A Last Look: The Choice Between An Open and Closed Casket Farewell

As part of your funeral-planning journey, you may be faced with making a choice between an open or closed casket farewell. In this blog, we will explore the relevant considerations so that you can make an informed decision on this important point.

Open or closed casket which would you prefer?

Cultural and Religious Factors

In some cultures and religions, open caskets are the norm, as they allow the loved ones of the deceased the opportunity to perform important rituals, prayers, or symbolic gestures. In others, closed caskets are more common, usually due to bans on embalming bodies or requirements for speedy burials. Here, it is important to note that beliefs on this can vary even within the same religion or cultural group. As such, we recommend considering your own beliefs alongside those of your family and community, and taking the time to meet with your cultural or religious leaders to discuss your options.

State of the Body

In certain circumstances, a closed casket is strongly advisable. This may apply in cases where the deceased has experienced a traumatic event like a fire or an illness that has drastically altered their appearance. In such instances, having an open casket could be distressing to funeral attendees, and a closed casket might better preserve the dignity and memory of the deceased. Ultimately, a balance must be struck between the emotional wellbeing of your loved ones and your wishes regarding the preservation of your memory. As such, we would recommend giving your loved ones the opportunity to voice their opinions on this point before you make your decision. Additionally, we encourage you to seek some guidance from your funeral director or celebrant.

Disposition of Funeral Attendees

Next, it might be beneficial to consider the types of people that are likely to attend your funeral. More specifically, think about whether children or other highly sensitive people are going to be present. If so, you may want to consider opting for a closed casket funeral, as it may be very distressing for these groups of people to see the deceased body of a loved one. On the other hand, you may wish to have an open casket if your attendees are more likely to find comfort in the opportunity to see you at peace while saying their final goodbyes.

Timeframes

Lastly, the choice between an open or closed casket funeral may be impacted by the timeframes that apply in your particular case. In some situations, a need may arise to delay the burial, whether this be due to investigations into the death, or to allow overseas family members to travel to the funeral. In these circumstances, an open casket viewing may not be feasible, as these delays may interfere or prevent embalming and other necessary preparations. In other instances, cultural or religious traditions may dictate that the body be buried as soon as possible after death, in which case there will be no time to adequately prepare it for an open casket funeral. As such, it is important that you consider any time constraints that may apply, and discuss these with your funeral home or funeral director.

Next Steps

When faced with the choice between having an open or closed casket funeral, it is important that you take some time to consider the factors outlined in this blog post. It is equally important that you have open discussions regarding this with your loved ones, cultural and religious leaders, funeral director, and any other professionals involved in your end-of-life celebration. At the end of this process, it would also be wise to record any decisions on this point in writing to avoid any disputes arising amongst your loved ones in the future. To assist you with this final step, we invite you to consider getting My Final Farewell today.