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Death & Dying
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Attending a viewing for a person I didn't know

deleted_user
deleted_user
My daughter (who is age 15) informed me that a girlfriend of hers passed away a few days ago at the age of 18 and she asked me to drive her to the funeral home for the visitation/viewing. This will be the first time my daughter has ever attended such a service. She asked me to stay with her for support. The problem is that I did not know the young girl who passed away or her family so I feel strange attending a visitation for someone I did not know, but I want to be there for support for my daughter. If the casket is open I do not know how my daughter will react when she sees her friend laid out in repose. I wish I could find out ahead of time in order to prepare my daughter if it will be open, but I would feel very strange calling the funeral home and asking if it will be an open or closed casket viewing. I am not even sure if it is proper if I go into the funeral home since I did not know the person who died or her family. Any ideas, adivice or suggesitons will be helpful.
deleted_user
deleted_user
By all means, stay with your daughter. She wants to pay her respects to the grieving family. You have a fine daughter there.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I say stay with your daughter for support. The family (I think) be grateful for all that show up to pay resepects.
ihart
ihart
it is very proper to be with your daughter @ this funeral. You are going for the support of your daughter .i have gone to a funeral where I went with my son and I did not know the person that died nor the family.
It is ok to call the funeral homw to ask if it is an open or closed casket. If it wasn't a brutal crime it will probably be open.
psyc
psyc
you are welcomed. your daughter has asked for your support.Ive gone with my husband before with someone I didnt know .I went to support my husband.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I agree with Ihart, call the funeral home and ask, they are used to it. Absolutely attend with your daughter, the family will appreciate it so much. Be available to your daughter to talk about it and answer her questions. What a cool kid you've got!
ktharp423
ktharp423
I'm gonna go with the majority here. It's the same as attending the wake of a friend's parent whom you'd never met; you're there to support your grieving friend. In this case you're needed there to support your grieving daughter.

It would be perfectly acceptable to contact the funeral home for information about the viewing. I think it would be a good idea to do that and discuss it with your daughter. She reached out to you, this is important.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I would stay also. You can pay your respects to her family telling them you didn't know their daughter personally but came with your daughter.
deleted_user
deleted_user
It's a few days since you wrote for the advise and the situation may have been handled, however, I'd like to say a few words. Be there for your daughter. How many times is your daughter going to ask you to be there for her? I'm happy that she feels she can ask you for your support. I have gone to many viewings with friends and family just for support. I remember, my cousin and I had a viewing to attend. Unfortunetly, they were two different people but happend to be laid out at two seperate funeral homes that were 2 blocks away. We both would have had to go alone, however, we never gave it a second thought to go together. It just seemed the natural thing to do. When my husband lost a few co-workers whom I never met, I went with him to pay my respects. Why would I think not to go? It's the proper thing to do. You have a loving daughter for her to ask her dad to go with her. That is precious.
deleted_user
deleted_user
MY 16 YR OLD SISTER PASSED AWAY IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR AND THERE WAS ALOT OF HER TEENAGED FRIENDS THERE WITH THEIR MOTHERS WHOM WE DIDNT KNOW...BUT WE WERE VERY GREATFUL TO EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS AND FOR THE MOTHERS FOR BEING THERE WITH THEIR DAUGHTERS!!!!HOPE THAT HELPED
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