Glossary
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.
Visitation is the social gathering around a death — a chance for the community to support the family. When the body is present in an open casket, the term overlaps with a viewing.
Visitation can be held at a funeral home, a place of worship, or a private home, and customs vary by family, culture, and faith.
Related terms
See also
Common questions
- What is the difference between a visitation, a wake, and a viewing?
- Visitation and wake usually mean the same thing: a scheduled time for family and friends to gather and offer condolences, with or without the body present. A viewing specifically centers on seeing the body, often in an open casket, and overlaps with visitation when the body is there.
- Is the body present at a visitation?
- It may or may not be. Some visitations are held with the body present in an open or closed casket, while others are simply a gathering to support the family. The family decides based on their wishes and customs.
- Where is a visitation usually held?
- A visitation can take place at a funeral home, a place of worship, or a private home, and it usually happens before the funeral. Customs vary by family, culture, and faith.
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