AFTER THE FUNERAL

The ceremony over, the chief mourners and the officiant greet the visitors and exchange brief words with them. If a reception has been arranged you may wish to issue an invitation to anyone present.

It is always a good idea to arrange some kind of get-together after the funeral, particularly if a number of those attending have come from some distance. Although you may dread the experience of meeting large numbers of people during what can be a difficult time, it may well turn out to be an enjoyable, heart-warming occasion.

Receptions do not have to be elaborate affairs. Tea and sandwiches in someone’s home or a church hall will suffice. However, offering hospitality after a funeral can be time-consuming and it is really the next of kin’s responsibility to circulate and talk to the guests, some of whom you may not have seen for a long time.

For this reason you might consider entrusting the catering to friends or a catering company, or holding the reception in a hotel or restaurant close to the place where the funeral has taken place. Any expenditure incurred is an allowable expense against the deceased’s estate.