Should I go to the funeral of a superior's mother?

Question

I do not work directly below this person (I am in a different dept) but we are friendly. I have never met any of her family and we do not talk very personally. She invited everyone in the office to the funeral and I found out someone in the office who knows her less than I do is planning to go.

I originally felt that it would be appropriate to not go since I do not know the family, but now I am having second thoughts.

I discussed it with my boss who shares a similar professional relationship that I do with her. This woamn is Chinese and he told me that in Chinese culture it's is appropriate for family and close friends of the family to go and less appropriate for assosciates and not as close friends.

Answer 1

You should go for her. Funerals are for the living and even if you don't feel really close to her, it will probably make her feel better to know you care enough to come.

Answer 2

It is neither appropriate nor inappropriate for you to go to this funeral. A person attends a funeral out of respect either for the person who died or the people he/she left behind.
Attending a funeral because another person is going is not a proper reason.
The question is do you have enough respect for your co-worker to attend her mother's funeral?
If so, go.

Answer 3

I think you should go. It's a show of support and solidarity. A funeral with lots of people makes the family feel better. Can you imagine anything so sad as a funeral where only three or four people show?

-MM

Answer 4

Go, out of respect for the person,that you know.

Answer 5

Yeah. I definately go. To show respect if for nothing else. Sorry to hear that she's passed. :[

Answer 6

If you feel close to her, go.