For many, a formal viewing of the deceased and an organized visitation with the family has always been considered traditional and a normal part of the funeral process.  In recent years, there has been a decline in this formal and traditional procedure.  Instead of the viewing and visitation being the place and time to mourn the death of a loved one, today's society is redefining this tradition to be a time for celebrating and honoring the loved one's life.

    The decline in the formal and organized viewing can be attributed to several factors.  One factor that has immensely made an impact on our society is the advancement of Information Technology.  With the access to the World Wide Web, people are becoming more inquisitive and within seconds, in their own homes, can receive a vast amount of information on any subject.  With instant access to so much information, people are researching and becoming more informed and knowledgeable in areas that they would never have before considered, one of those areas being the funeral industry.  Many funeral homes have developed customized websites including listing services, answering questions, and providing virtual tours of their funeral home.

    The ability to preplan one's own funeral is another factor for the decline in the formal viewing.  Though it may be uncomfortable to arrange a funeral while still alive, many realize one of the benefits of preplanning allows the opportunity for one's specific wishes and choices to be known. Cremation may even be one's choice that can be preplanned, often with services not including a formal viewing or visitation.  With such a variety of ways available now in how viewings are performed, one can create a unique and individualized service that directly reflects their life.

    Today's viewings do not consist of only focusing on the end of someone's life, but also focus on telling a life's story. As a funeral director, I would share with the family the benefits of viewing and visitation.  My discussion would include how the viewing and visitation are often beneficial for many families, as they often have the desire to physically see their loved one.  I would also explain how the viewing provides the opportunity for an emotional and physical outlet for not only the grieving family, but friends and community members as well.  I would inform families of choices available to them, such as no viewing, a traditional viewing, or the ability to modify the viewing as desired.  If the family would like to plan and create their own viewing, I would assist them in developing, sharing, and creating a celebration atmosphere of both life and death.  Some examples of sharing and celebrating would be displaying photos, special mementos, hobby items, awards, or medals.  I would encourage families to include their own selection of music, prayers, or videos.  By offering families choices and assistance in individualizing the viewings, my hope would be to give loved ones, families, and friends, a feeling of inner connection and peace rather than that of loss and sorrow.  There are many events in one's life and the viewing is perhaps the most significant because it celebrates and honors a person's birth, family, achievements, and their death.

Scholarship Winner, Spring 2008

Margaret Helen Hicks