Hopefully, funerals are not an event that you attend with any regularity. That is why you want to avoid making mistakes when it comes to proper etiquette at a funeral. Here are some tips you can use next time you attend.

Do Not Assume Bringing Flowers Is Okay

One mistake that people tend to make is assuming that they should bring flowers to the funeral. Guests may decide to have flowers ordered and delivered directly to the funeral home to be displayed next to the casket or urn, while others bring the flowers in person.

The proper etiquette in this situation would be to read the obituary for the person that passed away. There may be a note that the person is requesting a donation to a certain charity, which means that money can be better spent as a donation rather than on flowers that are just going to be thrown away in the end.

When in doubt, always check with the family of the deceased. They may have a very specific flower arrangement in mind for their funeral and have no need for additional flowers.

Always Sign The Guest Book

There will be a guest book at the funeral home for you to sign when you arrive. Always sign the guest book, even if you talk to the family of the deceased in person at the funeral. The purpose of the guest book is not only to look back and remember the people that attended the funeral, but to organize thank you notes for those that came. Writing your name in the guest book will ensure that your presence at the funeral is not overlooked.

Consider Leaving Kids At Home

You will have to make a decision about if you should bring your kids to the funeral or not. Start by determining if they're ready for a funeral, especially if it would be their first funeral. Most kids won't start to grasp the concept of death until they are between 5 and 7 years old, which means they should understand the situation well enough to behave through the funeral.

A younger child may have behavioral problems because they do not understand what is going on. You may want to leave the kids at home with a sitter, because the last thing you want is a child screaming about how they are bored at a funeral.

With these tips in mind, you'll be sure to have good funeral etiquette. Talk with a team of professionals such as Fletcher Funeral Home PA to learn more.