In past years, funerals were considered a necessity. Very few people chose not to have one, and, in fact, it was considered a sort of heresy to forgo one. In recent years, more people have either had only a graveside service or a memorial service for their loved ones instead of an actual funeral. Some people have left instructions that they wanted no service at all. Although funerals may be considered passe by some, they still have value.
Your mission when you attend a funeral is to show your support to the immediate family of the person who has passed away. You do so in a variety of different ways, including offering kind words, sharing a kind hug and simply being present during the proceedings. While emotions are often a common occurrence at funeral-related events, you might be leery about losing your composure and being a distraction to the family.
