One thing you might feel the need to do once a loved one passes on is say goodbye to them, someway somehow. If you weren’t present at their death and you weren’t able to say goodbye prior to their passing, there are things you can do around the services you are going to hold at funeral homes in Urbandale, IA that can help you say what you need to say in order to move forward. Here are a few options to consider.

Attend The Visitation Service

The visitation is more of an open house and unless you are close family, you can come and go as you please during that service. When you attend, you’ll want to talk to the family that is there for the duration to extend your sympathies. While it’s not required to approach the casket, that might be something you want to do so you can view your loved one and get a few personal moments with them to say the goodbye you feel the need to say before you move forward with your life.

Write To Them

You won’t mail it, but writing a letter to your loved one to say goodbye can also let you get what you need out. You might feel like you are able to express yourself better in writing and take your time with what you want to say. You can even place this letter in the casket with your loved one, if you choose. You can also keep it, rip it up, burn it, or do whatever else you want to do with it. It can be a nice way to say whatever you want and get that out.

Attend The Funeral

Funerals are filled with rituals that are meant to help you get closure over a loved one’s passing. You can also get that final goodbye in, even if you say it silently in your heart as you watch the proceedings. Going to the funeral can help give you a sense of peace over the fact that you honored your loved one in a nice way as well.

Visit The Cemetery That Day Or Later

Funeral services often conclude at the cemetery where there is a shorter burial service. This service is another place where you can say goodbye. Perhaps family will take turns laying a flower on the casket and you can say goodbye then. Or, you might all throw a little dirt onto the casket. This service has a way of giving people closure and that chance at a final goodbye as well. You could also return to the cemetery later when you are alone and have a chance to speak to your loved one’s headstone to say what you want to say.

There’s nothing easy about saying goodbye, but the services at funeral homes in Urbandale, IA give you lots of chances to do just that. If you are struggling with your words, or need help processing the death, the experts at Iles Funeral Home are here with grief resources and options.