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The work of a mortuary science student is often grim.
Tasks include anything from funeral planning to reconstructive surgery or embalming. Though the work directly involves the dead, mortuary science is done for the living, said Cydney Griffith, associate professor for mortuary science and funeral service.
"We have to help the survivors survive," Griffth said. "Our main concern is to help those who grieve anyway we possibly can."
Helping the living, Griffith said, means work must be done to restore and preserve the bodies of their loved ones. One of the main processes used to preserve a body is embalming.
Griffith said embalming is taught for a full year and requires students to master the mixture of chemicals and the correct procedures to assure the preservation of the appearance of the body.
To begin the embalming process, the body must be washed and usually massaged to relieve rigor mortis, which is the stiffness in muscles and bones after death.
After the wash, Griffith said the process becomes very scientific and a little bloody.
There is a reason for the "Authorized Personnel Only" sign on the door to the mortuary science lab. Embalming is that reason.
The scent of formaldehyde hangs in the room where the embalmer pumps blood out of the cadaver.
The embalmer must cut into the body's arm and raise the artery. The artery is attached to a cannula, a small sharp tool, so the embalmer can pump blood out of the body while filling the vacant space with embalming fluid.
Approximately one-eighth of the body's blood is drained during this process, which Griffith compared to dialysis.
Renee Torres, a senior from Metropolis studying mortuary science and funeral services, said lessons could get messy.
"When you first start out, accidents can happen and the process could be a mess," Torres said. "But there is a learning curve for everything and once you get it, it isn't very messy."
Sometimes preservation through embalming is not enough, so students must learn reconstructive surgery. Students have to dig wax into big facial gashes, cover burns or even mold on missing parts of the face.
The final project of the reconstructive and cosmetic course requires students to reconstruct the face of someone famous, Griffith said.
Torres said the process could be long and tedious, but added she is a perfect example of being able to succeed without previous artistic ability.
"I'm about the least artistic there is," Torres said. "But I can reconstruct Ronald Regan's face to a tee, the wrinkles and everything."
The College of Applied Sciences and Arts currently holds about 60 cadavers, which are preserved in the lab room for mortuary science. Both the medical school and the mortuary science department use the cadavers.
Though the school works on cadavers, Griffith said the best experience comes from the required internship for seniors in their last semester.
Harold Harker, director of Huffman Harker Funeral Home in Carbondale, said he has employed SIUC students. Their responsibilities include everything from funeral planning to embalming, Harker said.
"They might help with a service or maintenance or assisting in the preparation, but there haven't been as many students working here (lately)," Harker said. "I guess less people are working in this (field)."
Griffith said because SIUC is one of only six universities nationwide to offer a bachelor's program in funeral services, it is the institution's responsibility to help people move up in the funeral service business.
She said people lose passion for the business because of all the death and grief a funeral service worker encounters.
"Stress and burnout are the top reasons people leave," Griffith said. "You have to balance having compassion for the families while being able to detach yourself when you go home from work."
Jeff Engelhardt can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 268 or jngel@siu.edu.
