Do I Have to Wear Black to a Funeral?

Everything you ever wanted to know about funeral etiquette but were afraid to ask.

When is attending a funeral or memorial service “a must,” and when is it optional? Can a eulogy be funny? Can I scatter my brother’s ashes in the backyard? Should I place a death notice or an obituary? What’s the difference?

These are all questions that Florence Isaacs has been asked as a blogger for Legacy.com, a role that earned her the nickname of the “Dear Abby of Death.” In Do I Have to Wear Black to a Funeral?, she answers urgent questions about grief, funerals, different religious ceremonies, and more, offering practical guidelines for modern situations—and, yes, what to wear.

Isaacs’ honest, often entertaining, responses provide no-nonsense information to millennials, while also helping older generations navigate new waters, like how to send condolences through social media. She offers fresh insights, plus an etiquette map of the right things to do and say, in her familiar, sensitive, and sincere style.

About the Author:  Florence Isaacs is the "Dear Abby of Death." For many years, she wrote two blogs every month for Legacy.com, the world's largest commercial provider of online obituaries and memorials. She lives in New York City.