Anonymous wrote:If you are not close, but simply want to pay your respects, I think attending only the viewing is entirely appropriate. Honestly, I think that you would be able to speak to him and pay your respects more at the viewing, than at the funeral.

+1 Lots of families offer to have the wake right before the funeral on the same day because some family members and friends can't make the viewing which is a little more informal.

You don't have to "view" the body--but try to locate the colleague if they are there. If you don't see your colleague, make sure to sign the guest book. Oftentimes, acquaintances prefer to go to the viewing/wake the night before instead of attending the funeral which is more formal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A viewing is when you go to the funeral home to see the deceased in the coffin. Not sure if the family will be there… The wake is usually at the family's home, following the funeral. The funeral is when most people gather and people come up to deliver eulogies for the deceased.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Actually it's exactly correct in my experience except that the family does usually attend the viewing. If you have a different answer, why not share and actually be helpful instead of a pointless three-word post that doesn't answer OP's question at all?

A wake, or viewing, is held at the funeral home typically the night before the funeral. If it's a catholic funeral, the time for eulogies will likely be at a reception after the service because most priests don't permit them during the mass.

I have been a choir director and singer/cantor for Catholic churches for 20+ years. (Western NY and here). There have always been eulogies at funerals during the Mass.

That's my experience, too. Our priest encouraged us to have a number of people speak during Mass.

Go to the wake and the funeral.

If you are not close, but simply want to pay your respects, I think attending only the viewing is entirely appropriate. Honestly, I think that you would be able to speak to him and pay your respects more at the viewing, than at the funeral.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A viewing is when you go to the funeral home to see the deceased in the coffin. Not sure if the family will be there… The wake is usually at the family's home, following the funeral. The funeral is when most people gather and people come up to deliver eulogies for the deceased.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Actually it's exactly correct in my experience except that the family does usually attend the viewing. If you have a different answer, why not share and actually be helpful instead of a pointless three-word post that doesn't answer OP's question at all?

A wake, or viewing, is held at the funeral home typically the night before the funeral. If it's a catholic funeral, the time for eulogies will likely be at a reception after the service because most priests don't permit them during the mass.

I have been a choir director and singer/cantor for Catholic churches for 20+ years. (Western NY and here). There have always been eulogies at funerals during the Mass.

Go the wake and funeral. The viewing is when you view the body.

As for the above descriptions, funerals often take place at a church, with a reception after the service and the burial after the reception. There are lots of variations. A meal after the burial is new to me.