Entombment (placing a casket in an above-ground crypt) of a wood casket is not a good idea. If families want to entomb, you should suggest to the client family that they purchase a metal casket. Why, you may ask? The two worst things for a wood casket are: heat and humidity. Both heat and humidity contribute to early disassembly of wood caskets- sometimes within only a few months. What do we have most of in eastern NC? That's right, heat and humidity! What happens after a casket has fallen apart? The body has already been decomposing because heat and humidity also cause greater decomposition. (Embalming only slows decomposition; it does not prevent it). As the body decomposes, fluids leave the body and flow into (and out of) the crypt. One day the family visits the mausoleum and sees (and smells) the fluids and added bugs. This leads to a lawsuit. The moral of the story, no wood caskets in a mausoleum.

Post your response to the following question in the Module One Discussion Board thread. This assignment is due by the end of the module.

What are your thoughts on the above scenario? What would you do if your client family insisted on using a wood casket for entombment?