noun
wake; all-night vigil over a body
A Buddhist ceremony held the night before a funeral, where family and friends stay with the deceased, often involving prayers and offerings. The honorific form is 御通夜 (おつや).
See also: 御通夜
今夜は祖母の通夜があるので、早く帰ります。
I'll go home early tonight because there is a wake for my grandmother.
通夜には親戚や友
Relatives and friends gathered for the wake.
From 通 (passing through the night) and 夜 (night), referring to staying awake through the night to watch over the deceased.