The vigil or gathering held before a funeral service is commonly called the

• A. Procession
• B. Wake
• C. Interment
• D. Viewing

Answer: (B)

The gathering held before a funeral is called the wake. A wake is a time for family and friends to come together, share memories, offer condolences, and pay respects to the deceased, often at a funeral home or church. It is traditionally the social vigil that precedes the funeral service and may include a viewing of the body. This distinguishes it from a procession, which is the actual movement of the body or mourners to the burial site; interment, which is the burial itself; and viewing, which is typically the opportunity to see the deceased and is often part of the wake but not the gathering itself.