Typically, additional services are held before or after a Funeral or Memorial Service.

This gives the community an opportunity to spend time with the deceased and surviving family.

The deceased's Last Will and Testament, along with religious traditions and customs, may help guide decisions when organizing these additional end-of-life ceremonies.

If instructions do not exist, then the Next of Kin, surviving family, or possibly the Executor of the Estate, will need to make decisions.

Typically, additional events include, but are not limited to:

Viewing

• Also known as a Wake, a "funeral reception" or "calling hours"


• More informal than a Funeral, this is a gathering of family and friends to pay respects to the deceased, share Grief, and support the surviving family


• Takes place at the Funeral Home or a family home before or on the same day of service


• The deceased's body is typically present


• May include food and beverage, though not required


• Typically open to all guests, but sometimes requires RSVP confirmation

Visitation

• Sometimes used interchangeably with Viewing or Wake, but a Visitation typically does not have the body present


• In Judaism, this known as Shiva and takes place after a Funeral or Memorial Service


• May take place at a Funeral Home, but is typically conducted at an event space or at the surviving family's home


• May take place over an extended number of days

Scattering Ceremony

• Occurs anytime after a Cremation


• A ceremony where a surviving family scatters the ashes of the deceased rather than bury or keep them in an Urn


• Typically takes place at a location special to the deceased or surviving family


• Note: scattering ashes can sometimes be subject to state law, so check with local ordinances before continuing