Funerals been to any good uns.

[Tashyboy]

Might seem an odd post but this has been my week.

Monday, picked up a bug from somewhere and thought the bottom had fell out of my world. In actual fact the world was falling out of my bottom.
Tuesday, got on the scales and had lost 7lb, did me last " sit down" at 07.30, I was knackered and chucked in a sickie for the golf. Grandkids turned up last night and Baby Layla showed her appreciation by throwing her rocks up from 9 to 11.30 pm. I think she also lost about 7lb most of it on me. This morning when I woke up I was knackered.
Wednesday, it was a good pals funeral today and I had to drag myself there. Straight to the crem and we were told it was a non religious service. " Eh, what's one of them". Quite frankly it was one of the best laughs I and about 200 others have had at a funeral. His son read a poem about his dad's life and if "Brother" Ray ( he called everyone brother) could of seen him he would of been immensely proud. the bloke who read the service told a story about Ray. He told quite a few but.
Ray and two other lads had to see the elect engineer at the end of the shift as a job had gone tits up, they were told they would have to wait at least half an hour as engineer was in a meeting. Another lad dropped in half a dozen free range eggs from his allotment for the engineer then went home. They promptly put them in the engineers kettle for five mins and boiled them, then put them back in the box.
His songs of choice were "two little boys" "unforgettable" and " those magnificent men in those flying machines".
It was a fitting, memorable, personal, service one in which will live in the memory for a long time. Unlike some others I have been to that have been well not fitting.

 

[Khamelion]

My uncle's three years ago, was a humanist non religious ceremony, same thing a few stories, some laughter some tears and then a trip to Cambois club. We arrived into the crem to the tune of the Rolling Stones 19th Nervous Breakdown, if you're not familiar with the song, find and give the chorus a quick listen "here it comes, here it comes", we had Colours of our lives by the Seekers for the reflective silence in the middle and as my Aunt and Uncle were both big George Thorogood fans, we left to Bad to the bone, which put a smile on people.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

Went to one last year where they played his favourite song, "Wild Boys" by Duran Duran. Even the vicar noted how everyone knew the words to that but no-one had sung "All things bright and beautiful".

Years ago went to one for a guy from our golf club who we thought we all knew. The vicar asked his partner "Dave" to come and say a few words. Up stepped this big bearded bloke who said how much he loved the deceased. None of us even knew he was gay. We all thought he would be looking down and laughing helplessly at us.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

At my uncle's funeral we discovered he helped to design the toilets on Concorde. Okay, he wasn't a spy during WW2 but it was still interesting and something we didn't know. I've been to one humanist funeral and it was far more preferable to standard ones.

I've never been to a good funeral, hateful things.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Rick Garg's funeral on the 5th September this year is one that will stick in my mind for as long as I live.

It was totally non religious, the place was packed out, it was a celebration of a life well lived, but too short
There were funny stories, poignant moments, happy memories and a sense of deep loss.
Played some great music too like Hotel California, House of the Rising Sun, Van Morrisons have I told you lately, Coldplay ,Fix you.
and Ellie Goulding's How long will I love you.

I have been to many funerals, this was special

By their nature Funerals are things to be endured, nobody likes going to one, But I enjoyed Rick's because it was perfect although obviously I wish he were still with us,
But it totally captured the essence of the man and the esteem in which he was held by his family and friends.


Easily the "best" funeral I have been to, although My fathers wasn't that far behind,

 

[Blue in Munich]

Rick Garg's funeral on the 5th September this year is one that will stick in my mind for as long as I live.

It was totally non religious, the place was packed out, it was a celebration of a life well lived, but too short
There were funny stories, poignant moments, happy memories and a sense of deep loss.
Played some great music too like Hotel California, House of the Rising Sun, Van Morrisons have I told you lately, Coldplay ,Fix you.
and Ellie Goulding's How long will I love you.

I have been to many funerals, this was special

By their nature Funerals are things to be endured, nobody likes going to one, But I enjoyed Rick's because it was perfect although obviously I wish he were still with us,
But it totally captured the essence of the man and the esteem in which he was held by his family and friends.


Easily the "best" funeral I have been to, although My fathers wasn't that far behind,

When I originally saw the OP I thought "Do we really want that on here so soon after Rick?" Even thought about suggesting it be pulled. Having read your post I'm glad I didn't, thanks Phil.

 

[Tashyboy]

When I originally saw the OP I thought "Do we really want that on here so soon after Rick?" Even thought about suggesting it be pulled. Having read your post I'm glad I didn't, thanks Phil.

BIM, I thought long and hard about Ricks funeral before posting on here. If it had been a normal Christian service there's no doubt I would not of posted. But the guy who gave the service went at great pains to emphasise " you must talk about Ray or he will be forgotten". Apparantly Ray was a tight git by his own admission. When it came to Sun Holidays at £9.50 he did them every year. He was gutted when he found out That he had bought ? Number of papers to get the tokens when you can get them for nowt online.

 

[TonyN]

Yes sadly, as it happens. I've been to probably, the most impressive one I will ever attend already. In fact, I took part. I was a pallbearer for my friend, Dave Phillips who was killed on duty last year. At the time, it was obviously a devastating time, but on reflection, the funeral was immense. The parade, turn out and support of Merseyside was incredible. The Anglican cathedral is an amazing place anyway, but to be filled to the brim with friends and colleagues was a sight to behold. Not that we took much of it in mind.

Along with the rest of the pallbearers we planned and organised the funeral drill. Physically, 'the carry' was immensely difficult. Emotionally, it was unbearable, but nothing compared to what the family had to endure. As a surprise to us, Dave's wife had chosen the song hoppipolla by Sigur Ros for Dave to be carried out to. He loved the song. If you've heard it, you will know exactly how it can hit you in the feels. Especially, if you're carrying one of your best mates for the last time. Anyway, the damn thing took us all by surprise, as did the standing ovation and applause for him, but in the hearse on the way to the private ceremony, we all discussed what an amazing song it was and how impressive the whole thing had turned out. A fitting end for the most well regarded man I knew.

That was my second funeral as a pallbearer for a colleague and I hope I never have to do it again. But since I have, I'm immensely proud and privileged to have been given the honour. It really was a spectacular ceremony, which I doubt will ever be outdone in my lifetime.

 

[Tashyboy]

Reminded me Tony, I was a pall bearer twice for old pals who had passed away. Both were members of the SJAB, Of which i was in at the time. Remember the weight of the coffin pressing down on my shoulders through the pips on my jacket. It was agony. Words cannot express how proud I was to be asked, but at the same time nervous as Eck.

 

[TonyN]

Reminded me Tony, I was a pall bearer twice for old pals who had passed away. Both were members of the SJAB, Of which i was in at the time. Remember the weight of the coffin pressing down on my shoulders through the pips on my jacket. It was agony. Words cannot express how proud I was to be asked, but at the same time nervous as Eck.

The weight was a real problem. We did a couple of practice runs. The length of the anglican is far enough anyway, but to do it as a slow march took us about four and half minutes (One way). Thats not including the lifting and waiting outside. There were trapped nerves and emergency physio in the week leading up. As if we all weren't nervous enough not to make a mistake, the worlds press were watching too.

 

[Hobbit]

Never been to a good funeral because I've always wanted the deceased to be still with us. But yes to going to some very moving/calming funerals with good 'closure.'

But I'm a coward. I try and avoid funerals for good friends. I find them very painful, and I blub horrendously - quietly but you'd need a life raft if you were next to me.. I'll find somewhere quiet at the funeral time and I'll say some words and have a drink...

The best, worst one I went to was for a bar maid from a previous golf club. Standing room only, and out into the car park. And good on the Catholic church for allowing the service for a suicide victim - tbh, there'd have been a riot if they hadn't.

My 'exit' song will be, "always look on the bright side of life" from Life of Brian... seems about right.

 

[Cityfanbrian]

a very moving post mate, thanks for sharing your memory.

 

[GB72]

Not sure that I would describe it as a good one but my dad’s funeral earlier in the year was as perfect as any such an event could be.
I had images of it turning in to a bit of a circus. He was leader of Rutland Council for 20 years and was clearly held in high esteem. That, however, meant local press, dignitaries and there were so many looking to attend that there had to be a marquee in the church yard with an audio feed to it for those that could not fit in to the church. There is a certain satisfaction to be able to send those people that he did not like but had to tolerate to the marquee whilst directing others to the warmth of the church.
That said, the whole aim was for the day to be about my dad the man and not about his civic life. We brought in his coffin to the sounds of Smoke on the Water as that is what the Tigers players come out to at home matches (Just to add that the Tigers put a floral display in Tigers colours on his seat for the first match after his passing, a wonderful gesture and a photo that still makes me cry). He would have loved the expression on the faces of some in attendance. The local MO, Alan Duncan gave what was an hilarious speech and once people had got around to the idea that we were celebrating his life, there was laughter and applause in even measures. My brother and I spoke about the good times and the good cheer continued. Then things became that bit more Sombre. My little nephew had written a speech about his granddad that would have broken the hardest of hearts then the sounds of ‘Nimrod’ rang out and there was not a dry eye in the house. We took him out to the theme tune of The Magnificent Seven, his favourite film, and the smiles came back. Never could we have hoped to have picked a more perfect piece of music.
The pub afterwards was everything he would have wanted. The dignitaries and hangers on disappeared quite quickly and we were left with those from our strong village community. We laughed, we drank, we reminisced and we remembered in a way that he would have been proud of.
So, hard to say it was good but easy to say it was perfect.

 

[Piece]

My best mate's, last month. Epic turn out for an epic person.

Two Wurzels tunes in one service. Must be a record.