Nine juniors from Nanhua University’s Department of Life and Death are spending this summer vacation interning as morticians at the Second Municipal Funeral Parlor in Taipei, preparing the deceased before their entombment or cremation.
Student Lin Jui-yang (林濬煬) said they apply makeup to five to six deceased people each day, adding that during the process they found that the majority of the deceased often bore permanent scars from surgeries or intubation.
“I consider morticians just one among the various businesses of the service sector,” he said, adding that the only difference was in who receives the service.
Lin said he had watched many films and clips in class and was mentally prepared to face his job, adding that he was not as afraid as he thought he would be when stepping up to the gurney the first time.
Lin said the person who left him with the deepest impression had died from cardiac arrest.
“The entire body was blackened and took longer to dress than usual,” Lin said.
Student Mao Ting-wei (毛庭瑋) said bodies that have gone into rigor mortis with their eyes open also required special procedures, including the injection of a specific type of hyaluronic acid to increase the flexibility of the flesh and help close the eyes.
If the face of the deceased is damaged, a mortician must either sculpt over the wounds with makeup or sew larger wounds closed and then apply makeup, Mao said.
Occasionally, family members would have special requests, such as particular types of clothing, wigs or jewelry, Mao said, adding that all of these served to show family members’ reluctance to part with the deceased.
“Overall, it is a unique experience,” Mao said.
The students said they have learned more about life and death through the internship and have reflected on how these experiences changed their lives, adding that if they had the chance they would gladly join the profession after they graduate from college.
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