The oral law (The Mishna), which was in effect at the time, dictated that to perform these functions for a corpse would not be an illegal activity on the Sabbath. This is what would have been allowed:
A. They prepare all that is needed for a corpse. B. They anoint and rinse it, C. on condition that they not move any limb of the corpse. D. They remove the mattress from under it. E. And they put on sand so that it will keep. F. They tie the chin, G. not so that it will go up, but so that it will not droop. H. And so in the case of a beam which broke I. they support it with a bench or the seams of a bed, J. not so that it will go up, but so that it will not droop. K. They do not close the eyes of a corpse on the Sabbath, L. nor on an ordinary day at the moment the soul goes forth. M. And he who closes the eyes of a corpse at the moment the soul goes forth, lo, this one sheds blood. [p. 207, The Mishnah, A New Translation, Shabbat 23:5]
The women rested according to the Law on the first Sabbath but they had legal justification to go to the tomb on the weekly Sabbath. It was the custom for grieving friends and relatives to go to a grave on the third day to pay last respects. It was at this point in time that death was considered permanent. So a Sabbath morning visit to The Lord's tomb by the women for the purpose of anointing his body would have been in accord with the oral law and would not have broken the Sabbath commandment.
What about the Jews referring to the days as I listed? 1st of sabbath, 2nd of sabbath, etc... This kind of puts a kink in the theory since it is based on the principle that it must be the Sabbath and not the first day of the week = the first of Sabbaths. (which can either be a reference to the first day of the week, since that is how they counted them off, or it could also be the 1st day of 50 counted for Pentecost, could it not?)
Jay