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I'm off to a memorial service today. 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.
Funerals remind me of Rachel Lynde. 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.
I have Rachel Lynde tendencies. 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. 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.
Otoh, the family have scheduled this memorial quickly (giving interstate travellers a challenge to get here in time), on one of the hottest days of the year, in a space described as "small" - 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)
The saddest funeral I ever went to had only 8 people and the celebrant had never met the deceased. The ceremony spoke only of his work life and made almost no mention of his relationships with his wife, children or community. I was horrified.
I hope there are lots of people at my funeral.
Funerals remind me of Rachel Lynde. 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.
I have Rachel Lynde tendencies. 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. 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.
Otoh, the family have scheduled this memorial quickly (giving interstate travellers a challenge to get here in time), on one of the hottest days of the year, in a space described as "small" - 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)
The saddest funeral I ever went to had only 8 people and the celebrant had never met the deceased. The ceremony spoke only of his work life and made almost no mention of his relationships with his wife, children or community. I was horrified.
I hope there are lots of people at my funeral.
