What to Know When Attending a Viewing

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Bennie Smith Funeral Home under Funeral Education
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A viewing can be the right option for people who want to have a chance to say goodbye to their loved one. If you have been invited to one, here are some things that you want to know.

One of the options the family of the deceased may choose is to have a viewing. A viewing can allow people to say goodbye to the person and to get the closure they need. If you have been invited to a viewing and have never been to one before, you may be wondering about what is expected of you and what you can expect from the service. Here are some tips that directors of funeral homes in Wilmington, DE want you to know about.

A common concern for people who are planning on attending a viewing is what to wear. One of the things to remember is that a viewing is not a funeral service, so it does not have to be as formal. You want to be respectful to the grieving family but you do not have to wear black and other somber colors if you do not want to. Many times, people come to the viewing right after work and that is perfectly fine.

Another concern people have about viewings is about when to get there. You do not have to get to the service as it starts. Viewings are a few hours long to allow people to come and go as they need to. You do not have to worry about getting there as soon as it starts and you do not have to stay until the end. There will usually be someone from the family there throughout the viewing, but the guests can come and go.

It is important to also remember that you do not have to go up to the casket if you do not want to. Many times, people are worried about this but you do not have to do it. You can say your goodbyes from anywhere in the location and no one will be insulted. Take that into consideration when you attend.

If you do want to say your goodbyes and you go up to the casket, be sure that you do this when there is no one else doing so. You do not want to force anyone to have to speed through what they want to say because they know someone is waiting. If you do go up when there is someone else up there, wait patiently behind them so that they can say everything they want to say.

When getting ready to attend the viewing of a loved one, these are all important things to remember to do. You do not want to have to stress over what to wear or when to get to the service. A viewing can be a great way of getting closure and of saying your goodbyes to the person you have lost, so do consider attending. You can reach out to a Wilmington, DE funeral home to learn more about the process of attending a viewing. Give us a call right now or stop by our location today to speak with one of our experts about this.

Bennie Smith Funeral Home

From humble beginnings on a farm in Faceville, Georgia, Bennie Smith evolved into a successful and caring businessman setting the standards for funeral homes across this country. Today, Bennie Smith Funeral Home(s) is one the largest African-American-owned Funeral Homes on the East Coast. With 13 locations up and down the Delmarva Peninsula, from Wilmington, Dover, Milford, Seaford, Millsboro, Salisbury, Easton, Princess Anne, Chestertown, the Eastern Shore of Virginia and more. For over 35 years, we've been caring for families like yours.