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

[~*Belle 2003*~]

..and have you been to many?

My first funeral was my Nana's (maternal grandmother) and I was 26.

I haven't actually been to that many.

My Nana, SIL, MIL, and my Dad - all cremations.

My Uncle's - gravesite burial.

My SIL & MIL died within a year of each other and the service was held at the same crematorium.

 

[mt2]

I was 7 years old. My best friend (and next door neighbor) died of Reyes Syndrome. This was before there was a link to giving children asprin. She went ot sleep and never woke up.

My DM debated for awhile if I should go. She decide that I needed to because I wouldn't believe that Tracy had died.

I still remember it as if itwere yesterday. She was such a sweet and wonderful girl.

mt2

 

[CourtasanSatine]

my father's at 16

 

[Kitty 34]

I was 18. It was my Grandfather's.

I've been to several now, the last being a very respected teacher in our community. He literally dropped dead of a heart attack at age 57. They held the funeral in our gym as there were so many attending.

 

[phorsenuf]

I was 10...it was my mothers.....

 

[hockeymom7691]

I was 7 and it was my Grandfather.

I've been to so many since then and it doesn't get any easier.

 

[bsnyder]

I was 9 years old. The funeral was for my cousin, KIA in Vietnam at the age of 19.

 

[coliebird]

I was 12. It was for a friend's father. It sort of prepared me for when my grandmother died later that year.

 

[olena]

I was 8. It was my grandfather.

 

[nativetxn]

I was 16. A neighbor's 30 year old son succumbed to kidney disease and our family attended the viewing and the graveside service. It was very sad

My mother was cremated and left instructions that there was to be no service. We honored her wish but I wish there and been some sort of formal service

{{{HUGS}}} phorsenuf, you were so young to lose your mother. Bless you.

{{{HUGS}}} Courtesan Satine. You were very young to lose your father.

 

[tiggerlover]

I was 7 or 8 and it was for my grandmother. I haven't been to too many funerals in my life, I think I can count on one hand how many I have been to. (Grandmother, grandfather, uncle and a friends father).

 

[justhat]

I was 12 for one of my mom's closest friends. Then a year later for the friend's husband. The worst ones though were for my father when I was 17 and my grandmother at 19. I was living in Grenada on a community service project when my grandfather died when I was 17 and no one told me till 2 days after I got home!! My mom's excuse was that she didn't want to upset me since there was no way I could get home anyway. That was 4 months before my father so I guess it was just as well. Enough sadness in one year.

 

[Kimberle]

I was 6. It was my Grandfather. Heart attack with no warning at age 59.

I have been to many since.

Thought I only went to the wake, the saddest was for a 35 yo man who literally dropped dead in the dr's waiting room. He had what he thougth was a mild flu/cold. It turned out he had some sort of virus which "hit" his heart. He left his wife & 2 pre-schoolers. His Mother worked for me at the time. She had lost her dh (around 60) only 6 months prior. Losing a dh and ds within the same year, very tragic.....

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

4 Days before my 18th birthday I went to my first funeral which was my Great Grandfather's

Then this past April I went to my second which was my boyfriend's grandmother

 

[Pembo]

Funny story, sort of.

The first time Dh saw a corpse was at the first funeral he was officiating as a minister. He was 26. He said he motioned towards the casket and realized it was open! He stumbled for a second and then didn't look again. He got over it. He's done over 25 funerals in the last year alone.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I was 11 and it was for my dad.

I have only been to one since then, and it was for my grandfather.

I have a very difficult time at funerals (because of my first one and the memories that come up) and will usually skip them.

 

[phorsenuf]

Originally posted by Miss Jasmine
I was 11 and it was for my dad.

I have only been to one since then, and it was for my grandfather.

I have a very difficult time at funerals (because of my first one and the memories that come up) and will usually skip them.

I'm the same way. I wonder if its because we lost a parent when we were so young? It really is something you never get over.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Originally posted by phorsenuf
I'm the same way. I wonder if its because we lost a parent when we were so young? It really is something you never get over.

phorsenuf, I would say, absolutely it has to do with losing a parent when we were so young. I can still remember running to the bathroom and getting sick, the first time I viewed my dad at the funeral home. It was a terrible, gut wrenching ordeal, that I don't believe we are old enough to deal with at that time.

And yes, I don't think you ever get over it. I still cry because I miss my dad and all the things he didn't get to see me do, but hoped and dreamed for me.

 

[Bellamia4]

I was in 4th grade and it was my grandmothers.

I've been to way too many to count.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

I think I was around 12 or so.