No matter whether the departed was a close relative or a distant acquaintance, it’s important that you keep in mind the rules for good funeral etiquette. At a funeral, it’s of the utmost important that you don’t cause any inappropriate distractions that create additional stress during an already very emotionally-volatile situation. Here’s a look at five suggestions for good funeral etiquette.
Appropriate Attire
The general rule is to dress formally and conservatively, with black of course being the traditional wardrobe color. In some cases, it’s possible that you might be instructed to dress less formally for the occasion. However, unless you’ve been specifically instructed to do otherwise, it’ll be best to take the standard sartorial approach.
Don’t Arrive Late
Rather than aiming to arrive just before the funeral starts, try to give yourself a bit more time to work with. This will help to make it easier for everyone to be fully settled when the funeral service is actually supposed to commence. If an unforeseen circumstance does cause you to be late, you should make sure to make minimal noise when you enter.
Put Phone on Silent
To be sure that this doesn’t slip your mind, in advance you might put a note in your phone’s calendar to turn off the ringer before the service begins.
Observe/Respect Religious Customs
No matter what your beliefs might be, it’s important during a funeral that the religious customs of the deceased are what take precedence. Even if you don’t agree with a particular religion’s beliefs, you’ll still want to be respectful and follow along appropriately.
Make a Contribution
If your attending a funeral for someone who has requested that a donation is made on their behalf, then you should strongly consider following through and giving to the particular charity or organization.
If you need assistance with planning a service, be sure to get in touch with a reputable funeral home. For a funeral home in Everett, Monroe, Sultan, Lake Stevens, Darrington, Arlington, Mukilteo, Arlington, and Marysville, WA, the trusted name is Funeral Alternatives of Snohomish County at 1-888-381-6993. Funeral Alternatives also offers funeral services in Seattle and King County. Feel free to call Funeral Alternatives with any questions that you might have about planning a service.
