When someone you know, passes away, there are times when you are unsure of whether you should attend the funeral or not. This is especially true if you had a complex relationship with the deceased or if you didn’t see eye-to-eye with that person when he or she was alive.

People sometimes wonder whether it would be a better idea to simply meet the family after the ceremony takes place or just attend the visitation. It can be a little overwhelming to make this decision as there a number of different factors to take into consideration. Since every circumstance is different and every person unique, there is no fixed answer to this question.

Here are some points that may help make the decision easier for you:

• If they have made it clear that the service is only for family members, it’s something you should respect. If you aren’t an immediate family member, you have the option to go to the visitation or make a house call at a later date. In case the service has been marked as “family only” but you have been expressly invited to attend, even though you are friend, you should make it a point to attend.
   
• Consider what your relationship with the departed soul was. If you haven’t had a very healthy relationship with the person, take the feelings of the family members into account and resist from attending the service. 
   
• Sometimes, it may not be logistically or financially possible for you to attend the funeral. If that is the case, contact the bereaved family member and inform them that you won’t be able to attend.

If you want any more information, contact us at Charles J. O’Shea Funeral Home. We’ll be happy to answer your questions.