Is Visitation an Antiquated Ritual?

I recently attended a visitation of a friend a one of our local funeral homes. The line was long, as expected, and while in line a conversation arose regarding the ritual of visitation. Is this an antiquated ritual or is this really what people want to have happen as part of the funeral process?

I have always thought the visitation was a ritual that needs to be changed. People coming to pay their respect for the deceased and his or her family is necessary. That is an important part of the grieving process, but to hold it usually two days after a person has passed on maybe a little too soon in my estimation. So why not think out of the box a little here?

When a person dies, hold the funeral 2 or 3 days later followed by the burial. But hold the visitation at a reserved location the day after the burial. This would give the family some time to absorb what has happened.

In many cases the families are still in shock at visitations and frankly to ask them to stand there and greet so many people for over four hours in some cases is a little extreme. For most people, they really don’t know what to say except “sorry for your loss.” The grieving family has to repeat themselves numerously with their replies as well.

A “relaxed” visitation a day after the burial at a church hall would be so much easier on everyone involved. No lines, just a gathering of friends to accomplish the same thing…to let the grieving family know we care.