| A viewing means to have an open casket. |
| A visitation is when the body is laid out in the casket (which may be open or closed) before the service so that mourners may come to "visit." |
| A visitation offers a chance for people to "pay their final respects" to the deceased person. |
| Just as important, the visitation can be a time for mourners to meet and console each other in a more informal setting than at the funeral. |
| You can schedule a visitation for as little as half an hour on the day of the service, or it can last for several days before the service. |
| The visitation can be restricted to just close friends and family, or be open to the public. You can even have a combination of private and public hours. |
| Is there a special ceremony? |
| As part of the visitation, you can arrange a formal ceremony, an informal ceremony, or none at all. The formal ceremony might be a brief service with the saying of the rosary (for Catholics) or prayers for the dead led by a mourner or member of the clergy. |
| The term wake is sometimes used to describe the reception after the funeral or memorial service. |
| Traditionally, though, a wake means the friends and family keeping watch by the body before it is safely buried — especially through the night. (Hence the term "wake.") In some families, there is much drinking and feasting and storytelling during the vigil. |
| For those who are comfortable with it, an informal story-telling session can be a wonderful way to remember the person. |
| The stories don’t all have to be solemn, nor do they all have to show the person as a saint. We often love people as much for their flaws as for their strengths. |
| Remember, too, that laughter is as much a sign of strong emotion as tears or anger. |
| And if the person had a good sense of humor, there are bound to be some funny stories. |
| This sharing can be a rich and powerful experience. You might even want to tape record this event to listen to again later. |