Funeral Etiquette ...

[arwalden]

I've been asked for my advice on whether or not it would be improper to have nametags for friends and family members who are attending a "reception" following a funeral.

I have mixed feelings on the subject and I don't know how to advise. What do you think? Have you ever seen this done before? Is it tacky? Or does it help make things less awkward when trying to remember names of relatives that you ONLY see at weddings and funerals?

-- Allen

[WCGreen]

1. I say yes......

It's better than throwing people who haven't seen each other for years suddenly together and have them his an awkward moment.....

Beside that, Sugar Smack declared Miss Manners gone....

So there are no rules anymore....

Seriously, for every person who finds it distasteful, there will be ten that have no opinion......

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I agree...

I'm sure there are nice ones that don't look like an office party, anyhow...

:hi: :hug:

[trof]

2. I've never seen it done.

[jmm]

3. It seems tacky to me but

it's so low on the tacky scale I wouldn't be too concerned about it. I've seen much worse done at funerals.

[notadmblnd]

5. what the people have no tongues?

they can't walk up and introduce themselves to one another? Are people that afraid of contact with others these days that they cant walk up to someone and say Hi, I'm so and so.. I knew the departed in such and such respect, how did you know him?

I wouldn't(didn't do it at my husbands funeral) do it.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. I don't think it's a good idea

a memorial is not a convention..people will get to know one another sharing their experiences about the deceased

[Fenris]

7. Having recently been a part of a well-attended funeral...

I can say that name tags would have certainly helped me figure out who the Hell I was talking to.

:hi:

[skygazer]

8. Seems very odd to me

Though I can see how it would help, it still seems to somehow trivialize the event (and don't ask me how - just gut reaction).

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

9. No

This isn't a networking event. If you're wondering who somebody is, ask your eldest aunt, or whomever in your family is famous for keeping straight all those names and familial connections.

In a pinch, if you're talking with somebody and you don't know who they are, a simple "I'm sorry but right now I'm just blanking on your name." It's a funeral. People will be understanding.

[supernova]

10. Whatever happened to the art of simply introducing ourselves?

Is is really so much trouble to make introductions? To walk over to someone unfamiliar and say "Hi. I'm supernova. And you are?" :shrug: Or if you are talking to two people who don't know each other, "Person A, this is Person B."


Name tags/badges at life functions are really not great, imo.

[arwalden]

12. I Don't Think That The Purpose...

... is to *avoid* having to introduce one's self. Even with nametags, I think personal introductions are appropriate. I don't think it's intended to be a substitute for formal introductions, but just as a reminder.

The feeling I get is that it helps prevent the embarrassment for people who easily forget the names of folks they were just introduced to (or re-introduced to) just 20 minutes earlier.

I've got mixed feelings... I see both sides and can't decide which would be better.

[flamingyouth]

11. I've been to a lot of funerals and have never seen it done.

But I certainly wouldn't be offended by it, so I could go either way.

[trof]

13. Don't.

Trust me on this.

[arwalden]

14. I Think That's What My Advice Will Be...

... thanks.