Spending time with someone you love after they have died can be an important part of your journey of saying goodbye to that very special person. You determine how you would like to spend the time with them. It maybe just sitting in the same room reflecting on the person’s life and the richness they bought to your life or it may be holding their hand and sharing some fond memories with them. It is important you allow time for yourself and others close to the loved one to have the opportunity to say good bye in this manner if they choose.
IS EMBALMING NECESSARY?
Embalming allows the deceased to be viewed and maintains their dignity during the time before their funeral. Depending on the circumstances, a person may be slightly embalmed or be more fully embalmed. Your FDANZ Funeral Director has the knowledge to guide you in this area.
FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE
If this is the first time you, or members of your family, have been around someone who has died, you might feel anxious about what it will be like, or what you should do. Many people have only seen a dead body on TV or at the movies, and are worried or unsure about what the appearance of the person who has died will be like. Ask your funeral director to explain to you beforehand what you can expect. Knowing this takes a lot of the fear of the
unknown out of the situation.
HELPING YOU TO ACCEPT WHAT HAS HAPPEND
Sometimes it is hard to believe what has happened when someone dies, especially if it is a sudden or unexpected death. Seeing the person who has died can begin the process of believing that the death is real, and coming to terms with it.
A CHANCE TO SAY WHAT YOU NEED TO SAY
Bereaved people often feel overwhelmed by many intense emotions. For many, spending time with someone who has died gives them an opportunity to express some of these feelings and feel some relief. Others appreciate the opportunity to see the body of a person they love for the last time, though they will always feel a connection with them in their hearts.