Embalming sanitizes and provides temporary preservation of the body, decelerates the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness.

Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family member´s time to arrange and participate in the type of service most meaningful to them.
http:// http://expert.cc.purdue.edu/~gaylors/intro.htm