Is it Important to Have a Public Viewing Before the Funeral?

Is it Important to have a Public Viewing before the Funeral?

Funeral planning isn’t a very easy task and often times, family members are compelled to make decisions that other family members may not agree with. This phase isn’t an easy one and families struggle to come up with a good solution that will be acceptable to all the people involved.

At The Jerry Spears Company, we have seen that visitation & public viewing are the two aspects that family members aren’t sure about; many of our clients question the need to have a public viewing before the funeral. Here is some useful information that should help:

A public viewing- what is it?

A public viewing is held at the formal funeral service where the mortal remains of the decedent are present for viewing. Friends, family members, and acquaintances of the deceased view the person before the burial/cremation. Most people consider this a very important aspect of the overall grieving process.

Should I conduct a public viewing before the funeral? 

Most believe it’s necessary to have a public viewing prior to the funeral because:

Death can sometimes be unexpected and painful. Close family members might get the opportunity to say their final goodbyes to the person before their passing. However, extended family and friends don’t get that closure. Holding a public viewing gives them the chance to visit the pay their respects to the deceased person.

A private visitation may sometimes be held instead of a public viewing. However, it is far more difficult to organize and can be time-consuming as well. However, every family has specific preferences and family members can have a discussion and come to a consensus on whether a public viewing works for them.

If you want to know more about funeralservices, don’t hesitate to contact us at The Jerry Spears Company. Our team will be happy to help.