How old were you when you attended your first funeral...

[DisneyDreamer8]

First one was my Uncle...the day after my 13th b-day.

Next was my great uncle...I was 15

Then my Grandma...I was 19

Then my Grandpa...the day after my 23rd b-day

I have lost two other family members but they did not want services. My other Grandma last year and another Uncle last week.

 

[browneyes]

7. It was for my 3rd cousin. She died in a car wreck. Thanks to some of my mom's relatives, it was a horrific experience (they told me details of what the mortician had to do to make her presentable ).

 

[helenabear]

I was 5 years old... Grandpa's funeral

Don't want to think about how many I've been to in my life...

 

[RadioNate]

I was 6, my Grandmother.

I've been to many more services since then. Usually we'll just go to the wake and not the funeral service at the church.

The last church I went to was my great aunts 6 years ago, as my grandfather didn't have a church service. The church service is way harder than the wake for me.

I'm surprised by the lack of wakes/funerals people have been too. You guys are lucky. I've been to 2 already this year and there are 2 more (both were great-uncles) that I should have been at but couldn't get home due to finances.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I went to my grandmother's 2 weeks after I turned 3 . Then I went to my great grandmother's when I was barely 10, and my other great grandmother's a week before I turned 11. Something about my birthday and people dying.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am going to say 6 weeks old. My mom's dad died and his funeral was the day before my baptism.

 

[Beth76]

I was 5, my grandmother's. Since then, I think 7 other funerals. The worst was my husband's best friend who died in a car accident at 23. All the others were older/sick family members . While they were sad of course, they weren't as tragic as losing someone so young.

 

[WDWLVR]

I was raised Irish Catholic in Chicago which means you go no matter what age you are. My first was probably when I was 4 or 5 and I've been to many, many since.

The hardest for me was my 28 day old niece - she looked like a little doll in the small casket. The other hard one was my mom when I was 40. She and I had a very special bond and I miss her so much - but knew that she was at peace and no longer suffering (she died of lung cancer).

The one thing she taught me at a very early age was that funerals are to celebrate the life of the person as well as to mourn their death. At most every funeral I've been to there have been as many tears of laughter as tears of sorrow. I hope everyone can say that about my funeral as well.

 

[RadioNate]

I was raised Irish Catholic in Chicago which means you go no matter what age you are.

Maybe this is why I've been to so many. I was also raised to go for the living whether you knew the deceased well or not. Both this year were for co-workers who lost parents. I had never met either of their parents but was close to my co-workers and showed up as a show of support for them.

The one thing she taught me at a very early age was that funerals are to celebrate the life of the person as well as to mourn their death. At most every funeral I've been to there have been as many tears of laughter as tears of sorrow.

I agree with this as well. The hardest for me was my aunt who died suddenly at 36. It was sad but it was also one of the best parties that I have ever been to. We celebrated her life the way she lived it!

 

[Lars624]

I was 7 at my Grandpa's funeral.

 

[aimee11621]

My first funeral was my uncle I was eight. I was scared but prepared my for the rest of my life.

Thanks to my uncle I am able to cope as best as possible under such circumstances.

I am a true believer of explaining to kids as much a possible about death. Taking into consideration their age at the time. However, always answer all the questions as truthfully as possible. Never say they are just sleeping or have gone off on a trip.

My ten years old was at her grandfather's funeral just two weeks ago. I was able to keep my cool as much as possible. So we held hands a hugged and I explained what all the screaming was about . ( we're cuban we scream when we cry)

 

[ShuisFan584]

The first funeral I went to was when I was 10 and it was for my uncle (my grandfather's brother). I've been to 3 more since then, and they were all this year, in January, March and April . Two of them were for uncles (my grandfather's brother and brother-in-law) and another was for a friend's close aunt.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

My first was at the age of 6 with my little sister who died of Shaken Baby Syndrome

2nd & 3rd were two of my Cancer kid friends when I was 7

4th was my older sister McKenzie of CF
5-15th was my older sister and my friends who died in a bus accident

after that I stopped counting but add one parent (man who basically raised me), one sister, 5 little kids, and numerous cancer kids not a year goes by I dont have many funerals to attend to

the strange part other than Brian (my best friends dad who basically adopted me) I have not lost anyone a generation older than me- No parents, no aunts/uncles, no grandparents, no great grandparents

-em

 

[mickeyboat]

I was 19.

Denae

 

[ladydancer]

The earliest I can remember was my uncle's funeral, I was 4. I might have gone to my great-grandmothers funeral when I was younger but don't really remember.

As a child (under 16) I probably went to about 4. As an adult I've been to around 15 or so.

 

[CDoobeeJr.]

My first was when I was five for my great aunt, but I don't remember it much.

My second was just two days ago for my friend who was only thirteen like I am. There was not really any mourning though, just a celebration of life.

 

[~*Belle 2003*~]

Originally posted by WDWLVR
I was raised Irish Catholic in Chicago which means you go no matter what age you are.

We are Church of England but we never had any pressure to attend any funerals growing up, in fact, if anything we were shielded from all the grief of someone dying. Not a bad thing really when there is so much sorrow when a loved one passes.

I respect that all faiths and families have very different customs & traditions though.

 

[cgcw]

Disneyland_emily, so much loss. Very sad.

I went ot my aunts when I was about 5-6. I remember the pall bearers laying their gloves on top of the casket. I didn't understand anything of what was happening but that vision remains with me to this day.

Since then, as others have said, we've been too many. I wish it wasn't that way. It's difficult at times to think about those memories. Both DH & I have now loss our Dad's and each of us have loss an adult brother. I hope we are done for a long time.

 

[AStarOnMars]

I was 13 and it was my grandpa.

 

[Morganpics]

I was 18-it was my Grandfather.