My Best Friend’s Mom Funeral Was Today

I have never been comfortable with the funeral ceremony.

Funerals are for those that survive, not for those that have died. The purpose is to comfort family and friends.

I know that everyone does the best they can to comfort the loved ones, however I feel uncomfortable listening to people make comments like, “She looks beautiful, she looks so at peace.” There is nothing wrong with what they say…it is loving and kind, I just feel uncomfortable.

As I sat in the church, I turned to my son and said that he won’t have to participate in this type of ritual when I die.

I am uncomfortable being looked at now. The thought of having people gaze at me in a coffin is a nightmare.

My son turned and looked at me and said, “Mom when you are dead, we can do whatever we want.” And then he smiled. He was teasing me but he is right. Funerals should be designed to give comfort to the living – they aren’t the business of the dead.

Instead of the normal Greyhound Bus Commercial, let me suggest... live your life happily and leave the funeral arrangements to us (smile).