What term refers to the act of making a deceased person ready for a funeral service?

The act of making a deceased person ready for a funeral service is specifically referred to as embalming. Embalming involves a series of processes including the preservation and sanitation of the body, which often employs chemical solutions to delay decomposition. This practice serves both practical and emotional purposes, allowing for a respectful viewing of the body during the funeral service and ensuring the deceased is presentable.

While preparation might seem like a plausible term, it is more general and can encompass a variety of actions beyond just the embalming process. Cremation and burial, on the other hand, refer to methods of handling a body after death rather than the preparation itself. Therefore, embalming is the most precise and correct term for the specific act of preparing the deceased for a final farewell during a funeral service.