Why You Should Attend A Funeral, Even If Doing So Is Difficult
Posted on: 8 November 2016
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People respond to the death of someone they care about in a variety of ways. For some people, attending the funeral is a must. Yet, for other people, attending the funeral may seem like an insurmountable challenge. If you find yourself among the latter group, you may have some perfectly good reasons for wanting to skip the service. For example, perhaps you don't like the thought of being emotional in front of other people, and you expect that you'd cry at the service. It's important, however, to consider going outside your comfort zone and attending. Here are some reasons that you should attend a funeral.
It's Helpful To Be Around Other Mourners
While there's no questioning that the primary reason for attending a funeral is to convey your condolences to the family members of the deceased person, you can also get comfort from the other people at the funeral home. For example, if you're highly upset about the person's passing, there's no better place to be than the funeral. In this environment, you'll connect with other people who are experiencing the same emotions as you, and this can help the healing process. You may even end up rekindling old friendships with people you haven't seen in years, which can be therapeutic at this challenging time.
Not Going Can Seem Disrespectful
While it's easy to rationalize your reason for not wishing to attend the funeral, the surviving family members of the deceased person might not see things your way. In this case, your failure to attend the funeral can seem highly disrespectful. Even if you explain your reason, such as the case of not wanting to be emotional in public, the family members can see this as a selfish decision because you're thinking about yourself, rather than the people you should be comforting.
You May Regret Not Going Later On
There's only one opportunity to attend a funeral, and while doing so may be a challenge, you may regret missing out on the opportunity if you stay home. Many people view funerals as a chance to get closure after the death of someone they care about, and it's possible that you won't get this chance for closure if you do not attend the event. Your absence may seem desirable at the time, but not attending could be something that bothers you for years to come, which isn't a burden that you'll want to carry through life.
For more information, contact local professionals like O'Halloran & Murphy Funeral & Cremation Services.