An Overview of Funeral Visitations 

When there are funeral visitations at Florence, WI funeral homes, you should make every effort to attend. This part of the funeral process gives family and friends an opportunity to pay their last respects, to comfort the deceased's family, and to offer them support and encouragement. 

A funeral visitation is the personal touch part of the funeral process, because it allows friends and family to talk with the bereaved family and offer memories, condolences, and emotional support. Funeral visitations are usually held at the funeral home, but it might be held in a sanctuary or some other place as well. 

If you knew the deceased or are close to the family, it would be faux paus not to attend the funeral visitation, unless the bereaved family requests a private funeral visitation that is limited to just family and friends closest to the deceased. If you are not invited to the private visitation, you should still make time to visit with the family within a couple of weeks after the funeral. 

Some funeral visitations included a viewing, with the casket open and the body of the deceased present. Currently, many people are choosing not to have open caskets during the funeral visitation, but if it's done, it is a perfectly acceptable tradition. If you have young children and you don't want them to see the open casket, you can ask the funeral director, who is usually by the door greeting guests, if there is a place outside the room where the children can sit. 

Do not arrive early for funeral visitations. The family of the deceased often spends some alone time with the deceased just before the funeral visitation. This can be a very emotional time for the family and they need their privacy to grieve openly and then collect themselves before the visitation. 

Funeral visitations are structured with the family of the deceased at the front beside the casket greeting the line of mourners. While it's entirely appropriate to spend a little time with the family, be aware that other people are waiting and don't monopolize any family member's time. Be sure to say something to each family member. 

Once you have spent time with the family during the funeral visitation, leave and go to the back of the room and, if the visitation is in the funeral home or a sanctuary, and find a seat. It's acceptable to greet other people you may know at the funeral visitation, but conversation should be low-key and short. 

When finding a seat, go to the furthest row back that has empty seats and find a seat nearest the inside part of the row away from the center aisle. As the chapel or sanctuary fills up, people having to walk over other people to find a seat becomes disruptive and is considered disrespectful. 

Once your seated, you can again talk quietly with those around you, but once the funeral service is about to start, all conversations should be stopped. 

To find out more about funeral visitations at Florence, WI funeral homes, our knowledgeable and caring staff at Jacobs Funeral Homes & Crematory can guide you through the process. You can come to our funeral home at 417 Central Ave., Florence, WI 54121, or you can contact us today at (715) 528-3241.