Personally, it depends on the kid. Some can handle it and some can't. I would talk with each child and get their take on the situation. Some kids feel so confused by death that it really scares them. Therefore they don't want to go to any funeral.
But for some they see it as just a function. Not a big scary situation. I think if we make it scary then it's scary. If we make it a fact of life...it's a fact of life.
And the funerals are for the living. People there will want to see the kids. It's a promise for the future and it's always a good thing to have children around for the meals and stuff afterwards. Esp when it was a person that lived a good long life. At least that's how we've always handled it at my house.

I think it depends on the kids and on the service.
Is it a memorial service? A viewing? A full mass?

If it's expected to run an hour or so, I think it would be fine. If there's a viewing, well...I wouldn't take them. I went to one as an adult and the deceased was, um, green. I nearly vomited and 15 years later I can still see it.

Kids need to learn about death. It's a part of life.

I remember when my grandpa died when I was 6 years old. It was the first and the only time I saw my dad cry. I remember that vividly. I vaguely remember going to the funeral. It was not traumatic, it was not scary. I knew that grandpa died, and I understood (at a 6 year old level) what death was. I knew that the grown-ups were very sad, and I was sad myself, but looking back on it I am glad I was a part of that very important event in my family.

I think your SS6.5 is capable of understanding what happened to his great-grandpa and being told about it (in an age-appropriate way). I hope your DH isn't seriously planning on not tell him that he died. Kids have a right to know what is going on in their family and I agree with PPs who said that they should be able to attend the funeral.

Went as early as 5, viewings and funerals. Death is a natural part of life, and I think it's something kids do need to learn about. But it's also up to the parents to decide when they are ready.

Personally I would bring them, but that's because I have a very practical approach to things like life and death.

They can handle it. I have done so many funerals now for close family. It is a great way for the kids to say good-bye. You tell them what they can handle. If you make it scary, it will be scary for them. For me, I always told my son it was time to say good-bye.

Please only do that if you believe the kids can be polite and behave. I was 12 when my great grandmother pasted I was extremely close to her, she was my main role model growing up, I spent every summer (two months long) with her and my great grand father since I was 5. When she pasted I was a wreck. At her funeral my aunt brought her two boys. They were rowdy, inappropriate and rude to everyone around them. They were 5 and 8 at the time. The 8 year old yelled out to his little brother that they chopped her into little pieces to fit her in the box. My great grandfather left the funeral when that was said. My mother and I followed him to make sure he was ok. The point is. Yes they should know about the death but do not take them if there is the slightest possibility that they will get board and act out. That is a time for grieving and it is not ok to take children that will upset those that are grieving the loss of a loved one. I still have not forgiven my aunt for that. My great grandfather was besides him self upset at the comment my cousins made.

I would take them. I took my kids to their great grandmothers funeral when they were just turned 2 and 3 1/2. My FSS6 went to his grandfathers (and he was very very close to him) this past January. Kids need the closure too. You should also keep in mind that this is a celebration of his life and those kids are part of the celebration.

Yeah, I'm with the "death is part of life and kids need to know that" crowd.

How good of you to think of them at this difficult time. Best wishes.

Nope to any kind of viewing the body. Yes to attending the funeral, being including in the family's mourning rituals. As long as they are able to behave appropriately.

IMO the age is really child dependent and also hinges on how close they were to the deceased (the closer the relationship the greater the need for closure). I went to my first open casket viewing/funeral when I was 7, it was my mother's father. I wasn't really close with him but going to the funeral did not traumatize me (and I was an extremely sensitive child). How kids deal with this fact of life depends on the adults in their lives and how they handle it. I honestly think life being sanitized just ends up messing up children worse. But be prepared, if they're going to go to a funeral you're going to have to face the "what happens after you die" question (if you haven't already), so you need to come up with something that they can wrap their minds around without becoming frightened. If they're already being raised in a religion or on a spiritual path it makes things a lot easier.

I remember when my son started really grilling me about death, sleep and dreaming, he was maybe 4 or 5. Helped me formalize some of my (current) personal beliefs.