While we're on the subject of graves, coffins, etc.. Unusual wakes/visitations?

[C.Ann]

I can think of two offhand..

The first was my aunt.. After learning she was terminally ill and only had a few months to live, she got her affairs in order, made arrangements to be cremated, and then threw a HUGE "wake party" for herself two months before she died.. She was a funny, FUNNY lady and said she preferred everyone see her while she was still alive and she was still able to carry on an intelligent (and hilarious) conversation.. She even had this beautiful cake - in the shape of an open Bible - and had us in stitches telling of how the baker was at a loss as to what to write on it.. "Bon Voyage"?? "Best Wishes"? "Good Luck"? "Have A Nice Trip?" (They finally went with "God Bless You"..) The woman was an absolute riot and it was the BEST way ever to see her off.. Lots of laughs, lots of great photos of her with family and friends, and a great time had by all..

On a sadder note though, there was a wake a few years ago for this little girl who had died of cancer at the age of three and rather than use a coffin for the viewing, the parents had her toddler bed brought into the funeral home (along with some other toddler furniture from her room), and had her lying in the bed - with her teddy bear - covered with her favorite "blanky", like she was simply sleeping.. It actually looked like the little girl's bedroom! Children's wakes are hard enough, but that was pretty much unbearable.. If it had been my own child - or my granddaughter - I don't think I would have lasted 30 seconds in that room..

 

[grinningghost]

OMG - that child's wake had to be absolutely heartbreaking!

Most unusual to me was my grandmother's. She really did look BETTER in her casket than she did in her last few years of life. They did a fantastic job on her. (Her cousin was the funeral director, maybe that had something to do with it).

 

[joeokw]

I just attended a wake with the neighbors down the block. They are from India.. and they are Presbyterian, I don't think that has anything to do with it though.. Anyway, The patriach of the family was 92 and died after having a number of strokes. They had the wake/ funeral. with the coffin and corpse.. right in their house.. in the living room no less. It different.. but very comforting for the family. We live in a very diverse neighborhood, it was kind of neat to see different types of ethnic/ religious people attend the service.