Dead Body Dressing Tutorial

I dress dead bodies for a living. This is a helpful guide on how to dress the deceased.

After watching this, you should have no problems, in case in which you would need to do it by yourself.
I show the complete process of securing the body, so the fluids won't stain the clothes.
You can see how to handle a dead body as well with the hip and arm grab, because you need to flip it on it's side while dressing it.
I prepared and dressed hundreds of bodies so far, so these are my own techniques, that seems to be optimal for me.
When the body has rigor mortis, then you need to 'break it' (hence the bone breaking myth), which means excercising the limbs, so everything loosens up.
The limbs crack in the joints sometimes, which strenghtens the above mentioned myth.
I never broke someone's bone and can't imagine a situation in which that could happen or would be required.
Sometimes the rigor mortis is in full force and you can do nothing to break it.
It would just need some time to go away but since the funeral is already scheduled, the body needs to be dreesed as is.
Some people, who were lying in bed for years, have shortened tendons from being in the fetal position.
The tendons would need to be cut to straighten the legs and no family wants that, so the body is put into a casket as it died in the bed, on it's side.
To dress a big dead body you need two persons and sometimes even three or more.

Where I live, there are not many morbidly obese people, so it's a rarity to dress someone over 120kg/264lbs. I only cut clothes when they are to small.
Families often deliver old clothes which are at least a size too small.
Normally I don't cut clothes on the back and use my trademark rolling technique instead.
It's a neat trick that I came up with by myself and taught it to people that are way longer in this business than me.
Usually I dress the corpse by myself but sometimes with a member of a family of the dead and that's a whole different story, but I'm good at it and empathetic enough to arrange an atmosphere of quiet professionalism and just genuine human understanding and care.
I like to guide these poor people on how to put the socks on their father or mother and they always walk out way calmer and sometimes even smiling.
It's a great feeling to be able to change someone's mood in such hard situation, just by doing your job the best that you can.
I'm realy grateful for that and I don't think that I will be able to feel grater satisfaction than when I'm my own version of a mythical Charon. It's a priviledge and a duty.
In this tutorial I used a medical phantom and dressed it in my own clothes.
The whole thing usually takes me about an hour (up to three), from opening the bag, to the body looking presentable in the casket. There are lot of useful tricks in here, so please pay attention.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Removing the body from the bag
1:18 Cleaning and stuffing
2:31 Diaper and underwear
3:37 Socks
4:34 Shirt
6:37 Tie
6:56 Jacket
7:34 Trousers
8:13 Shoes
8:50 Unstuffing and hair and makeup
9:32 Final touches
9:58 Outro

[suzvalentino]

Martin you sir are a true professional. I saw the comment you made to someone about striving for perfection and you do. Don't think for a minute people won't notice how good their loved looks. It's the special touches that people see. Thank you for sharing this.

[robertsherman]

Martin.
I’ve seen many videos on caring for the dead.
I find your videos to be professional, yet very personal and grounded.
The information provided is straight forward with no confusion.
Coming from a small community growing up. A majority of my family and friends that passed, were taken care of by one couple.
They have been providing service to the community for 45+ years.
I have the highest respect and gratitude for the individuals that provide this necessary service.
Personally, individuals in profession are compassionate and caring.
Best regards,
R

[assenettahalstead]

Thanks for the demonstrations, I have always heard that the clohes are split in the back but you have helped me to understand the procedure, thanks again

[VansSpartacus]

This is the most difficult, emotional, job in the world, God Bless the ones who work in Funeral homes, this job isn't for the faint hearted, after all it's a job, and We are blessed to have some brave people on this Planet.. Hats off to all the people working in This Industry.. I was getting emotional when I was watching this video.. Thanks a Million for making This Video

[lillymay]

I think we would all like someone like you looking after us when our time comes. 🥰

[lorenakato]

I also have respect for you cause of the care and respect you have for the person.i lost allot of people in my family, parents and 3 siblings so I appreciate your work and time you do. Thank you for your work

[paulastone]

Absolutely awesome and so respectful and efficient (even to the dummy!) Well done x

[AK-jkco]

I find this so incredibly fascinating. Thank you for sharing.

[LindzTheLooneyOfLondon]

I have only just discovered your channel and I’m loving it, all of it. Watching you struggling with socks though is something I share as I’m disabled, there are several sock aids on the market, one holds open the sock making it easier to get it passed the heel, I see no reason why it wouldn’t work in your situation and make life a bit easier for you and your client!
I love your art especially and find it interesting to hear about the different burial practices, but the videos with your lovely wife made my day xxx❤

[rebeccakramp]

I didn’t think shoes were put on the deceased. They told us not to bring them when my parents died.
I have the utmost respect for people in the mortuary business. It is something that needs to be done and not everyone is cut out for that type of work. I know I could never do it.

[jefferykubitz]

Interesting. I was told the clothes have the backs slit to place on top of the body and tucked in. Your way, to me, is much better and allows a more finished and proper job.

[mariebeveridge]

Thank you for sharing. You are incredibly professional and respectful. I find this so fascinating your tips are am sure a huge help to others who share your same profession.👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

[peacockpaula]

Amazing job you're doing. Never seen this before. When my grandad died my family did all this... A bit scary. I don't like dead people, it's very sad. I don't believe in suffering, no not at all. Thank you for showing this, good to know... amazing, bless you.

[monicahyland]

I’m from New York and I worked in a funeral home for a while and this was one of my favorite jobs yet saddest at some times . Thanks for sharing, great content and education.

[darkhorse]

I just discovered your channel today. I subscribed as quick as I could. You have my utmost respect in all that you do.

[emmaholmes]

The trick with the shirt & jacket is brilliant never seen that before. The plastic bag on the foot then roll the socks over it is also a good trick ~ I was shown it by a nurse when she was helping me get ready for my kidney transplant 👍

[brownbagz]

My ex husband was a mortician. We met and married at 19 but divorced 5 yrs later. Working with him the, I could look at everything but now at 57, my stomach gets queasy looking at baby throw up! Great video!

[stacyinsane]

hello I just want to say thank you to you and others like you on your profession for your service to our deceased loved ones with people like you our families wouldn't be looking so lovely and well taken care of after their death

[kasie]

This is so respectful and I hope my loved ones were and are dressed like this, I’ve seen on other channels that people say they dressed the dead in big plastic bags under their clothes, and clothes are cut up the back, placed over the person and tucked underneath, I know they aren’t there anymore but it made me feel sad that they were in cold plastic bags and had no clothes on their backs, cold forever

[phillip]

Iv wonder four years how our loved ones have been delt with during these procedures watching this gives me sadness and Respect for those willing to do this for us all during our Pains of lose at those times, it's hard for us to imagine a love one in a holding area for days or weeks prior to burial just laying there alone or with others,
It is as torture for us, we can only hope that a mortician will be just as professional and Caring with our love ones, thank you for giving us a little insight how you manage a deceased one 🙏🙏❤️ it is a Ministry ✝️