How many funerals have you been to in your life?

[Hemlock140]

I can remember 4, years ago. The last 3 people I knew that have died did not have funerals, they seem to be going away as an unnecessary wasteful expense. Instead, people are doing cremations, and a simple memorial in a rented or free use venue such as a veteran's hall or church conference room. Then the immediate family scatters the ashes. No funeral parlor, no hearse, no cemetery.



The average funeral cost is now $7,300, then another $2,000 for the burial, and as much as $10,000 for a headstone.

The last cremation/memorial that I was personally involved with cost a total of about $1,500.

[saibot]

Actual funerals with the casket present (but closed, fortunately)--three: my mom, my dad, and my grandma.

Memorial services with no casket but otherwise much like a funeral--many.

Memorials that were casual and very "celebration of life"--one

[Jeromeville]

I think I have been to six funerals of close family, a few more of extended family, and a couple of funerals of relatives of co-workers.

My father, who died recently, did not want a funeral so we had a celebration of life gathering for close family and friends only. (I would estimate the whole cost of "funeral" expenses for him, was about $4,000; which does not include our trip to scatter his ashes, which has not yet taken place)

When I was a kid, funerals were grand occasions -- open caskets, masses, seemingly tons of people coming for calling hours, lots of cards and flowers, etc. My two grandfathers died within 2 years of each other in the 70s so that's what I remember. But the more recent funerals have been such small affairs. Short, perfunctory services, small gatherings, everyone's getting cremated instead. When my father died, we barely received any condolence cards. People just don't do that any more. (Honestly, I have gotten more sincere condolences from the call center operators at places where I had to cancel his accounts, than I have from my actual acquaintances!)

[Wartrace]

3 or 4 in my lifetime. I avoid them unless I am expected to be there (close family). I plan on being cremated with no ceremony. If you wish drink a cold beer in my honor.

[Screenwriter70]

13 - grandfather, grandmother, aunt, great aunt, cousin, great aunt, cousin, half sister's father, aunt, cousin, uncle, aunt, uncle. Only 2 were cremated. I want my remains cremated. None of that funeral nonsense for me!

[evening sun]

9 or 10 that I can think of right now, & several more memorials that were more informal ( just a get together of old friends)

[That_One_Girl]

I don't really go to funerals. If someone dies, I grieve and say goodbye in my own way. Those feelings are intensely private to me, and not something I feel comfortable expressing around others. I wouldn't want a funeral held for my own death either.

[tommyD7115]

I have been to at least fifty,old, young, one night I went to a relatives funeral which was 5 bodies mom, dad 2 children and grandmother. One night I went to 2 wakes in the same funeral homes 2 friends mothers. My father went to at least 200, he would read the newspaper every day and the 1st thing he would check is the obituaries. If it was close by he would go by himself, if it was far (Brooklyn) you would go with him on the Subway. When my father died it was a full house it was a lot of the children of parents whose funerals he had attended.

[thinkalot]

More than I could count. I was an altar boy in the 60's so I served a lot of funerals in those years.

Probably about 25 funerals of family and friends.

[KathrynAragon]

I think 10.