How Long Does It Take For a Body to Decompose After Embalming? Just Give Me 2 Minutes

One of the most often asked questions by viewers! How does Grandma look after 20 years in the ground or when does embalming stop working? Kari the Mortician gives you the only answer that can be given!

@KaritheMortician

[RockStop]

Thank you dear Kari for taking the time to answer our questions. My Mum passed in 1985, my Dad in 1992, and I admit I've wondered about that...also all the items that were put in the casket with them, like pictures the Grandchildren drew for them etc. At the end of the day though, I realize however their body looks under ground, I truly believe they are now looking so beautiful in Heaven. 💞

[Decgyrrl]

When Medger Evers, was brought up, u of course, could see he was deceased, but he was pristine. Some can & will decompose right down to skeletal. And some hold up quite well. But that's just a shell. The spirit stores & is beautiful. When my mother & father visit my dreams, they look as they did the last time I saw them in life.

[carjen]

You are absolutely right, thank you so much for the honest answer. There’s no way nobody would know. Unless you’re inside the coffin with the dead person. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[clarencejacksonjr.]

You gave us the RIGHT answer. I have peace knowing that my loved ones aren't there, but very much alive in heaven. It's just the earthly house they lived in. Thank you.

[teresasmith]

Kari, thank you. My daddy passed away April 25 and we were still able to love him well until May 4, and I can't tell you that our visits would not have extended past his cremation date which was May 4. Holding his hands and just talking to the physical parts of my sweet father were such a comfort to me and my family.

[carmenmiranda]

Hi Kari... When my grandpa past(Long time ago) my Dad wanted to move my grandpa to a smaller place thinking he was bones already. My grandpa was dead for 25 years, to my dad's surprise, when my grandpa was dug out, when the grave diggers open the casket, my dad said he looked amazing. Dad said that grandpa looked like he just passed away. We were all in shock. So they had to bury him again. My dad never bother to do this again. My dad past, and he was the only one that would try this again. Oh I almost forgot to say that my grandpa was 115 when he past. That was over 20 or 25 years ago. What does that mean? My grandpa was a very special man and axtremely smart.

[debraschnieber]

At least you are honest with your answers, I like that, thank you for sharing

[gingerninjawhinger]

It is interesting to see the differences in the burial traditions between the U.S. and the U.K. and the way that these impact on the rate of decomposition.

Here in the U.K., we are told that our Loved Ones will have become almost completely skeletonised at around 12-15 years after burial. One must remember though, that, in the U.K. we are buried at 2 metres (approx. 6 feet) in a wooden coffin in an unlined grave; as the ground settles in the grave, this causes the coffin to collapse and allows the microbes within the soil to continue the process of decomposition.

[lisap]

Our
Loved ones will always remain in our memories 🌹😘 the way we chose to remember them

[vicortiz]

Kari my great great great grandfather was was exhumed 20 years ago a still looked the same as he did when he was buried in 1869. They currently got him displayed in a museum .

[aa]

In the case of Abe Lincoln, when they placed him in the newly constructed tomb for the last time he had been dead 36 years. His son wanted the casket opened one last time to insure he was actually in there. Witnesses said he looked as if he had just died. They noticed specks of red white and blue flakes on his clothes and finally realized that was all there was left of the American flag they had placed in the casket with him.

[susanna]

Thank you for discussing this question Kari. My Dad passed last June and he had the kind of smile that lit up the room, and brown eyes that twinkled. I see that presence in my memory but every so often it's hard not to think of him and my Mom buried and those smiles not here anymore. I appreciate your kind and honest answers!

[garyschacht]

I think you gave the best answer….honesty! Love your videos!

[Airmaiden]

I think about this a lot. People say you know they are not there. I feel like their spirit yes has moved on but the people I held and loved are there

[tomklock]

Thanks for answering these weird questions. So many emotions that surround this. Sorry about your allergies...welcome to my world! Thanks Kari. People probably think they'll be like mummies!

[TheCynedd]

I am so happy you made this video; I know so many people who think embalming is permanent preservation and they did not believe me when I told them it was not (I forwarded this video to them)!

[jonb]

Thank you for this information. My dad passed may 30th, and when the funeral home picked him up, we signed a form allowing embalming, but a week later when we went to pay the balance for the upcoming funeral, they had us sign another form allowing embalming. I'm concerned that they have waited a week to embalm him, and it is going to have an effect on his viewing.

[MosaicRose]

True. You just don't know and it really depends. Some bodies have looked very well preserved after several years, others who have only been deceased for a short time have decayed greatly, and of course, the other way around. The other question I see frequently is which bodies decay first, those in crypts or those buried in the ground...

[Dominique_LaBorde]

I've always been interested in knowing this! thanks Kari! I hope you and the kids are doing well! stay safe beautiful! 😊

[randyfritz]

Kari
Thank you for setting the record straight, passing general info on to veiwers and taking the time to answer questions....