Crem Etiquette


 Crematorium etiquette. 
Try to sit on the right at the back .
Out of the way. 
In the cheap seats.

I liked the St Asaph Crem
The hymn’s lyrics came upon tv screens and they project a huge photo of the deceased on the wall as you go in. 
The vicar was a bearded hearty soul that looked like the Titanic’s captain.
He was a bit of a show girl I thought.
I wasn’t sure about the Christmas Tree in the grounds, it was lit with fairy lights

There were a couple of villagers at the funeral so we teamed up . 
I enjoyed the hymns and belted out “The day thou gavest “ so I could be heard at the front.
I hate lacklustre singing at funerals.
There’s nothing worse.
My choir will be singing at my funeral , I’ve decided I want Olè Laya Loila instead of the first hymn


A Winter funeral
There is nothing sadder

45 comments:

  1. There is one thing sadder, a child's funeral. That hymn is beautiful.

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    1. Every funeral is sad if the deceased was loved

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    2. I've been to two lovely funerals that actually celebrated the life of the person and they were wonderful. My girlfriend had us all sing "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" at the end of her funeral. It was amazing and so her.

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  2. I have been to a Christmas Eve funeral. A young woman, three small children. My cousin.

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  3. Anonymous4:59 pm

    I buried my husband on the last day of a very bad year, 1991. He died suddenly. Forty years old. Aortic aneurysm. I remember thinking how badly it would suck for people to attend a funeral on the first day of a new year.
    dm

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    1. Funny what sticks in your mind 41 is nothing

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  4. I've always thought bleak weather suits funerals. Dark skies and cawing crows reflect the emotion at the graveside of a loved one.

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    1. https://disasterfilm.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-funeral.html

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  5. I don't want a funeral.
    I have never heard those songs before.

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    1. I thought everyone must know the day thou gave us

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  6. When my mom died, my dad wouldn't let us hold a funeral or memorial of any kind. He couldn't face it. Not having some kind of ritual leaves the living in a strange limbo. When he goes, I think I'll have a memorial for the two of them.

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    1. How sad…it wasn’t just his decision

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  7. Barbara Anne5:59 pm

    So sad. Lovely songs and I thank you for posting them.
    Hope the choir sing at the pub is harmonious and joyful.

    Hugs!

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    1. That’s been cancelled due to the bad roads . Next week now lol sods law

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  8. Unlike you, I can never sing at funerals as I generally crack up. Trying to sing whilst sobbing isn't easy. xx

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    1. I’ve never cried at a funeral . Before and after yes, never during

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  9. I see the hymn is Finnish, I thought it was African....My family does not do funerals etc, ashes scattered, maybe a drink or dinner. No one misses what is not in one's tradition. Tho my mom perked up a few years after my dad died and wanted to know if he could still be given a full military officer's [veteran] funeral. We said no.

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    1. It’s a call of shepherds( ?) to their Reindeer

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  10. In the US the cremation takes place without attendance.

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  11. I don't want a funeral, just burn me up and scatter the ashes. My son should not have to bother with the expense of a funeral.

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    1. Sometimes those that are left behind. , need a send off, something to. Mark the day and the person, sometime to formally say goodbye

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  12. Kelly8:06 pm

    I’ve always thought I’d make a “mix tape” in case those left behind have no idea about funeral music. The songs “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas and “Ripple” by the Grateful Dead are at the top of that list.

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  13. We buried a dear family member some years ago, in his young fifties, it was snowing profusely and I couldn't help but think despite the sadness of the occasion, how beautiful and serene it was.
    Jo

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  14. Traveller8:28 pm

    My family (tiny though it is) doesn’t do funerals. I don’t think any of my grandparents had funerals and I know my parents did not. If my partner dies before me, I am not sure what I will do.

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  15. We have specified a quick cremation...but then a thoroughly good celebration.
    We have been to a good few this year, and it seems to be the general thing of Yes it is sad to lose them....But let's celebrate the person we knew and loved and respected, however young or old

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    1. The more personal , are the best sort, a celebrant often does the deceased more proud than a vicar in my experience

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    2. Yes, certainly...we have had half a dozen this year and that is certainly true. No platitudes, and they do their homework well

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  16. Fabulous song for your funeral. It makes me think I might want to go Viking for mine.

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  17. My mum liked quiet funerals - not the rather emotional sort of my dads family - When I needed to arrange her funeral I was numb aǹd so quickly dads family took over arrangements for the wake - it became almost a party - I know it was done out of kindness but it would not have been her choice x

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    1. I guess horses for courses….as long as everyone important gets through it ok , that’s all that matters

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    2. Yes - and I do think now it was funny there was trifle which mum would have raised her eyebrows at x

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  18. Anonymous10:44 pm

    I loved the video of the hymn - thank you for sharing it. Back in 1979 or so during an extremely cold winter we were not able to bury my beloved uncle because they couldn't dig his grave. It was actually traumatic for me, because it felt so unfinished, even though our family does not do much in the way of protocol.
    Nina

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  19. Anonymous11:06 pm

    Perhaps turning 60 makes us plan for the end. I did it too. There is a Martin Hayes and Steven Cahill cd of Irish instrumental music in my folder. The last song played for me should be “I Will Miss Your Company” by
    Ricky Lee Jones. Because I will miss all the loving, beautiful people I know. Llynn

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  20. Damselfly12:04 am

    Beautiful & powerful chant! Thank you for sharing link.

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  21. A high spirited gathering of friends and family with a festive meal to celebrate a life well lived is important in my family. The actual funeral/cremation/burial is individualized as previously dictated by the deceased. This is rather bland and ordinary.

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  22. The most unique song I ever heard played at a funeral was a recording of "Viva Las Vegas" by Elvis.

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  23. I don't want a funeral either - there'd be no one to attend so what would be the point? But if I WERE to have one for music I'd want nothing too grand - just the Beethoven 'Missa Solemnis' (ALL of it) followed by the Beethoven 9th (ALL of it) - and as a final flourish the Bach 'B minor Mass' - yes, ALL OF IT!!!

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