious disease – To prevent spread of infection, the deceased may need to be cremated immediately.
- Advanced decomposition – If the body was not found immediately after death, quicker burial may be required.
- No family wishes – If the deceased has no family, the state will arrange burial.
- Medical donation – If the person is an anatomical donor, the body goes to the medical facility shortly after death.
Can Viewing be Denied?
Most funeral homes have an open viewing policy where any family or friends can come and pay respects. However, viewing can be denied or limited in the following situations:
- The deceased had a contagious disease
- The body was badly damaged or disfigured
- The family does not want the body embalmed or prepared for viewing
- There is ongoing criminal investigation or autopsy that prevents release of the body
If viewing may be psychologically harmful to others, the funeral director may advise the family to have a closed casket for hygienic or aesthetic reasons.
Storing Bodies Long-Term
It is uncommon for a body to be stored longer than a few weeks. If a body needs to be kept for an extended period, they may be transferred from the funeral home to a coroner’s facility equipped for long-term refrigerated storage.
Next of kin will need to give consent for any long-term storage. Reasons this may occur include:
- A crime is under investigation
- Evidence is needed from the deceased
- There is a dispute over the estate or burial
- The family cannot be located
Once any issues are resolved, the body will be released for burial or cremation.
Burial Laws and Timeframes
Most jurisdictions legally require deceased persons to be properly disposed of within a certain timeframe after death. For example:
| State | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| California | 8-10 days |
| Texas | 24 hours to 10 days |
| Florida | 48 hours |
However, funeral homes are accustomed to working within required timeframes and will file any necessary extensions if more time is needed.
Can a Funeral be Done Without an Undertaker?
It is legally possible to carry out a home funeral and burial on private land without a funeral director. However, be sure to check local regulations, as transportation and burial of the deceased are regulated.
An undertaker handles many important details, including preparing the body, filing documents, transferring the deceased to the burial site, and digging the grave. Without funeral home facilities, you will need refrigeration and dry ice to preserve the body.
Consider if you are prepared to physically manage the body and burial yourself in accordance with health codes. If opting for a home funeral, work with an understanding cemetery or medical examiner.
In Conclusion
The amount of time a body remains in the care of a funeral home can range from a few days to a couple of weeks in most cases. The funeral director will work closely with the deceased’s family to honor their wishes and accommodate any cultural or religious customs around timing of burial services.
Keeping a body at the funeral home allows for visitation, completion of paperwork, autopsy reports, and travel arrangements for out of town family members. It also gives the funeral home staff time to prepare the body for viewing and create a meaningful service. With modern preservation methods, they can care for the deceased until final disposition.