Can last rites be received after death?

[Zooman77]

Can the last rites (anointing and viaticum, not including reconciliation, of course) be performed after death? If it is allowed I am a bit confused because once we die our fate is sealed and anointing of the sick remits sin, if reconciliation is not practical, so how would the anointing do anything?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

The fact that our eternal destiny is sealed at death is one reason why the sacraments cannot be conferred after death. If there is some doubt as to whether the soul has left the body, anointing (not viaticum) may be conferred, but once death is certain then anointing is not given. The usual indication that the soul has left the body is the decomposition of the body because the soul that animates it is no longer present.