Page 21 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2019- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

THE

IMPORTANCE

OF A
Funeral

By Cindy Rowley

e live in such a fast-paced the shoulder of almost every attendee channel their grief toward health
society these days - so of her husband’s service. Then the and healing. It helps so much to
Wmuch to be done and so service began, and it was so special. have community coming together
little time. We struggle even to make Wonderful stories were shared, and responding to the reality that
time for the most important people in bringing both laughter and tears. This someone has died, and to the reality
our lives as we juggle responsibilities gentleman was a man’s man, and that those remaining will need
and zip to and fro. In the last several several of his personal items were support, compassion, love, hope and
years, I have seen an unfortunate on display, including a saddle, boots understanding. The funeral service
trend start to emerge. As I visit with and even a hot-shot! The music fit his itself encourages one to think about
people and try to help them have personality to a tee. the person who has died and to
all their affairs in order for the latter explore the meaning of their life and
third of their lives, so many are When the service was over, the same the ways in which they touched the
saying things like, “I’ll let my kids little wife greeted everyone again, lives of others.
worry about that” or “I don’t need but I noticed that by then, she was
a service to celebrate my life.” What laughing and hugging, and I could The remembering, reflecting and
so many don’t realize is that their visibly see that a huge weight had choices that take place in the
children really will have to worry lifted during the service. Her friends planning and conducting of the
about making decisions and coming and family loved her; they were funeral service are often an important
up with money without their parents’ standing by her; they had attended part of the process of grieving and
guidance if they are not provided the funeral to honor his life with mourning. Ultimately, this process of
with parental wishes in advance. The her; and now, even though hard contemplation and discovery creates
purpose of a funeral service is for the things remained to be faced in the a memorable and moving end-of-life
family, not for the deceased. future, she seemed to have a renewed celebration for all who attend and a
strength. meaningful foundation for moving
Most of us are not prepared to plan forward.
and carry out a funeral ceremony for Funeral ceremonies can make a
someone we love, even if the passing significant difference in how families
was expected; it is even
more difficult when faced
suddenly. So much of the
information available on
this critically important
subject reads like a to-do
list, failing to focus on
what is most important:
having a personalized,
meaningful funeral that
helps families and friends
begin the healing process
of mourning after the death
of someone they love.
Just this past week, I
attended a funeral where
the grieving widow stood
in the foyer and wept on

Amarillo Senior Link 21