Open casket or closed

The choice between an open casket and a closed casket is one of the first decisions the funeral director will ask you to make, often within hours of the death, when you are least equipped to think about it. There is no single right answer. This page is a framework for deciding, drawn from what funeral directors, hospice nurses, and grief counselors have told families for decades.

Cause of death

The first question is what is possible. If the death was peaceful (cancer at end of life, old age, a quiet death in hospice), an open casket is usually possible and the funeral home embalmer can prepare the body to look much like the person did in their last weeks. If the death was sudden and traumatic (accident, suicide by certain methods, an unattended death discovered late), the funeral director will tell you honestly whether viewing is advisable. Listen to them.

Religious and cultural requirements

Some traditions require one or the other.

• Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Open casket viewing at the vigil or wake the night before is traditional.
• Latter-day Saint. Closed casket during the funeral itself is the norm; an optional brief viewing precedes the service.
• Jewish, Muslim. Closed casket. The body is not on public display. Burial happens quickly and embalming is not part of the tradition.
• Hindu, Buddhist. Cremation is the norm, and the body is typically viewed in the home or at the funeral home before cremation, then closed.
• Protestant (varies). Both are common. Often a regional and generational preference.

For more, see our piece on the Catholic funeral Mass in order or the cultural and religious customs resource.

Children in the room

Children can attend a viewing, including an open casket, with preparation. Tell them ahead of time exactly what they will see. The person will look like they are sleeping. The skin will be cool. They will not move or breathe. Then let the child decide whether to approach the casket. Some will. Some will not. Both are normal. No child should be pulled forward against their will.

Family wishes (and the disagreements)

Families often disagree. One sibling wants the closure of seeing the body one more time. Another cannot bear it and would rather remember them alive. A common compromise: a private family viewing the hour before the public visitation, then closed casket for the visitation and the funeral itself. Most funeral homes offer this without extra cost.

What an open casket actually looks like

Modern embalming is good. The person will look like themselves but slightly different: the skin will be a uniform color, the eyes and mouth will be gently closed, the hair will be styled, and the hands will be folded. If the death was after long illness, families often say the person looks more like they did six months before the end than the day of.

Bring a recent photograph and a favorite outfit when you go to the funeral home for the planning meeting. The funeral home cosmetician will follow it closely.

If you are choosing cremation

Cremation does not preclude a viewing. Many families do a brief viewing at the funeral home before the body is cremated. For honest pricing, see our piece on cremation vs burial cost.

For local funeral home options, see places like our Phoenix funeral planning page or browse the city directory.

Common questions

Is open casket common in the United States?

Common in Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and some Protestant traditions. Rare in Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and LDS funerals.

Can children attend an open casket viewing?

Yes, with preparation. The decision to approach the casket is the child's.

What if we want a viewing for family only?

Most funeral homes offer a private family viewing the hour before the public visitation.