It is well-known in the funeral industry that half-couch caskets often allow for better lighting at a funeral or viewing, and give loved ones an opportunity to see the body. It is much easier to light just the upper half of a body in a comforting way, rather than an entire body.
If you’ve ever attended an open casket funeral before, you may have wondered why the bottom half of the body was covered up. In reality, the reason for this is much more simple than you might expect – and, generally speaking, it can be considered a matter of preference.
Whether or not the legs are covered in a casket is a choice made by the funeral director or the client based on their preferences. Not all caskets cover the legs; many people choose “half-couch” caskets to cover the bottom half of the body so they can focus on the face they are familiar with.
You can see a great example of a “half-couch” or “half-open” casket in the image above.
Of course, given that it’s ultimately a choice – you may wonder what considerations would lead a person to choose to cover the body’s legs in a casket. There are many reasons, and everyone has their own beliefs, but we’ll address a few of the main ones:
Why Do They Cover The Legs In A Casket?
1. Because the Face Reflects the Humanity of the Deceased
When a client thinks about their memories of the person who has passed away – what do they see? Typically, they see the face of their loved one, their facial expressions, and their hand gestures – rarely do people place much sentimental value on legs and feet. Of course, there may be exceptions, but I saw very few of them during my time as a funeral director.
Love, affection, communication, and familiarity are all primarily expressed through the upper half of our bodies, and this part of the body being reflected at a funeral often helps attendees to find peace and acceptance, without the distraction of, for example, what shoes the funeral director has placed on the body (if any).
2. Many Funeral Directors Recommend It
It is well-known in the funeral industry that half-couch caskets often allow for better lighting at a funeral or viewing, and give loved ones an opportunity to see the body. It is much easier to light just the upper half of a body in a comforting way, rather than an entire body.
Furthermore, because the funeral director will have to spend less time perfectly arranging the legs and torso for viewing, they will have more time to ensure the most important parts of the body as outlined in point 1 above are presented in the best possible way. Ensuring the deceased’s hair, makeup, and clothing resemble what they looked like when they were alive is a time-consuming task, and every extra minute helps.
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Another consideration is that many people like placing flowers at funerals, a funeral director will often make the point that a good location to place flowers is on top of the casket. If the casket is fully open, this doesn’t really work. With a half-couch casket, it is easy to place flowers on the bottom half.
Given the above, many funeral directors and embalmers will recommend that their clients choose a half-couch casket, and given they are the experts, many clients will accept that advice.
3. It Can Save on Costs
This one’s relatively straightforward: Extensive attention needs to be paid to the entire body in a full-couch casket. The amount of time that is required to ensure that the waist, legs, and feet look as well presented as the face and torso can add significant unnecessary expense for clients, when a simple half-couch approach may have been more appropriate.
It is worth noting that full-couch caskets and half-couch caskets of the same size cost around the same price – so there is no real cost saving as it pertains to purchasing the casket.
Another difference in pricing comes down to personal preference, with some people preferring a more traditional look for their funeral service while others may prefer something less formal such as a coffin or urn.
4. Tradition, Region and Culture
Many people choose a casket that covers their loved one’s legs simply because that’s how it’s usually done in their country. For example, in east coast areas in America, it is typical to choose a half-couch casket such as the one in the featured image, and this is what those who have previously experienced loss are likely familiar with.
However, in a country like New Zealand for example, full-couch caskets like the following are much more common:
Why? Because this is the standard in New Zealand, and it is what many people in that country are culturally familiar with.
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It can also be for religious reasons or cultural norms. Some religions, like Islam and Judaism, specify that the body should be covered. This can mean covering the bottom half of the body as well as other parts, such as hair.
What Do They Do With the Legs in a Casket? (Half-Couch and Full-Couch)
First, to dispel a concerningly common urban myth:
Funeral directors and embalmers never break a person’s legs so they can fit them in a casket or a coffin: If a body is ever too tall for a casket, the mortician will simply find one that is larger. In some cases, legs may be slightly bent at the knee joint – but that’s about it.
There may have been some exceptions to this in the past, but the rogue morticians have always been swiftly punished. In my 15 years as a funeral director, I never saw anything like it.
It is worth noting that even with full-couch caskets, it is common for the legs to be covered with a blanket.
As to how the legs are actually dealt with by funeral directors, whether a full-couch or half-couch casket is used, just because the legs may be covered, doesn’t mean they aren’t treated with the same respect as the rest of the body. While it may be true that less attention is paid to the bottom half of the body with a half-couch setup, the legs are still embalmed, the body is dressed, and often wearing shoes.
Conclusion
Why legs are covered in a casket is an incredibly common question – and thankfully, the answer is very simple – it’s all about personal choice. There are a number of factors that people consider when making a decision but rest assured – whether you choose a half-couch casket or a full-couch casket, your loved one’s body will always be treated with dignity and respect.
Survivalist Pro
Photo: Carolina Jorquera
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