Death/Funeral Etiquette Advice, please

[Cloud]

A few more thoughts: You (even just you and your son) could go to the church service, skip the internment, then go have lunch or something, which would give you a chance to discuss the cycle of life, blah blah.

There also could be some benefit to going through the whole routine--church service, internment, and the party afterwards. Yes, there's usually a party afterwards, where all the friends and relatives eat and drink and reminisce. We don't usually call it a wake or anything that formal here, in my experience.

But I remember my mom's funeral and party--I was a bit upset. Why were all these people eating and drinking and having a good time? It was explained to me, that these parties are for the living, to help with their grief.

In that respect, going through all of it for someone he's not close to, could help your son understand and be prepared down the road, when it really matters. Both emotional lessons, and etiquette lessons. There's something to be said for learning and practicing how to act and make small talk in such settings.