Glossary
What is viewing?
A viewing is a gathering, usually before the funeral, where mourners can see the body, often in an open casket, to pay respects and say goodbye. It may involve embalming or refrigeration to prepare and preserve the body for the occasion.
A viewing is often more informal than the funeral itself and may run for set hours, sometimes spanning a visitation where friends and family offer condolences. The casket may be open or closed depending on the family's wishes, religious custom, and the condition of the body. When the body is present in an open casket, a viewing and a visitation overlap.
Preparing a body for an open-casket viewing commonly involves embalming and cosmetic preparation, though a shorter viewing can sometimes be held with refrigeration instead. Embalming is rarely required by law, and under the FTC Funeral Rule a funeral home generally may not embalm for a fee without permission, so it is worth asking what a specific viewing actually needs.
Because a viewing may add embalming, cosmetic preparation, use of a viewing room, and staff time, it raises the cost compared with options like direct cremation that omit it. Families who want both lower cost and a chance to see their loved one sometimes arrange a brief private viewing or use a rental casket before cremation.
Related terms
Visitation
Visitation, sometimes called a wake or calling hours, is a scheduled time for family and friends to gather, offer condolences, and remember the person who died. The body may or may not be present, and it usually takes place before the funeral.
Embalming
Embalming is the temporary preservation of a body by replacing its fluids with chemical solutions that slow decomposition. It is sometimes used before a viewing or for transport, but is rarely required by law and is not necessary for most funerals.
Casket
A casket is the container, traditionally rectangular with a hinged lid, in which a body is buried or sometimes cremated. Caskets are made from wood, metal, or other materials and vary widely in price depending on construction and finish.
Memorial service
A memorial service is a ceremony to honor someone who has died, held without the body present. Because it is not tied to the body, it can take place days or weeks later, in any location, and is common after direct cremation or immediate burial.
See also
Common questions about Viewing
Sources
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This definition is general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws and prices vary by state and provider. See our editorial standards.