Your guide to dressing, behaving & comforting respectfully at a funeral.
Your presence at a funeral & support will be much appreciated by the family. This is service is the time to express & receive support, provides a process for mourning & gives a sense of closure. This service also requires respect.
The way you act, dress & speak should reflect the conservativeness & solemnity of the service. Your attire should be formal & simple, wearing black or dark, neutral colors. Arriving to the funeral properly well dressed is a form of politeness & conveys respect for the deceased & bereaved.
During the service, common sense & polite discretion are what you will use as guides for your behavior. The service is a time to remember, pray & reflect. Sit quietly, observe & don't get up during the service, unless it is urgent. Make sure your phone is off & put away at this time of remembrance & respect. If participation is requested, follow along in respect & to observe tradition.
After the service, express your sympathy by sharing warm remembrances & what the person meant to you with the family & they will appreciate this. At a loss for words, the best thing is to hold their hand or give them a hug. This is always enough. Be there for the family, if they would like to talk about their loved one, listen & give them your full attention.
Flowers can be comforting to the family as well & may be sent to the home of the family as a gesture of respect for the deceased. Also, bringing a prepared meal to the home of the family is a symbol of the continuation of life & a moment of separation from the emotional details of death. A gift certificate to a favorite restaurant is a practical gift as well.
Remember your presence & support is appreciated. Be sincere & be yourself. There is a reason you were asked to attend. Be honored that you were chosen as capable of offering comfort in a time of need. ♥
No comments:
Post a Comment