Attending A Visitation Before Cremation
There are few things harder than attending a funeral, memorial service, or visitation. If someone you know has passed on, or a friend or co-worker has lost a loved one, it’s possible that before cremation in Monroe, NC, they will have visitation. It’s a tradition that can be comforting to some people as it allows them to say a final goodbye before cremation takes place. If you are going to attend the visitation, what should you say? What should you wear? How should you act? Here are some answers to your questions to help you prepare for the event.
What To Say
Attending a visitation can be stressful, even if you are just going to support someone who has lost a loved one. What should you say to the family in grief? You might want to practice your greeting to the family beforehand just so you feel more comfortable with what you are going to say and how you are going to say it. You’ll want to think out what you’ll say so you don’t say something off the top of your head and make a mistake. Keep your comments brief and sincere. If you know the person who passed on, you can share a brief memory or heartfelt compliment about them. Otherwise, you can just tell the family you are sorry for their loss and leave it at that. You don’t want to take up much of their time since they have a lot of people to see and a lot of thoughts of their own.
What To Wear
Wear similar attire as what you would wear to a funeral unless the family has specified otherwise. You want to remain appropriate for the venue as well. Don’t draw attention to yourself and don’t try to stand out. Just dress conservatively and appropriately so you blend in.
How To Act
You will likely want to present yourself in a somber way. Don’t be overly loud during the event as there are others around you who might be crying, sharing memories, or having a hard time. Talk in a low voice, but don’t whisper or those you are speaking with may not hear you. If you notice everyone else acting differently, you can adjust accordingly. Some visitations might be more celebrations of life with laughter, stories, and memories floating around.
How Long To Stay
Visitations are usually come and go events. As a guest, you can visit any time during the open hours and stay as long as you’d like. How long you stay will depend on your relationship to the person who passed on and your relationship to their family members. Some stay the entire time while others just stop by for twenty minutes or so before they move on.
If you have more questions about visitations before Monroe, NC cremation services, contact the professionals at Heritage Funeral & Cremation Services by calling (704) 846-3771 or by visiting us at 3700 Forest Lawn Dr Matthews, NC 28104. We’re here to support those in grief as well as those who hold up families going through it.
