Death/Funeral Etiquette Advice, please

richlevy · 06-19-2010, 08:06 AM

I agree that if it's the dad of a close friend, you should go to support Thor's friend. Sometimes friends can be closer than family.

Dark or black colors are preferred. 'Business casual' is usually ok for guests. I have not had to wear suits to many funerals.

I've gone to a lot of funerals with open caskets, and generally if you sit in back, you don't have to see it. In some cases, the casket is only open for a short time. This is a combination of faith and family preference. In our case the funeral director had us view the body and make the decision.

Depending on faith or preference, there may be a lunch for family and close friends afterwards, or they may go back to someones house for a wake/shiva/gathering.

Funerals are hardest on young mourning children. Adult guests who come up to offer condolences have a hard enough time saying anything meaningful to adult mourners. If Thor is a close friend, his being there could be a big help depending on how many relatives or siblings are there who are close to the kid's age.

06-19-2010, 08:06 AM	#11
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	I agree that if it's the dad of a close friend, you should go to support Thor's friend. Sometimes friends can be closer than family. Dark or black colors are preferred. 'Business casual' is usually ok for guests. I have not had to wear suits to many funerals. I've gone to a lot of funerals with open caskets, and generally if you sit in back, you don't have to see it. In some cases, the casket is only open for a short time. This is a combination of faith and family preference. In our case the funeral director had us view the body and make the decision. Depending on faith or preference, there may be a lunch for family and close friends afterwards, or they may go back to someones house for a wake/shiva/gathering. Funerals are hardest on young mourning children. Adult guests who come up to offer condolences have a hard enough time saying anything meaningful to adult mourners. If Thor is a close friend, his being there could be a big help depending on how many relatives or siblings are there who are close to the kid's age. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama Last edited by richlevy; 06-19-2010 at 08:11 AM.

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