Not unexpectedly

[cornerofmadness]

The funeral was hard. I was astounded that they not only had an open casket but that they managed to make my aunt look like a human being again. We had to get there first and that was literally one of the longest hour and halfs of my life helping to receive guests.I helped Aunt S2 with the donations which entailed holding her purse which I'm pretty sure had a dismembered body in it. it was SO heavy even before people handed me money cards The service was... baptist and so long.so very long. Everyone was crying at the beginning but the pastor went on so long most of that stopped. It was a strange service (granted anything but a Catholic mass feels a little odd to me) but it went on so long the funeral directors had to wave him to an end. the first part was fine but then he added in about my aunt wanting him to tell us about salvation. Honestly none of us believed that. Yes she was religious but not like this and it just seemed an odd time to really start preaching.

My aunt had chosen all of her own songs and the food for us afterward (mostly all her favorite things). That was nice and I'll have to have Dad show me and mom where she was buried (only the pall bearers went to the graveside).

It's amazing how exhausted an emotionally trying day will make you

Comments

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you got through the day, and much hugs to you and your family, for this happening at this time of the year.

[silvrethorn.livejournal.com]

Listening to a Baptist sermon will wear anybody out. Listening to a Baptist sermon with a corpse in the room ought to be illegal. Baptist preachers love to proselytize, and they never know when to shut up. All the funerals I've ever been to have been either Baptist or evangelical, and every time the deceased was short-changed in favor of soul-savin'.

That said, how is the twin holding up? That's a heavy loss for her.

[rahirah]

Hope you can get some down time now. :(

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

She was holding up better than the gay friend. It is so odd seeing S2 without S1.

It really ought to be especially when he was going on and on about parts of the Bible which have never made sense to me and I particularly disliked the bit about how you can be a very good person and do all sorts of wonderful kind things and it won't matter, yuo're still going to hell unless you make Jesus your Lord.

Luckily most of my funerals have been Catholic. You have a small eulogy then mass where there are no surprises in the ritual

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks

[sp23.livejournal.com]

Yeah, heavy emotions are very wearying. I'm glad you made it through the day though. (((Hugs)))

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

they are. thanks

[havocmangawip.livejournal.com]

You did really well. I'm so lucky, I had my sister with me when grandma died. We'd take smoke breaks when someone said something just "off" or UGH "funeral talky". We probably smoked a pack between the two of us just on visiting hours.

The service was small and graveside, anyone who wanted to come. No chairs. United Methodist, so brief.;) And she had the good grace to die in July. It was a mercy that there was a "cold snap" for summer in the Midwest. I had to wear a sweater.

Rest in Peace Aunt S and may your twin and gay friend mend well.

I hope the rest of your break from school is MUCH less eventful.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks, oddly enjoy that most family funerals i'vebeen too the talk has been more like reunion talk

usually with catholic you get the mass then a little something at the graveside. part of the no graveside had to do with cost

thanks

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

Funerals are so draining anyway, I can't understand additional preaching. Fortunately I've only been to Catholic ones -- as you point out, a mass has no surprises, just straightforward ritual and maybe a rosary or two.

May she rest in peace, and you just take a little time for yourself. You don't do that often enough.

[helliongoddess.livejournal.com]

Gah. I had the funeral for dad on our wedding anniversary, and you had your aunt's funeral two days before Christmas. The suckiness of this year just goes on and on, doesn't it? My mother-in-law had a Methodist funeral, and it seemed to go on forever, too. Truthfully, the only Protestant funeral I have ever been to that wasn't LONG and dreadful was in a black church, and it was pretty cool, very uplifting. The only Catholic funeral I have ever been to was for one of my most amazing gay friends who died of AIDS, and he pre-planned it, and while it was long because it was a full mass, it was a fantastic funeral because of all the elements he had added into it to keep it true to his personality, which was very iconoclastic and upbeat.

Hope the rest of your holidays are much easier for you, restful, peaceful, and easier on your heart. Take care of yourself, try and get some rest, and have a good Christmas. *hugs!*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

definite sucky wedding anniversary for you. This year can't end fast enough.

thanks and same to you

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yeah all the additional preaching was just odd.

thank you very much

I will but not today. I've roasted the veggies, made up the cookie and candy trays and the prime rib is in the oven doing it's thing

[helliongoddess.livejournal.com]

Oh, it was the perfect end to the perfect week - earthquake, hurricane, power and water out for a week, then the funeral... pretty much a hat trick and then some. I think the entire year was like that for just about all of us. Let us all now applaud the demise of Old Man 2011!

[sillymagpie.livejournal.com]

I've never been much for big, long funerals. Many hugs!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thank you

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

here here