This is the email we got from the Principal:

Arrangements for Fred's Dad are as follows:

There will be visitation at thefuneral home from 4pm to 9pm on Friday June 18th. More visitation at 11:00 am on Saturday at the church before the service. The funeral will be at noon on Saturday June19 at the Church. Burial at Forest Hill Cemetery and then a luncheon at Trinity will follow the service.

It is, of course, a family decision whether to bring your children to the visitation or funeral. Many kids have never been to this sort of event and won't know what to expect. If you are bringing them, you should talk them through what they may see and what may happen ahead of time. You should also discuss expected behavior and what to say. You should plan to go with your child and stay with him or her the entire time they are there, and ask them afterwards if they have any questions or want to talk.

Thanks for your sensitivity and support.


I sort of feel I'm failing on the discussing with him what to expect field because I have no idea what to expect. I'm thinking to take a book for him to read. Maybe not entirely tactful, but guaranteed to stop him being antsy

I understand, but I think a book would be extremely poor etiquette, even for kids. A very small child/toddler might be given a toy to play with, but -- no. If I saw that, I would think it would be very disrespectful.

If you think he would need a book or other distraction in order to behave appropriately, then I don't think you should go.

hmm. I didn't mean during the actual service, but maybe you're right. I'm worried he'll mess about during "waiting" times, but perhaps it would look too "unconcerned" to the truly bereaved.

I'd have taken him to the Friday night viewing. You're not required to stay the whole time, just long enough to offer condolences to the bereaved. Some stay because it's a reunion with people they only see at weddings and funerals, but by no means required.

wan't possible. Plus viewing sunds too, er, gross

I would take him to the lunch. The actual funeral is tramatic for most of us, kids even more so. All that crying and such might make it even harder for Thor to get over the fear of growing up. The lunch is to remember the person, and to socialize. This would be the best time for Thor and Fred to spend a few mins together. You have taken the time to go, and offer condolances, but if you did not know him that well... you are not intruding in what looks to be a very full and crowded funeral.

Hard call. Everyone else has good ideas though. I do not envy this decision. Best of luck.

I'd take Thor to the visitation, and the funeral. Yeah, it's kinda spooky, at first, but kids are pretty resilient, generally, and based on "knowing" you, I'd guess that yours are more so. Thor's friend will appreciate seeing some people he knows, rather than being stuck in a sea of sad adults that he doesn't know, but keeps being told are second cousins so many times removed. That was my experience with family funerals, anyway. I lost a friend to cancer who had youngish children, and they appreciated having time with their friends. You can also let him know that he doesn't have to do the walk past the coffin thing ... some Visitations are closed casket, it's really more about seeing the family. I'm unused to the coffin remaining open through the service, although I've primarily gone to Catholic funerals. Best one was a Jewish one, which was far more about celebrating the life of the departed, rather than focusing on the departing.

I've been to a couple where the person was cremated, and you wander about looking at some photo displays, and maybe an endless loop DVD memorial thing. I'm used to the interment being private. I've been to both family and public (i.e., police and fire) funerals.

Completely agree. My Mum took us to a couple of funerals when we were younger to teach us exactly that. They were people my parents knew from church, so there was a connection, but not an emotional one.
Funerals are solemn occasions. Thor will definitely pick up on this and I'm sure will behave accordingly.
I disagree. Firstly, the people with the closest connection will be at the front of the church. Any crying will be out of sight of Thor & Mons. And when someone dies after a long fight with cancer the grief is likely to be of the leaking-at-the-eyes variety, surely? Mons just needs to explain that Fred's Dad was ill and in a lot of pain; people are sad because he's gone, but glad he's not in pain any more. IMO

I can't discuss the etiquette etc as obviously I've no experience of the American way of handling things. But from Thor's POV I think to attend would be a useful milestone.

I don't know about etiquette for funerals in the US.

But I remember that when I lost my father to a heart attack (I was 14), my friends came to the funeral. I knew they were there even if I only have a very vague memory of that day. Yet, in a way, it was comforting. And later, we became better friends...

I'm not sure about funeral etiquette in the US either and prior to reading this thread, I hadn't thought about the associated issues, but certainly whenever either I've had a family member pass away or a friend has, the presence of friends (no matter how close or otherwise they were before the funeral) at whatever part of the proceedings has always been really appreciated. I think it makes the person who has lost someone feel that it's ok to be upfront about the death, rather than pretending that they have to be stoic and everything is ok.

I don't think I'd take my boys to a friend's parent's funeral. The main reason being that I think as kids they just don't need to be exposed to that level of grief.

I think if it were a close friend of either of my boys, I'd maybe suggest picking him up after the funeral and bringing him home to hang out or something. One, because maybe it would help the child, and two because it might help the remaining parent in a way. Not saying to offer would be accepted, but it's probably something I'd do.

It's a hard thing, but I personally just don't think kids need to go to funerals.

Unless he has a "FUCK CANCER" t-shirt, then yes, no logos.

I agree that if it's the dad of a close friend, you should go to support Thor's friend. Sometimes friends can be closer than family.

Dark or black colors are preferred. 'Business casual' is usually ok for guests. I have not had to wear suits to many funerals.

I've gone to a lot of funerals with open caskets, and generally if you sit in back, you don't have to see it. In some cases, the casket is only open for a short time. This is a combination of faith and family preference. In our case the funeral director had us view the body and make the decision.

Depending on faith or preference, there may be a lunch for family and close friends afterwards, or they may go back to someones house for a wake/shiva/gathering.

Funerals are hardest on young mourning children. Adult guests who come up to offer condolences have a hard enough time saying anything meaningful to adult mourners. If Thor is a close friend, his being there could be a big help depending on how many relatives or siblings are there who are close to the kid's age.

Agree with the agree.



Let us know how it goes, monster.