Have you ever been to a funeral of someone you've never met before?

[wall*e2008]

Sure. A funeral and wake are for the ones left behind not the one who passed on. I go out of respect for the ones I know who are left behind.

 

[hulagirl87]

yes actually. Just 2 weeks ago. My DH's aunt passed away. I had never met her but certainly heard stories. I went because DH asked me to. It was a little awkward but I was glad that I could be there for him

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I said no, but I had forgotten about the one time in High School that our custodian's mother died and the entire school (private school) went to support him. It was also the only time I have ever been to an African-American funeral and it was quite different but I liked the way it was done - more of a celebration of her life than the depressing funerals I had been to before that.

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

yes, to support friends who lost family.

 

[AristocatFan]

I've been to many visitation's where I'd never met the person who had died to support a family member/friend/acquaintance. But I believe the funeral itself is for the people who actually knew and loved the person..........Plus I don't handle funerals too well.

DH recently went to his first Celebration of Life for his friends father. Instead of a calling/funeral they had a gathering with food, music and people spoke and shared stories/memories. Now DH is saying that's what he wants done for him. But I don't think I could handle something like that. I already know it'd be the end of me if something ever happened to him!

 

[erinch]

I'm a presbyterian minister, and one of the facts of our lives is officiating at funerals of people you've never met, and trying to get a sense of their lives from their family members prior to the service. (Around here in western PA, people tend to be not very articulate--it's like, "well, he loved to hunt, and he loved the Steelers" -- which doesn't give you a whole lot to go on.

But I will NEVER forget the graveside service when I was a newbie. I'd been called in at the last minute; didn't know the person or the family, was deathly ill with the flu, and should have referred it. I didn't; we were outside at the grave in basically a blizzard, and I suddenly realized that not only could I not remember the name of the deceased, I couldn't remember their gender!

I will never forget the hell of trying to modify all the prayers and liturgy on the fly to be "your beloved child," so that I didn't have to say him/her.

I still have nightmares.

 

[DVC-Don]

Yes. I've been to the funerals of several police officers and firefighters I had never met. It's a brotherhood thing.

 

[Arielle22]

Yes I have for coworkers' family members.