Since more people are having cremation services in Urbandale, IA, there aren’t as many visitation services to attend. Families can combine visitations and cremation with more of a full cremation service instead of direct cremation. Visitation can be done before the cremation process is completed. However, it’s more common to combine visitation with funeral services. Either way, if you are invited to attend a visitation, here are some tips to consider so you feel more comfortable with the proceedings.

Come And Go As You Please

You are going to see a range of times listed for a visitation service, unlike memorial and funeral services. That is because they are more of an open house situation. You can come and go as you please during that time frame. Most people stay between 20 and 30 minutes during that time. In fact, you don’t want to overstay of that can put pressure on the family as well. Come whenever you can during that time frame and stay long enough to say goodbye, talk to the family, and visit with a few others that might be there.

Casual, Respectful Attire Is Okay

Funerals are formal affairs and a certain level of clothing is expected. But when you attend a visitation, you can wear something casual, as long as it’s respectful. Many people stop in on their way to or from work or during a break, for example, and that works just fine. You don’t have to wear something formal or dark in color, but you still want the clothing to be conservative to remain respectful.

There Are No Casket-Approaching Requirements

Most of the time at a visitation, there will be an open casket. That’s not always the case, but the main purpose of a visitation is for people to see the person who died, get closure, and say goodbye. If you knew the person and you want to approach the casket, so be it. If you are coming to the visitation more to support the family, there are no requirements about approaching the casket. You can stay back, visit the family, and pass on your condolences. Even if you did know the person who died, if you are uncomfortable going up to the casket, you don’t have to.

Talk To The Family Present

One of the nice things about a visitation is that the immediate family is often there for the entire open house event. It gives them a chance to talk to people, gather support, and see more people than they might at the actual funeral. It’s customary to share your condolences at the visitation and to let the family know you are there.

Gifts Are Acceptable

You don’t have to bring a gift to the visitation, but the cremation provider in Urbandale, IA says that it’s never required. You can take something to the funeral instead, send something directly to the family’s home, or just allow your presence and support to be enough. If you do want to take something to the visitation, you certainly can.

You have probably attended funeral home or cremation services in Des Moines, IA in the past and perhaps you have even had to plan such services for a family member or two. But there are things that the experts know that you may not have recognized as of yet. When you are faced with more planning, or you want to plan your own services ahead of time, it’s nice to know some of the things that not everyone realizes so you can make the right decisions.

Embalming Is Not Required

You might think that embalming is something automatic that takes place after someone dies, but it’s actually a completely optional service. Most people use it if they are going to have a visitation for their loved one, and that makes sense. The purpose of embalming is to preserve the body for such things. But if you are having a closed casket, are skipping the visitation service entirely, or are going with direct cremation, there’s really no need to have embalming done. It can help you to avoid costs if you skip that service.

Cremation And Funerals Can Co-Exist

You might assume that if you have a cremation done, for yourself or a loved one, that you can’t have a funeral. The two are an either/or situation. But that’s not the case at all. Full cremation services allow you to have a visitation and funeral first, then followed by cremation. Or, if you go with direct cremation, which means no services beforehand, you can have a memorial service after that feels more like a funeral.

Memorials Can Be Held Anywhere

With funerals, people are often restricted to churches or funeral homes and those are always good locations for such events. But with memorial services, while you can still have them in those convenient locations, you can also hold them anywhere else you might like. Some families have started having them at home, in parks, and in any other location them appreciate. It’s nice to have those options to personalize the services.

Eco-Friendly Options Are On The Rise

Everyone is concerned about the environment today and you can take those concerns all the way to the end of life and do things in an eco-friendly manner where final services are concerned. You can, for example, get a biodegradable casket or urn that will dissolve or break down naturally in the earth. You can skip embalming to avoid putting harmful chemicals in the ground. There are lots of options and the funeral homes can go over them with you. Make sure you tell them that you want to stay as eco-friendly as possible and they will help to steer you in those directions.

When you are working on final services for a loved one, or trying to plan your own cremation services in Des Moines, IA, it’s nice to know all of the details, including things you didn’t know before and not everyone else recognizes. It can help with decisions and confidence in making them.