When planning services with a funeral home in Des Moines, IA for a loved one who passed on, there are always going to be options. There are also options around visitations and whether you are the person planning, or just someone who wants to attend, there are things you can consider about that part of the service. Here are some of the options you can choose between:

Items To Wear

You might feel like there is a certain dress code that is appropriate for a funeral, and that’s really the case. With a visitation, you have a lot more wiggle room and options. You don’t have to wear dark colors, for example. You don’t even have to dress in a formal manner. You might stop by the visitation on a break from work and just wear your work attire. You want to be respectful and should probably change if you have on a dirty t-shirt or ripped jeans, but there’s a lot of options of what you can wear to a visitation. You can always talk to a family member or the funeral home professionals to get deeper ideas.

The Arrival Time

For a funeral or even a memorial service, you want to be there a little before the start time so you are respectful to the family and don’t disrupt anything. For a visitation, it’s completely different. There are hours set and they are more of an open house. You can come any time between those hours and leave whenever you please. You don’t have to get there right at the beginning or stay all the way until the end. You come and go as you’d like, visit with the family, and move on with your day.

How Long It Lasts

Funeral services are usually around an hour in length and then, the family and friend group processes to the burial site for a short service there. Then, there’s sometimes a reception after that. Visitations are different. They are anywhere from 2-4 hours in length, normally, but you don’t have to stay that whole time. Only the immediate family will likely be present for the whole thing. You can come halfway through and stay for half an hour and that works just fine. In fact, you don’t want to overstay and burden the family.

Viewing The Person

When you get to the visitation, you will likely see the person at the front of the space. That doesn’t mean you have to go up any closer to them if you don’t want to. The decision as to whether or not you want to approach the casket is completely yours. Go over if you want to see them or need closure. If you don’t know them and came to support the family, or feel uncomfortable with the idea of getting closure for any reason, you can stay back and that’s just fine as well. Your presence there is what’s important.

Funeral homes in Des Moines, IA can answer more questions. Call Iles Funeral Home at any time.

When a loved one passes on, the grief can be immediate or it can sneak up on you. Either way, you are going to need help from the professionals in funeral homes in West Des Moines, IA to meet your loved one’s needs and to help you plan things out for their final services. These professionals are going to help you get through your loved one’s death and start the process of saying that final goodbye.

They Offer Support And Compassion

One of the first things you will notice about the funeral home is how supportive they are throughout the process. They know you need certain things, like compassion, as you work your way through the plans. That can be hard for some people to give, but it’s automatic for funeral directors. They are naturally compassionate people and they get a lot of practice at it, too. They are also going to support you through your decisions. They will give you the information you need to make choices and as you make them, they support you in them. You’ll feel good about the options you are putting together with their support.

They Cover Your Loved One’s Needs

It’s important to you, first and foremost, that your loved one’s needs are going to be met and that’s something you get right away with the right funeral home. Once you decide to use them, they are going to take care of transporting your loved one from the place of their death to their facilities. There, they can care for them with dignity as you decide what you want to do. You know your loved one’s needs are met and they are in good hands in the meantime while you plan.

They Have Grief Resources

Your primary concern right away might be caring for your loved one’s needs and getting your family what they need to get closure, say goodbye, and move forward. But at some point, you will need to focus on yourself and your own grief as well. The funeral home is going to be there for you through that also. They understand that every grieving process is unique and they have grief resources that might be suited to what you are going through. You can ask them for references for grief support groups, counselors, and other things to get through this hard time.

Get Tips For Self Care

The funeral home professionals are going to recommend that you care for yourself throughout this grieving and planning process. They want you to understand that while grief is never easy, it’s only going to be harder if you aren’t caring for yourself. They might recommend that you take breaks and rest, that you eat a good meal, and other things out of concern for your well being during this process.

There’s nothing easy about working with funeral homes in West Des Moines, IA on final services for a loved one, but the professionals at Iles Funeral Home promise to be there for you through it all.

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.

If you have decided that you want to have a traditional service with funeral homes in Des Moines, IA, for your loved one, you may then want to have a reception after the funeral is complete. The reception is a more casual time that allows your family to eat, catch up, mourn together, and just spend extra time as a unit. You are all people who lost someone special and banding together during that time can be really helpful. Here are some details to help you pull everything together in time for the funeral.

Let Someone Else Do It

As you move through the plans for the final service, a friend, community member, church group, or someone else might step up and offer to host the reception for you. That’s a very nice offer and can take something big off your plate. You can tell them what you want included or just let them take care of things and appreciate whatever they end up doing.

Book A Restaurant

If you are having just a small group for the reception, you might want to book a private room in a restaurant your loved one liked. You don’t have to worry about food or everyone getting what they want. Everyone can order what they want in a private setting where you can be together, share memories, and spend time with one another.

Bring Pictures Along

It can be nice to pass around a photo album of your family that include your loved one. People can look through the books and remember some of the good times all of you had together. It might also bring up stories and memories that can be fun to share when you are in a setting that is less formal than the funeral service itself might have been.

Consider Their Music

If you are able to play music in the background, choose a playlist your loved one would have enjoyed. If they listened to nothing but country, playing that type of music will bring them to mind and help everyone remember them as you commiserate after the services and enjoy each other’s company for longer.

Gather Food Options

You could also approach the reception as more of a potluck and have certain people bring favorites your loved one adored. Someone might cook a casserole they loved and someone else could bring their favorite dessert. Having some of their items at the table along with the people who loved them can feel very special.

You are going to want to customize and personalize the services you have at funeral homes in Des Moines, IA for your loved one and that is also true for what you do for the reception after the services. If you have questions about the types of things that people usually do, or you want ideas for more unique things, the professionals at Iles Funeral Home can help. We know the area well and can give you options for restaurant and other venues that are good for receptions after funerals.