94 Funerals and, Well, Not So Many Weddings...

94 total funerals in 50 years! And that's just what I've counted since this afternoon.
26 family members
10 school age or younger
15 under 30 yrs. which includes:
4 suicide
4 drug/alcohol related
2 gun-related fatalities
2 infants

So here's the deal with what appears to be a rather large number of funerals I have attended in my lifetime: this is something my family has ALWAYS done - ALWAYS! Going to funerals/family visitation as a young child was as normal as going to church for my family.

The first funeral service that I can still recall was one of an 11 yr old boy. I was only 10 yrs old, and they went to church with us. I remember the family walking in, his sister (same age as me), his parents with his mom, very large and pregnant with a black dress and black hat and a black veil covering her face. Even in 1972 that was unusual. I remember the preacher talking how Scotty liked going to Six Flags Over Texas.

I remember the first funeral I had to take my youngest son to out of necessity. He was with me at work before he went to kindergarten that day. I guess the funeral was "in between". We get to the church, then all settled in our seats. The service is fine, and we get ready to go when Troy stops me to whisper "don't we get cake & punch?" Apparently, my children had attended more weddings than funerals:)

So out of 94 services only 26 are family members. The others are friends or family members of friends. I don't go because I know all of these people. I go because I care for their loved ones. The ones left behind. I go because I want them to know that when they walk into the chapel or church they will see a familiar face from work or church or school and know that someone is thinking of them and cares about them and their loss. That's why people go to funerals. Remember that next time you are at a funeral: whether for your loved one or going to support a friend.

This really isn't as depressing as most people think. I usually leave a funeral - now being called a CELEBRATION OF LIFE service - feeling as though I know the person pretty well...and having added another family to my prayer list:)