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‘Nobody should have a closed coffin if it’s their family’s wish to say goodbye’

What I Do: Glynn Tallon is an embalmer specialising in advanced reconstruction for traumatic deaths

What I do: Glyn Tallon (foreground) who is an embalmer and death care provider and the owner of Tallon Mortuary Specialists based in Navan, Co. Meath. Photograph: Bryan O Brien / The Irish Times

Glyn Tallon
Fri Aug 11 2023 - 07:40

In today’s world, nobody should have a closed coffin if it’s their family’s wish to have that last moment and say goodbye. I’ve spent the best part of 30 years working towards that ethos, constantly striving to improve my craft as an embalmer specialising in advanced reconstruction for traumatic deaths.

While an embalmer manages the day-to-day cases in an embalming theatre, I have the additional skills to deal with all kinds of deaths such as road-traffic accidents, gunshot wounds, head trauma and hospital-induced oedema. With the guidance of the family, we can make their loved ones look as if they’re just asleep.

At my embalming centre in Navan, my associates deal with a significant percentage of Ireland’s 32,000 annual deaths.

Most of the head trauma cases we deal with take between 16 and 22 hours to reconstruct using specialist materials imported from across the world. The longest case I’ve ever worked on took more than 30 hours. This person’s life was tragically cut short following a traumatic event that damaged their cranium. It was an honour to provide the family with an open casket wake.

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From a young age I had a great interest in biology. I was also intrigued by what took place in mortuaries and autopsy facilities, so my interest grew from there.

For more than two years, we had Covid 19 deaths taken to our facility for hygienic preparation every day... the training I received throughout my education covered all aspects of treating deaths from highly infectious diseases

Starting off as a pathology technician in the mid-1990s, I furthered my education as an embalmer. I went further afield and took embalming courses in the US. It was a privilege to be the first embalmer in the world to do a new advanced reconstruction course, and by 2002 I had completed all available qualifications at the Fountain National Academy in Missouri.

Today I lecture and teach embalmers around the world about my craft, training up the next generation. I’m a firm believer that learning never ends.

We previously used wax a lot in our work, but it can become very unstable over wounds. Then we went down the road of silicone, but it would activate too fast, which could defect the modelling process. So we set about developing a material that works like an adhesive tissue.

Back in 2012, I worked with a colleague, Vernie Fountain, a reconstructive specialist in the US, to procure improved blending cosmetics for the deceased with special effects artists in the film industry in Hollywood. We linked up with Dean Jones, who has worked on Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Trek and X-Men. Jones made materials for movies that we could use in the mortuary, and we soon made a breakthrough and developed the tissue-like PMRC (postmortem restorative cosmetics), which can be smoothed over wounds, mixed with water to give a supple, life-like texture. We stock all kinds of wigs, prosthetic beards, eyebrows, lashes and make-up, too.

Glyn Tallon: 'This is no nine-to-five profession. Depending on the case, we could work through the night.' Photograph: Bryan O' Brien

For more than two years, we had Covid-19 deaths taken to our facility for hygienic preparation every day. There was a lot of controversy over treating Covid deaths, but the training I received throughout my education covered all aspects of treating deaths from highly infectious diseases.

[ Respect for the dead ]

[ ‘My job is helping people to mourn their loved ones’ ]

Although my job is a 24/7, I love what I do. This is no nine-to-five profession. Depending on the case, we could work through the night. Nevertheless, time moves fast in here because we’re so enthralled by our work.

I know what it’s like to lose somebody you love dearly. Anything I can do for a bereaved family, there is no limit. You’re dealing with people at the lowest possible ebb of their life. We feel extremely honoured to be able to serve families in their time of need.

– In conversation with Conor Capplis

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