> Why would people call the viewing of the body a wake if they weren't hoping the person would awaken?

Wikipedia says: "While the modern usage of the verb wake is 'become or stay alert', a wake for the dead harks back to the vigil, 'watch' or 'guard' of earlier times. It is a misconception that people at a wake are waiting in case the deceased should 'wake up'."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_(ceremony)