On funeral wishes

[sihaya09]

Jason and I attended a funeral this morning. It got us to talking, clarifying our wishes should something unforeseen or sudden happen. This funeral aside, a friend of mine just suddenly lost his wife, and I have two friends coming up on the anniversaries of a parent's death, both sudden. Having a plan seems like a sensible, if scarily adult thing

Comments

[kita0610]

Viewings freak me right the fuck out. Jews don't do them (it's considered disrespectful to look at someone who can't look back) and the first time I went to a Christian funeral I was SCARED AS HELL. The body is right there! Like up on a platform! Where everyone can see them and there is no way to avoid it! ACK. *shudder* NO. JUST NO.

[unmutual]

It likewise freaked me out. The first non-Jewish funeral I went to was like.. "omg, this is a very sad party at which we're supposed to stare at a dead person? Ewww."

Though most of the reason that Jews don't do viewings is because the burial is supposed to take place within 24 hours of death. The immediate family has the option of seeing the body if they want.

Besides, setting up a body for a viewing violates all kinds of "respect for the dead" laws.

[reedrover]

Excellent.

[hagakaze]

I agree 100% with your approach and have similar wishes.

Also I am the same way re: viewings. Like, that ain't me ... it's the inert stuffed me-bot. No thanks. Spend the money you've saved stuffing me and go throw a fantabulous drunk-as-fuck party to celebrate my life and our good times.

[greyeyedpixie]

Well put.
I've already written down my funeral/burial wishes...and I'm working on my living will. Just in case.

[roaming]

heh. my mom used to chide me for my chronic lateness, saying "you'll be late for your own funeral!" I'd reply, "And that's a bad thing how?"