One option that families have for a loved one who has died is to offer them a viewing. A viewing can let you say goodbye to your loved one and can give you the closure you need after a loss. If you have been invited to a viewing, it can be a good idea to attend the service, but you may not know what to expect if you have never been to one before. If that is the case, there are some tips that directors of funeral homes in Santa Rosa, CA want you to remember.

When going to a viewing, you will want to know what to wear. A viewing is not as formal as a funeral or memorial service, so you do not have to wear only black and dark clothing. It is important to be respectful to the family, however, so do not wear anything too casual or revealing. Many times, viewings take place during the week and so this can mean that people come right from work. As long as your outfit is appropriate, you can wear your work clothes.

Providers of funerary services want you to also keep in mind that you do not have to get there right when it starts. Unlike a funeral or memorial service, a viewing does not have the same kind of structure, so you can come and go as you need to. There will usually be someone there from the family of the deceased whom you can greet and to whom you can give your condolences. You can leave when you need to, as well, which makes it possible for people to be there for as little or as long as they want.

People sometimes get worried that they will have to go up to the casket but that is not something you have to do if you are not comfortable with it. You can say goodbye from wherever you prefer so do not hesitate to attend the viewing because of this. If you do want to go up to the casket, be sure that you do so when there is no one else up there. You do not want anyone to have to rush to say their goodbyes.

These are all important things you want to remember when getting ready to attend a loved one’s viewing. It can be an extremely important step in the process of getting closure, so do take the time to consider going. You do not have to worry about wearing the wrong thing or not getting there on time, as you would with a funeral or memorial service. If you want to know more about viewings, you want to reach out to a Santa Rosa, CA funeral home like us. Our team is here to help you with any questions you may have about attending any kind of funerary services. You can give us a call right now or you can visit us today at one of our locations to speak with an expert.