Viewing and saying goodbye
Some families want to see their loved one one more time, or give relatives a set time to gather and say goodbye. Others don’t. Both are common. This page explains the options, from a public viewing to a few quiet minutes with immediate family.
A visitation is a set time when family and friends gather to offer condolences, often with the body present. A viewing usually means the same thing, with the casket open. A private family goodbye is a smaller version for immediate family only. None of these is required. A viewing or visitation gives family and friends a set time and place to be together and say goodbye in person.
What is a funeral viewing?
A viewing is a time to see the person who died, usually in an open casket at a funeral home, church, or other place. It is often held the evening before a funeral or just before it starts. Families decide whether the casket is open, closed, or open only for family. An open casket funeral means the casket stays open during the viewing or the service.
Viewing vs. visitation vs. wake
- Viewing
- Usually means the casket is open and people can see the person.
- Visitation
- A time for people to gather and support the family. The body may be present in an open or closed casket, or not present at all.
- Wake
- An older word for a gathering with the body present, historically often at home. Today many people use it the same way as visitation.
Funeral homes don’t all use these words the same way. Ask what they mean by each.
A private goodbye
Some families want a short, quiet time with only immediate family, instead of or before a public viewing. Several of the 2026 Salt Lake County price lists Wayfinder collected offer this as a private family or identification viewing. Some limit it to a few people, and some to the first day after death. It can come before a burial or a cremation.
What affects whether a viewing is possible
- Timing
- In Utah, a body held more than 24 hours after death must be refrigerated or embalmed.
- Preparation
- Many funeral homes require embalming for a public viewing. That is usually the funeral home’s policy, not the law. The FTC suggests asking whether a private family viewing is possible without embalming.
- The condition of the body
- After some deaths, a funeral director may suggest a closed casket or a private viewing. Ask them to explain the options gently and plainly.
- Faith and culture
- Some traditions don’t hold viewings at all. See faith and cultural considerations.
- The provider
- Facilities, hours, and staff affect what can be arranged and when.
A viewing with burial or cremation
A viewing works with either choice. With burial, it usually comes before the funeral or graveside service. With cremation, it happens before the cremation, and some families use a rental casket for it. Afterward, the family may still hold a memorial with the urn.
If your family doesn’t want a viewing
Not having a viewing doesn’t mean not saying goodbye. Families find other ways:
- A memorial service or celebration of life
- A graveside service
- A private family moment before cremation or burial
- Letters, photos, or a favorite object placed with the person
- A gathering at home or a meaningful place
Questions to ask
- Do you offer a private family viewing, and does it require embalming?
- How long can a viewing last, and where can it be held?
- Can we have an open casket for family only, then close it for others?
- Can we see our loved one before cremation?
- Is there a time limit after death for a viewing without embalming?
“What are all the ways our family could say goodbye, and what would each one require?”
Ready to see how these choices apply to your situation?
Your Wayfinder Plan can help organize the options you’re considering and give you a clearer picture of what to ask and compare.
Build My Wayfinder Plan- Refrigeration or embalming after 24 hours: Utah Admin. Code R436-8-4.
- Embalming, viewing policies, and private family viewing: FTC Funeral Rule (consumer guidance).
- Private family and identification viewings: General Price Lists from Salt Lake County funeral homes, collected by Wayfinder, August–September 2026.
This page provides general information and is not legal or medical advice.