This past weekend we traveled to a family reunion on my wife's side. On the way my brother called with news that one of our aunts was dying of pneumonia and would probably not make it through the day. Indeed, she died only a few hours after that phone call.
The family reunion was a riot! (You wish you could have as much fun with your in-laws!) I was not preoccupied with the sad news of my aunt's passing, and in fact, other than making arrangements to attend visiting hours once we got back home, I thought little about it.
My mom, one of her sisters, my dad, and now four of his siblings have all passed on. Due to the number I've attended, I must say that I've come to view funerals differently now than the way I did just a decade ago. I find that while I'm saddened by the death of a loved one, I'm happy to see the many (many!) relatives that I otherwise don't have time to keep up with.
In particular, this funeral is likely to draw some of my favorite cousins. Well, first cousins once removed actually - being at the extreme young end of the spectrum of cousins, many of my cousins have children that are my age. So it is in this case. . . Anyway, they were always some of my favorite playmates at family gatherings until they moved several thousand miles away.
Since then, I may have seen them once in 25 - 30 years . . and I think that was at a funeral too.
So is it any wonder that I've started to view funerals as family reunions? (Albeit with a less than happy pretense . . . )
I'll have to remember to not seem too happy.
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"The Irish also celebrated the life of the deceased and shared food and drink throughout the wake. Music, dancing, and physical games made the wake feel more like a party. The Catholic church has tried numerous times (unsuccessfully) throughout history to abolish the consumption of alcohol at wakes. Though it is a time of sadness, the presence of friends and family makes it more bearable and there is generally great joviality as the deceased is fondly remembered; indeed, there is tradition in some parts of the country to play a game of cards and include a hand for the deceased."
--Wikipedia entry on Irish Wake
I just today attended a viewing for a cousin's father-in-law. While there was sadness at the passing, there was a lot of laughing as the family remembered the departed.
One of my favorite songs is Finnegan's Wake. Check out the lyrics at http://ingeb.org/songs/timfinne.html
I'm sorry for your loss, and I hope you share fond memories with your relatives.
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