Wake vs. Viewing: What Is the Difference?

When a loved one, or someone you know passes on, you’ll likely want to attend a formal service.

Sometimes, though, there are more than one. It is common to have both a funeral service and a wake, or a viewing. Although similar, there are some differences between wakes and viewings that you may not be aware of.

What is a wake?

Wakes are based on a Catholic ceremony, dating back to old Celtic traditions from Ireland where the families and close friends would stay awake all night with the deceased until the body was buried. Those traditions evolved over the years to the modern version of a wake, which may include a short ceremony with a Priest who will say a few prayers and perhaps read from Scripture.

Wakes usually take place at a funeral home and provide the family and friends of the deceased person a way to show their respects and offer condolences in a more relaxed, less-guided situation than the funeral itself.

What is a viewing?

Viewings are simple, informal gatherings where family and friends can pay their respects with the deceased present – either in a casket or in a cremation urn to be displayed, depending on the family’s requests.

A viewing provides the chance for mourners to share their grief and show support to one another on a more personal, direct level. Viewings typically take place at the funeral home and happen either the day before or the day of the funeral. Guests can choose to stay as long as they wish to offer their condolences to the grieving family.

For more information or questions on creating the right funeral service for your loved one, please visit www.thejonesfh.com, or call us at 815-288-2241.

Jones Funeral Home

204 S Ottawa Ave

Dixon, IL 61021

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