Dec 29 2008
Two funerals, two different lives
This holiday season has been a bit rough because my family during its course has lost two people due to cancer. We had our second funeral in as many weeks today.
Both funerals were sad, of course. But today’s particularly struck me. Not because of the emotion involved, but because of the emotion it lacked. The reverend who spoke didn’t know the deceased. No one from the 25 or so attendees got up to say anything. And it was all over in under a half hour.
In contrast, the first funeral we attended, about two weeks ago, was packed. At the wake the day before, people had to wait outside in the cold to get a chance to view the body. On the day of the funeral, the entire church was filled, and at the reception afterward, people lined up for the chance to tell their stories about the deceased.
Is the funeral you have an indication of the type of life you’ve left? That’s a tough one. Both deceased were good, kind people. One was more vivacious, immersed himself in his family and his community and made everyone he spoke to feel like they were the most important person in the world.
It’s hard not to imagine your own funeral at times like this. It’s hard not to hope, either, that yours is like that first one I attended two weeks ago, and not the one where the only personal item the reverend speaking could include was that the deceased was feisty.
2 Responses to “Two funerals, two different lives”
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My hubby attended two funerals a couple of years ago that got him thinking like you are talking about. One had six hundred people, the other had eight. The one was for a couple killed by a bear and they were very active in church. The other was a suicide. It gave him a lot to think about. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks again, Many Hats. It’s certainly been an odd couple of weeks. I put away my suit yesterday and hoped that I wouldn’t have to see it again any time soon. (Since I work from home, I rarely have to put on a suit.)