Ewurabena Quartey: Ghanaian Mortician Explains Why Workers Knock Before Entering the Mortuary

Ewurabena Quartey, a manager at Jabez Dominic Funeral Home, revealed that knocking before entering the mortuary is a deliberate act of respectThe mortician explained that workers sometimes speak to the deceased and ask for permission before touching, bathing, or embalming a bodyQuartey compared the practice to last offices carried out by nurses and health practitioners in hospitals when a patient diesPAY ATTENTION: Mark YEN.com.gh as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!

Most people knock on a door out of habit or courtesy, but for morticians at Jabez Dominic Funeral Home, the gesture carries a much deeper meaning.

Ewurabena Quartey, a manager at the funeral home, opened up about the practice during an interview with Roselyn Feli, shedding light on the unwritten codes of conduct that govern how her team treats the deceased.

“She’s in pain”: Wicknell Chivayo’s ex-wife Sonja speaks for the first time after helicopter crash, video

That same ethos, she said, carries through the entire preparation process. Before morticians begin bathing or embalming a body, they speak directly to the deceased, requesting permission even though no answer will come. "We take it as if we are caring for them. You see, we have people aged, especially being bedridden; picture it in that way. When we are touching that person, you would ask for permission before you touch them, though we are not going to get any particular response," Quartey said.

She drew a parallel to a practice familiar in healthcare settings. "Before we do the embalming or the bathing, we ask them for permission. So, there's something called last offices when you work in the hospital. So, nurses and health practitioners are aware of this. They do it for anybody who passes on in their facilities," she added.

Quartey also touched on a more private dimension of mortuary work: the exposure of a person's body and private features. Morticians, she noted, often encounter scars, deformities, and physical details that the deceased would never have willingly revealed in life. The verbal acknowledgement before beginning work serves as a reminder that what is seen in the mortuary stays there.

Wicknell Chivayo: Family hints at high-profile dignitaries expected at funeral

She described the moment as the formation of a quiet bond between the worker and the person in their care.

Earlier, YEN.com.gh wrote about highlighted facts about Kate Henshaw’s hands-on role at Olu Jacobs’ funeral, as described by content creator Kunle of Lagos. He said she helped coordinate the events and welcomed guests at both the Night of Tributes and the burial.

The tribute video sparked mixed reactions, with some viewers praising Henshaw’s dedication and others questioning why it was filmed. Kunle suggested her efforts were a personal way to show gratitude to Jacobs.

Don't miss out! Get your daily dose of sports news straight to your phone. Join YEN's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now!

Portia Arthur (Entertainment Editor) Portia Arthur holds a BA in publishing from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (2013). She has nearly a decade of experience in journalism. She worked as a Lifestyle editor for Pulse.com.gh for almost six years. She joined YEN.com.gh in 2022 as its pioneer fashion editor. She has also worked with celebrities and footballers in image consultancy and management. She has completed Google News Initiative News Labs courses and Advanced Lab courses in Advanced Digital Reporting, Fighting misinformation. She can be reached via email: portia.arthur@yen.com.gh