Asked before but not answered. . . Funerals for non religous dead.

littlebitdull

I found an old thread on this but couldn't find the answer in it.

When you have no religion, what can you do for a funeral. You are dead, so its all the same to you, but your family would need a chance to say goodbye.

Now for myself and my husband the answer depends on if our own parents are still alive, which they currently are. And seeing as how it would upset them greatly to not have a RC funeral, and we would be dead, then a RC funeral it would be.

But... we have children - who we have reared with no religion - we have simply reared them with the information available to make their own choices, and thus far they have shown no inclination to choose any religion, but have followed our lead and simply live doing no harm to others.

What if one of them were to die suddenly? I do not feel I would like to 'use' a church for the funeral - after all we dont use them for thier lives why would be use it for their death?

What choices would we be left with? Or is there any choice left to us? Or what choice will be left to my children on my passing ... assuming my own parents have passed before me?

I would assume the body would be brought to the crematorum as this would be our choice, and I would like to plant something long lived like an oak or similar over the ashes, and continue their/my lifeforce this way. ... but the crematorum is only 15 minutes at best ... ?

Now I do of course hope that this is not a problem I am going to face anytime soon, but I am going to have to face it sometime - that much is for sure!

Gordon

In UK we have Humanist Funerals, can you do that in Ireland?

cynder

My dad had a small family service at the crematorium. But had a bigger day scattering his ashes at loop head. The funeral is what you make it.

Nevyn

Gordon wrote: »

In UK we have Humanist Funerals, can you do that in Ireland?

That is available here http://www.humanism.ie/website/ceremonies/celebrating-a-life.

Funerals can be arranged with the humanist soc or in the same way just skipping the church bit, a gathering in the funeral home and most will take away any religious icons if asked and then to the graveyard with someone nominated to speak at the grave or anyone who wishes to can speak and then on to the funeral lunch after....

mikemac

Thaedydal wrote: »

y just skipping the church bit, a gathering in the funeral home and most will take away any religious icons if asked and then to the graveyard

In our parish a local farmer donated land to the church to extend the graveyard.
So it wouldn't be council land.

So would a council graveyard have to be used in an example for this thread?
But then that might not even be local,

Nevyn

Municipal graveyards are open to anyone, they are the ones ran by the co councils.
Churchyards are a different kettle of fish as they are privately owned and the church they are attached to can set the rules and criteria.

housetypeb

A friend of mine died last year,she would be classed as a hippy. her funeral had no priest involved what so ever, the undertaker arranged everything along with her family.
the first night she was waked at the funeral home with some low music for an hour,
then she was removed to to her old homestead for another wake in the hippy commune of cool mountain,west cork.
where her coffin was set up in a tent with candles and flowers and pictures of her life.
the wake lasted most of the night with drink and smoke for those so inclined.
The next day she was removed to the grave yard- where-as uileann pipes played softly- her family and friends spoke about her and what she meant to them.
then the cofin was covered and her grave filled in and then covered with wild flowers.
The undertaker and others said afterwards it was one of the most moving and beautiful funerals they had ever been too.
Even the religious people said it was more personal than having the priest recite the same tired old lines.