Love it Gazania 🌹🌹Yes indeed funerals have certainly changed over the years! While of course we still mourn our loved ones, funerals are now more of a "Celebration Of Life"! Although of course it doesn't take away the sorrow, but it certainly helps to hear family and friends talking about their loved ones, telling humourous stories and remembrances of some of the sometimes hilarious events in their lives.
Little ones become involved too, talking quite freely about the things they did with the granny or grandad, singing them a song or reading a Poem.
I recall taking my wee Grandaughter to her NAN's (my mother-in-law's) funeral. She had drawn a picture for her, and wanted to give it to her "so Nanna can take it to Heaven"! We went early, and were the first ones there, apart from the Minister, by the entrance with her helpers. The casket of course was already at the front! Lovely Flowers everywhere, and soft music was playing.
Little one's ears pricked up with the music, her eyes were everywhere, and a real look of wonder on her face. "Is this heaven Nanny"? Then there was a wee giggle from the helpers, and the Minister said, "no sweetie, this is the place where we can all say goodbye to your Nanna, a bit like a bus stop really! After we've all said goodbye, sung her some songs, and said some very special things to her, she will be going to heaven in a big white car! Wee one took it all in her stride, then said, " Can I take my picture up to Nanna now? That was ok, so we walked quietly up to the casket, she stood there quietly looking around, then all of a sudden she knocked on it then said in quite a loud voice ""NANNA, NANNA, Wake Up, can you hear the Angels singing for you? Wake up, I brought you a special drawing I did for you to take to heaven with you! A few giggles again, as people had started to arrive and were taking it all in! All was well. Nanna was going to be a star in the sky!
But Poor Nanna on fireworks night a month or so later, when skyrockets were flying around, little one got very upset at the skyrockets, she was scared that they were "going to hit my Nanna"!
Still a popular story that comes up from time to time!
