Viewing & farewell
Viewing at home, in a farewell room or in the cemetery's viewing hall — with the time and in the form your family needs.
What to expect
A viewing (Aufbahrung) means the deceased is cared for, dressed and laid in the coffin so that relatives and friends can see them once more and say goodbye. In Switzerland this usually happens in the cemetery's viewing room or in a farewell room; in many municipalities a viewing at home is also possible.
For many families these hours matter more than the ceremony itself. Here there is room to cry, pray, be silent or tell stories. Some come once, others every day until the funeral. Others again deliberately choose not to see the deceased again — that, too, is a farewell.
We arrange the viewing to suit your family and its faith: church-based, in a mosque, according to another religious order or secular. And we tell you openly what is permitted in your municipality.
Process
We collect the deceased from home, the hospital or the care home — around the clock. This is followed by hygienic care: washing, dressing, preparing the face and hands.
The cemetery's viewing room, a farewell room or a viewing at home: we clarify with the municipality what is possible and reserve the room.
You decide what the deceased wears and what is placed with them — a favourite dress, a photo, a letter, a rosary or prayer beads.
We lay the deceased in the coffin and arrange the room with candles, flowers and, if you wish, photos or religious symbols.
You decide who comes, when and for how long. Prayers, a vigil, music or silence — we follow your wishes and the room's opening hours.
The coffin is closed before the memorial service, the cremation or the repatriation. If you would like to be present, we plan this moment with you.
In detail
If the deceased is repatriated abroad in a coffin, they are placed in a zinc coffin that is soldered shut before departure. After that the coffin can no longer be opened on the way, and usually not at the destination either. So plan the farewell at the open coffin here in Switzerland, before the deceased is placed in the coffin. Let us know early who from the family would like to be there, so that we can plan the date around them.
Both are possible in Switzerland, but the rules are set not by the federal government but by the canton and above all the municipality. A few examples from official documents:
The cantons of Bern and Zurich set no fixed period for how long a deceased person may stay at home. What is fixed: in both cantons, burial or cremation takes place no earlier than 48 hours after death, and in the canton of Zurich as a rule no later than after seven days. A viewing at home requires a cool room where the family is undisturbed. We clarify beforehand with the municipality what applies and, if needed, call in daily.
Open coffin: The deceased is visible; relatives can look at them, touch them, place something in their hands. In some viewing rooms visitors sit behind a glass pane, in others they can step right up to the coffin — we tell you beforehand how the room is set up.
Closed coffin: Some families want it from the outset, for personal or religious reasons. After an accident or a long illness we sometimes recommend leaving the coffin closed or opening it only for the closest family. We discuss this openly with you before anyone enters the room.
Hygienic care instead of embalming: For a viewing in Switzerland, hygienic care is as a rule sufficient. Embalming is only considered where it is necessary, for instance because the destination country of a repatriation requires it. If the body changes during the viewing, the cemetery may end the viewing — we discuss this with you beforehand, too.
Every family brings its own customs. In some, a vigil is kept day and night; in others, a ritual washing by relatives or members of the faith community is part of it; in others again, prayers are said, candles lit or songs sung at the coffin. We clarify in which room this is possible and follow the requirements of your community.
Children at the farewell: Children may be present if they want to. Explain beforehand in simple words what they will see, and let them decide for themselves how close they go to the coffin. A drawing or a letter the child may place in the coffin helps many. A trusted adult should be there just for the child and be able to go outside with them whenever they want.
How the viewing connects with the actual ceremony is explained on the memorial service and farewell page.
Questions & answers
That is regulated by the municipality, not the federal government. In the canton of Basel-Stadt a viewing at home is permitted for two days; in the municipality of Belp only with the consent of the responsible doctor. The cantons of Bern and Zurich set no fixed period. We clarify beforehand what applies in your municipality.
Usually in the cemetery's viewing room or in a farewell room, and in many municipalities also at home. For a repatriation abroad, the viewing takes place before the deceased is placed in the zinc coffin.
No. You decide whether the coffin is open, open only at times, or closed. After an accident or a long illness we advise you on what relatives will find bearable.
Yes, at the open coffin you may touch the deceased, hold their hand or place something with them. In some viewing rooms a glass pane separates visitors from the coffin; we tell you beforehand how the room is set up.
If they want to, yes. Prepare the child in simple words, let them decide for themselves how close they go, and choose a trusted person who can go outside with them at any time.
As a rule, no. For a viewing in Switzerland, hygienic care is sufficient. Embalming is only needed in certain cases, for instance when the destination country of a repatriation requires it.
The viewing is the time at the coffin, often in a small circle and over one or several days. The funeral service (Abdankung) is the ceremony with all the guests — in a church, a mosque, the funeral hall or freely composed.
In many cases, yes. Whether an overnight vigil or a ritual washing by relatives is possible depends on the room and the municipality. Tell us early what your family wishes — we will find the right place.
Guides
What has to be decided, in which order — and what changes when part of the family lives far away.
Not a comfort option but a requirement of international law. What it is, what it costs, when it is not needed.
Who decides what, which forms exist, what they cost — and what changes when the family comes from elsewhere.
Other services
Traditional burial in a coffin — grave, date, ceremony and every formality.
Learn moreCremation followed by urn interment, a natural burial or transfer of the urn.
Learn moreService, viewing and farewell — religious or secular, shaped the way you want it.
Learn more