What is the Benefit of Having a Viewing?

A viewing is the period before a funeral when a person’s body is held in an open casket, and family and friends can see their loved one for a final time. Whether they chose a traditional burial or cremation as their means of disposition, a viewing at a funeral home near Ferrum, VA, is an important thing to consider making arrangements for. 

Typically, a viewing takes place the day before the funeral service. It usually lasts for most of the day, and family and friends are invited to come and go as they can. The immediate family normally stays for the duration of the viewing, as they accept condolences and support each other throughout the day. While the viewing can sometimes occur earlier in the same day as the funeral, having them on two separate days allows for more flexibility with people’s schedules. That way, if people are unable to attend one of the services, they can still come to the other. 

At a viewing, those in attendance will typically pay their respects to the immediate family of the deceased. They may provide words of comfort, share in tears of grief, or simply give them a hug that says it all. They can reminisce and tell stories about their loved one, perhaps even sharing in a laugh at a fond memory. However, the main purpose of the viewing is to have the person’s bodily remains available to be seen for one final time, before they are taken to be buried or cremated. Family and friends can approach the casket and take one last look at their loved one. They may say a prayer, touch their hand, or simply have a silent moment. 



Having this opportunity to say a final goodbye is a very important thing to do. While every person’s grieving process is different, there are some things that are true for virtually everybody. Seeing your loved one’s face one final time can allow you to fully accept that they are really gone. Sometimes, you may find yourself turning to ask your loved one a question, or to see their reaction to something, only to remember that they are gone. Seeing them in that casket is not easy, and for some people it’s extremely difficult. However, it allows your brain to understand and see for itself that the person is no longer with you. 

When you have been able to try and accept your loss, it allows you to move forward with the grieving process, and eventually, begin to resume a normal life. Your funeral home near Ferrum, VA, can help you understand the importance of saying a final goodbye to your loved one. They can help you put together all the necessary arrangements to make this happen. Then, you and your family can try to learn how to move forward with your lives, adjusting to the absence of the person you lost. It will take time, but it is possible, and having that final goodbye can help you to begin the process.