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Thursday, April 7, 2016

F is for Funeral

My theme for this year's A- Z Blogfest is DEATH (who I hope is like DEATH in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series): "...tall, thin (skeletal, as a matter of fact), and ALWAYS SPEAKS IN CAPITAL LETTERS. Generally shows up when you're dead, or just when he thinks you ought to be." Today we have F Funeral.



A Funeral is the last party you get to go to. Almost all cultures have some sort of ceremony to honor the dead. Many religions bury or inter their dead, others cremate them, and some send them off in a flaming boat. I've only been to a few funerals, and only one for a family member: my dad. It was nice. The organist played a piece my dad had written and a lot of us kids got up to say something. Afterwards, we we went back to the house and my brother-in-law played a film he had made showing my dad's life, from when he was just a little kid in britches, to his navy days, to when I was just a little rugrat on the kitchen floor playing with a pot, and all the way up to the last few pictures we had. He used the Let it Be album as a sound track and boy, all I can say is he did a crazy good job. It was amazing to see my dad's life played out in pictures.

Have you thought about what your funeral might look like? I kind of like the idea of a celebration. But most of the time it's hard to celebrate the loss of someone you loved, especially if you weren't ready to let them go.


Excerpt from Mort, by Terry Pratchett, in which DEATH takes on an apprentice...

 'Mort spent the afternoon helping Albert plant out broccoli. It was black, tinted with purple.

"He tries, see," said Albert, flourishing the dibber. "It's just that when it comes to color, he hasn't got much imagination."'




11 comments:

  1. Funerals can be dreadful, or heartwarming tributes. I have been to both varieties. The dreadful one was one where I didn't recognise the person we were farewelling. The celebrant obviously didn't know them, and had made no effort to personalise the service...

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  2. I want a party. No need to be sad - I'll be in Heaven having a great time.
    On the flip side, I'm going to be a total mess at my parents' funerals, I just know it.
    Sadly I've been to dozens of funerals, some for family, mostly for friends.

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  3. Thanks for sharing. Tough topic! https://mhsusannematthews.wordpress.com

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  4. I don't want a funeral. Nobody has to go through that for me!

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  5. I'm not keen on funerals. I am good with a "celebration" that occurs, say, a month later or so.I find that tends to be more positive and still a good way to remember the person with music and stories.

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  6. My partner wants a casket with a bar attached. ~grin~ The excerpt reminds me of my youthful job at a garden center. We called the little planting tool a dibble.
    Awakening Dreams and Conquering Nightmares with a Pen
    Happy blogging! And be well.

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  7. I've been to a couple of wakes, those seemed a better celebration than the somber organ music dark suit funerals. I suppose if there were a service after I died, I'd rather it be a loud wake full of music.

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  8. I've been to a couple of wakes, those seemed a better celebration than the somber organ music dark suit funerals. I suppose if there were a service after I died, I'd rather it be a loud wake full of music.

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  9. I like the idea of my funeral being a party. Of course, it's hard to plan your own... on account of being dead and all.

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  10. I've been to way too many funerals. Grandparents. Mother of a neighbor. Work buddy. And other miscellaneous. They're always strange affairs.

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  11. I never understood why folks dressed in black. I mean, I get it but no thanks. Colours. All the way.

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