Viewing the body - spending time together
Spending time with the person who has died affords you the opportunity to have private and valuable time together before the service. Those who take this time feel that it aids their grieving process and adds to their memories in a positive way and begins the process of accepting the reality of their death.
Viewing is of course a very personal choice with each family member making a choice that it right for them.
Gifts of love such as cards, letters, photos, small gifts and flowers can be left with them in the casket.
They will in the casket of choice, dressed in the clothes that you have provided, looking their best.
Most times they will look like themselves and sometimes they will not look quite so much like they did.
This depends upon their state at time of death but we do everything we can to present them at their best at all times.
For some who have not looked good at their time of death, after embalming and preparation has taken place, they can look so much better, which is a great relief and source of joy at a time when sadness prevails.
Going Home.
Taking the casket home enables you to spend more quality time together before the service and again is a personal choice.
Should children be encouraged to view the body?
This is a decision for the parents to make. In our experience children are a lot better at dealing with death than we give them credit for and they like to bring gifts, drawings and significant items to express their love and loss, that can be left in or on the casket.
This can be a time to write messages on the casket. Some types of caskets can be written on by family and friends at the time or viewing or before the service.
See Caskets and Urns
Preparation of body before viewing.
Should you choose to view, then some form of embalming treatment will be necessary for preservation and presentation of the body.
See Embalming, Clothing and Dressing.
We have private and comfortable viewing facilities where you can spend time together either individually, as a family.
We will ask you at the time of arranging the service if you wish to spend time together.
If you have any questions in regard to viewing please don't hesitate to ask us.
Viewing is of course a very personal choice with each family member making a choice that it right for them.
Gifts of love such as cards, letters, photos, small gifts and flowers can be left with them in the casket.
They will in the casket of choice, dressed in the clothes that you have provided, looking their best.
Most times they will look like themselves and sometimes they will not look quite so much like they did.
This depends upon their state at time of death but we do everything we can to present them at their best at all times.
For some who have not looked good at their time of death, after embalming and preparation has taken place, they can look so much better, which is a great relief and source of joy at a time when sadness prevails.
Going Home.
Taking the casket home enables you to spend more quality time together before the service and again is a personal choice.
Should children be encouraged to view the body?
This is a decision for the parents to make. In our experience children are a lot better at dealing with death than we give them credit for and they like to bring gifts, drawings and significant items to express their love and loss, that can be left in or on the casket.
This can be a time to write messages on the casket. Some types of caskets can be written on by family and friends at the time or viewing or before the service.
See Caskets and Urns
Preparation of body before viewing.
Should you choose to view, then some form of embalming treatment will be necessary for preservation and presentation of the body.
See Embalming, Clothing and Dressing.
We have private and comfortable viewing facilities where you can spend time together either individually, as a family.
We will ask you at the time of arranging the service if you wish to spend time together.
If you have any questions in regard to viewing please don't hesitate to ask us.
