More often than not, funeral and memorial services are open to the public. Unless the family wants the funeral or memorial service to be private, you are welcome to attend. If you are close to the bereaved or the deceased, live close by and have no extenuating circumstances, then, by all means, go to the funeral.

What does attending a funeral mean?

Seeing the body and attending the funeral are a way of saying goodbye and accepting the reality and finality of the death. ... Times, Sunday Times (2006) Thousands of local people attended the funeral.

What do you call someone attending a funeral?

Funeral Celebrant. ... Utilizing the services of a funeral celebrant who is a lay person can be an option whether the service is intended to be of a religious nature or not, depending on the type of the service desired.