Pre-Funeral Events
A wake, also known as a funeral reception, is an event where close friends and family of the deceased gather together to pay their respects. Traditionally, a wake referred to the viewing held before the funeral, but nowadays it’s usually held after the funeral or memorial service.
The Visitation: Held prior to the funeral, often the night before, the visitation (or viewing) is a time for people to pay their respects to the deceased.
- If a casket is present, you can choose to have an open or closed casket.
Funeral Services
A funeral service is the ceremony held to commemorate the life of the deceased. The most common types are traditional funeral service and committal funeral service, also known as graveside service.
Funeral Receptions
A funeral reception is a post-funeral gathering where friends and family members come together to celebrate and remember the life of the deceased. It typically follows the funeral service.
Funeral Meals
Funeral meals have always been meant to assuage grief and honor the dead and their beliefs. They reflect various factors like ethnicity, health trends, and contemporary funeral practices.
What Happens Before the Funeral?
The wake or visitation is typically the day before the funeral service when family and friends pay their respects to the deceased.
Preparation for a Funeral
- Contact the deceased’s legal representative.
- Select a funeral home.
- Choose a form of disposition.
- Choose a service type.
- Be aware that many funeral homes will require embalming for viewings or wakes.
Etiquette of a Funeral
Funerals are meant to comfort; it is perfectly fine not to cry. The service exists to provide comfort to the bereaved family.