Discussion of the Day
Funerals a reason to morn or a reason to party
Diane C17-Apr-21
Do you celebrate the person's life or grieve over the loss of that person?
Comments
  • Phyrephly
    have a friend who was visiting a cemetery and said she saw a tombstone that read: "beneath this sod lies another"
    ·
    • JOHN HARPER
      no once your dead thats it i made no mention of loss or grief, a funeral service is bullshit, the only winner is a funeral director
      ·
      • robinr c
        both mourn first party later
        ·
        • Leanne B 76015
          Both
          ·
          • Phyrephly
            depends on the deceased person's circumstances. I've known more than a few of my friends who were happy to be out of misery when they finally died, due to ill health/debilitating illness. Others were/are terrified of death. Others still, where the 'mourners' were there, to make sure the person was indeed dead. For the most part (although there are certainly exceptions), young people/children's funerals are sad occasions. But if the deceased lived a good life, (ie was a good person), and/or is now free from a bad situation, they can be joyous occasions.
            ·
            • Carol C 465698
              Celebrate their entry into Heaven.
              ·
              • Edith v
                You grieve the loss ,but you celebrate their life & the contribution they made. It is great to talk to family & old friends & laugh at the the anecdotes they share
                ·
                • Ruth v
                  Depends if you know where your going. If you have made peace with Jesus your maker its a time to celebrate. If you have not made peace with your maker I suggest you do it very soon. Then you will know where your going and it will be a time to celebrate.
                  ·
                  • Therese M 73305
                    I think it depends on who has passed away.but have you ever noticed in the church people cry but when they have coffee after the service they are all laughing.i also think people don't check up on the immediate family after and people turn up even though you haven't heard from them for years ...my son's I grieve for till this day but we did have wakes for them to celebrate their lives .and we still celebrate their birthdays and their anniversaries they may be gone from the physical world but I keep their memories alive as their still part of my family
                    ·
                    • Mooi
                      Difficult to discus this one as I don't want a funeral. Rather just get cremated and let the family spend the money on something else.
                      ·
                      • Sharon D 72697
                        Mourn at first, but on the day it's a celebration of their life
                        ·
                        • Barbara T
                          First mourn, then celebrate ...........
                          ·
                          • Helen E 469767
                            There is a time to grieve but must have a celebration of the life as well
                            ·
                            • Maria B 89860
                              I think amongst the tears there needs to be some laughter too as we remember not only the sad but happy and hilarious times as well.
                              ·
                              • JOHN HARPER
                                mourn not morn get it right
                                ·
                                • Henry W 362692
                                  My brother & I provided palliative care for our mum at her home for 2 months,it was the most rewarding experience ever,she wasn’t in any pain just slowly slipping away,I can recall her horror when I took her to the bathroom & wiped her as I should she started crying saying it was embarrassing that her son had to do this,I said to her “mum you wiped my butt when I was growing up,no more tears” after that,the whole process of dying at home in your own bed in no pain was I will never forget
                                  ·
                                  • Phyrephly
                                    beautiful! I had same kind of experience with my Grandad. Looked after him, palliatively, for 2 weeks or so and home and he had the most lovely death. Dad (his son), Mum, Gran and I were at home with him, and we held his hand till the end. He was kinda "hanging on" for Granny, as he knew no one would dote over her as he did. But he was awake and aware at the end. He took about 30 pills a day for heart issues, and when he could no longer swallow he had about a week left in him. I think he had a small angina attack and it just "did for him", gently, without the pills to ease it. But it was still lovely., to be there.
                                    ·
                                • Jennifer S 320468
                                  Bit of both!
                                  ·
                                  • Margaret C 68385
                                    Both - you mourn the loss but celebrate the precious time you had with the person. I have told my lot I want a bloody big party when I go or I'll come back and haunt them!
                                    ·
                                    • alena v
                                      dont care what
                                      ·
                                      • Lones
                                        Both. But during COVID made things more difficult or my father decided he didn’t want a funeral. It’s up to the person
                                        ·
                                        • Aisha A 379399
                                          You mourn them in your heart and you share the memories you have of the deceased with family and friends. Sometimes you continue on with the causes they're passionate about like charity work.
                                          ·
                                          • Kristina L 134251
                                            Better the morn than the eve
                                            ·
                                            • roger l 315504
                                              I'd have thought that respect and regret would have been the first thoughts
                                              ·
                                              • Val B 69099
                                                mine is going to be a celebration of my life with a big party after
                                                ·
                                                • Therese M 73305
                                                  Can I come lol
                                                  ·
                                              • Rose S 88496
                                                I think this depends entirely on several factors ... how old the person was, circumstances of their death and how a family views their loss
                                                ·
                                                • Colin L 88398
                                                  A bit if both but it mainly revolves around the person who has died.
                                                  ·
                                                  • Graham I
                                                    Definitely agree Colin
                                                    ·
                                                • KARL-HANS B
                                                  I think its both of it to morn for the lost one and to celebrate there live
                                                  ·
                                                  • Sheree T
                                                    Definitely a little of both. It is nice to celebrate a person's life and speak of what they have done in there life they are good memories to share. Grieving is something that is going to happen regardless of a celebration or not that is a natural process to go through after losing a loved one. And the length of time varies for each person, time heals and they are forever in your heart.
                                                    ·
                                                    • JANN R
                                                      TO REMEMBER ALL THE GOOD TIMES OF YOUR LOVED ONES LIFE
                                                      ·
                                                      • Jan N
                                                        Definitely to celebrate a person's life
                                                        ·
                                                        • Anneliese
                                                          Bit of both. I made sure to tell memorable but funny stories at my Dad's funeral but it was still very sad. It always takes time.
                                                          ·
                                                          • Bev
                                                            A celebration of their life.
                                                            ·
                                                            • Paul J 94868
                                                              Both...
                                                              ·
                                                              • Morton B
                                                                Unless you are cold hearted you will mourn the loss of an important person in your life but it is also important to celebrate them and their life, their achievements and all those great times you had together and dont forget those funny stories and as time goes by remember/think of them occasionally. While even just one person remembers they are never really gone. My Dad died 18 years ago and every year around the anniversary I go down to the cemetery and have a whisky(Good single malt) with my dad, sit and think/reflect. He gets his own wee dram and when we leave its poured onto the ground above where his ashes lay
                                                                ·
                                                                • Therese M 73305
                                                                  I do that with my boys they have a drink poured around the tree while I have a scotch I light a cigarette and watch it burn as 1 smoked
                                                                  ·
                                                                • Morton BTherese M 73305
                                                                  Thats cool and its a good way to remember them. I am also lucky to see my dad I just look in a mirror, we are dead ringers for each other, looks, build
                                                                  ·
                                                              • Susan H 85267
                                                                Mourn and reflect on their life. Talk to others about their relationships with the deceased and enjoy some funny stories or learn something new about them.
                                                                ·
                                                                • Ivan S 396292
                                                                  In both cases should be simplified.
                                                                  ·
                                                                  • Joe B 288252
                                                                    A celebration is not necessarily a party
                                                                    ·
                                                                    • Bugalugs
                                                                      Both.
                                                                      ·
                                                                      • dale k 247571
                                                                        Mourn and celebrate they go hand in hand with remembering the person who has passed, remember, laugh cry, have a gathering after service to do more of this, and most of all, remember the person
                                                                        ·
                                                                        • Beverley S 383001
                                                                          I have planned my funeral and want it to be a time of memories - mourning is essential for the healing of the heart after a death but boozy parties I consider to be very disrespectful.
                                                                          ·
                                                                          • Maureen W 406466
                                                                            morn and have a party to remember all the fun times and laughs that you shared with your loved one
                                                                            ·
                                                                            • Gaza
                                                                              Morn, but a celebration of the deceits life.
                                                                              ·
                                                                              • John b 479999
                                                                                Grieve,but celebrate their life.
                                                                                ·
                                                                                • Mr Blobby
                                                                                  Funerals are the times where you remember the deceased's life and celebrate what that person had done. It is also a time to grieve. I believe that both celebrating and grieving helps you cope. Even after 40 years I still think of my brother-in-law who was sadly taken away far too young at the age of 17 (he would have been my best man and I was proud to have him as such.)
                                                                                  ·
                                                                                  • Robin L 79437
                                                                                    I grieve
                                                                                    ·
                                                                                    • Irene M 350114
                                                                                      Depends on your view and memories of the deceased person. It can be happy memories or it can be a chance to grieve the fact that they are gone. Most people would want you to remember the happy or good side of them.
                                                                                      ·
                                                                                      • EILEEN W 310556
                                                                                        Why can it not be both? Grieving can take many forms but I hope my family and friends will celebrate my life with laughter and song. I would love to follow in my Great Grandfather's steps. He was Irish and as he realised his days were drawing to a close he arranged his own wake, with whiskey, food, entertainment including lots of Irish singing and dancing. However he said, "If I am paying for all of you freeloaders to enjoy my food and drink, then I am going to be there and enjoy it as well and I want to hear all the nice things you say about me now while I am still alive." And he did! Apparently he was literally the life and soul of his own wake. I never knew him but my father said it was the best night ever and a wonderful way to remember him.
                                                                                        ·
                                                                                        • Phyrephly
                                                                                          lol
                                                                                          ·
                                                                                      • Bill B 394870
                                                                                        funeral reflect on the past and give hope for the future...I hope....
                                                                                        ·
                                                                                        • MALCOLM R
                                                                                          depends what the person wanted
                                                                                          ·
                                                                                          • Beverly I
                                                                                            To me funerals are just so sad
                                                                                            ·
                                                                                            • Grommie
                                                                                              Try spelling morn mourn and I might engage more.... But.. I came into the world with no fanfare and I'll leave the same way. Funerals are for funeral directors, florists and caterers.
                                                                                              ·
                                                                                              • Judy C 96642
                                                                                                Both are acceptable
                                                                                                ·
                                                                                                • Steve 327816
                                                                                                  grieve
                                                                                                  ·
                                                                                                  • Frank N
                                                                                                    I think you can both celebrate a person's life and grieve for the loss. Also I had a very interesting experience when my mum died. I expected to feel sad, as I had when others I knew well had died, but instead a feeling like relief washed over me. I was in the hospital with her before she died, and the felling swept over me a minute or so before she was actually pronounced "dead". When I thought about this, I realised I had been subjected to very long-standing emotional abuse from mum, which continued even after I left home. I've never heard anyone express a similar experience, but would be interested to hear from anyone who has.
                                                                                                    ·
                                                                                                    • View all 3 replies
                                                                                                    • EILEEN W 310556
                                                                                                      I totally sympathise. After 60 years of trying to please my Mother and feeling guilt for never being good enough, always being put down, emotionally abused and on occasion physically too, especially when Alzheimer's set in. It was only then that others realised what she had always been like to me and we had covered up. Until then she had convinced everyone outside the family that she was such a lovely lady. When my brother died she asked why him and not me. When she died it was such a relief and even the nursing home staff understood why I could not shed tears over her. I also carefully chose my words at her funeral. I still today cannot understand why she was so emotionally cruel to me all my life.
                                                                                                      ·
                                                                                                    • Phyrephly
                                                                                                      Replied to Eileen's post before I saw yours, Frank - but much the same, really. I think people have to be in immense pain themselves, to cause such pain in others, especially supposed loved ones. They apparently take pleasure in that pain. that's a kind of sickness, I think. I'm sorry for your hurt, and hope you can find answers that you are satisfied with.
                                                                                                      ·
                                                                                                    • Frank NEILEEN W 310556
                                                                                                      Eileen, your story does sound quite similar to mine - including mum putting one of my brothers "above" me in areas where I was very interested and, according to everyone but my mum, where I was performing exceptionally well. When my brother was imprisoned for sexual offending, mum's reaction was that she was surprised at the jury finding him guilty and that I had done much worse things than he had. Thank you very much for your reply. It is so great to find I'm not totally alone with my lack of sorrow for mum's death (and I have felt alone with it until reading your story.)
                                                                                                      ·
                                                                                                  • Claude H
                                                                                                    Yes, we should mourn but also enjoy reminiscing over their past life. After all, they had an interesting life and memories help to heal the sad moment
                                                                                                    ·
                                                                                                    • Alex H 487498
                                                                                                      mourn and to celebrate that persons life
                                                                                                      ·
                                                                                                      • JAMIE D 156261
                                                                                                        Avoid funerals - relatives who give sloppy kisses!
                                                                                                        ·
                                                                                                        • Margaret C 77490
                                                                                                          I will celebrate after funeral and mouth before that
                                                                                                          ·
                                                                                                          • Lachelle B
                                                                                                            It's a sad time but with our family it ends up being a party with hilarious memories. We always end up telling stories and hearing new ones. It's our way of saying you were a positive influence in our lives and always will be.
                                                                                                            ·
                                                                                                            • Mariaj
                                                                                                              Loss
                                                                                                              ·
                                                                                                              • Sandy S 24335
                                                                                                                Its mourn not morn. Morn is the time of day whereas mourn is to grieve
                                                                                                                ·
                                                                                                                • kristian s 513441
                                                                                                                  I never celebrate person's life or grieve over the loss of that person before.
                                                                                                                  ·
                                                                                                                  • Shirley H 391879
                                                                                                                    Celebrate! And mourn is the correct spelling
                                                                                                                    ·
                                                                                                                    • BLACK LIVES MATTER
                                                                                                                      Like - I notice the wrong spelling of the word - mourn - too!
                                                                                                                      ·
                                                                                                                  • Sabine V
                                                                                                                    where you loved them or hated them it's a reason to celebrate their lives or death
                                                                                                                    ·
                                                                                                                    • Glenyse H
                                                                                                                      My view is to mourn particularly if they are relatively young
                                                                                                                      ·
                                                                                                                      • SueM2
                                                                                                                        I think you mean mourn. Whether you are celebrating or grieving depends a lot on the age of the deceased I think. It's a lot easier to celebrate someone's life if they have had a long, full one.
                                                                                                                        ·
                                                                                                                        • Linda C
                                                                                                                          Firstly it is to give the departed a dignified leaving of us with memories and few laughs if possible and to say goodbye in our own way. We then get together and share times but mostly just to decompress after usually a hard week.
                                                                                                                          ·
                                                                                                                          • Dada WA
                                                                                                                            The Irish have a good idea. Have a wake on your 75th birthday so you don't miss out on the fun.
                                                                                                                            ·
                                                                                                                            • Nola B 392757
                                                                                                                              Celebrate
                                                                                                                              ·

                                                                                                                              No comments
                                                                                                                              AboutForumPrivacyUser agreementContact UsBusiness Page