If you recently had a loved one pass away, and you are in the midst of planning for a funeral service to memorialize their life, you may be concerned about the reactions guests will have as they attend to say their goodbyes. Many friends and family members of someone who passes away will display signs of sadness, or perhaps even anger, when attending a funeral service or wake. Here are some steps you can take to help keep those attending from becoming publicly embarrassed should their emotions get a hold of them during a funeral.

Provide A Secluded Area For Guests To Utilize

It is a good idea to ask the funeral director if they have a room away from the hub bub of the funeral where those who are feeling exceptionally emotional can get away from the crowd for a bit. Place several boxes of tissues, snacks, and bottles of water in this room for guest usage. It is a nice idea to place a basket containing makeup remover and a few cosmetics inside a restroom for those who need to touch up their appearance should it become altered from tears. Provide a compact disc player or radio so guests can listen to relaxing music. These small touches will allow someone to regain their composure during this difficult time. 

Enlist A Family Member To Provide Support

Ask a family member or two to help you greet guests as they arrive to the funeral parlor. Throughout the wake or funeral, have these people watch over those attending. If they notice someone who is having a hard time with the process of saying farewell, they can go up to this person to offer them a tissue or shoulder to lean on if needed. Those who arrive at the event on their own may find the funeral to be very difficult as they would not have someone readily available to speak with. Simply having someone available to provide support can help those feeling emotional get through the event without embarrassing outbursts.

Keep Guests Busy To Distract Them During The Event

Giving guests a few tasks to engage themselves with leading up to the funeral may help them remain their composure. Provide a guest sign-in book for those attending to browse through should they feel sadness creeping into their thoughts. Several posters of pictures of the diseased will also allow those attending to reflect on the positive aspects of the person's life. These additions will distract guests from constant sadness, allowing them to keep their emotions from getting the best of them during the service.