Obituaries & Tributes

(705) 445-2651 - Immediate Need

Prearrange Your Funeral

Contact Us

Site Search

82 Pine Street
Collingwood, ON
L9Y 2N7
182 Mill Street
Creemore, ON
L0M 1G0

Our Services

We understand that it is not always possible to pay respects in person, & hope that this small token will help.

Loading Services ...

Click here to have our funeral service notifications delivered to your email

Providing your email address will allow us to notify you of recent obituaries.

Visitation

A "viewing" means to have an open casket.

A "visitation" is when the body is laid out in the casket (which may be open or closed) before the service so that mourners may come to "visit."

A visitation offers a chance for people to "pay their final respects" to the deceased. Just as important, the visitation can be a time for mourners to meet and console each other in a more informal setting than at the funeral.

You can schedule a visitation for as little as half an hour on the day of the service, or it can last for several days before the service.

The visitation can be restricted to just close friends and family, or be open to the public. You can even have a combination of private and public hours.

Is there a special ceremony?

As part of the visitation, you can arrange a formal ceremony, an informal ceremony, or none at all. The formal ceremony might be a brief service with the saying of the rosary (for Catholics) or prayers for the dead led by a mourner or member of the clergy.

The term "wake" is sometimes used to describe the reception after the funeral or memorial service.

Traditionally, though, a wake means the friends and family keeping watch by the body before it is safely buried, especially through the night. (Hence the term "wake.") In some families, there is much drinking, feasting and storytelling during the vigil.

For those who are comfortable with it, an informal storytelling session can be a wonderful way to remember the person.

The stories don't all have to be solemn, nor do they all have to show the person as a saint. We often love people as much for their flaws as for their strengths.

Remember, too, that laughter is as much a sign of strong emotion as tears or anger.

And if the person had a good sense of humour, there are bound to be some funny stories.

This sharing can be a rich and powerful experience. You might even want to record this event to play it again later.

Serving Collingwood, Creemore, and surrounding areas for over 150 years.

82 Pine Street
Collingwood, ON
L9Y 2N7
182 Mill Street
Creemore, ON
L0M 1G0
Phone: (705) 445-2651
Fax: (705) 445-7542
info@fawcettfuneralhomes.com