Upsells like concrete vaults and embalming are so common they’re seen as requirements, and few are in the position to question it. Many funeral homes require bodies to be embalmed before viewing, and morticians are often taught at mortuary school it’s a necessity. The truth is, embalming isn’t required at all. No state law requires every body to be embalmed and, most of the time, refrigeration is enough to keep a body in good condition until burial. There’s a common belief that embalming is necessary for sanitizing the body and making it safe to be around.
