What it’s like to work as a funeral director and embalmer in Singapore: ‘requires grit and commitment’

When I was 19, I started assisting my brother, Elson, with the everyday operations at Serenity Casket and Funerals, a funeral service business. Then, under the mentorship of my sister-in-law, Sarah Ang, I learned the craft of embalming when I was 20.

I have always been curious about embalming. Even as a child, I was fascinated with death and gory films which ultimately led me into this career.

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I always start my day by checking the schedule to see the number of bodies that need embalming and read about their conditions.

This is followed by a short team meeting to discuss specific details about each body. We also go over requirements to make sure everything is done according to standard practices. Then, we can begin.

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First, the most important practice is disinfection before undressing the deceased. This is followed by the actual embalming process, which slows down the body’s decomposition. This is done by injecting a chemical fluid into the common carotid artery near the neck. At the same time, blood is drained from the veins. This can help to restore the skin’s rosy complexion, especially if there are heavy bruises.

Afterwards, the body is given a final wash before we apply make-up and dress it in clothing. Once the embalming process is complete, we wash and disinfect the tools and sanitise the entire work area. Embalming a body usually takes about one to two hours, though some cases require three.

I recently embalmed a one-month-old infant. As a mother of two, I resonated with the family members’ grief, and I was incredibly upset, thinking about how the baby’s hopes and dreams can never be fulfilled.

My mentor, who has worked on similar cases, assured me that we would see a break in the clouds. It is most important to focus on family members’ trust in what we do as embalmers to help them through this difficult process and provide them with proper closure.

In Asia, some people are superstitious and think of embalming as an undesirable or “dirty” job and discriminate against it. Many people deem it to be an unattractive career, and embalmers are often socially stigmatised.

The industry is dominated by men, and some believe that women cannot handle the physical demands of the job. We are often exposed to dangerous chemicals and face unexpected complications.

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The life of an embalmer is not for the faint-hearted. Long hours and late-night shifts are common, and the hardships come at great cost to our physical and mental well-being. There is no work-life balance, so we often miss out on special occasions, holidays and time with family.

However, there is also a positive side to this work. The best part of my job is when families thank me for the work that I have done. There is nothing more fulfilling than the opportunity to provide comfort for grieving families in their time of need.

Over the past decade, the industry has witnessed gradual shifts. When I first started, there were few people my age who were keen to be embalmers.

But in recent years, it seems that more young people are joining this field. We have seen more of them contact us with an interest in dedicating their lives to this service.

We educate the public about our work through our social media and website, in hopes that this can become an inclusive environment for everyone.

Embalming is an unpredictable job that requires grit and commitment – we must be fully prepared to work whenever our services are required.

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