Sad and Funny Day

dizzyde · #1 04-01-2008, 02:24 PM

Well, I had a very interesting day yesterday. I went to the funeral of a young man who had died on his 24th birthday of a drug overdose. It was terribly sad, but there were some twists that caught me off-guard.

It was predictably heart wrenching, but here comes the interesting part. His "wife" (I say that grudgingly because she had served him with divorce papers the day before he died, yet proceeded to act the part of the grieving widow at the funeral) insisted that a couple of songs be played at the funeral.

Bear in mind that she was in no way contributing to being financially responsible for the funeral. The first song was at the chapel and it was some horrific song basically denying the existence of God and talking about following him into the darkness. It was bad. I thought my dad was going to pass out he was sweating so much.

The next doosie, and here is were it gets kind of funny, is at the graveside. Probably one of the more surreal moments in my life to be standing in a cemetery with "Knocking on heavens door" blaring from the speakers.

As soon as the first notes start playing, the group of goth/tattooed/slightly scary looking people (the deceased was a tattoo artist) standing next to me all fall on each other other and start sobbing. (not to minimize their grief, it was just weird, based on the song)

Next, my totally sheltered mother turns around to me and whispers worriedly, "are they saying 'I'm not knockin on heavens door'", and I am trying to explain that it is "knock, knock, knockin", and really isn't about heaven at all, but drugs.

I'm trying to control my hysterical giggles at this point, and then my brother has to get up and say the final prayer, and I am just thinking, God bless him, better him than me.

Just thought I would share!

bethola · #2 04-01-2008, 03:54 PM

Things like this just AMAZE me! My husband's "cousin in law" died when only 45 yrs old. My hubby and son were to do the funeral (1st for both). THEY played ALL Hank Williams tunes. One was "I'm checkin' outta here" OH MY LORD! and the other was "There's a tear in my beer". The guy was also buried with his hand on a 6 pack of beer!

The people that own the funeral home were personal friends of ours and they were DYIN'. Then exactly one week later a young man from our church died. Funeral was at the church and we basically (at the request of the deceased) had church! We still laugh about that "funeral week"!

Beth

dizzyde · #3 04-01-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bethola

Things like this just AMAZE me! My husband's "cousin in law" died when only 45 yrs old. My hubby and son were to do the funeral (1st for both). THEY played ALL Hank Williams tunes. One was "I'm checkin' outta here" OH MY LORD! and the other was "There's a tear in my beer". The guy was also buried with his hand on a 6 pack of beer!

The people that own the funeral home were personal friends of ours and they were DYIN'. Then exactly one week later a young man from our church died. Funeral was at the church and we basically (at the request of the deceased) had church! We still laugh about that "funeral week"!

Beth

You have to wonder about the things that people in the funeral business see!! I was watching the funeral directors face at the cemetery and his face was just completely immobile, staring into the distance!! I know he had to dying on the inside! I couldn't help thinking about what I would be feeling if I had come to visit my loved ones grave right then, what I would have felt hearing that!

bethola · #4 04-01-2008, 04:05 PM

My friend, Charlene, and I, aren't allowed (per request of HER Funeral Director Hubby) to even SPEAK at funerals or wakes because we get so out of control when we start "observing" situations! We are two "pretty sick tickets"! LOL

But, seriously, those strange, tatooed people? They were probably relating in the only way they knew to relate and really, that IS sad!

Beth

RandyWayne · #5 04-01-2008, 04:05 PM

Ya, funerals with all their grief and morning and also cause some of the most gut-busting moments.
Consider that TV Guide rated the Mary Tyler Moore episode Chuckles Bites the Dust, where Chuckles the Clown gets killed by an elephant in a parade, the funniest single episode of any TV show, and you get the idea.

dizzyde · #6 04-01-2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bethola

My friend, Charlene, and I, aren't allowed (per request of HER Funeral Director Hubby) to even SPEAK at funerals or wakes because we get so out of control when we start "observing" situations! We are two "pretty sick tickets"! LOL

But, seriously, those strange, tatooed people? They were probably relating in the only way they knew to relate and really, that IS sad!

Beth

I know and I felt bad for them, but it was just sooo strange.

dizzyde · #7 04-01-2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Ya, funerals with all their grief and morning and also cause some of the most gut-busting moments.
Consider that TV Guide rated the Mary Tyler Moore episode Chuckles Bites the Dust, where Chuckles the Clown gets killed by an elephant in a parade, the funniest single episode of any TV show, and you get the idea.

Well, I tend to see the ridiculous in every situation anyway, so funerals and weddings are sometimes tough for me, because I find it difficult to get into the solemnity of the occasion. I just automatically see the absurd. I think it because everyone is trying so hard to be proper, and that just sets it up for the hilarious moments!!

bethola · #8 04-01-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Ya, funerals with all their grief and morning and also cause some of the most gut-busting moments.
Consider that TV Guide rated the Mary Tyler Moore episode Chuckles Bites the Dust, where Chuckles the Clown gets killed by an elephant in a parade, the funniest single episode of any TV show, and you get the idea.

Wasn't that the FUNNIEST episode?

When they started playin' "I'm checkin' outta here" at cousin in law's funeral....I was sitting next to my niece and we couldn't even LOOK at each other!

Beth

Elizabeth · #9 04-01-2008, 04:14 PM

Dee how did you know these people? Was the funeral at your dad's church?

I just think these folks are so clueless, and really have no concept of heaven or hell-it's rather sad.

dizzyde · #10 04-01-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeanie

Dee how did you know these people? Was the funeral at your dad's church?

I just think these folks are so clueless, and really have no concept of heaven or hell-it's rather sad.

It was for the situation I had posted about last week, I don't know if you saw that prayer request for my uncle?

The funeral was for my uncles (who isn't really my blood uncle, but has played that role in my life since I was born) grandson. He had not been able to have much of an influence in his grandsons life because his ex-wife raised the boy, and she is a very bitter woman (she had an affair and left him over 40 years ago, but is still hateful to this day?).

Michael was found in a motel room dead of an apparent overdose on his 24th birthday. It was just an unbelievably tragic thing.

The actual funeral was at the mortuary chapel, and my brother officiated the service.