Contessa King, of Newell-Hoerling’s Mortuary in Centralia, recently completed 31 contact hours of specialized embalming and reconstructive training at the Fountain National Academy by attending the embalming skills seminar, according to a news release from the mortuary.
The seminar was held at the Fountain National Academy Training Facility in Springfield, Missouri. The program focused on specialized techniques that advanced the skill level of the professional embalmers in the areas of general embalming and post-mortem reconstructive surgery.
A professional embalmer is often called upon to prepare a deceased person who has severe traumatic injuries. Reconstructive techniques are sometimes necessary to achieve an acceptable and identifiable appearance to enable viewing of the deceased by family and friends, according to the release.
Dedicated professional embalmers understand that performance of reconstructive surgery to achieve open casket viewing provides an important and powerful psychological benefit for grieving family and friends, according to the release
Fountain National Academy’s world headquarters is based in Springfield, Missouri, with a representative in Ireland and representatives in Australia and several other countries around the world. Instructor Vernie R. Fountain is internationally recognized for his expertise in this field. He states that Contessa’s participation in the training program is an expression of untiring devotion and dedication to the highest standards of embalming and postmortem reconstructive surgery care.
