Should you have an open casket?

An Open Casket Helps Provide Closure An open casket can provide a sense of closure, especially to friends and family that were not with their loved one when he or she passed. Seeing the deceased one last time to say goodbye can be a great comfort and can allow that person to begin the journey of healing.

What if I don’t want to use a funeral home?

If you don’t want to use a funeral director, make sure the crematory is willing to accept the body directly from the family. No additional permit is required before cremation. For more information about cremation, including information on scattering ashes, see Burial & Cremation Laws in California.

Why would someone have a closed casket?

Perhaps the funeral is taking place after an extended period following the death. A closed casket provides more privacy. There may even be religious reasons for a closed casket service. A closed casket service may have been the preference of the deceased, so people would tend to remember them “as they were”.

Is it rude to not view the body at a funeral?

You are not required to actually view the body at a funeral viewing. Many people are a bit uncomfortable with the idea of attending a viewing, but keep in mind that funeral viewing etiquette does not require you to actually look at or spend time with the deceased if you are not comfortable doing so.

How many days after death can you have an open casket?

Upon death, decomposition of the body begins right away. When storing a body in proper refrigeration, it can be shown at an open casket funeral for approximately two to three days after death. However, most funeral homes recommend having the open-casket funeral within 24-hours of death.

Can a funeral home not let you see the body?

Though it is never a legal requirement for viewing a body, most funeral homes will insist on embalming if an open casket viewing or funeral is planned.

Can you cremate a person yourself?

(If you wish to arrange for your own cremation, you can legally sign the Declaration for Disposition of Cremated Remains form yourself.) In addition, a burial/cremation permit (called Application and Permit for Disposition of Human Remains, VS 9) must be issued by the county health department.