When someone close to you passes away, you likely expect to attend the funeral service, as well as the visitation and the burial. What you might not expect, however, is that you could end up attending the cremation. If the deceased's immediate family is having their late loved one cremated, it might be possible that the family will want certain people to attend the cremation. Generally, due to size constraints, attendees are usually family members or extremely close friends. There's a good chance that you haven't previously attended this type of event, so it's important that you know what to expect and how to proceed.
Get There Early
Arriving early at any event is a good idea, but time management is especially important when you'll be attending a cremation. If they're busy, crematoriums must adhere to a rigid schedule, which means that if the cremation of the person you knew is scheduled to begin to at 1 p.m., you can count on things being very punctual. You don't want to disrupt the family by walking in a few minutes late.
Be Prepared To Be Emotional
It's understandable to be emotional at a funeral service, especially as people share memories about the person who has passed away. At a cremation, however, you may have no idea what to expect. You'll be in a viewing room and be able to watch the person's casket being placed into the incinerator, after which time the door will be closed. This can be a highly emotional time, in part because of the impact of witnessing the cremation process. You should prepare by having some tissues or a handkerchief with you, and if you're the type of person who worries about really breaking down, you may want to sit close to the door of the viewing room so that you can leave momentarily if necessary.
Have Some Memories To Share
Cremation takes a fair bit of time, and the family may choose to remain only for the first while, or stay for the entirety. In either case, most families won't go through this entire process in silence. Instead, while there may not be a formal itinerary for the event, family members can share memories about the person who has passed away. While you don't need to write a speech, it doesn't hurt to put some thoughts together. Think about some memories or experiences with the person and be prepared to share them when the moment is appropriate.
Contact a service, like Final Care Cremation Services, for more help.
Share26 November 2017
Hi everyone, my name is Sari Blakenship. My first time visiting a funeral home was an extremely comforting experience. Although I was blindsided by the death of my loved one, the funeral director helped me through the planning process without taking advantage of my grief. I was allowed to work at my own pace to cope with the grief in a healthy way. I was never rushed or pressured, despite the necessary timeline. Whenever I couldn't move forward, the funeral director held my hand and offered words of comfort. I would like to share each step of the funeral planning process to help others through this difficult process. Planning a funeral takes a lot of thought and time during a particularly difficult period. Please visit whenever you need a hand.