Agenția Funerară Sobru
Agenția Funerară Sobru
0739 592 835

DECEASED PREPARATION · WITH RESPECT AND DISCRETION

Deceased preparation — embalming and funeral cosmetics

Deceased preparation covers all sanitary and aesthetic procedures needed for the loved one to be presented with dignity at the wake and ceremony. Includes embalming (required by law for burial in another town at least 30 km away and for an open-casket chapel viewing), cleansing, funeral cosmetics, and dressing with family-chosen clothes. All procedures performed by DSP-certified personnel in specialized cabins, with complete discretion toward the family. For international transfers, special zinc-casket embalming applies — see our repatriation service for details.

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Clothes laid out on a chair: white shirt, suit, tie and black shoes, beside a comb and a towel
Illustrative image. deceased preparation — with respect and discretion.

PREPARATION · 5 STAGES

The 5 stages of body preparation

Body preparation is performed exclusively by DSP-certified sanitary staff, in a specialized cabin, in 4–6 hours total. Family does not attend sanitary procedures — sees the prepared person only after completion.

  1. 30–60 min

    Cleansing

    Body washing with warm water and disinfecting soap. Preparation for embalming.

  2. 2–3 hours

    Embalming

    Conservation solution injection into circulatory system. Regulated medical procedure.

  3. 1–2 hours

    Cosmetics

    Makeup, hair styling, optional feature restoration. Natural appearance, as if sleeping.

  4. 30–60 min

    Dressing

    With family-chosen clothes. Arranging jewelry (wedding ring, cross, medallion).

  5. D+1

    Presentation

    Casket with prepared deceased is presented to family for final goodbye.
Contents · 7 sections

What „deceased preparation” means

Deceased preparation is a set of sanitary and aesthetic procedures performed by specialists with DSP (Romanian Public Health Directorate) certification. Procedures are regulated by Law 102/2014 and the technical norms of each crematorium or cemetery.

Main procedures are embalming (injecting a preservative solution that slows biological processes), cleansing (washing and preparing the body), funeral cosmetics (makeup, hair, feature restoration), and dressing with family-chosen clothes.

Romanian Law 102/2014 — Chapter IV Sanitary Rules

When embalming is required

  • Open-casket viewing at a chapel or funeral home — mandatory by law (Government Decision 741/2016)
  • Transport for burial in another town, at least 30 km from the place of death — mandatory by law
  • International transport — mandatory with special embalming + zinc casket
  • Extended wake (over one night) — to prevent natural degradation
  • When the Public Health Directorate requires it for epidemiological reasons (for some infectious diseases it prohibits it)
  • Cases where the body was exposed to non-optimal conditions (extreme cold, heat, humidity)

Preparation procedures

Cleansing — first step. Washing the body with warm water and disinfectant soap, drying, preparing for embalming. Takes 30-60 minutes.

Embalming — medical procedure of injecting a preservative solution (diluted formaldehyde + other components) into the circulatory system. The solution replaces organic fluids and significantly slows biological processes. Takes 2-3 hours.

Funeral cosmetics — makeup, hair styling, possibly feature restoration (for cases with visible trauma). Goal: presentation with natural expression, as if sleeping. Takes 1-2 hours.

Dressing — with family-chosen clothes (typically a formal outfit, white shirt, suit, or dress). Arranging hands, glasses, personal items. The ceremony after preparation is coordinated through our ceremony organisation service.

Gloved hands folding a white cloth on a steel table, next to a white shirt, a comb and a brush
Illustrative image: the preparation room — a specialized, ventilated cabin where all procedures are carried out by certified staff.

What the body preparation costs

Body preparation starts from 850 RON as a standalone service. This breaks down roughly as washing and cleansing (~400 RON) plus standard embalming (~450 RON). Cosmetics and dressing are included in this figure for normal cases.

Preparation is included in the funeral packages At-Home (5,200 RON), Traditional (7,400 RON), Cremation (4,900 RON) and Premium (10,900 RON). On the Essential package (3,990 RON) it is optional and paid separately, at the price listed on the rates page.

All our preparation procedures are carried out under DSP sanitary authorization per HG 741/2016, which governs the physical premises, equipment, and staff qualifications. We are inspected and re-authorized on a regular schedule.

Funeral cosmetics kit: brushes, natural-tone powders, comb arranged on a white towel
Illustrative image: funeral cosmetics applied with attention to natural appearance — a detail of the process during the final preparation stage.
Body preparation — indicative costs
ServiceIndicative priceNotes
Washing and basic preparation~400 RONIn At-Home, Traditional, Cremation, Premium; separate on Essential
Standard embalming~450 RONIn At-Home, Traditional, Cremation, Premium; separate on Essential
Full standalone preparation (washing + embalming + cosmetics + dressing)from 850 RONFor families not taking a complete package

Zinc-casket embalming for international repatriation: additional cost, quoted on request.

What the family can choose

  • Clothes the deceased will wear — family brings them or requests from personal wardrobe
  • Jewelry that stays on the body (wedding ring, cross, medallion) — family's responsibility
  • Hairstyle and makeup — based on the person's traditional appearance
  • Personal items to place in casket — photos, letters, symbolic objects (we check crematorium compatibility if applicable)
  • Casket type (already included in chosen package)

Mandatory sanitary rules

  • Valid DSP sanitary certification for everyone handling the deceased
  • Mandatory protective equipment (gloves, mask, gown) for any procedure
  • Specialized cabin with adequate ventilation and sanitary drainage
  • Sanitary-authorized materials and solutions (per-norm diluted formaldehyde)
  • Special sanitary clearance for transport after embalming
  • Documentation handover to family (embalming certificate, issued by authorized personnel)

Planning the ceremony after preparation

Once preparation is complete, the family chooses flowers and ceremony details. Funeral wreaths are ordered through our funeral wreaths page. To understand how the 9,192 RON state aid offsets preparation costs, read our funeral allowance in 2026.

Information verified with

  1. legislatie.just.ro

LOCAL COVERAGE

Where do we provide body preparation in Bucharest and Ilfov?

We cover all six sectors of Bucharest and the towns of Ilfov county. Pick your area for local details: arrival times, cemeteries and nearby landmarks.

Select Bucharest or Ilfov for local body preparation pages.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

What families ask about deceased preparation — embalming and funeral cosmetics

  • Can the family see the deceased during preparation?

    No, the procedure is performed in a closed cabin, with authorized personnel only. After it's complete, the casket with embalmed and dressed deceased is presented to the family for the final farewell. Family presence during agency preparation only in exceptional cases, with special protocol.

  • How long does the entire preparation take?

    Total 4-6 hours: cleansing (1h), embalming (2-3h), cosmetics and dressing (1-2h). The family can see the prepared deceased after ~6-8 hours from pickup, typically the day after death.

  • Can we send preferred clothing from abroad?

    Yes. The family can send the deceased's preferred clothing — a suit, dress, or any outfit that was meaningful to them. If you are abroad, ship the clothes by courier to our address; send us the tracking number and we will coordinate receipt. Clothing should arrive before preparation begins — normally within 24 hours of the first call if you send it immediately. Include any personal items you'd like placed in the casket (a photo, a letter, a small object). We will inventory everything and confirm receipt by phone or WhatsApp.

  • What's different about repatriation embalming?

    For international transport (intra-EU or extra-EU), deeper embalming (higher solution concentration) is mandatory, plus a casket with sealed zinc layer. Procedure takes longer (4-6 hours total) and requires a special sanitary clearance for international transport.

  • Can I prepare the deceased myself?

    No, per Romanian Law 102/2014, deceased preparation (especially embalming) is performed only by personnel with valid sanitary certification. The family can choose clothes, jewelry, makeup, but cannot personally perform sanitary procedures. It's a public health rule, not a commercial restriction.

  • What happens to the deceased's personal items?

    Clothes the deceased was brought in, phone, wallet, other personal items — all handed to the family with inventory at first pickup. The family decides what stays on the body (wedding ring, cross, medallion) and what returns.

  • Can I arrange special cosmetics (female makeup, hairstyle)?

    Yes. Our specialists are trained for complete funeral cosmetics, including for women (natural makeup, usual-style hair) and men (shaving, possibly sideburns). The family can bring a reference photo of how they want the loved one to look.

  • Does preparation cost extra or is it included in the package?

    Standard preparation (cleansing, local embalming, cosmetics, dressing) is included in four of the 5 funeral packages (At-Home, Traditional, Cremation, Premium); on Essential it is optional and paid separately. Additional costs only for zinc embalming (needed only for international repatriations, +400-800 RON) or for complex reparative cosmetics (cases with visible trauma, +200-500 RON).

RELATED SERVICES

Related services we provide

QUESTIONS?

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Consultation is free and confidential. We answer any question specific to your family's situation, no commercial pressure.

What happens after you call

  1. You phone or message us

    Day or night, by phone, WhatsApp, or chat. You'll get a real person on the line in under a minute — never an answering machine.

  2. We listen

    We ask what happened, where they are now, and what kind of farewell feels right. We tell you the price up front, with no surprises later.

  3. We take it over

    Paperwork, transport, embalming, the ceremony — all on us. You pick the casket, the date, the church or chapel. We do everything else.

  4. We see you through to the end

    From the first call to the moment the ceremony ends. Any question that comes up along the way — call us. That's what we're here for.
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