On 2017-07-24 2:16 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On 7/24/2017 12:52 PM, Wayne Boatwright wrote:

>> When my mother passed we decided on a far more modest casket, one day
>> of viewing, and a very modest reception. I felt a little guilty in a
>> way, because of what was spent on my dad's funeral, but I finally got
>> over it.
>>
>
> For some, it is no expense spared for a big sendoff. Look at what the
> Pharaohs did and the Chinese emperor with the clay soldiers.

Yeah, as if it was their own money they were spending. It was all to
glorify them and their dynasty, to help justify the taxes they levied
and enslaving the people to do the work.


> I was surprised when making arrangements when my MIL passed. The
> undertaker has taken care of all the other family and my wife knows the
> son that now runs the place from school. He actually made suggestions
> on how to save some money. The viewing was at the church for an hour
> before the service instead of at the funeral home.


We had no pressure planing my parents funerals. I went with my
brother when he organized our mother's cremation and memorial service.
My mother organized Dad's memorial service. It was a simple memorial
service in an old Anglican church in Niagara on the Lake. We were
surprised at the number of people who showed up for it. He didn't want
a service, but he ended up with two. He had wanted his ashes to be taken
to the war graves cemetery in Denmark where his crew mates had been
buried when their plane was shot down there. We thought it would be a
simple matter of showing up, having someone from the war graves
commission there to oversee it, including enforcing the rules about no
service, no stone, no press. The British Embassy got involved, arranged
the service, press and got the church council to put on a big dinner.