Wednesday 23 February 2011

When The Funeral Is Over

                                                        Priscilla Etienne Funeography©

I recently took part in a Sunday morning Radio London phone in with Jeni Barnett. Her sister in law had just died and she wanted to talk about the grieving process. The show was about grief, death and dying and how we cope with it.
There were some excellent points raised among the people that phoned in and some talked about the circumstances relating to the deaths of friends or family. One of the things that interested me the most was what happens after the funeral. The days leading up to it are the busiest, there's lots to plan and visitors come in abundance. There's barely time to be alone with your thoughts such is the level of support that tends to arrive at the door. Then the day of the funeral arrives, there's thoughts of how we're going to feel when we start seeing mourners arrive. Some we may not have seen for so long and feelings of nervousness start to set in. Once most of the mourners coming to the house have arrived, the wait for the hearse or carriage gets really intense. The first glimpse of it making it's way towards the house carries with it a sinking feeling.

When the funeral is over, that's when you feel you're on your own. Everything is quiet and the days tears, laughter, and chat seem to resonate in your mind. May be then we should have the 9 day wake.

I'd like to say a big thank you to Jeni Barnett she gave me the opportunity to talk about the benefits that Funeography brings to so many people and was fascinated with the concept. 

It's said that hearing is the last sense to go when we die. I can still hear the events of my mothers funeral after 15 years.

I dedicate this blog to the very vocal, far from quiet Ethel Woods.