Death on New Year's

[talktooloose]

With my sister and her husband in from Long Island, and my nephew home for the holidays from Harvard, my family was  all going to get together for New Year's Eve. But an hour before Béla and I were to head uptown, my mom called to say that my sister-in-law's father had died suddenly at age 95

Comments

[danthered]

Thanks for sharing this. *hug*

[talktooloose]

It was an interesting day. Thanks.

[kuriadalmatia]

I guess I like how funerals and shivas are times when we realize how much we, the living need each other and can be there for each other. And even if we think we're going to drop the coffin, we don't.

I will remember this line for the rest of my life. Thank you.

My experience has only been with Catholic and non-denominational Christian (aka "generic") funerals. These ranged from three weeks as we got from point A to point B or the "short" version which was 7 days from death to burial.

We desert peoples don't keep bodies around for very long ...

I think you have the right idea.

Cheers and love to you both for the New Years.

[talktooloose]

Thank you, KD. I miss you. Any trips to Toronto planned? Or NYC? I could meet you there, too.

[lady_drace]

I see what you mean, I really do. And sometimes I really wish that I wasn't so damn scared of death so I could enjoy the positive sides of funerals.

[talktooloose]

Funerals are about the living, not the dead. The dead seem quite offstage in some ways. Maybe that's because Jews don't do the open coffin thing. But he and his box were still heavy.

I'm sure I will enjoy the funerals of closer loved ones a lot less.