The custom of lying in state and saying goodbye has disappeared from the memory of many people in everyday life. The direct confrontation with the embodiment of death seems frightening, especially since this tradition is now mostly only practiced in rural areas and most people have no connection to this custom.
Our employees at the Dresden-Ost funeral home are also often asked: "Do you still do something like this?" The answer is a resounding "yes". However, when and for whom a laying out of the deceased is meaningful is very different. In most cases, however, we can only endorse the last look, the last contact with the dead.
However, the fear that the last sight of the loved one will be a horrific experience that will be burned into your memory forever is usually unfounded. Then:
Our professionally trained staff is able to ensure a dignified farewell thanks to the knowledge and techniques they have acquired. The deceased is thoroughly cleaned, dressed and prepared for the occasion of saying goodbye. A staring, lifeless gaze is just as out of the question as an open mouth.
A mortuary room offers a respectful setting and an appropriate time window to say goodbye in private and without disturbance - both of which are often not possible in hospital rooms or the rooms of a care facility.
A dignified farewell can become a memory that makes the death of a loved one understandable and easier to process. Touching the deceased or saying previously unsaid words can often be the last chance to say goodbye that cannot be repeated.
In most cases, laying in the open coffin is possible without difficulty even up to a week after death has occurred. This gives relatives enough time to consider whether they would like a personal farewell to the deceased, in which case it is also permissible to add personal items to the coffin.
Our knowledgeable staff will be happy to advise you if you have any questions or a decision.
