funny funeral moments

[CapeCodTenor]

..."Will someone tell him Grampy is right behind him in that big box! He hasn't gone anywhere...he's right there! Tell him to open it up if he doesn't believe us!"

We all just started laughing so hard we couldn't stop. It was perfect...just what my grandfather would have love!

That's just too funny. I'm sure everyone needed that at that moment.

 

[Sandy V.]

A friends grandmother was one of those people who was always late. They would joke with her about missing her own funeral. After grandmother passed on, they had her body cremated and had a simple grave side service. Well...I'm sure you can guess what's comming next. Not only was she late for her own funeral, she never made it. The funeral home never delivered grandma.

Too funny!!

 

[RadioFanatic]

First you have to know that my grandmother (Memere) was a VERY bad driver and even worse with directions.

So after we all said our goodbyes to Memere at the funeral home, we were in the procession line of about 50 cars to drive to the church (catholic). On the way there,however, the lead car, that had Memere in it, must have gotten lost, b/c every single car, starting with the lead car, had to make a U-turn in the middle of the road to get back to the church. The other drivers watching the procession must have thought we were crazy!

During the service, I had to give the eulogy. First thing I said was "Just so you know, Memere gave the directions to the church today". First, and last time, I've ever "brought down the house".

 

[J/T Gramdma]

My Dad passed away in 2000. His great-grandchildren knew him because we lived close. At the mass for him. they wheeled the casket in. His 3-yr old greatgrandchild was there and asked in a small voice -Is Grandpa in the box ? we said quietly, yes, his body was but his spirit is in heaven. That passed right over the child's head as the 3-yr stood up at the beginning of the mass and as loud as he could he yelled "Grandpa =Get out of the box" believe me when there were a few chuckles people could not contain.

 

[kellyla]

These stories are wonderful stories and memories of family and friends.

When my Mom died 10 years ago,I brought my boys who were 4 and 6 at the time to the funeral(I believed they belonged there)It started just after 11AM and as the Father was speaking my youngest stood up on his seat and annnounced quite loudly I'm hungry!When's lunch? Everybody just started laughing.You could actually feel the stress lift in the room.It is a wonderful memory of a very difficult day.

 

[mickeyfan2]

It seems that 3 year olds at funerals should be a must.

 

[aprincessmom]

At the mass for him. they wheeled the casket in. His 3-yr old greatgrandchild was there and asked in a small voice -Is Grandpa in the box ? we said quietly, yes, his body was but his spirit is in heaven.

DD did something similar when her great grandmother died. It was summer and a really hot day. She was all dressed up and on the way out to the funeral we stopped to get a lemonade from the neighborhood kids. One of the mom's said to her "Oh don't you look pretty...are you going someplace special?" and in her best toddler voice she answered "Yes...my nana died. Her soul is in heaven but her body's in Medford so we have to go there to say good-bye." I thought my neighbor was going to pass out she was laughing so hard.

 

[jennyl772003]

Well, this is actually from the viewing of my Grandpa. There were displaying some family pictures, and I was looking at one of my Grandpa, Grandma, and a female friend of theirs. They were all very young in this picture (teens) and seemed to be having a great time.

I was marveling at how long my grandparents had been together when my mother leaned over and told me that in this picture, It was my grandpa and the other girl who were dating, and my grandma was the third wheel.

It just struck my funny bone.

 

[NMAmy]

I just cracked up at this one. Thank you for sharing.

You're welcome, Sandy! Pa would have loved that we were laughing at his funeral. He died in March and was cremated and we waited to have the service until the summer when the whole family could be there so our emotions weren't as raw as if the service had been right after his death.

All this talk of kids reminded me of another one. My BIL's sister died quite young from brain cancer--it was just such a sad time for everyone. We all went along with my 4 yo niece to a viewing the night before for family. I was carrying my niece when she came up with this gem that made us all giggle, "Oh, look, how nice. Aunt Debbie is right near the bathroom!" Well, yes, that IS very convenient for her.

 

[barkley]

my parents always taught us to never say anything disrepectful about someone who had passed. this must be a popular teaching because i've been to funerals where the person euogized was in no way the person everyone knew.

one stands out-dh had a friend who THRIVED on being negative and difficult. he was very unconcerned with the feelings of others and took delight in making things difficult.

at his service a number of people who remotly knew him got up to speak when the opportunity presented itself (a lot more than normal cuz he died in an odd circumstance and his dad held a political office). they made these comments about his "spritual side", his "random acts of kindness", how he "always saw the good in people"....it went on and on. then his older brother got up, he starts out his portion with "we would like to thank those of you that shared your thoughts on x with us, i am sure my mother will find comfort in knowing all of these wonderful attributes my brother never chose to demonstrate to his family or close friends"

 

[luvmydogs]

My dh's great-grandather was a decorated WWI veteran, and at his funeral, the last surviving member of his VFW assoc. tried to play TAPS on his trumpet. This was a much, much older gentleman--I hazard to guess in his 80's, maybe 90's and certainly deserved our respect for the service he gave to our country. But the poor man just couldn't get enough air to blow into the trumpet, and every time he tried, he'd go into a coughing fit. It was a very awkward situation, and no one knew what to do. Finally, this man's wife, who was also a much older woman, yelled out, "Oh, for C*****'s sake, Clarence! Will you please sit down!" Dh couldn't hold back his laughter, and he wasn't the only one. The priest stepped in and directed everyone back to the service, but her nagging at him was just so funny.

Poor Clarence--he tried so hard.

 

[ead79]

My mom is legendary for a funeral laughter fit.

The brother of one of my parents’ very close friends had passed away. They all went into the church together for the funeral. Well, my mom is very cold natured, and the church was quite chilly that day. As soon as she walks in the door, she looks at her friends and says, “You could hang meat in here!” As soon as she said it, she realized what she had done. She was mortified, but it also got her laughing. She went over into a corner and was laughing so hard she cried. A few minutes later a lady enters the church. She seems my mom over in the corner and goes over to her. She gently pats her on the back and says, “It’ll be OK, honey.” Well, needless to say at that point my mom along with all her friends lost it even more. I’m surprised they composed themselves in time for the funeral!

 

[jen0610]

This one is from my Grandma's grave site service. Both Grandma and Grandpa were cremated and only had family members at the grave site, after the memorial service.

I was 19 and boyfriend (now DH) was 18. Now he was a good catholic boy, so not having to go to a funeral home was really throwing him off. We all start walking towards the grave site. He and I ware walking, just behind my mom, 1 of my brothers and my cousin. Three of my aunts are walking just behind us.

As we start to form a semi-circle around the grave site, he leans over and very softly, asks what are we doing, as there is no coffin sized hole and he is confussed. I softly answer, it's Grandma's grave site. Now, the group ahead of us and behind us, hear the question and the answer. He then leans over and ask just a bit louder, but where is the hole? I reply and point that it's right there under the small piece of green grass carpet. To this, he jerks up right, looks where I point and states, a lot louder, it ain't gonna fit. By this time everybody else is shaking with mirth, trying not to laugh out loud.

I tell him that yes it will and point out the minister as he approaches. I let him know that the minister has Grandma. DH looks at the minster and states, no he doesn't, all he has is a small metal box. To which I answer, yea, that's Grandma. He reply....Oh God. Needless to say, our half of the semi circle is now snickering and laughing. Two of my aunts come over and stand on either side of DH and won't let him move. They gave him big hungs and kisses afterwards. He just did not know how much he help to lighten the mood. The rest of the family was told the story at dinner and they all got a good laugh over it. DH insisted that I could have atleast warned him, but to be honest, it never occured to me that as a catholic, he would never had been to grave site that didn't have a big honking hole for the casket.

 

[experiment626mom]

This is really an after the funeral story. My sister was not happy with the way my dad's interment went so after everything was said and done, she wrote a letter to the cemetary listing her complaints. At one point she states that the cemetery worker grabbed my dad's urn and took him on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. I didn't see the letter until after it was sent, but cracked up when I saw it. Not only is it a Disney reference, but if you think of the ending of Mr. Toad's, my poor dad never stood a chance!

 

[Costumesaremylife]

At my Grandmothers wake in Cambridge, the usual family members were milling around. My Uncle's firemen friends came and then... She walked in.

Ripped fishnets, Hot pants, a see through top with a bright pink bra on underneath and spike heels. She resembled someone who has been on Cops. Well she came in signed the guest book, of course everyone in the room was trying to figure out who she was. She walked past the room with the casket and on to the bathroom. She then left. Still no one knows who she is, but my cousin ran up to the guest book and said, "It's Yoeena." One of the firemen said, "I think she works this block." My mom said,"I really thought Mom would sit up in her caksket and say, "Whose side of the family is she on?" We still laugh about that.

 

[Shugardrawers]

I had a friend a few years back, a young man all of 18 who died in a car accident. Shad was very popular and LIVED with his cell phone glued to his ear. It was only natural that the phone be buried with him. In fact the phone was placed in his hand with the headset in his ear. After the service, the casket was closed and we all headed to the cemetary. As we stood around the gravesite we kept hearing a muffled version of Toby Keith's Should Have Been A Cowboy. There was only 1 place it could be coming from. It must have rang 5 different times. It was never discovered whether someone was calling and really didn't know he had passed away or whether as a final goodbye his friends were quietly dialing his number one last time. The minister made a cute comment about him being as popular in heaven as he was on earth. Of course, as the casket was being lowered and the dirt thrown in we all joined in and called him one more time. He was buried while being serenaded by his cell phone playing his favorite song.

 

[diznygirl]

You know those prayer cards you get at the funeral home with the name of the deceased? Well, the grandchildren were all hanging out at my grandmother's wake, and my DB walks up and says, "Anybody got a Mary? I'm trying to collect the whole set." We all just busted up!

I think gram would have told us to shush, but it did help ease the tension.

 

[DVC Kathy]

You know those prayer cards you get at the funeral home with the name of the deceased? Well, the grandchildren were all hanging out at my grandmother's wake, and my DB walks up and says, "Anybody got a Mary? I'm trying to collect the whole set." We all just busted up!

I think gram would have told us to shush, but it did help ease the tension.

That reminds me of my father's viewing. We all joked about having a complete set of "Harry Rogers trading cards". Dad had a strange sense of humor, and we knew he would have appreciated that.

Kathy

 

[cepmom]

about 10 years ago , DH's unlce passed away. My SIL was having a bad day as she had been having problems with her car and it died again the day of the wake. After dealing with the car dealership and demanding a courtesy car to use so she could get to her uncle's wake, she went home to get dressed. She went into her closet to find that the dress she wanted to wear wasn't there and figured one of her three sisters had borrowed it without asking ~ again. By the time she got to the funeral home, everyone else was already there. When she found her three sisters (in the room where their uncle was) she announced to them loudly "somebody is dead!!"

Of course, she caught herself right away and apologized, but we were cracking up.

 

[lisajl]

My sister in law died from Ovarian Cancer almost 4 years ago. Time flies~

She was not a sentimental person. Did not care for wordly things, just a great, kind, loving woman.

Well, my DD and I are there crying our eyes out, talking about how much we will miss her. My Sister tries to make us stop our crying fit but to no avail.
Then it happened, I said, "Please don't play that Angels song." You know, the one about getting rest with the Angels? At any rate, that made it worse, we just kept crying and people were starting to worry about us.
About half way through the song the CD started to skip. I don't know why, it just did.
Then my DD said,"Mom, you know she was not sentimental, she wants us to stop crying!" Then we just started laughing so hard that my DSIL had done that to us!
"You're right", I said and broke down in uncontrollable laughter.

Whew! What a day that was.

Still miss her so much! Hi Arnetta! Give my dad a hug for me!
Lisa