Organ Donation and Open Casket Funerals: What to Expect

Yes, you can usually have an open casket funeral after organ, eye or tissue donation. Donate Life America says funeral arrangements of your choice are possible, including a viewing, and Donate Life California says an open casket is not affected by the decision to donate. Whole-body donation to a science program is different, because the program takes the body.

Does organ donation affect an open casket funeral?

Donation organizations say it does not. Donate Life California says funeral arrangements, including an open casket, will not be affected by the decision to donate. Donate Life America says the donor receives respectful care throughout.

That is what the donation organizations say. They don't publish a step-by-step description of how each body is prepared afterward, so if you have specific concerns, ask the donation coordinator and the funeral director what to expect in your situation.

What about eye and tissue donation?

• Eye donation. The Eye Bank Association of America says the donor's body is treated with respect at all times and that funeral arrangements, including a viewing if desired, may proceed as scheduled. Only the corneas are transplanted, although the whole eye may be recovered for research or education.
• Tissue donation. Tissue donation, such as skin, bone and heart valves, must be initiated within 24 hours of death, according to Donate Life America. Donate Life America says funeral arrangements of your choice, including a viewing, are possible after donation.

If you are worried about a particular part of the body, such as the face, hands or limbs, raise it with the recovery organization before donation takes place, and ask the funeral home what they can do.

Will donation delay the funeral?

It shouldn't. Donate Life California says donation does not delay funeral services, and the Eye Bank Association of America says eye recovery takes place within hours of death and funeral arrangements may proceed as scheduled.

A coroner or medical examiner's release can also affect timing. Our guide to coroner vs medical examiner explains when those offices get involved.

What does it cost?

The donation itself costs the family nothing. Donate Life America says there is no cost to the donor's family or estate, and Donate Life California says the organ procurement organization covers donation-related costs. The family still pays for medical expenses before death and for the funeral. Our guide to average funeral costs breaks down what to expect.

How is whole-body donation different?

Whole-body donation to a medical school or research program is a separate process from organ donation. The program collects the donor's body soon after death and the donor is cremated afterward. Science Care says traditional viewings and open casket funerals are not available through its program, though families can hold a memorial service with or without the cremated remains present.

If you want both a viewing and donation, organ, eye and tissue donation is the option that fits. Our guides on body donation vs organ donation and what happens to donated bodies go into more detail.

What to tell the funeral home

1. Tell them as soon as you know donation is happening, including whether it is organ, eye or tissue.
2. Say whether you want a viewing, so they can plan with the donation team.
3. Ask when the body is likely to be released and whether anything might shift the date.
4. Ask whether the embalming and preparation they offer would change anything for a donor. Our guides on viewing the body and viewing without embalming explain the options.

Families who prefer a closed casket for personal or religious reasons can still donate. See open vs closed casket for how to decide.

More on donation and funerals

Our guides on organ donation after death and how organ donation affects funeral services cover the donation process and related funeral questions.