Covered Legs in Caskets: Donation, Casket, Costs
In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basic reasons why legs are typically covered in a casket when a funeral ceremony is including an open-casket setup. There are a few common reasons why the legs generally remain covered in these settings, and understanding them is often helpful for those who are going through this process for the first time.
At McDougal Funeral Home, we offer numerous caring funeral and related services for clients in Taylorsville and West Valley City, from immediate needs to advanced funeral arrangements and more. Here are some of the other main reasons legs are typically covered during open-casket funeral arrangements.
Due to Skin or Organ Donation
In certain cases, the deceased may have chosen to donate organs or skin during their lifetime. For skin donations, skin will usually be taken from the lower parts of the body - and out of respect for the deceased and their family, the legs will usually remain covered.
For cases of organ donation, some of the organs may be taken from the lower body, and again, out respect for the deceased and their, the legs will typically remain covered.
Casket Limitations
In other cases, practical reasons are mostly responsible for the decision to cover the legs. This is because not all caskets are designed in a way that allows for full leg exposure without compromising on the aesthetics and overall look of the casket.
For example, some caskets have fabric-lined interiors – which means that if the legs were left exposed, there might be noticeable wrinkles when the lid is closed. Rather than having this happen, it’s often deemed more respectful to keep the legs covered.
To Avoid High Costs
Whether due to issues we've discussed already in this series or others, the reality is that it can be significantly more costly for a given funeral home to make the entire body of the departed presentable for an open-casket arrangement. Depending on the circumstances, it may be more economical to simply keep the legs covered while still offering family and friends a chance to say goodbye.
While this may seem a bit crude, the most "important" parts of the body that friends and family tend to care about seeing are the face, hands and chest. Keeping the other parts of the body covered is often seen as a way to make funerals more affordable for families, who may be trying to save money during this difficult time.
These are just some of the main reasons why legs are usually covered in an open-casket funeral set up. At McDougal Funeral Home, we understand that everyone's circumstances are unique and that offering compassionate, comprehensive support is always of the utmost importance. We hope you found this series on open-casket funerals helpful, and invite you to reach out if you have any questions about the funeral services we offer or would like more information.
