tag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-04:264271 more stuff than life mrsbrown 2013-01-03T23:49:56Z tag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-04:264271:305704 2013-01-03T23:49:56Z 2013-01-03T23:49:56Z the hot north wind contemplative public 1 I'm off to a memorial service today.&nbsp; I'm glad the family is having a private ceremony and then sharing the experience with all of the many people who will wish to be there.<br /><br />Funerals remind me of <a href="http://anneofgreengables.wikia.com/wiki/Rachel_Lynde">Rachel Lynde</a>.&nbsp; She made a point of going to funerals in her community and would come home and critique them and the lives of the people who had died.<br /><br />I have Rachel Lynde tendencies.&nbsp; I think funerals are an important part of the development of community and an affirmation of the importance of the person in the life of the community.&nbsp; I like it when funerals have lots of attendees. I like to think that the family does too and so my attendance is a gift to them.<br /><br />Otoh, the family have scheduled this memorial quickly (giving interstate travellers a challenge to get here in time),&nbsp; on one of the hottest days of the year, in a space described as &quot;small&quot; - does that mean they would prefer people to stay away? (It's ok, I just checked, I've been there before and it's not that small)<br /><br />The saddest funeral I ever went to had only 8 people and the celebrant had never met the deceased.&nbsp; The ceremony spoke only of his work life and made almost no mention of his relationships with his wife, children or community.&nbsp; I was horrified.<br /><br />I hope there are lots of people at my funeral.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=mrsbrown&ditemid=305704" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments