Should I Watch the Cremation? Making the Witnessing Decision

When a crematory offers a witness service, many people immediately think: *Absolutely not.* That reaction makes sense.

But for some people, witnessing helps.

Why it can help

Why it can hurt

A middle option

Some places offer a private goodbye in a quiet room (before anything begins), without watching the full process. You can also ask exactly what "witnessing" means there—every facility does it a bit differently.

Questions to ask the crematory

There's no right answer. Trust your gut about what you need.