My comments are based on my background in forensic medicine with as a state medical examiner as well as a good familiarity with the funeral and mortuary business. “Crypt flies” are unfortunately a reality of above-ground interment such as a mausaleum, that said, measures can be taken to eliminate these pests which are unsightly, unsanitary and disturbing to bereaved family and friends. Robert is correct; a disinterred body is often a horrific sight. Modern embalming, unlike the ancient embalming of Egypt and other cultures, is intended only for short term preservation to allow for viewing and a funeral. Minimal to no long term preservation is accomplished and ultimately the body will in fact decompose despite “embalming”, sealed caskets, expensive vaults and the like. Cremation, on the other hand, is simple in its physical and chemical process; cremation simply uses intense heat (approximately 1800 degrees F) to remove all water and other liquids and fats from the body, leaving only the most basic carbon-based elements that are referred to as “cremains” or “ashes”. In doing so, the long, unsightly process of decomposition is avoided. As such, it is preferred by growing numbers of individuals as the disposition method of choice following death. That said, the vast majority of burials, above or below ground, are generally “out of sight, out of mind”, but the reality of what takes place within the casket over time remains a fact and while not pleasant to think about, is a natural process.
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