Mustache Causes Embalming Disaster | FFFW 257

Y’all, we have reached one of the greatest months of the year! November has it all: great weather, great food, and a top 5 holiday! What more can you ask for?

So, we have plenty of reasons to celebrate, and we’re going to get going on that.

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Introducing The Memo by MemoryShare

New monthly newsletter!

“The Memo” is for funeral directors to stay updated on the latest tools, pro-tips, video tricks, and technology op-eds in the funeral profession. Subscribers will get exclusive access to early offers, discounts, and feature releases.

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Ask the Funeral Dude!

Question:
“We said ‘casual attire.’ Half the chapel heard ‘NFL tailgate.’ Is there a nice way to steer dress code after invites go out?” — Paula, IL

Answer:
Here’s the deal: you have to realize that you live in an area where “dressing up” probably means wearing an American Eagle polo and khaki shorts. Honestly, you’re lucky they didn’t pull up in sweatpants and heydudes. I would say count yourself as lucky and just require ties at any event you don’t want to be a redneck spectacle.

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Trivia

Choose the correct answer and you’ll see a puppy. Get it wrong and you’ll see someone hurting themselves.

The Civil War’s most famous embalmer, Dr. Thomas Holmes, claimed he embalmed about how many bodies?

A) 400
B) 4,000
C) 40,000

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You Otter Be Proud

Here’s some good news going on in the profession.

1. This Milford nonprofit helps families with high funeral costs
2. People Magazine Covers Funeral Profession Story
3. Fifth-generation funeral director Jeff Monreal helps families grieve, celebrate loved ones

Frigid Fluid Awarded U.S. Patent for New Embalming Machine Port System

Northlake, Ill. — October 20, 2025 — Frigid Fluid, a family-owned company serving funeral professionals since 1892, has been granted a U.S. Patent (US 12,214,937 B2) for its Port System and Method for an Embalming Machine. The new design reflects Frigid Fluid’s long-standing commitment to advancing embalming technology in practical, meaningful ways.

The patented port system’s Mix Mode ensures a uniform blend of the selected formula, preventing fluid separation and improving overall consistency when blending fluids. With the Self Clean mode, the hydraulic system can be thoroughly flushed in minutes, simplifying routine maintenance while extending the life and performance of the machine.

“This patent represents another step forward in our effort to make embalming equipment smarter and easier to use,” said Brian Yeazel, President and CEO of Frigid Fluid. “Our engineering team has put real thought into how people use this equipment every day—and this design grew directly from those insights.”

The Port System and Method patent joins a growing portfolio of Frigid Fluid innovations that support funeral directors and embalmers around the world. It underscores the company’s continued investment in practical design improvements that enhance insight, reliability, and long-term performance in the prep room.

About Frigid Fluid
Founded in 1892, Frigid Fluid supports funeral professionals with dependable products, hands-on service, and technical expertise. The company is headquartered in Northlake, Illinois, and serves customers throughout North America and internationally. Learn more at www.frigidfluid.com.

The Independent Funeral Group Announces Partnership with The Champion Company to Support Embalming Innovation and Eco-Friendly Solutions

Maryville, TN — October 22, 2025 — The Independent Funeral Group is pleased to announce a new partnership with The Champion Company, America’s oldest family-owned chemical company and a respected pioneer in embalming and funeral service innovation, whose legacy of excellence stretches back a century and a half. This collaboration provides member firms access to forward-thinking solutions that emphasize quality, safety, and environmental responsibility.

Champion has long been recognized for its groundbreaking work in embalming chemistry and equipment. From introducing formaldehyde-free solutions that increase safety for embalmers to developing certified products for green burials and eco-cremations, Champion continues to lead the way in meaningful industry advancements. Their commitment to innovation, sustainability, and practitioner wellbeing makes them a trusted partner for funeral professionals who value both tradition and progress.

For 30 years, The Independent Funeral Group has worked to build a strong network of peers and partners, to better support our membership, and independent funeral homes overall. This new relationship with Champion reflects our ongoing mission to equip our member firms with ethical, high-quality resources that help them serve their communities with confidence and care.

“For generations, Champion has led the way in improving our profession,” said Dr. Brad Kuchnicki, Executive Director of The Independent Funeral Group. “Their commitment to both innovation and integrity makes them an ideal partner for the firms we support.”

“At Champion, we’ve always believed innovation and care go hand in hand,” said Dmitri Gianakopoulos, President and CEO of The Champion Company. “We’re proud to work with The Independent Funeral Group and bring forward-thinking solutions to the firms that serve their communities with compassion every day.”

About The Independent Funeral Group

Since 1995, The Independent Funeral Group has worked to support family-owned and operated funeral homes, and now serves as a buying, education, and resource group, committed to preserving independent ownership and strengthening the profession through shared resources and collaboration. Founded by funeral practitioners, for funeral practitioners, The Group champions dignity, service, and community.

To learn more about The Independent Funeral Group’s mission, membership criteria, and benefits, visit www.tifg.net, email info@tifg.net, or call (865) 405-7085.

Our mission is to help you achieve yours.

11 Fascinating Facts About The Father of Embalming

One of the very first things a mortuary student learns when embarking on embalming training is the name of the father of embalming, Dr. Thomas Holmes — and for good reason. Although he was not the first person to experiment with various body preservation techniques, he popularized arterial embalming during the American Civil War by developing and applying an arsenic-based solution to preserve soldiers’ bodies for transport home. His work changed mortuary practices and laid the foundation for the modern funeral industry.

These distinctions are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the life and times of Dr. Thomas Holmes. Through first-hand newspaper reports, we’ve uncovered 11 more fun and fascinating facts about the father of embalming, listed here in no particular order:

1. He did not want to be embalmed

When Holmes died on January 8, 1900 at age 83 after “an illness of more than two years,” the headline of his New York Tribune death notice was “Dead Embalmer Wants No Embalming.” The notice added that this “last wish” was in spite of Holmes’ status as the father of embalming and the fact that he had embalmed “about a thousand bodies” (or 28,400 soldiers” as another outlet reported in 1900).

2. He made very little money from his accomplishments, and died a “poor man.”

In 1901, a Washington Post reporter wrote about his 1896 visit to Holmes’ home, saying, “He was living at that time in great poverty, in the miserable little frame hut on Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn where he died.” Another article claimed that while practicing as a physician in New York prior to the Civil War, Holmes purchased property (including the Marcy Avenue lot) that was “at one time said to be worth $100,000.” It is thought that he lost his fortune after committing to his embalming research… as seen in the next item.

3. He once spent $17,000 on beef

After Holmes’ death, it was reported that “at one time he thought that he could preserve fresh beef and purchased for the purposes of experimentation an entire cargo of beeves from Texas. By this purchase the doctor lost nearly $17,000, because the beef all had to be destroyed.”

4. The method he used to embalm Lincoln was amazingly effective, but secret

When the body of Abraham Lincoln was exhumed in 1901 for the purpose of reinterment in a tomb, his body was “found to be in a most excellent state of preservation” thanks to his embalmer, Dr. Thomas Holmes. The exact process Holmes used to embalm Lincoln, though, is still a secret, although journalists wrote that it was a “radical departure from the ordinary mode of embalming by means of fluids.” Instead, Holmes “placed the body in a glass case and subjected it to pressure of a peculiar gas, the action of which hardened the flesh to a degree approaching the toughness of leather.”

5. He secured several patents throughout his lifetime.

Holmes’ patents include:

• Apparatus for Filling Blood-Vessels of Dead Bodies (1861)
• Elastic and Deodorizing Receptacle for Dead Bodies (1863)
• Deodorizing Coffin (1864)
• Improvement in the Process of Preserving Dead Bodies (1877)
• Embalming Syringe (1890)
• Embalming Mixture (1891)

6. Holmes became known for displaying some odd things in his storefront windows.

Supposedly to promote his embalming services, for many years Holmes posted to his storefront a plaque listing the names of prominent Union soldiers he had embalmed during the Civil War. He is also said to have kept an embalmed dog in a glass case in his front window for several years, which “began to excite the curiosity of children going to school.”

7. In his mid-70s, Holmes was committed to a mental asylum for “dementia.”

In 1896, after a “little family difficulty,” Holmes spent two weeks as a mental patient at Flatbush Hospital in Brooklyn, where “insanity experts” examined him and determined he had developed a “slight attack of dementia.” After a few days these doctors declared that the “cause of the attack had disappeared.” After his discharge, he told a reporter that he was “contemplating taking a trip to Key West, with a view to embalming bodies of those killed in the Cuban-Spanish war.” He also said he hoped to “conduct some of his experiments” at the Flatbush facility. 

8. Holmes was sometimes on the wrong side of the law

The aforementioned “family difficulty” that led to Holmes’ very short stay was a little more complicated than the previous article let on. His relatives requested that he be committed after he “made an unsuccessful attempt to kill his wife” with a revolver he had begun keeping by his side, barricaded himself behind a door with an axe in his hand and threatened to kill anyone trying to enter his house. This activity was presumed to have stemmed from his bank foreclosing on his mortgages and his brother-in-law being appointed manager of his estate and his subsequent threat to commit suicide by poisoning himself near his vault in Cypress Hill Cemetery so “it won’t be much work to get me inside.” This situation ultimately resulted in his arrest for … intoxication. The prior year, Holmes was arrested for “keeping a body on his premises for more than two months.” He was released when authorities confirmed that he had obtained the body from Bellevue hospital for “scientific purposes.”

9. His last major embalming experiment was a “new petrifying scheme” involving “the antiseptic gas process.”

From the late 1880s until his sharing of a “petrified arm” in 1895, Holmes worked to perfect an embalming method that would eliminate “danger from contagion” and use materials that could be easily and  cheaply manufactured and accessed. 

10. Authorities found various human and animal body parts in Holmes’ home after his death.

Eleven months after Holmes died in his home, police, “through the board of health” finally removed the specimens stored in his basement morgue. They found: “The mummified body of a male child, apparently 11 years old, with head, shoulders and arms missing. Had evidently been severed from the body with a saw and as hard as wood. […] The body was mummified to such an extent that a crosscut saw went through it like pine wood. […] The body was sawed across the bottom and then between the legs and spine […] With these remains were those of three other children. There was also removed from the place at the time two mummified bodies of monkeys and one head of a monkey.” Even more than a decade after his death, as authorities were demolishing the structure, excavators came across several “petrified toes.”

11. Holmes had several side gigs.

Although perfecting the embalming process was Holmes’ lifelong pursuit, he also dabbled in other businesses and inventions. One blogger wrote, “According to Mary Roach and her excellent book Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers,  Dr. Holmes tried different ventures including opening a drugstore, running a health spa, and launching a root-beer business.” He is also said to have placed ads in “mortuary trade journals with his latest invention:  a canvas body bag that could also double as a sleeping bag.” And in 1895, he told a reporter that he was “about to organize a company for the manufacture of glass caskets lighted by electricity, by which the living can view the faces of their dead friends.”

Air Force Morticians Make History by Mastering the 30-Minute Embalming

Last month, in a Michigan warehouse that had been temporarily transformed into a makeshift embalming suite, a team of Air Force specialists accomplished an unprecedented feat: embalming and full body wrapping of remains in under 30 minutes in a contested field environment, all while maintaining the dignity and respect due to the fallen. 

The realities of the field

The Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations (AFMAO) team of embalmers, mortuary specialists, and chaplains made history by creating the first expeditionary mortuary at Camp Grayling in northern Michigan on August 25, 2025. The exercise was part of Exercise Northern Strike 25-2, a Michigan National Guard-sponsored event designed to prepare personnel from all service branches for real-life combat situations. It was Michigan’s largest and longest readiness exercise, with about 7,500 participants spending two weeks at Camp Grayling.

The exercise put mortuary affairs personnel in positions where they had to shorten their usual processes, and focus on completing multiple procedures in a day. This involved receiving remains, embalming, then completing a full body-wrap — a process that normally takes hours. Field embalming prioritizes preservation and not restoration, which is an important part of the process in normal, non-combat conditions.

Working in a warehouse environment with limited ventilation and only portable respiratory masks for the team, AFMAO personnel constructed a field drainage system, operated arterial and hypodermic machines, and adapted to constraints that would probably challenge even the most seasoned deathcare professional.

“The 30-minute embalming is relatively unheard of. As funeral directors and morticians, embalming typically focuses on three elements: sanitation, restoration, and preservation,” explained Danielle Wilk, a U.S. Army veteran and deathcare professional of 23 years. She added that in an operational mass-casualty context where remains were unlikely to be viewable, “restoration was less of a concern, while preservation remained the priority.”

Necessary measures

Wilk and her colleagues completed the embalming process within the 30-minute goal six times, followed by successful full body wraps performed by Marines and soldiers, demonstrating that rapid, respectful preparation is achievable even under the most demanding conditions.

“It’s doable. It’s 100% achievable, and it didn’t look sloppy, and it still maintained dignity, honor and respect,” said Matthew Metschke, AFMAO’s case-management branch chief and former Army 92M. 

The concept of battlefield embalming originated during the Civil War, when practitioners carried out tens of thousands of rudimentary embalmings for the purpose of preserving a body long enough for it to be shipped home. Today’s battlefields can pose many of the same challenges — no refrigeration, and the need to preserve a soldier’s remains for transport.  

The AFMAO plans to deploy Mobile Embalming Units (something those Civil War doctors performing their craft under a tent would have greatly appreciated) in future exercises to enhance capability and adaptability, especially in remote or contested areas. From a mass-casualty response standpoint, this rapid embalming process could prove invaluable—not just in military operations, but in natural disasters or incidents where infrastructure is overwhelmed. Having a streamlined, dignified approach that balances speed with solemn respect is an invaluable tool for responders facing grim realities.

Should We Revive This Ancient (but Effective!) Embalming Technique?

In a remarkable discovery that bridges centuries of mortuary science, researchers have unveiled the unique embalming method used on the so-called “air-dried chaplain” of Austria. This revelation not only sheds light on historical preservation techniques but also prompts contemporary funeral directors to reconsider the evolution and potential revival of certain non-invasive and apparently effective embalming practices.

Unveiling the Past: The Air-Dried Chaplain

The mummified remains, long believed to be naturally preserved, were found in the crypt of St. Thomas am Blasenstein Church in Austria. Recent studies led by Dr. Andreas Nerlich from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich have identified the body as that of Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, an aristocratic vicar who died in 1746. Contrary to prior assumptions, the preservation was not due to environmental factors but rather a deliberate embalming process.

What sets this case apart is the method employed: the body was embalmed via the rectum, with the abdominal and pelvic cavities filled with absorbent materials such as wood chips, twigs, hemp, silk, and zinc chloride; some of the silk even boasted embroidery). This technique avoided external incisions, making it distinct from traditional practices of the time. CT scans and partial autopsies confirmed the presence of these materials, indicating a sophisticated approach to preservation aimed at minimizing infection risks or facilitating transport.

Historical Context of Embalming Practices

As you well know, embalming has a rich history. In Europe, embalming was initially reserved for royalty and high-ranking clergy, often involving evisceration and the use of aromatic herbs. Over time, the practice became more widespread, with the introduction of chemical preservatives like formaldehyde in the 19th century. However, concerns over the toxicity of formaldehyde have led to the development of alternative methods. 

Implications for Modern Funeral Practices

While the air-dried chaplain’s rectal embalming technique is unlikely to be adopted in modern funeral homes, it does highlight the importance of innovation and adaptability in the field. It also serves as a testament to human ingenuity in the face of mortality and a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of deathcare.

NFDA Embalming & Restorative Art Seminar Returns with Hands-On Training and Live Demonstrations

Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Embalming & Restorative Art Seminar is returning in 2025 with an exciting new format designed to provide embalmers with cutting-edge techniques and hands-on experience. Scheduled for May 7-9 at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, this premier seminar offers a unique opportunity to engage in live demonstrations on a donor body and interactive training using the exclusive Headzo models. Scholarships from the Funeral Service Foundation are available to help funeral service professionals attend this invaluable event. This immersive learning experience caters to embalmers of all skill levels, from novices to seasoned professionals. Led by industry experts, the seminar will feature dynamic sessions, including: 

• May 7 – Live Embalming and Lecture and Demonstration: Michael Burns, CFSP, dean of Faculty and Students, and Nicholas Ricci, an instructor at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, will lead attendees through live demonstrations of critical embalming techniques on a donor body, including arterial injection, cosmetics and restorative methods.
• May 8 and 9 – Live Demonstration and Application: Using Headzo models Burns and Ricci will guide participants through cranial reconstruction, restoration, cosmetic application and hair placement, offering valuable hands-on experience.
• May 8 – Embalming Risk Management: Chris Farmer, NFDA general counsel, will explore the legal risks embalmers encounter and provide strategies for minimizing liability exposure.
• May 9 – Ask the Experts Panel: A unique opportunity to engage directly with Burns, Ricci and Farmer, allowing attendees to gain deeper insights and address specific questions.

NFDA’s Embalming & Restorative Art Seminar always receives high marks from participants. A 2025 attendee shared, “All of the embalming sessions were excellent. I walked away with so many great ideas and tips. [It] sparked a thirst to try out new ideas.” Another noted, “I liked everything about the seminar. Very informational, hands-on and educational; the best part – I made a few new funeral director friends.” 

Scholarships Available 

Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the Funeral Service Foundation is providing five scholarships to attend the 2025 NFDA Embalming & Restorative Art Seminar. Valued at up to $1,450, each scholarship covers registration fees, two nights of lodging and a $500 travel stipend. Applicants must be licensed embalmers (NFDA membership not required). To learn more and apply by March 28, visit NFDA.org/EmbalmingSeminar. Applicants will be notified of their status by early-April. 

Register Early and Save! 

Registration for the 2025 NFDA Embalming & Restorative Art Seminar is now open and the early-bird pricing is available through April 24. Participants may choose to attend the live embalming demonstration on May 7, the hands-on Headzo training on May 8-9, or both! Participants are encouraged to register early; seating is limited to just 70 participants for the Headzo demonstration. To secure a spot, visit NFDA.org/EmbalmingSeminar or call 800-228-6332. Several hotels are located near the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science; attendees may visit NFDA.org/EmbalmingSeminar for recommendations and to book a room. NFDA is grateful to the Heritage Club, The Dodge Company and Frigid Fluid for their support of this seminar. 

The Profession’s Best Embalming and Restorative Art Resources 

NFDA offers a wide range of education and resources to help funeral service professionals practice embalming with a high degree of excellence. On March 12, NFDA will host Navigating the First Solo Embalming: Bridging the Information Gap for Apprentices as part of its Level Up Learning Webinar series. This presentation by Damon de la Cruz guides apprentices through key challenges like fluid selection, dilution and injection site choices. Leveraging the experience of seasoned embalmers, attendees will learn strategies for tackling challenges head-on and insights into the decision-making processes experienced embalmers use. Level Up Learning Webinars are free for NFDA members and $79 for nonmembers. Funeral professionals can register online at NFDA.org/Events or by calling 800-228-6332. The 2025 NFDA International Convention & Expo, taking place October 26-29 in Chicago, Illinois, will feature a preconvention embalming seminar and multiple education sessions covering technical skills. Look for full details when registration for the NFDA Convention opens in the spring.   NFDA offers several online learning courses focused on technical skills. Courses cover a variety of topics and enable funeral professionals to boost their skills wherever and whenever they have Internet access. A full list of courses can be found on the NFDA website, NFDA.org/OLC. NFDA’s collection of legal forms, available exclusively to members at NFDA.org/LegalForms,  includes several forms related to preparation, including embalming authorization forms, embalming affidavits, embalming report forms and more. NFDA developed two consumer brochures, Embalming: Answers to Your Questions and The Value of Viewing the Body of Your Loved One, to help families understand the embalming process, the value of viewings and visitations as part of end-of-life rituals, and answer common questions. The brochures can be ordered through the NFDA Resource Store, NFDA.org/Store, or by calling 800-228-6332. Funeral directors may also want to encourage families they serve to visit NFDA’s consumer-facing website, RememberingALife.com, which serves as a guide to honoring a life well-lived, from planning a tribute to mourning a loved one. The site offers guidance on how to start the planning process, the kinds of decisions families will make, and the many options available to make a tribute personal and meaningful. The site highlights service options, including embalming and the value of viewing; details about cremation and burial; and prefunding options. About NFDA NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit NFDA.org. 

Wyoming’s Crystal Castle, Constructed of Embalming Fluid Bottles, Could Be Yours!

“You might say this home built from 30,000 glass embalming fluid bottles has been perfectly preserved…”

That’s how one real estate agent described Cheyenne, Wyoming’s one-of-a-kind Crystal Castle, which was recently listed for sale at the bargain price of $325,000. The current owner has used the 766-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bath home, which sits on 3.34 acres, as a vacation cabin, rather than a primary residence, and the listing agent hopes it can become home to a new family soon.

And yes, the eight-inch-thick exterior walls of the home are indeed constructed from empty square-bottomed, pint-size bottles of embalming fluid embedded in concrete. 

@307dreamteam

You might say this home built from 30,000 glass embalming fluid bottles has been perfectly preserved… 😜 This one-of-a-kind property famously sits atop 3.4 acres overlooking the rolling topography of Curt Gowdy State Park and its Granite and Crystal Reserviors. Hailed as Wyoming’s “Crystal Castle,” you might be surprised to find a totally nice (and updated) living space inside with newer paint, flooring & windows, newer water heater, updated bathroom, and an attic furnace system for heat when you don’t want to use the wood burning fireplace. Roof and gutters updated in 2018. Sold with almost all furnishings with acceptable offer! Featured on HGTV and numerous publications throughout the years, are you up to the task of being the new caretaker of Wyoming’s Crystal Castle? 1023 Cotton Tail Drive, Cheyenne, WY $325,000 Brokered by: Tyler Walton, #1 Properties 307-752-4176 #wyomingrealestate #embalming #cheyennewyoming #realestate #hgtv

♬ Drake style/HIPHOP beat(1491552) – Burning Man

Following in another’s footsteps

Construction of the Crystal Castle was completed in 1963 by J. Harry Widholm — who was not, as you might think, involved in deathcare. However, Widholm’s inspiration for his Wyoming construction came from a similar home he had visited 10 years earlier — one that was actually the brainchild of a retired funeral director.

Called, simply, the Glass House, the original embalming bottle home was built in Canada by David H. Brown, who retired from deathcare in 1952 after 35 years in the profession. He built his glass home on a foundation of solid rock on the shore of Kootenay Lake in Sanca, British Columbia. 

Today, Brown’s Glass House is a tourist attraction. Visitors can tour its three main rooms, each arranged in a circular shape to form an overall cloverleaf pattern. The structure is 48 feet in length and 24 feet wide, containing a total of 1,200 square feet of floor space. The grounds of the Glass House features thousands of flowers and a footbridge that is also made of embalming fluid bottles. 

Extreme recycling?

Brown had amassed quite a collection of embalming fluid bottles as a funeral director, but not enough to construct an entire home for his family. So after his retirement, he traveled across western Canada collecting empty bottles from his friends and former colleagues. Eventually, he had acquired the 500,000 bottles he needed to build the house, bridge, and even a lighthouse on his property. 

It is said that Brown built the home simply to “indulge a whim of a peculiar nature.” It’s likely that Widholm embarked on his construction for the same reason, as it was soon after visiting Brown’s Glass House in Canada that Widholm began gathering his own collection of embalming fluid bottles. 

Widholm eventually amassed 30,000 bottles from funeral homes across three states, according to a May 5, 1963 feature in Montana’s Billings Gazette newspaper. From 1961 to 1963, Widholm and his brother hand-washed each bottle “to prevent discoloration and odor” and placed them in an overall “barbell” pattern that Widholm had designed himself.

Like the current owner, Widholm only used the house as a weekend and summer place. He sold the house in 1972, and in 1973 it went on the market again for $17,500. Then, as now, the unique opportunity for someone to purchase an embalming-bottle house for their very own made news across the country.

So if turrets, round rooms, and glistening exteriors are your thing, and you’re looking for a country house in Wyoming, and you don’t have kids (or enemies) who like to throw stones, this $325,000 charmer might be just the home for you!

NFDA Special Advocacy Bulletin: US EPA Finds Formaldehyde Used for Embalming is NOT Regulated Under the Toxic Substances Control Act

Major Victory for NFDA and Funeral Service

NFDA to host free member webinar on March 27 about the draft risk assessment.

[On Friday, March 15] the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its draft of its determination of the health and environmental risks of formaldehyde under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for comment and peer review. NFDA and funeral service secured a major victory when the draft risk assessment indicated that formaldehyde used for embalming would not be subject to regulations under TSCA. NFDA will offer further details to the profession about the EPA draft risk assessment, its implications and next steps during a webinar on March 27.  

Over the past five years NFDA has worked with its experts, industry leaders, and the EPA itself on this review. These tireless efforts spearheaded by NFDA’s Senior Vice President of Advocacy, Lesley Witter, have spent countless hours researching data, analyzing EPA reports and opinions, and working with subject matter experts, all to make sure that the data and information related to funeral service and its use of formaldehyde was up to date and accurate. 

NFDA even conducted its own study of formaldehyde exposure published in the peer reviewed Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene which showed that the level of exposure to formaldehyde for funeral directors and embalmers is less than current exposure limits (https://nfda.org/news/in-the-news/nfda-news/id/6449/landmark-nfda-study-on-formaldehyde-exposure-published-in-scientific-journal).  

In this evaluation, the EPA evaluated the risks that arise from the production and use of products that are subject to TSCA – as opposed to exposures from those products that are excluded from TSCA, such as pesticides. The EPA can use these findings to determine if additional regulation and restrictions on formaldehyde and its uses are required.

The EPA found that there was risk of exposure to formaldehyde for some workers, from consumer products, and even in our homes (building products and furniture can release formaldehyde when newly formulated). The EPA admitted, however, there were uncertainties in some of its findings.

Most importantly to funeral service, the EPA found that TSCA excludes from the definition of “chemical substance” “any pesticide” as defined in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Under FIFRA, mortuary science products intended for preservation of biological specimens are considered pesticides. Thus, embalming fluids used in mortuaries, laboratories, hospitals, and institutions of learning meet the definition of “pesticide” and are therefore excluded from the TSCA when manufactured, processed, or distributed in commerce for these uses.

However, there is still work to be done. This finding does not ensure that there won’t be repercussions for funeral service. EPA has previously issued a determination that all uses of formaldehyde constitute an “unreasonable risk,” which may trigger regulations under various laws overseen by EPA and other agencies. For example,  TSCA also requires EPA to coordinate, provide exposure data, and report on “exposures or releases of a chemical substance or mixture that may be prevented or reduced under another Federal law.”

Excluding funeral service from the scope does not provide any protection for the upstream and intermediate uses of formaldehyde, which may be subject to bans or unachievable standards, with a corresponding negative impact on cost or availability of formaldehyde-based embalming products (including imports). Other bodies, including other parts of EPA or OSHA or state agencies, may use the EPA determinations by the EPA here and its accompanying unachievable draft workplace levels as the basis for regulatory or enforcement actions in funeral service.

It is important to note that this is only a draft and is subject to further review and revision. However, the finding issued by the EPA that embalming fluids are not subject to TSCA appears to be one of a matter of law by the Agency’s attorneys, thus presumedly reducing the chances that it is rescinded or revised.

The draft risk evaluation will be reviewed by stakeholders and the EPA’s Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals and a final evaluation is expected to be published in the future, but the timing is unknown.

For more information on NFDA’s efforts, the EPA’s review, and formaldehyde best practices management please visit the NFDA website.

A New Embalming Product? | FFFW 177

DISCLAIMER: None of the F’s in FFFW stand for “facts.” Enjoy the satire.

Happy March 1st! We’re in the last third of the first quarter and I’m feeling good. Let’s get it rolling!

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See how MemoryShare has helps funeral homes call volume.

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Flex Seal Embalming Magic?

Hey funeral directors, are you tired of using several different tools and concoctions to do your embalming? Well, be tired no more! Flex Seal Embalming Magic*** is here for you with our new all-purpose embalming magic fluid.

Now, some will ask, “Isn’t this just normal Flex Seal?” and we say, “YES, it is, but that doesn’t it any worse of a product. It does make you more of a loser for asking.”

Need to fill body cavities? Flex Seal Embalming Magic does that!

Need to fill a face? Flex Seal Embalming Magic does that!

Need to do makeup? Our new multi-colored Flex Seal Embalming Magic can do that too!

No need to buy any more embalming chemicals. Flex Seal Embalming Magic has all you need!

*** Yeah, this is not a real product. The author’s a liar.

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Trivia

If you click the right answer you’ll get a GIF of a puppy. If you click wrong, you’ll get something else.

How expensive is the highest-priced casket on Amazon?

A) $1,999
B) $3,999
C) $5,999

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You Otter Be Proud

Here are some good things going on in the profession.

1. Nick Gerhart Appointed Homesteaders COO
2. Funeral director says preplanning helps families at a time of loss
3. Rockland County moves to improve, restore several abandoned cemeteries