Etiquette For Cremation Service Memorials

If someone you know has passed away and their family is planning Seattle, WA cremations for them, they may very well have a memorial service. You could get invited to that service and feel led to attend so you can pay your respects to the person who died, honor them and support the family. Here are a few pieces of etiquette you will want to keep in mind as you move forward with your attendance. 

Know What To Wear

Memorial services can be completely different than a funeral and you are going to want to know what to do when it comes to what you should wear. Some memorial services are formal and call for dark clothing in a conservative style. Other memorial services are celebrations of life and they are much more casual in nature. Then, there are services where the family wants you to wear a certain color or sports attire, among other requests. You are going to want to take cues on what to wear from the type of service they are holding. When in doubt, contact the funeral home serving the family, or a family member, for help. 

Arrive On Time

Even if the memorial service is on the casual side, unless it is an open house with a range of times listed, you are going to want to be on time for the service. It’s a matter of respect for the family and the person who died that you are there on time. Get there a little early, even, but not too early or you could burden the family. 

Silence Your Phone

Memorial services of any kind are all about honoring someone who has passed on. It’s an important event and you are going to want to concentrate on what is happening around you without any distractions. That means turning your phone off, silencing it, or leaving it behind. Don’t check for messages while you are there, either. 

Greet The Family

Whether the family has a formal affair or not, it’s a nice idea to reach out to them and tell them that you are sorry for their loss and have been thinking about them. They need to know you are there supporting them. While nothing you say or do can take away their grief, having support and being surrounded by people who loved the person who died really can mean a lot. 

Participate

Whether the family has put together a golf outing, a picnic in the park, a church-like service, or something else, you are going to want to participate and go along with their plans out of respect for how they want to honor the person who died. 

When you are invited to a memorial service, you can always reach out to the funeral home that is helping the family to get more details on how they are putting things together. You want to ensure that you do and say the right things for the occasion, which can vary quite a bit around Seattle, WA cremations.