When your family is having a service for a loved one who passed on with funeral homes in Auburn, MA, you will want to know what to expect from the process. Having your expectations set in the right places can help you to move toward the services with less anxiety. It’s never easy to say goodbye to a loved one, but when you have no choice, at least you can figure out what you have to expect from the traditional services that are forthcoming.

The Visitation Before The Service

Traditional services generally have a visitation before the funeral. That visitation can happen earlier in the day before the funeral, or it can happen a day or two before the funeral. The visitation process is more of an open house. There’s a time frame in which you can visit the funeral home, see your loved one in their casket, talk to other family members, and say goodbye. People generally go to the visitation for 20-30 minutes, but immediate family is often there for the whole time so they can speak to others who attend.

During The Funeral

Once the funeral comes around, you will want to be on time for the service as it does have an exact start time. Make sure you silence your phone or even leave it behind. Dress in a conservative manner, perhaps in a darker color, to show your respects. The service will likely be traditional and there will be readings, songs, and a eulogy given. The services are usually an hour in length or shorter.

The Burial After The Service

After the funeral is over, the person presiding over the service will invite everyone in attendance to process to the cemetery for the burial portion of the service. The cars will line up and follow the hearse, probably with a police escort, to the cemetery so everyone arrives at once. After everyone is out and gathered around the burial plot, the person presiding over the services will share a few words and everyone will say their goodbyes. This portion of the service is short and direct.

The Reception

Once the burial is over, families often like to have a reception. The reception can take place in a family home, a community center, a church reception hall, a restaurant, or any number of other places. This is an opportunity for your family to spend more time together in a more casual setting. You can have a meal together, share more memories, and just be around one another in support for a longer period of time. You might even take some time to catch up with one another. You can leave whenever you feel ready and move forward.

If you are having services with funeral homes in Auburn, MA for a loved one, it’s nice to know what to expect so you are able to go into the process with an open mind and foresight into how you will handle the day.