Community Articles (listed by posting date)
General News · 4th July 2025
Margaret Verschuur
In British Columbia, it is entirely legal for families and friends to care for a body at home after death. You may sit with the body, wash and dress it, build a casket, make arrangements for burial or cremation, and transport the body to the cemetery or crematorium. There is no legal requirement to use a funeral service provider. While some funeral homes are open to flexible, family-led involvement, others may not support this approach.
Keeping the body in the home, or returning a body to the home after death, is not a new approach. It’s a return to an older way to be with death that has been practiced for thousands of years.
Many of us have little or no experience with bodies and are understandably nervous about tending to one in our home. This is where the support of DeathCare Collective volunteers can be invaluable. We can accompany and guide a family or friend group through the process or take the lead while involving loved ones as they feel comfortable.
It’s important to know that the body is no more dangerous in death than it was in life. The same basic hygiene and care apply as when the person was alive. To slow the natural changes that occur after death, it’s helpful to keep the body cool. This can be done by opening a window or turning on the air conditioning, using ice packs (the Collective has suitable ones available), or purchasing dry ice from Campbell River. Ice should be placed under the torso to help cool the internal organs. The Collective also provides a “Care of the Body Kit” containing all that’s needed for home-based body care.
What to Expect
Rigor mortis—the stiffening of the muscles—typically begins about two hours after death, peaks around 12 hours, and often begins to release after 48 hours. If possible, it’s easiest to wash and dress the body within the first few hours. If that’s not possible, the body can still be cared for later; gentle massage will usually release the joints.
It is common for the person’s eyes and mouth to be open after they die. The eyes can be closed by gently pressing them shut and placing something soft over them if needed. To close the mouth, you can place a rolled towel under the chin or tie a soft scarf gently around the head to lift the jaw. After a couple of hours, the mouth and eyes usually stay closed on their own.
As the body relaxes after death, there may be a release of fluids—especially if the person had recently eaten or drunk. Gently massaging the abdomen can help empty the bladder.
A body can typically remain at home for several days without significant change. Some families choose to lay the body out in a central space; others may prefer a bedroom, lower level, or outbuilding. Over time, the skin may become pale or mottled and take on a waxen tone. Scents from diffusers, cedar boughs, or fresh flowers can help mask any odors. Even as decomposition begins, it need not feel disturbing. It is a natural part of the process and a quiet signal that it’s time to return the body to the elements. If more time is needed or changes occur quickly, the body can be placed in a casket and moved to a cool, sheltered space like a garage until burial or cremation.
Being With the Body
Having the body present and caring for it can be a deeply powerful experience. Death often comes as a shock, and it may be difficult to believe that your loved one has truly died. Being with the body keeps returning us to this reality, painful though it may be. In this familiar setting, people can visit as often as they like—to sit, touch, speak, sing, cry, or simply be.
Children, too, can often be present more naturally with the body in the home, especially with gentle guidance and support.
Death and grief are difficult to navigate. We may find ourselves channeling intense emotions into being overly busy, creating conflict, or finding ways to numb or distract ourselves from the pain. Having the body of our loved one present keeps grief at the center of our experience. As a shared task, washing and dressing the body can become an intimate way to be present. Building a casket or decorating it provides a tangible way for grief to be expressed. The presence of the body makes the space sacred, inviting us to slow down and connect with our necessary grief.
For more guidance, including a helpful video series on post-death care at home, visit cindea.ca.
Keeping the body in the home, or returning a body to the home after death, is not a new approach. It’s a return to an older way to be with death that has been practiced for thousands of years.
Many of us have little or no experience with bodies and are understandably nervous about tending to one in our home. This is where the support of DeathCare Collective volunteers can be invaluable. We can accompany and guide a family or friend group through the process or take the lead while involving loved ones as they feel comfortable.
It’s important to know that the body is no more dangerous in death than it was in life. The same basic hygiene and care apply as when the person was alive. To slow the natural changes that occur after death, it’s helpful to keep the body cool. This can be done by opening a window or turning on the air conditioning, using ice packs (the Collective has suitable ones available), or purchasing dry ice from Campbell River. Ice should be placed under the torso to help cool the internal organs. The Collective also provides a “Care of the Body Kit” containing all that’s needed for home-based body care.
What to Expect
Rigor mortis—the stiffening of the muscles—typically begins about two hours after death, peaks around 12 hours, and often begins to release after 48 hours. If possible, it’s easiest to wash and dress the body within the first few hours. If that’s not possible, the body can still be cared for later; gentle massage will usually release the joints.
It is common for the person’s eyes and mouth to be open after they die. The eyes can be closed by gently pressing them shut and placing something soft over them if needed. To close the mouth, you can place a rolled towel under the chin or tie a soft scarf gently around the head to lift the jaw. After a couple of hours, the mouth and eyes usually stay closed on their own.
As the body relaxes after death, there may be a release of fluids—especially if the person had recently eaten or drunk. Gently massaging the abdomen can help empty the bladder.
A body can typically remain at home for several days without significant change. Some families choose to lay the body out in a central space; others may prefer a bedroom, lower level, or outbuilding. Over time, the skin may become pale or mottled and take on a waxen tone. Scents from diffusers, cedar boughs, or fresh flowers can help mask any odors. Even as decomposition begins, it need not feel disturbing. It is a natural part of the process and a quiet signal that it’s time to return the body to the elements. If more time is needed or changes occur quickly, the body can be placed in a casket and moved to a cool, sheltered space like a garage until burial or cremation.
Being With the Body
Having the body present and caring for it can be a deeply powerful experience. Death often comes as a shock, and it may be difficult to believe that your loved one has truly died. Being with the body keeps returning us to this reality, painful though it may be. In this familiar setting, people can visit as often as they like—to sit, touch, speak, sing, cry, or simply be.
Children, too, can often be present more naturally with the body in the home, especially with gentle guidance and support.
Death and grief are difficult to navigate. We may find ourselves channeling intense emotions into being overly busy, creating conflict, or finding ways to numb or distract ourselves from the pain. Having the body of our loved one present keeps grief at the center of our experience. As a shared task, washing and dressing the body can become an intimate way to be present. Building a casket or decorating it provides a tangible way for grief to be expressed. The presence of the body makes the space sacred, inviting us to slow down and connect with our necessary grief.
For more guidance, including a helpful video series on post-death care at home, visit cindea.ca.