Been to any memorable funerals?
nuffingman
Posts: 3,014
No this isn't sick!
Today I was rummaging through some stuff and found the funeral card for my mate Pete.
I've been to a few funerals, some for people I didn't know too well, plus a couple for close family. The latter were for my father and a 2 hour old niece. After those I vowed that I never wanted to go to another in my life.
Unfortunately my friend Pete died in May and that was another I wasn't looking forward to. I had known him for about 22 years, and whatever age he was he behaved a lot younger. He came to see me around March / April and complained he couldn't get comfortable in the chair and said he hadn't been feeling too good. A few weeks later he was in hospital having tests, and when I saw him he was yellow. After an MRI scan they discovered liver and pancreatic cancer. It destroyed him in weeks and I was numb. He was the first of my friends to go. He left a lovely young wife and a teenage daughter.
Pete, not having a religious bone in his body had a non religious send off. His brother conducted the service. We arrived 3 minutes into the service due to more roadworks and there wasn't a seat to be had. The late arrivals had to stand at the back and sides. There were a lot of jokes about his antics, hairiness and a lot of love from all.
There some of Pete's favourite songs, from Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt and the funeral closed with “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles.
When the final words had been spoken Pete's brother said he thought we should all give Pete a round of applause. Over 100 of us stood there clapping him. It was a magical moment with people smiling, clapping and crying at the same time.
When I saw his wife outside I said "He would have loved that" and she laughed and agreed he would. It was a great send off.
My only regret is I hadn't seen him enough in the last few years.
I've been thinking about him a lot the last few days and had to get that off my chest.
Today I was rummaging through some stuff and found the funeral card for my mate Pete.
I've been to a few funerals, some for people I didn't know too well, plus a couple for close family. The latter were for my father and a 2 hour old niece. After those I vowed that I never wanted to go to another in my life.
Unfortunately my friend Pete died in May and that was another I wasn't looking forward to. I had known him for about 22 years, and whatever age he was he behaved a lot younger. He came to see me around March / April and complained he couldn't get comfortable in the chair and said he hadn't been feeling too good. A few weeks later he was in hospital having tests, and when I saw him he was yellow. After an MRI scan they discovered liver and pancreatic cancer. It destroyed him in weeks and I was numb. He was the first of my friends to go. He left a lovely young wife and a teenage daughter.
Pete, not having a religious bone in his body had a non religious send off. His brother conducted the service. We arrived 3 minutes into the service due to more roadworks and there wasn't a seat to be had. The late arrivals had to stand at the back and sides. There were a lot of jokes about his antics, hairiness and a lot of love from all.
There some of Pete's favourite songs, from Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt and the funeral closed with “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles.
When the final words had been spoken Pete's brother said he thought we should all give Pete a round of applause. Over 100 of us stood there clapping him. It was a magical moment with people smiling, clapping and crying at the same time.
When I saw his wife outside I said "He would have loved that" and she laughed and agreed he would. It was a great send off.
My only regret is I hadn't seen him enough in the last few years.
I've been thinking about him a lot the last few days and had to get that off my chest.
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