Page 19 - O'Shea Funeral Guide
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medicine, and some well-placed hobbies and interests. Also, speak
humor will help people cope, and to the funeral home to receive any
will bring back fond memories of the important information on the date,
deceased. time and location of any funeral
service, or other funeral related
Don’t be afraid to show emotion. events.
Funerals are an extremely emotional
event, nobody expects you not to shed
a few tears. However, if you feel that
you will be too strongly overcome by Funeral Etiquette
your emotions, have a back-up plan Like everything in society, funeral
in place where someone you trust can etiquette and what is expected of
deliver the eulogy for you. Give them you has evolved over time. As always,
a copy well in advance if you feel this common sense and good discretion
could be an issue. is the best guide to proper funeral
etiquette. Here are a few do’s and
Have a glass of water as well as tissues don’ts of funeral etiquette.
handy.
Do:
Express your condolences - it’s not
Obituaries and Death easy to come up with the words to
offer sympathy to someone who
Notices has just lost a loved one. You don’t
Occasionally a newspaper will need to be a poet, simply saying
consider the passing of a loved one something like “I am sorry for your
as newsworthy. In this situation, the loss, my thoughts and prayers are
newspaper will print an obituary at no with you and your family” is enough.
cost to the family. A death notice, in If you can’t be at a funeral service in
contrast is a means by which the family person, sending a card or leaving a
uses the newspaper to inform relatives message on a memorial website is a
and friends of the passing. The family perfect way to express your sympathy.
is charged for the death notice, and
the timing of the print is usually the Dress appropriately - gone are the
day before the planned arrangements days of dressing up in all black for a
begin. The death notice will contain funeral, but jeans and a t-shirt isn’t
the name of the deceased, age, exactly acceptable either. You should
where they are from, date of passing, still dress to impress and avoid any
relations, arrangements, service date, bright or flashy colors. Wearing what
time and location, final disposition and you would wear for a wedding or a
if charitable donations are requested. job interview would be the most
appropriate.
Remember, most newspapers charge
for death notices, and they charged Sign the register book - the family will
by the line. Each line contains keep the register book as a memento
approximately four words. The funeral for years. Be sure to include your
director will assist you in creating the full name and relationship to the
correct format and editing in order to deceased.
minimize charges.
Give a gift - you don’t need to go
Writing an obituary is a difficult and overboard with your gift, after all it
emotional task. First, you will need is the thought that counts. Suitable
to gather information from family and gifts include; flowers, a donation to
friends of the deceased about their the charity of the family’s choice,
childhood, education, career and or you can make a commitment of
O’Shea Funeral Homes - Page 19
