What Exactly Are Calling Hours

When it comes to funerals and memorial services, the term calling hours can be complicated. You’ve probably heard this phrase, but you’re not sure what it means. If you’ve been invited to attend calling hours, you might be unsure what to expect. The cremation services in New Castle, IN can assist you with this.

Calling hours are a time set aside for the decedent’s friends, family, and other acquaintances to gather. Calling hours are a private gathering for those who knew the deceased to share their grief, remember the deceased’s life, express condolences to the family, and pay their respects to the deceased.

If you’ve ever been to a wake or a viewing, you’ve been to calling hours, which are the same thing. Calling hours are usually held in the evening before a funeral or memorial service, but they can also be held on the same day.

Where Did the Concept of Calling Hours Come From

Calling hours have their origins in English and Irish traditions. Before a funeral or memorial service, it was customary for people to pay a visit to the deceased’s home. Nowadays, calling hours are known by a variety of names, all of which have the same meaning. Many people refer to calling hours as a viewing, a visitation, or a wake.

A viewing is a service that is very similar to both wake and calling hours in that it allows friends, family, and other acquaintances to gather in a more intimate setting than a funeral or memorial service. The following are the primary distinctions among these types of services.

• If the deceased’s body is not present and there is a set time to offer condolences, it is referred to as visitation or calling hours.
• If the body is present during this time, it is usually referred to as a viewing.
• A wake is technically similar to a visitation, but it may also include a religious component, such as prayers and sermons delivered by a priest. Wakes are most commonly associated with Irish and Catholic funerals.

Will the Body Be Present During the Calling Hours

It is up to the family and their preferences; in some cases, the deceased’s body may be present during calling hours. However, for a variety of reasons, many families choose not to have the body present at calling hours.

It is entirely up to each individual whether or not to attend calling hours. Attending calling hours is a respectful way of expressing your support and offering condolences during this difficult time if you have a close relationship with the family or the deceased. You may also want to consider sending a card or flowers in the deceased’s honor, as well as making a donation in their honor, if possible. Attending calling hours is ultimately a personal decision. Whatever you decide, it must be done with respect and understanding for the deceased and their family. It is a time to remember those who have died and to connect with those who are grieving their loss. You can help all those who have lost a loved one during this difficult time by showing your support. Please do not hesitate to contact the cremation services in New Castle, IN for more information or if you would like to plan ahead of time.