What purpose does a funeral serve? (free, fun, family, picture)

[gavinzmick]

Hello, I would like to know that what purpose does a funeral serve? I mean, Is it help to the survivors or anything else?

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by gavinzmick

Hello, I would like to know that what purpose does a funeral serve? I mean, Is it help to the survivors or anything else?

A funeral provides a focus for the survivors to celebrate the deceased's life, observe his passing, and grieve his absence.

[fuzzymystic]

Originally Posted by BlueWillowPlate

A funeral provides a focus for the survivors to celebrate the deceased's life, observe his passing, and grieve his absence.

Plus, sometimes there's free food!

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by fuzzymystic

Plus, sometimes there's free food!

Well, there *is* that.
I've never really felt that hungry at the funerals I've attended.

[debey]

"Food" represents fellowship, and a chance to visit, especially for those who travel long distances to pay their respects.

[Jane72]

Originally Posted by gavinzmick

Hello, I would like to know that what purpose does a funeral serve? I mean, Is it help to the survivors or anything else?

I don't know. I only went to one.
It was when I was a little kid. It was a funeral for a baby. One of my parents' friends had a baby that was born with defects and died after about a month in the hospital.

I went up to the coffin to look at the baby. There were stuffed animals and blankets in the coffin. The baby had not been embalmed very well. There was clear fluid leaking out of various openings in its face- specifically, I think, its ear- and dampening the little lacy pillow on which its head was lying.

This scared me and broke my heart.
I have never been to another funeral, including my grandparents' or several casual friends and acquaintances who have died.
I don't really ever plan to go to another one. I think they're gruesome and morbid. *
I never intend to look at another dead body, if I can help it.
If I had to see one of my loved ones that way, it would destroy me.

I, myself, intend to be cremated and scattered.





* I would, however, show my support for the bereaved by going to a "wake", if invited. Or some other such after-service which doesn't involve the corpse being on display.

[Miss Blue]

Funerals are for the living, not the dead..
In my family we have memorials which are a comfort to us, because we have a chance to pass on personal stories about the deceased with one another, have a couple prayers and the favorite hymns of the deceased are usually included . Most often the deceased has donated their body to science or had requested immediate burial or cremation, so rarely is there a casket at the memorial service..Just lots of photos..
After the service we gather at one of the families homes to have a good time eating, relaxing and continue to share stories and just have a good time with family that most haven't seen since the last death

My H's family is completely opposite..They go for the open casket, 3 days of fire and brimstone preaching either at the church or the funeral home....Usually there is one with a camera who wants to take pictures of the deceased with his family lined up around the casket..There is sometimes uncontrollable anguish by a family member and the Funeral Director is right there with smelling salts..Everyone continues to the cemetery for a short service and then the casket is lowered into the grave..

I imagine the way funerals are handled just depends on the tradition of the area you live in and how they have always been done in ones family..

[NC~Mom]

I've often wondered how we came up with such a rediculous tradition.
I would never want to be displayed for people to walk by and view my dead body...who knows what kind of talent the hairstylist/makeup artist has...if any?
I don't attend funerals.
I'm being cremated!

[Sweetie Pie]

I went to a funeral a few years ago, of a very dear, "young-ish" friend, early 50's. Closed casket at the cemetery. Afterwards we went to his home, opened up his liquor cabinet, and drank and reminisced of the fun times we all shared with him in the past!!!

[pekemom]

It's supposed to provide "closure". I think it's a sad, drawn out affair that makes it all the more painful, but, to each his own. I too plan on cremation.