My Grandmother’s Funeral

Ferry 1 Amy Ferry Professor Nocito Composition 1 20 September 2010 My Grandmother’s Funeral: In every culture on our planet Earth, death is a part of life. Whether loved ones and friends of the deceased choose burial through internment, or produce ashes in a crematory, there is always a respectable method in which to dispose of the body and say a last farewell. In history, the Neanderthals were the first hominids to intentionally bury their dead. They did so by using stone tools and animal bones to dig a grave [1].

The purpose of a funeral in today’s society is to pay respect towards the once living person, and for many, aiding them in their journey to another life while sanctifying their previous life. Although all cultures practice funeral rituals for the dead, there are many different kinds. The most popular are internment and cremation. Internment is the act of burying the body in the ground. The body is place inside of a coffin, and then a hole is dug in a cemetery. Cremation, on the other hand, does not involve a casket.

Cremation is the process of reducing a body to ashes by fire in a crematory. Scholars conclude that its history began during the Stone Age around 3000 B. C. E. in and around Europe[2]. Other processes include human dismemberment, as Tibetans practice (called Tibetan Sky Burial). Monks essentially mutilate the body and wrap it up in white cloth. They bring it atop a mountain for vultures and other birds; They believe in reincarnation, thus the body is an empty vessel[3].

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Along with these, there is also Aboriginal Body Exposure, in which the body is left on a platform covered with Ferry 2 leaves to let the corpse decompose naturally [4]. It is practiced by the Australian Aborigines today. My grandmother’s funeral included cremation of her body. After the church ceremony, my father and his siblings, along with a couple of her closest friends, were taken out to the bay by boat to let her ashes fall in the water.

When the tragedy strikes, the closest relatives contact all other family members and good friends to inform them of his/her bereavement. During a burial ceremony, the group will attend a mass and a viewing, closed or open casket. This is mostly taken place in a house of worship (church, mosque, temple, etc. ). Afterword, there is a post-funeral dinner or gathering at a restaurant or relative’s home to celebrate the life of the deceased. Music is played, food is eaten, and memorable photographs are displayed for all to enjoy. This is intended to be a positive experience in which everyone reflects on his/her accomplishments and the happy times.

For my grandmother’s funeral, flowers were sent to the church we had attended during mass and the viewing. My aunt had spoken a few words in front to everyone about her mother, and we went to a restaurant to have a catered meal and reminisce. The death of a loved one will be difficult for anyone. The funeral may be the hardest part of the bereavement process. The experience of a funeral may be different for every individual attending; one person may feel relief if the deceased was suffering from an illness. One may feel loss, anger, or even contentedness (celebrating the person’s life and achievements).

During my grandmother’s funeral, I was grieving, yet during the after-dinner I felt relieved and happy that she was no longer in pain on Earth. The purpose of a funeral is to remember the one who passed away, and to give condolences to those who are grieving, and to give a proper religious ceremony for the deceased. My view on the funerals which I am accustomed to is that they give reassurance of a happy afterlife, and it gives closure as well. Ferry 3 Funerals in all regions of the world are based on the same concepts, and they should all be respected equally.

Whether the process is burial of the body, cremation, or another ritual, all of them have religious or spiritual significance behind them. Before my grandmother passed, she had it in her mind that she wanted to be cremated. My father was hesitant primarily because he hadn’t been exposed to the process, but he soon realized that it was no different than any other. Her funeral was memorable, beautiful, and reassuring for myself as well as my whole family. Ferry 4

Works Cited * Harder, Ben. Evolving in Their Graves: Early Burials Hold Clues to Human Origins. Science News. 15 December 2001. CBS Interactive. 2010. ;lt;http://www. bnet. com/;gt; * The History of Cremation. Everlife Memorials. Classic Memorials, Inc. 2004. ;lt;http://www. everlifememorials. com;gt; * O’Brien, Daniel. Tibetan Buddhist Sky Burial. 25 July 2008. Cracked Entertainment, Inc. 2005-2010. ;lt;http://www. cracked. com/;gt; * Knight, David, Aboriginal Body Exposure. 25 July 2008. Cracked Entertainment, Inc. 2005-2010. ;lt;http://www. cracked. com/;gt;

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