You and Your Phone at the Funeral Home
Have you ever been to a funeral service at a Wapakoneta, OH funeral home before? If you haven’t, chances are that you will sooner or later whether to honor a deceased family member or someone else. When you do go to the event, it pays to remember that there are certain dos and don’ts, and some of them have to do with phones. Should you bring them or should you leave them at home? If you bring them, should you reduce the ringer volume or set them to vibrate? Are there certain calls you should take — no matter what – or should you stay off the phone – come what may? Here’s a look at some rules for phones during a funeral service.
Why it’s Best to Put Away Phone at Funeral Service
It’s always best to put away your phone during a funeral service. This is especially the case if you’re attending a funeral involving non-family members. Since they might not know you that well, they might not be inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt if they see you tapping away on your smartphone screen. Using your phone or even glancing at it may be interpreted as a sign of disrespect. It might give the impression that you have better things to do or that you lack the social graces to know better. In order to prevent hard feelings, it’s best to put the phone away.
Tips in Cases Where You Simply Must Have Phone on Standby
Let’s face it — sometimes you need to have access to your phone. This might be the case if, for instance, you have people looking after your kids while you’re at the funeral service. In such cases, leaving your phone in your wallet, purse, or car might not be a realistic option. Even if you must have access to your phone, though, there’s no excuse for leaving the ringer on. You don’t want to be the person who attracts every eye in the venue due to your phone ringing during the funeral service. Put your phone on silent mode during the actual service. Putting it on vibrate, while not as bad as leaving the ringer on, will still make an audible sound that will be noticeable to those seated near you. If while tactfully glancing at your phone you notice a call or text that you simply must respond to, quietly exit the venue and do so. You can make things even easier on yourself by sitting at or near to the back of the venue You’ll attract less attention if you need to exit for a brief moment as well as when you return to your seat a short while later.
No Selfies, Please
It is often the case that people who go to funeral services meet up with others — family, friends, and acquaintances — that they haven’t seen in a long time. While it’s definitely okay to catch up on things with those you meet, resist the urge to take pictures during the funeral service. There is one exception. If you know the grieving family well, you can ask if it’s okay to take pictures. But even with permission, you should be tactful and steer clear of posting funeral pics on any of your social media platforms. Will you develop any of these pictures to put in an album? It might be a good idea to print off an extra set to give to the grieving family. They’ll appreciate it.
If you adhere to these tips regarding phones at funeral services, you’ll be okay. The last thing you want to do is offend a grieving family who might not take kindly to people using their phones while the event is in progress.
Are you in need of a Wapakoneta, OH funeral home that you can trust to handle final services for a deceased loved one? Eley Funeral Home & Crematory is a provider of funeral services and cremation services, and we are experienced in helping people plan body dispositions. You can reach us by phone at (419) 738-7676 or find us at 1102 Lincoln Ave, Wapakoneta, OH 45895.
