Common Funeral Etiquette

Are you preparing to attend a funeral? If you haven’t been to one in a while, you might want to take some time to brush up on your etiquette. It’s very important to follow a few simple etiquette rules in order to avoid embarrassing yourself or making anyone at the funeral feel uncomfortable. Take a look at a few common etiquette rules below.

Always arrive on time and dressed appropriately.

When attending a funeral, you should make sure that you find out what time it starts and arrive in a timely fashion. You don’t want to show up late and interrupt the proceedings. You should also make sure you are dressed appropriately for the occasion. In most cases, men will wear black suits, while women will wear black dresses or other black attire. You should avoid anything that looks too festive since it could send the wrong message on such a solemn day.

Keep quiet and pay your respects.

Once you have arrived at a funeral, you should find yourself a seat and sit down as quickly as you can. The first few rows of seating at a funeral are usually reserved for family, so unless you know you will be sitting there, try finding a seat in the middle or near the back. After you are seated, you should sit quietly and avoid making any noise. If you feel the need to cough or make any loud sounds, excusing yourself from the church or other house of worship is acceptable as long as you do so quietly.

Join the procession to the burial following the funeral service.

While you are not required to attend the burial, you should join the procession that will drive to it if you plan on going. It’s also a good idea to find out if the burial will be open to everyone prior to the funeral since some families prefer private burials. Additionally, you should look up directions to the cemetery or burial grounds if you can so that you know where to go if you lose your place in the procession.

By following these simple rules, you will show the proper amount of respect to the family that is mourning the loss of a loved one. You will also ensure that you don’t cause any disturbances during the funeral. National Funeral Supplies would be happy to give you more information on funeral etiquette or help you with planning and executing a funeral. Call us at 800-452-2249 today for more information.