- Modest attire is best, especially in a house of worship.
- Silent cell phones during a visitation and especially during a service.
- When offering condolences, brief and positive memories are what should be shared. I’m sorry for your loss or I have many good memories of…, or I always enjoyed our visits. Some recollections are more appropriately shared during a luncheon or funeral meal.
- Expressions of sympathy such as flowers or memorial contributions are appropriate, however, being respectful of family requests, such as requesting no flowers, is important. Some families don’t have room to take all of the floral tributes home or may have allergies.
- Do not ask about the dying process of the deceased, what they died from, or why the family made any of the choices they made.
- Arrive at the service 15 minutes ahead of time and take a seat in the middle unless directed otherwise by the family or the funeral provider’s staff.
- Attend the luncheon if invited and you are able to do so.
- Focus on sharing and listening to memories of the deceased being shared by others, they are grieving as well.
- Be respectful of the religious practices of the family and participate as much as you are able.
- Follow up with a note or call to the family a week or so after the service. Once dishes have been returned and the flowers have died, it can become very lonely. For many, this is a very difficult time as it can feel like your world has stopped while everyone else is moving forward.
- Younger children may not be able to sit quietly through a service, so it may be best to seat yourself where you can discreetly move to a different area to avoid disrupting the service.
- Do not eat or drink during the service.
- Avoid taking photos unless requested by or you have permission from, the immediate family.
- Avoid posting on social media or commenting about the service as it can be seen as intrusive to the family, as this can be a very personal and emotional time.
- Follow the directions of the funeral provider’s staff so things can be smoothly run.
- Do NOT disrupt the funeral procession.
- If you are unsure of what to do in a certain situation, ask your funeral service provider. Remember, PERSONAL business means it belongs to the family and it is their decision what information they want shared.
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements, and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media LLC (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses, or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability, or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party.
