Whether you have attended a lot of memorials, or it’s just been a while since someone in your life passed on, you might want to brush up on what’s okay and what’s not when you are invited to funeral homes in Columbia Station, OH for a traditional service. There are certain things that are nice to do and other things you are gong to want to avoid doing. Here’s some advice from professionals that work in the industry regularly.

Speak With The Family

It’s always a nice idea to speak to the family when you attend a funeral. Often, they will have a receiving line as you leave the funeral home or church. You can give them a hug, let them know you are sorry for their loss, and tell them you will be thinking of them. If there is no receiving line, try to speak to them at the reception or at another time that seems appropriate. You don’t have to have magic words, as there’s nothing you can say that will help them feel better. But seeing you there and feeling your support really can mean a lot.

Dress Nicely

Memorial services can be rather casual in nature, but you are going to want to dress in a nice, formal manner for a traditional funeral. While black is always a nice go-to color, it’s not required. You can wear black and you will always be fine. But you can also wear navy or other dark or muted colors and you will also fit in well. Just try to avoid anything overly bright or patterned and keep your clothing conservative.

Participate In The Proceedings

The family set up the service in a way they feel would honor their loved one. You are going to want to respect that, whether the proceedings are something you appreciate yourself or not. If everyone stands to sing, stand with them. If there’s a prayer, bow your head out of respect. Go along with what is set up to show your respect to the family and the person who died.

Bring A Card/Gift

It’s not required, but it’s always nice to bring a card and/or gift to the family. You might bring flowers for the background of the service, for example. You can also bring a card with money in it to go towards a memorial donation. Even just a card to share your sympathies can be a nice thing to do. The family can read through that later and remember you were there supporting them.

Sign The Guestbook

If there’s a guestbook at the funeral service, it’s because the family wants to remember who attended. They are emotional and may feel as if they are in a fog. Sign the book as they request so they can remember you supported them through this hard day.

If you need more advice on attending services at a funeral homes in Columbia Station, OH, contact the professionals at any time and they will give you tips and suggestions.