Donating bodies to science

[jenkiedad]

Interesting discussion on this forum’s archives, although a number of years ago. A prominent priest in my community (San Antonio) recently died and the newspaper noted that his body was donated to science.

To summarize from what I’ve read, the process goes something like this:

• After death, body is donated to science, usually through a medical school.
• A memorial Mass is held to commemorate the individual.
• The body is used for various purposes relating to “science” (although there appears to be quite a number of options).
• When body is of no further use, parts are reassembled and cremated.

This is where my knowledge of this process ends and perhaps others can add to it. My conjecture is that:

• Based on families desires, cremated remains returned to family.
• Family has remains buried or placed in a mausoleum at a cemetery.
• Services of internment held at cemetery.

Would there ever be a “funeral Mass”? It is my understanding that a funeral Mass requires the body to be present, either whole or cremated. If donating to science, there would not be time for a funeral Mass with the body before going the “science” route. But what about after the cremated remains are returned? And I guess this could be 1 or more years after the time of death. What would normally happen?