Losing a loved one is never easy. This is a time when you may be tempted to toss all your good manners aside and let your emotions take over. While some people will understand, others who have been there for you might take issue if you come across rude. A funeral can be an emotion-charged event, so try hard to stop before you say something you might later regret.

You don't need to go out of your way to be congenial during this difficult time in your life.

Just make sure you are kind to others, speak politely, and show your gratitude for anything they do for you. Most people will understand if you are too choked up to talk.

Here are some simple tips to help you through this difficult time in your life:

1. Provide the name and address of the funeral home to anyone who may possibly attend. Make sure all of the visitors and other people you contact know where to go or send flowers.
2. Make your wishes known. If you have special instructions for the funeral home, clergy, or anyone else who will be participating in the services, let them know as early as possible so they can prepare. This includes special music, eulogies, or readings. You don't want to catch anyone off guard the day of the funeral.
3. Bring display items early. If you have photos, memorabilia, or anything else you'd like to display during the services, give them to the funeral director in advance.
4. Dress appropriately for the funeral. You don't need to spend a lot of time worrying about what to wear, but you should put on something that honors the person you lost. Make sure your clothing is clean, comfortable, and conservative.

1. Greet visitors. As people approach you to pay their respects, accept them with grace and poise. Whether you exchange a hug or a simple hand squeeze, thank them for coming. Know where to sit. Most of the time, family of the deceased will be seated in the first couple of pews. You may invite a close friend to join you if there is enough room. Before the funeral, discuss the seating with the funeral director.
2. Be understanding of faux pas. Don't be annoyed if visitors say the wrong thing. Most people don't know what to say to someone who has just lost a loved one, and some people blurt the first thing that comes to mind. If they're there, chances are the last thing they want to do is say something that will make you feel worse.
3. Leave the cemetery first. After the gravesite ceremony or service is over, the family should be the first to leave.
4. Pay an honorarium. Although not normally a requirement, it is always good form to offer an honorarium to the person who officiates the service and someone who sings. 
5. Send thank you notes. You don't have to write letters to everyone who attended, but you should send brief messages to the person who officiated the funeral, anyone who gave a eulogy, the pallbearers, people who sent flowers, anyone who donated to a charity in the name of the deceased, and those who brought food afterward. If someone does a special favor for you during your bereavement, that person should also get a thank you note.