What to Do at a Viewing
- Offer condolences to the family.
- View the body, or don’t. You are under no obligation to “look.”
- If you view the body, don’t linger at the casket. Say your farewells and move on.
- Don’t be loud. Talk in a respectful tone of voice.
What are some good things to say at a funeral?
Take a look at some examples that will help you to express your concern & emotion:
- A body dies but a soul is always immortal. ...
- Sorry to hear that you have lost someone who had special importance in your life. ...
- I lost my words and really don’t know what to say in this painful situation. ...
- I will pray to God that may the Almighty bless his soul and help you to fight with this difficult phase in life.
Should you have a viewing before a funeral?
- Don't force people to view the deceased just because you think it's a good thing to do. It's better to give them the choice to attend or not. ...
- Talk to your funeral director about how the viewing period is handled. ...
- Although many children find viewings beneficial, some don't. ...
What happens during a viewing at a funeral?
Viewings can take place at the funeral home or the family home. They take place before the funeral, sometimes the day before and sometimes the same day. The body or a memorial to the deceased will likely be displayed to allow mourners the opportunity to pay their respects.
Should I go to the funeral or viewing?
Unless the family wants the funeral or memorial service to be private, you are welcome to attend. If you are close to the bereaved or the deceased, live close by and have no extenuating circumstances, then, by all means, go to the funeral. In fact, if you don't go, your presence may be missed.
What usually happens at a funeral viewing?
During a viewing, the body of the deceased is present, often in an open casket. The deceased will have been embalmed and prepared by the funeral home, in most cases, and otherwise ready for the burial or cremation. This is an opportunity to see the deceased one last time and say your quiet goodbyes.
How long should you stay at a viewing?
There is no requirement for how long you should stay at a visitation. The length of your visit depends more on how well you know the family and how long it takes to offer your condolences and speak to other visitors. Many people stay a short time, about 15 minutes, which can be long enough to extend your sympathies.
How should I act at a funeral viewing?
You don't have to be overly formal in your attire. The standard etiquette for a funeral visitation is to arrive early, introduce oneself to the family if necessary, express your sympathies, and then go after a short time.
Do you take anything to a funeral viewing?
While it is customary in many families for immediate friends and family to bring family food like cake, cookies, or any sweet dish for the visitors. It is still a thoughtful gesture even if you're not a close acquaintance.
What do you wear to a funeral vs viewing?
We recommend wearing dark or neutral colors, because darker colors reflect the mourning atmosphere of the service or visitation. Clothing can be formal (think suits and dresses) or casual (pants or nice jeans and shirts).
Do you have to wear black for a viewing?
Also, it is not necessary to wear black to a visitation. Despite what you might see on TV, any color is fine. However, we do suggest comfortable shoes. Depending on the size of the crowd, you might be standing in line for a bit.
What do you say at a viewing?
When attending a visitation, here are examples of what you can say to the family:My condolences.I'm really sorry you're going through this.Your mom was a wonderful woman.You loved him/her well.I'm thinking of your family during this difficult time.
What should I bring to a viewing wake?
Bring a Card, Flowers, or Another Appropriate Gift Generally speaking, you send flowers to a funeral, like this arrangement of fresh-cut flowers. Don't bring them with you — you don't want to place undue stress on the family of the deceased.
What should you not do at a funeral?
Things You Should NOT Do at a FuneralLaugh out of turn. ... Wear something revealing or loud. ... Disrespect cues. ... Make unnecessary noise. ... Speak out of turn. ... Applaud out of turn. ... Yawn excessively. ... Move around too much.More items...•
Do you take a gift to a viewing?
What You Should Bring to a Funeral, Memorial Service, or Viewing. If you're asking whether you should bring a gift to a funeral service, the answer is generally yes. While a gift is not usually required to attend the service, it's considered polite not to arrive empty-handed.
Do I bring flowers to a viewing?
If you're close family or knew the deceased very well, it's customary to send flowers for the visitation and funeral and in some cases, even to the family's home. If you're more an acquaintance, work colleague, distant friend, etc then sending sympathy flowers to their home or the viewing is a polite thing to do.
Do you bring flowers to a funeral viewing?
It's common to send flowers to the family's home or to the funeral home before a funeral, but they are not something that you should take to a funeral. Often, only the immediate family's flowers will be placed on the coffin during the service, so don't be too concerned if you don't see your flowers displayed.
Is it OK to go to viewing and not funeral?
If you didn't know the deceased personally, maybe you know a friend, a neighbor, or a co-worker who recently lost a family member - consider attending the visitation. You don't know the deceased, but have a good relationship with the bereaved. To support them, you can go to the visitation, but not the funeral.
What color should you not wear to a viewing?
Funeral attire should be dark somber clothing. A shirt and tie for men and dress or slacks and a blouse for women. Black, navy, gray, neutral tones are all appropriate colors. Avoid bright or flamboyant clothing.
Should I go to both visitation and funeral?
Close family and friends of the person who died will likely attend the visitation and funeral service. Others may attend both or may need to or prefer to attend one or the other but not both. Visitation may take place the day before the funeral, the evening before or even just hours before the funeral service.
Do I need to attend both the wake and the funeral?
You should attend both the wake and the funeral for family members and very close friends. If you're a member of the immediate family, people will want to express condolences to you. Even if it's difficult, being there is important.
What is the protocol for a funeral visitation?
Dress nicely, but you don’t need to be too formal. The standard protocol for a funeral visitation is to stop by, introduce yourself to the family (if needed) and pay your condolences, and then leave after a short period of time.
How to dress for a memorial service?
The service may be held at a funeral home, a church or other house of worship, virtually, or outdoors. Dress relatively formally and conservatively, in dark or muted colors – you don’t want to draw attention to yourself. There will typically be a set order of events, along with a eulogy, prayers or poem readings, and occasionally speeches. It’s good memorial service etiquette to arrive on time, stay until the end of the service, leave your cell phone on silent and in your pocket, and to pay your respects to the family before leaving.
What is the purpose of a wake?
Wakes are similar to viewings, and part of good funeral wake etiquette is to have a few favorite stories to tell about the deceased and words of condolence for the family.
What is the difference between a wake and a viewing?
A wake is often very similar to a viewing, and the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. The main difference is often that a wake is more religious, and may include a prayer, scripture reading, or rosary said at the beginning and end. A wake may also be more of a social event than a viewing, with a group gathering to honor the deceased before the funeral. The term “wake” comes from an Old English term that means to keep watch.
Where do you go to visitation?
Most visitations are held at the funeral home or the family’s home before the funeral itself. Depending on the wishes of the family, the body may be present – although this is more common during viewings and wakes. You should dress nicely, according to visitation etiquette but not necessarily as formally as you would for a funeral.
Is there a funeral etiquette?
Although death is a part of everyone’s life, not all of us have a lot of experience dealing with the ceremonies and customs surrounding an individual’s passing. There are specific funeral etiquette protocols to abide by although these vary by culture and custom. You may find yourself invited to a funeral viewing or visitation, a wake, or a memorial service for someone who has recently passed. It can be helpful to know the differences between these services before you attend, as well as the appropriate wake vs viewing etiquette so that you know what to expect.
Can a coffin be present at a funeral?
A coffin may be present at a viewing or wake, and less commonly at a visitation. During a viewing, the body of the deceased is present, often in an open casket. The deceased will have been embalmed and prepared by the funeral home, in most cases, and otherwise ready for the burial or cremation. This is an opportunity to see the deceased one last time and say your quiet goodbyes. The viewing typically occurs right before a funeral so family and friends can be present.
What to do at a visitation for a deceased person?
If you were close to the deceased, you may be hoping to do something special at the visitation, such as place a meaningful item in the casket. To avoid any issues at the visitation itself, it’s best to reach out to the family in advance to get their blessings.
When do you have to visit a funeral?
Visitations generally occur before a funeral, mostly commonly either on the previous or same day as the funeral.
What is a funeral visitation?
A visitation is a funeral event for friends and family to gather to express their sympathies to the family of the deceased. It’s common for a casket to be present (open or closed) to allow guests to say final goodbyes before the burial. You may also hear it referred to as a viewing or a wake, although the definitions of each are slightly different.
How to give condolences to a deceased family member?
When you arrive, you may find that family members are set up in specific places to receive visitors, or the event may be more informal. Try to visit each family member to give share your condolences. Be ready to introduce yourself and how you knew the deceased if you don’t previously know members of the family. You may also want to come ready with a few stories or anecdotes to share how your life was affected by the deceased. At the same time, try to be mindful of the amount of space and time you're taking up -- try to avoid taking up time that the family needs to be spending speaking with other visitors and grieving. Keep your anecdotes and condolences genuine, but not longwinded.
Can you attend a virtual event at shelter in place?
It may be worth suggesting virtual events during shelter in place as a way to help the family feel connected. If there is an in-person wake, social distancing, masks, and different restrictions may be put in place. This information can also be found on the Events tab of an Ever Loved memorial website so that you can come prepared. (Though it's always a good idea to bring a mask, just in case.)
Can you visitation on Ever Loved?
Many families opt not to hold a visitation or to hold a private one, so don’t be surprised if you don’t see visitation details. If you're following a memorial website on Ever Loved, visitation hours (if provided) will be located on the Events tab of the Ever Loved memorial website.
When is a viewing of a body?
The focus of a viewing is seeing the body of the deceased and the family is typically present as well. A viewing may be held immediately before the funeral service. This gives people one last opportunity to view the body before it is buried or cremated.
What is the focus of a viewing?
The focus of a viewing is seeing the body of the deceased and the family is typically present as well.
What Generally Happens at a Visitation?
Visitation protocol varies among cultural, geographic, and religious groups, but there are some common elements that happen at a visitation.
What is a visitation?
A dictionary definition of a visitation is “a gathering with the family of a deceased person before the funeral.”. Typically, a visitation is held at a funeral home or religious building. Sometimes the body of the deceased is displayed in an open casket. Other times the cremains of the person may be at the visitation.
What is a Catholic visitation called?
Catholic visitations are sometimes called wakes. A wake is similar to a visitation. Sometimes the rosary is prayed at a wake. Although wakes used to be held in a person’s home, most of the time, they take place in funeral homes.
Why do people visit cremation?
First, you may attend a visitation because you want to view the body. Some people feel closure after seeing the body of the deceased. Since cremation has increased in popularity, this may not be as common of an occurrence as it once was, even though some families choose to have an open-casket viewing and, later, cremate the body.
What time can you arrive for a visitation?
Visitations are come-and-go events. This means that if the visitation is scheduled for 2 to 5 p.m., you can arrive at any time between 2 and 4:45. You are not expected to stay the entire time.
Where is the body displayed at a funeral?
The body is typically displayed in a casket (which may be open or closed) at the front of the room. Visitation usually takes place the day of or the day before the funeral ceremony. A note on embalming: Embalming is always optional, no matter what kind of funeral you choose.
Where does a funeral take place?
A traditional funeral generally takes place at one of these types of location: A funeral home . A place of worship. A public venue (such as a community center or local outdoor space) Parts of the traditional funeral, like the visitation and reception, might be held at a family member’s home.
What is a Traditional Funeral?
Some funerals provide an outlet for grief, while others are a celebration of life. A funeral can be religious, secular, or somewhere in between.
What is the name of the service that a family can omit from a funeral?
The steps involved in a traditional funeral are as follows (a family may choose to omit one or more of these services): Visitation. The visitation , or wake, is when guests come to pay their respects to the deceased and spend time with the family.
How early should you be at a virtual funeral?
The etiquette rules listed here also apply to virtual funerals. You should be seated at least 15 minutes early, and you should be prepared to offer your condolences following the service. You can also arrange for flowers to be sent to the family’s home or the funeral home if it’s a hybrid service.
What is the ceremony of a funeral?
Ceremony. The funeral service, or ceremony, is at the heart of a traditional funeral. Attendees gather to hear funeral music, listen to readings from religious or literary works, give eulogies about the departed, and sometimes participate in prayer. Committal.
What is the closing statement of a religious service?
Closing: The leader of the service will give a closing statement and announce where the reception is being held. A religious leader may provide a final benediction.
Where is the body present at a funeral?
The body is usually present at wakes and viewings, which often take place at the funeral home in the days before the funeral service or at the funeral service location the day of the funeral.
What to do if you don't know the family of a person who died?
If you don't know the family, you should be prepared to introduce yourself by offering your name and your relationship to the person who died.
What is a wake viewing?
Wakes, viewings, and visitations are all ways of spending time with the body of the person who died and the family of the person who died before the funeral service . As with funeral services and memorial services, wakes, viewings, and visitations all offer an opportunity to support the family in their grief and spend time with others who are ...
How long does a visitation last?
Visitations may last over the course of many days or for a specified period of time on a single day before the funeral service. The nature of the visitation will depend on the family and their preferences and style, and you should take your cues from the atmosphere at the event.
Where do you go to visit a deceased person?
Visitations can take place in any number of places, with the most common being a funeral home or church. Your main purpose in attending is to offer support to the family and close friends of the deceased. While both funerals and visitations can be somber occasions, it is perfectly acceptable to share light-hearted stories and memories at the visitation.
What to say to family when someone dies?
Upon arrival you should offer sympathy to the family. If you are at a loss for words, simply saying, “I’m sorry for your loss,” is appropriate. If you were close to the deceased but do not know the family, you should introduce yourself. If you are close friends with the family, you may have more heartfelt words to say. Be sure to keep your voice low and avoid outbursts of crying or laughter.
What is a visitation?
What am I supposed to do at a visitation? A visitation is an opportunity for friends and family to gather in honor of a loved one. It’s common for a family to have both a visitation and a funeral service. While a funeral service is traditional in nature, a visitation is a more informal gathering generally held in the afternoon or early evening ...
Why do people attend visitation?
Attending a visitation is a great way to provide support to the family in a casual setting. It also allows you to express your condolences if you are unable to attend the funeral service. Posted: December 10, 2015.
Why is it important to sign a guest book?
It is important to sign the guest book so the family has a record of who attended the visitation. If you choose to send flowers, they should be delivered ahead of time so they are displayed during the visitation and/or funeral service.
When is a visitation held?
While a funeral service is traditional in nature, a visitation is a more informal gathering generally held in the afternoon or early evening the day prior to the funeral service. People typically flow in and out of the space to pay their respects.
Is it okay to share memories at a funeral?
While both funerals and visitations can be somber occasions, it is perfectly acceptable to share light-hearted stories and memories at the visitation. When attending a visitation it is best to dress conservatively.