Memorial service for classmate

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
Obituary in the local newspaper for a former high school classmate said "A gathering of family and friends will be held at (local church name) from 4 to 7 p.m."

I'm not sure what's happening - it didn't mention a funeral, a service or even viewing. Are people supposed to come and stay 3 hours? Can people just come and express their condolences and leave? What going on with this?
 

I would take that to be a visitation. If people are family or very close friends they might stay the whole time. Otherwise it's a time to come in and offer words of comfort and leave when you wish. My best buddie's family did that when his Mom passed on. She had a huge family and the whole town knew her too. There wouldn't have been room for everyone at the same time, so they just set open hours.
 

debodun said:
Obituary in the local newspaper for a former high school classmate said "A gathering of family and friends will be held at (local church name) from 4 to 7 p.m."

I'm not sure what's happening - it didn't mention a funeral, a service or even viewing. Are people supposed to come and stay 3 hours? Can people just come and express their condolences and leave? What going on with this?
Click to expand...

You could call the church and ask them what's planned.
 
Yes, it's just to go pay your respects anytime between 4p and 7p. Or have your flowers delivered by 4p if you can't go.
 
I did go and it was a viewing. I didn't expect the remains to be at a church, but it was. I thought they only did that at funeral parlors. The arrangement was what fureverywhere said - family and very close friends were seated in the church. Her immediate family were standing in front and other than being in the church, was like any other pre-funeral ceremony. It was the venue that threw me.
 

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