Question about funeral etiquette?

Ok, so I'm a caregiver for elderly people. I have one family that I have worked for the past few months and we had gotten pretty close - they treated me really well and told my company that I was their favorite caregiver that came in.

Well, my client passed away yesterday and my company called and told me the funeral information. I'm assuming the family want's the caregivers to go otherwise they wouldn't have given the information to the company to pass on to us.

Well, they gave the information for when the viewing will be, and honestly? I do not want to go to that part. I'm not comfortable with dead bodies at all and I'm not sure if I could handle it, is it rude for me to only go to the funeral and not the viewing? When my wife died, she was cremated according to her wishes, so this wasn't an issue, but I just really do not feel comfortable going to a viewing.

<blockquote><b>Quoting LolaMcKitten:</b>" Ok, so I'm a caregiver for elderly people. I have one family that I have worked for the past few months ... [snip!] ... was cremated according to her wishes, so this wasn't an issue, but I just really do not feel comfortable going to a viewing."</blockquote>



I think as long as you show up to one, that's really nice.

<blockquote><b>Quoting LolaMcKitten:</b>" Ok, so I'm a caregiver for elderly people. I have one family that I have worked for the past few months ... [snip!] ... was cremated according to her wishes, so this wasn't an issue, but I just really do not feel comfortable going to a viewing."</blockquote>




I dont think it is rude at all, it is a personal choice. I'm sure they'd understand.

You can pay your respects after the viewing at the funeral. They probably won't even notice, and if they do I am sure they won't mind. They have bigger issues to deal with!

Quoting LolaMcKitten:" Ok, so I'm a caregiver for elderly people. I have one family that I have worked for the past few months ... [snip!] ... was cremated according to her wishes, so this wasn't an issue, but I just really do not feel comfortable going to a viewing."

I think it is your choice and you should not go to the viewing if you are not comfortable with it.
I think its morbid as hell to "view" a dead person, but I realize some people need this on order to have closure

I work as a CNA at a nursing home. when someone who we were close to dies we will normally go to the funeral and sit in the back. that way you give the family room. it is just nice for them to see you there, even if you don't talk to them (sometimes they are too upset to talk to anyone or are just busy with the rest of their family and I never want to be overbearing or anything). i have never gone to a viewing

i dont think thats rude at all

Quoting LolaMcKitten:" Ok, so I'm a caregiver for elderly people. I have one family that I have worked for the past few months ... [snip!] ... was cremated according to her wishes, so this wasn't an issue, but I just really do not feel comfortable going to a viewing."

My father's bosses (He works for Coke so he has more than one) all either showed up for one or the other but not both and we never thought anything of it except how nice it was for them to show up at all. I don't think anyone will judge you for not showing up to the viewing because not everyone handles death the same way. I'm sure that you showing up at all will mean a lot to the family.

Ok, thank you ladies, I feel a bit better now. I guess I'll just go to the funeral part with one of my coworkers (who also cared for this woman).

I don't think it's rude at all. In my opinion the viewing is really more for the family then it is for other people. I've gone to a few viewing of people I knew as moral support for a friend and always ALWAYS felt out of place, like I was invading something that should be private for their family. It was weird seeing people at my Dad's viewing who I didn't know too. You can pay your respects at the funeral, nothing wrong with that.

I don't think it's rude. The viewing is more for closer for family & friends. The last goodbye I guess. I don't go to viewings. Just the funeral.