An open day at John Hossack Funeral Services, Albury, gave people a glimpse into what takes place between a person's death and their burial or cremation.

The Border Mail joined a group of about eight as manager Brett Williams led a tour to see inside the hearses, mortuary, coffin storage room, coroner's van, function room, viewing room, offices and finally the coffin showroom.

Visitors queried about the extent of embalming, the need to remove pacemakers from bodies, the environmental credentials of various coffins, funeral pricing and even how one donated their body to science.

Participants were advised beforehand to leave any area if they began to feel uncomfortable and some did at times.

Mr Williams said 40 work hours went into organising a funeral, with five days being an average time frame.

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He acknowledged the emotions surrounding these arrangements and the many decisions families needed to make, such as the coffin and casket choices.

"This is where it becomes real," the manager noted.

Staff are trained in preserving crime scenes when removing bodies in these situations and the coroner's van is stocked with body bags including, sadly, child-sized ones.

Mr Williams said open days would be held regularly to help dispel any misconceptions people might have about a funeral home.

"We're not a secret society," he said.

"We are willing to answer the questions you have, no matter how difficult you may think the question is or how far out there you may think it is; it's not, we'll answer anything."

Antona Ward, of Wodonga, found Saturday's tour really interesting.

"I had no idea there was so much work behind the scenes that went into it and just so many considerations as well," she said.

Having helped organise funerals in the past, and finding that process overwhelming, Ms Ward felt extra understanding would be useful.

"Just being comfortable in a place, if you've been here before," she said.

"If you come back, it's not as confronting."