A former funeral director has taken to TikTok to answer questions about the trade, demystifying the often-taboo topic of death. Lauren, who worked in the funeral industry for some time, left her most recent role after a falling-out with her boss and decided to share some trade secrets with her 215,000 followers.
One follower asked what happens if a woman dies with a tampon still in. Lauren explained that most women who are still menstruating and pass away typically have an autopsy, during which foreign items are removed. If not, an undertaker would remove it with preauthorised consent from the family. For cremation without embalming, staff would not check in this way.
Another question concerned braces. Lauren said she would not remove them, whether for burial or cremation, as she does not know how to remove braces—it is not taught in funeral director or mortician school.
On cremated remains, Lauren described the process: a metal ID tag is assigned to the body and stays with it throughout cremation. The bag of ashes is sealed, and a cremation certificate with the person's name and tag number is printed.
Lauren's videos aim to educate and reduce fear around death, highlighting the respectful care provided by funeral professionals.
