Comments on: Funeral

By: Torrie

Torrie — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:35:18 +0000

Burial rites have been cashed in on since the Victorian times. Back then, if the relatives of the deceased did not purchase very precise funeral attire from the funeral directors, in addition to very particular housewares and other nonsense, they would be judged badly by the people around them. It calmed down a bit because the out of control funeral expenses would have caused bankruptcy given the death tolls of the two world wars, but now it’s gotten totally ridiculous again. Everyone seems to be trying to make up for not having made a mark on the world or their personal underachievement by planning a stupidly extravagant funeral, as a safety net for having failed to contribute anything interesting to the world. Apparently it’s no longer enough to have been a nice person who protested against nuclear war or who gave their last £10 to the church box when they lost their job.

By: Maven Koesler

Maven Koesler — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:50:25 +0000

After observing my husbands family wrangle over the details of a funeral twice in the last decade I have to say, If you love your family and children Pre-Plan your funeral. Pre-pay it with a reputable company too so grieving kids and drama queens don’t have grind over every last detail of the service.

By: Book Bastard

Book Bastard — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:41:16 +0000

I don’t know. I think there’s something to be said for focusing on the good memories rather than the death. My mom, aunts, and uncles all have said repeatedly that they don’t want a funeral service–they say, just prop a picture of me next to a beer can and have a party.

By: Brittany

Brittany — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:04:35 +0000

I have no desire whatsoever to be buried and take up space after I’m dead. Death happens to everyone, and it’s upsetting, but I think the thought of my loved one crammed into a funeral home, a space that has no meaning to any of them, all mourning my loss seems ridiculous.

I think a funeral should be more of a celebration of life, remembering the good times you had with the person who is gone.

My grandfather died when I was younger, and in lieu of a funeral, we had a memorial at home, catered with his favorite foods. We made up a book of memories people had with him, and people got up and spoke about him and their memories. It was much nicer than a funeral.

Of course, we all joke in the family that funerals are the only time we get to see some family members, and we usually end up going out for some meal in honor of whoever died. It helps, I think.

By: Sheralyn

Sheralyn — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:37:45 +0000

I just had to quote on this one as I used to work at a funeral home a few years ago.

Funerals are for the living. That’s something people don’t seem to get. A funeral is there for the living to get closure and celebrate a loved one if they want to. Of course they should respect the wishes of the one who died, if they have any, within reason. The best thing to do is to pre-arrange and pre-pay for what you want. That way there is so much less pressure on your family when the time comes and you get what you want.

Personally I want to be cremated and made into a Diamond (google LifeGems) one way to be worth something dead

Waiter is right though as a society we don’t want to have to face death, including a loved ones body. It’s not a good thing if it hinders the grieving process.

Oh boy do I have some stories from that time! Perhaps I should start my own blog with tales from those years..