This can be jarring for some. First of all, you are under no obligation to approach the casket before or after the service. If an open casket upsets you, it is most polite to arrive and take your seat. Resist the urge to say anything out loud about your feelings on open caskets.
Paying Respect
The family may escort you to the casket, or you might approach on your own. Viewing the deceased is not mandatory, however, and you should do what is comfortable to you.
Others have said that an open casket funeral gives them more closure. However, an open casket funeral is not the best option for everyone. It is important that you consider your own personal circumstances as well as the wishes of your loved one as you decide between an open casket funeral and a closed casket funeral.
You are not required to actually view the body at a funeral viewing. Many people are a bit uncomfortable with the idea of attending a viewing, but keep in mind that funeral viewing etiquette does not require you to actually look at or spend time with the deceased if you are not comfortable doing so.
Some bereaved people may not want to be told about any changes to the body and may not want to view the body. They may wish to remember the person how they were in life, and not have this memory intruded upon in any way, either by being told what the body looks like or by seeing the body.
It is generally considered inappropriate to touch the body at an open casket funeral. If you want to touch their hand as you say goodbye or perhaps put something in the casket like a note or a small trinket, you should speak to the family in advance.
Protocols For Open And Closed Casket Viewing
Generally, you are not allowed to touch the body or make any comments about the person's appearance. For closed casket viewings, people are expected to show respect when they approach the casket even if they cannot see the body.
Often, people say they want to remember the person as they were when they were alive. By all means, this is important. However, viewing the body of a loved one helps family and friends acknowledge the loss and makes it almost impossible to deny the death has occurred. This is the first step in healing.
Assuming the body is properly preserved and stored, it's possible to have one anywhere within a week after the death, or up to two to four weeks later. The longer you wait, the less likely you will be able to have an open casket viewing.
Spiritual teachers and biblical references suggest that our beloved departed ones may know when we visit their grave, and people may feel a sense of being watched or comforted when they visit a loved one's grave.
A Closed Casket Can Be More Peaceful
If you know there will be many children and young adults attending the funeral, an open casket could be an overwhelming experience for them. With a closed casket, you can display your favorite photos of your loved one during their happiest moments.
Many people choose closed casket funerals simply out of respect for the deceased person, regardless of the body's condition. And while many people do not feel this way, some people view open casket funerals and viewings as an ultimate invasion of privacy, whether of the deceased person, their family, or both.
This means the body will not be displayed for the service and, in most cases, will not be embalmed. During a visitation or wake, there are scenarios where the individual has been viewed but has chosen to keep the casket closed for the funeral. Things to Consider.
Considering you're there to honor someone who passed away, funerals should also be a no-phone zone. "Talking or being on your phone during the service is one of the most disrespectful things you could do at a funeral," says Myka Meier, Beaumont Etiquette founder and etiquette expert.
If your child is around four years old and older, it's important to discuss what an open casket is and to see if they feel comfortable seeing it themselves. If they are not comfortable with seeing an open casket, it's important to be supportive of their decision.
One of the most common questions people have about embalming is whether or not organs are removed. The answer is no; all of the organs remain in the body during the embalming process. Instead, the Embalmer makes small incisions in the abdomen and inserts tubes into the body cavity.
aCremation often gets asked if it is possible to view an unbembalmed body. In most cases – yes – if held soon after the death occurs. It's important to remember that decomposition begins immediately. The longer the time between death and the viewing, the greater the chance that viewing will not be recommended.
The body takes between ten to fifteen years to decay to a point where you may just find bones, teeth and hair remaining in the casket. There may also be some excess tissue and clothing fibers that withstood the ten years of decay.
You don't even want to know what the morticians do to your loved one's body to prepare it for an open-coffin funeral. All sorts of strange things are involved in an effort to make the person look less dead. So no, there's nothing illegal about kissing a corpse.
For some people, a funeral viewing can be a helpful part of the grief journey, to process the reality and finality of death. For others, viewing a deceased person's body can be painful or unsettling, particularly considering how they died.
Examination of the problem through study and observation shows that viewing the body is helpful to the family and friends because it helps the bereaved test the reality that this death has indeed occurred and provides the comfort and means of support as well.
However, you can give a gentle kiss on the cheek or touch the hand. Keep in mind though that the body will feel cold and hard to the touch. If you're taking your kid with you, let them know in advance about the occasion so they don't feel uncomfortable. You may also stand further away from the casket.
If you are afraid, have someone accompany you to the casket. When viewing the body, it is totally okay to touch the hand of your loved one or even give a kiss on the cheek. However, you should avoid attempting to hug the body.
If the casket is closed, do not open it to touch or kiss the body inside. The casket is closed for a reason. Only touch or kiss with an open casket and the okay of the family or funeral director.