What To Bring Or Not Bring To Funeral Home Services

If you have been invited to attend final services for someone you know at funeral homes, you may feel led to go in honor of that special person. Supporting family members and friends through attending final services is a very nice gesture. As you get ready for the service, there are things you might want to bring and other things you may want to leave behind. Here are a few such items.

Bring Water

You are always welcome to bring a bottle of water to the final service, though some families may also have water glasses and pitchers available. When you are overwhelmed by emotions and perhaps crying, you might get thirsty, and it can help to clear your throat and your emotions if you have a sip of water.

Bring Tissues

The funeral homes always have boxes of tissues available throughout the room, but you might not be sitting near one when you need it. It’s not a bad idea to have some tissues in your pocket or purse, whether you think you will need them or not. Even if you don’t need them, you might want to pass them to someone who is in need.

Don’t Bring Your Phone

You are going to want to leave your phone in the car or, at the very least, turn it on silent or turn it off completely. You don’t need to check your messages or take any calls during this memorial time. Instead, you need to concentrate on what is happening before you. That’s the most important thing going on right now and having your phone out or letting it ring during a service can be seen as disruptive and disrespectful.

Bring Support

If you are not going to have family around you at the final service, you will want to bring someone with you to the service to support you through the process. You should never be alone through the grieving process and it’s perfectly acceptable to bring a ‘plus one’ to help you through that service in a supportive manner.

Bring A Card/Gift

While it’s not required, it’s always nice to bring a card and/or gift to the family that is hosting the final service. A sympathy card will remind them that you were there to support them later and allow them to know you are thinking of them. They may be in a fog during the service and after, they aren’t going to remember who all was there. Gifts could include flowers, money in the card for a memorial, gift cards, or any variety of other things. The funeral home can help you with ideas if you are looking for something fitting.

When you are going to attend services at funeral homes, you can always call that provider and see what ideas they have for things you should bring and things you should leave behind. If you have questions, they can answer them for you and that will help you feel more comfortable with the process.