General Chat

Our son in law was buried (his choice) in a woodland burial place, it is beautiful. It was January and freezing cold (Lake District area). He asked that everyone wore red. We all did. It was a humanist funeral, the first I had been to. his son poured a tot of whisky into the grave and the family all threw red roses into the grave. His celebration of life was in a local hotel and was all orchestrated by him. He left an eulogy for his sons to read out and the music was all chosen by him. We found the whole occasion very touching and very 'Jon' <3

My family and friends will have a fit when they see my chosen dress code and music choice ;-) :-D :-D :-D.
It is lodged with my funeral arrangers so they can't say they have lost it. Anyone who really knows me will appreciate it is all about ME :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

I am sure you remember Fred's. Cesspit tanker, went in on 'Whence is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing' as it steamed quietly outside.

He wasn't keen on flowers but grew them because he felt he should but he loved his veg and shrubs, so that is what went on his coffin, soup later!

The funniest part of his funeral was that his mate followed him in and leaned a bunch of drain rods against the coffin with his baseball cap on top.

I had had to buy a new bundle of rods, four of them at four feet long each and very flexible. The earnest young undertaker, who knew we wanted his hat hung on them, asked me if I would like them to be screwed together.

Picture it if you will, a hearse creeping along with the hatch open a length of drain rods bobbing about out of the back. His mate carrying sixteen feet of bouncy rod into the cremmy and hoe the hell we would have put the hat on the end I can't begin to imagine!

At my brother in laws funeral, we all wore wellies! :-D

He wanted to be buried in a Sustainability Centre, and, even though the funeral was held in May - it tipped down - and was very muddy!
His coffin was brought to the place in a small van (not hearse), and loaded onto a horse and cart.
Those with umbrellas or wearing red were asked not to walk too near the horse - as he didn't like them :-S

We have a family/friends gathering at the Sustainability Centre every year, where we have a good laugh. It's not a place or time of sadness.

It sounds a great idea. If only other people would give some indication of what they'd like. Flowers, no flowers, sombre clothing or something colourful.

Our friends eldest daughter died at 21. It was expected as she had cf. The funeral attendees, mainly her friends of a similar age, were asked to dress to reflect the places they associated her with. There were young adults dressed in 'clubbing' gear as well as beach and surfing clothing. A true celebration of her short life.

Mind you, they got some funny looks from the mourners gathered for the next service :-D

It definitely was Sharon
Who else would have "mourners" happily singing, swaying and whistling in the pews as the coffin passed through that curtain. LOL

Edit:
The only bit that I found emotional and only because it's such a beautiful version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cBzMSPYKas&feature=share

That was about him wasn't it, not just a ritual carried out to look right.

I have just placed a reply on a thread about dress code at funerals but the thread had vanished before I hit submit.

Anyway, this is my input
My bro in law died just after Christmas.
He was a bit of a clown and a totally non PC kind of guy
He left instructions for his funeral.

He called it his.. B*g F**k O*f Party ( As I say. He was non PC)
Party clothes and colours ( football if desired)

The eulogy was hysterical.
His final music as the coffin moved through the curtain was
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life

He got his wishes.
The unconventional service was followed by a disco and karaoke
No one wore shorts. It was too cold but, if it had been warmer, I'm sure they would have.
The venue did not allow football colours and brothers chose to wear slogan t shirts which reflected his character

I'm still unsure how I feel about it but, I admit to being a little uncomfortable with some of it but, it was what he wanted.

My sister and her children have now started to grieve