What is the norm for the amount of time that passes after death and before the wake?  I learned of a death that occurred on 11/22, and the wake is not until 12/9 (funeral 12/10).  Isn't almost 2 1/2 weeks a long time to wait for a wake?  

If the deceased is not embalmed, both wake and burial need to be within a few days for obvious reasons.  Otherwise, if the deceased is embalmed the wake can be delayed up to five days.  If an embalmed body is in the sealed casket and kept refrigerated, it can last for up to five years. 

Oh wow.  I had no idea.  I suspect that this person's body is being taken care of in this way then.

My husband’s grandmother’s wake was three weeks after she passed away.  I was honestly a little apprehensive about what she would look like but everything was fine. 

Yes, I am apprehensive as well.  Not too long ago I viewed a body about 10 days after death, and it really was not great.  I don't think they did a good job, so 2 1/2 weeks is concerning to me.

I'm not a licensed embalmer, but I work as an assistant at a funeral home and have seen a lot of things.  There are several variables involved with a deceased person being presentable for viewing.  In Washington, and other but not all states, embalming is required for a public viewing, but a limited private viewing without embalming can be arranged for family members, usually a maximum of one hour and ten people.  The funeral home will comb the hair, apply light makeup, set the features (eyes and mouth closed, hands folded over the body) and dress the remains in clothing brought by the family, or in a clean hospital gown.  Our funeral home also has a room where the deceased can be viewed through a glass wall, in case odor is an issue.

Several factors influence the success of embalming for short term preservation and a good appearance.  Typically the sooner the embalming can be done after death the better.  Several times when I've brought someone in during the night or on a weekend / holiday one of our embalmers was waiting to start if they knew the family wanted a viewing.  An autopsy, physical trauma to the body (such as an accident), or someone with poor circulation present special challenges, though I've seen some amazing results.  The skill and experience of the embalmer obviously plays a roll in the outcome with difficult cases.

Last June I went to the visitation for someone who died on May 16 at age 95 but the viewing wasn't until June 17.  I had not seen her for 7 or 8 years, but she looked just as I remembered her.  On the other hand, an uncle who died of natural causes at age 95 and whose Rosary and viewing were 4 or 5 days later looked like a store manikin (this was at a different funeral home).

Funeral Director's will advise families to not have a viewing if circuмstances suggest that would be best, but often
they need to follow the wishes of the family.

Firstly, I am sorry for your loss.  I think a lot depends on how soon the body was found after death.  Once I saw a body who had been found approximately 5 hours after death and he was badly discolored at his wake.  In my opinion, it was not good to see, but that’s death, of course. A close relative of mine recently passed away and the mortician said no option was available for viewing because of bad decomposition after only 24 hours of being found.  So there’s a lot of factors that go into it.  I think funeral home morticians can do some amazing things with make up and a lot of chemicals.  I’ll bet moneil would have a ton of insight if he sees this thread.  As for my husband’s grandmother, her death was expected so she was preserved in good time, so everything was ok with her viewing.  Again, I am sorry for your loss and I hope this may give you an idea of what to expect.

Thank you (although it was not somebody with whom I had a close relationship).  Her death was expected with family staying with her at home, so I am sure that things were taken care of as soon as possible.  I was thinking of moneil as well, and sure enough he has posted here as well!  

Nowadays we postpone things to make it convenient for ourselves.  True, family may live at greater distances but looking at funerals from a Catholic perspective, I offer the follow from The Manual of Catholic Prayer, dated Dec 1961 (Just before Vat II)

"The body is then laid out in seemly fashion, and a light (candle) placed before it.
A small cross is placed upon the breast in the hands of the deceased, or the hands are folded crosswise, and the body is sprinkled from time to time with holy water.  Until the burial takes place prayer should constantly be offered for the deceased by those who watch the body"

Wow..... read that last sentence again.  I guess that is the Catholic meaning of a Wake.

In times gone by the only time the church kept a body for up to nine days was if the person died during Holy Week.  Why should the deceased have to wait for their Requiem Mass for our convenience?

Very interesting.  I wonder if this was the custom before modern embalming was practiced.  Also, with respect to the timing of a wake/funeral, I wonder if it's also a matter of fitting into the schedules of the church and funeral home.