Should I keep blinds closed today?

[Acunningruse]

My next door neighbours are having a funeral today for their parents and cars are going from their house. I have it in my head that I should keep the blinds closed as a mark of respect but Im not sure whether its still the done thing?

No

It was very much the thing in my northern childhood.

While you don't have to, if the house of the bereaved has drawn curtains, then drawing yours until the end of the day would be nice.

I still remember when my dad died, and as the funeral cortege neared the cemetery, an older gentlemen took off his hat as we passed. So lovely.
I mention his age because hats were pretty much the preserve of the older person back then, the ubiquitous versions of the baseball cap hadn't happened.

Another memory. At my last UK school, the HT mentioned a call they'd from a member of the public at the Monday morning briefing saying how moved they'd been by two boys taking off their caps as the funeral cars went past.

I should have said two boys in uniform, so obviously from the school.

Yes I would as a sign of respect, you could also go outside and see them off too which I’m sure would be appreciated

My late MIL was Irish, and in her area the blinds/curtains were always drawn when someone died nearby and the cortege was passing. In her house the mirrors were covered and a little note with a black border was pinned to the front door indicating that someone had died there. (No longer the case due to the risk of burglary in an empty house these days). The bereaved widow/widower wore black for months and wore a black armband to show they were recently bereaved, and people made allowances for them and showed respect. The good ole days.

Yes we would and neighbours all stand on front garden as the cars passed, it was very much appreciated by the family