Speaking of pushing daisies, have any of you planned your funeral? I mean, whether you are 21 or 91, you're gonna die. I want to go out in style. Any ideas for the perfect funeral? Unfortunately, I may need to be planning my Mother's soon, and she always refused to express her wishes (with her, it was always "IF I die").
I know that I want a strings group playing some great classical music. I wouldn't mind a "Second Line," but that'd be hard to get in Georgia, and I don't think people here would get it. I have contacts with a bagpipe group that I want to play "Amazing Grace." I want a predominantly black choir to do the Stones "You Can't always Get What You Want" and the Beatles' "Let It Be" (if the church will give us the approval to play secular music). I want to be buried at Westview Cemetary in the set of 4 lots near my Daddy, my brother, and a kajillion other members of my father's family. I want there to be a big party with lots of great food and drink. And I want my husband (assuming he is still alive) not to have anything to do with another woman for a year (or I'll haunt him).
Oh, and I want to be wearing orange and blue and have the Gator fight song played. Basically, I want a musical extravaganza that brings together my disparate interests.
Have you ever thought about what you want to happen just before you "Push Daisies"?
Replies
43
Meow
I was with you until you mentioned controlling your husband from the grave! 
Think about this...would that be fair for his happiness? 
I had this talk with my daddy recently, it was hard for me to bring up, but I have such peace now that I have the information I need.
Think about this...would that be fair for his happiness? I had this talk with my daddy recently, it was hard for me to bring up, but I have such peace now that I have the information I need.
beats on hoodAuthor
I was with you until you mentioned controlling your husband from the grave!I just think it is just so wrong to not be in mourning for a year for someone you've been with since 1968.
I had this talk with my daddy recently, it was hard for me to bring up, but I have such peace now that I have the information I need.
I am happy that you were able to have this conversation with your Daddy.
Mother has always refused to acknowledge that she will ever die. And now she is so demented that she is in LA-LA land. She was a smart cookie. When she got her diagnosis of Alzheimer's, she poignantly asked the doctor, "When I get to the point at which I have to be in a nursing home, will I know?" The doctor smiled, and with tears in his eyes (and in mine), he said, "Thankfully, no." He was right. She has too much spirit (sound like someone else you know?) to be trapped in a nursing home if she has any lucidity. But now that she is spaced out, she has no clue. So sad.
SoWal Insider
No funeral for me. Just have a big party somewhere. The beach would be perfect, tell funny stories about me and a toast to me at the end of the evening. 
beats on hoodAuthor
No funeral for me. Just have a big party somewhere. The beach would be perfect, tell funny stories about me and a toast to me at the end of the evening.Good idea. Like a roast (except I don't want to be cremated). I've seen that done at a few funerals. It kind of lightens things up.
I'm sure there are many humorous stories that could be told about me.
SoWal Insider
BR, Your mom sounds like such a stitch - - "if I die." So cute.
Your funeral plans sound wonderful (if that's an appropriate response). I have no plans but I DO know what music I want.
Ms. Kitty, I remember having that very difficult conversation with my dad a few years before he died. I was so, so nervous. He was a pistol about most other things toward the end of his life, but he was very kind & very understanding during this particular conversation (as he always was when I was growing up). In the end he ended up being a simple, uncomplicated man with no demands.
Your funeral plans sound wonderful (if that's an appropriate response). I have no plans but I DO know what music I want.
Ms. Kitty, I remember having that very difficult conversation with my dad a few years before he died. I was so, so nervous. He was a pistol about most other things toward the end of his life, but he was very kind & very understanding during this particular conversation (as he always was when I was growing up). In the end he ended up being a simple, uncomplicated man with no demands.
hmmmm......can't remember
No funeral for me. Just have a big party somewhere. The beach would be perfect, tell funny stories about me and a toast to me at the end of the evening.
Yep--that's for me, too, except that I would like to have mine before I die. (Just read a Garrison Keillor quote yesterday that said something like, "So many nice things are said at funerals. Too bad I'll only miss mine by a few days.")
All parts shall be donated, and beyond that I reckon I'll have to be cremated unless someone wants to have me entombed in some really cool old church. As much as I like really old cemeteries, I think the ones from this century are a waste of real estate. I told my parents that if they outlive me, I'd rather they spend the money and have a nice statue made of me to put in the front yard.
(Kidding!
But I really did tell them that.)
SoWal Insider
OMG, some of you have heard this already, but here is what my Grandfather said yesterday. He will be 100 (big surprise party next week).
He was discussing his longevity with my mother.
Realizing that he wouldn't live until 120 or anything like that even with all the advances in medicine he said jokingly about death:
"I am ready when my time comes to see how the other half "lives".
He was discussing his longevity with my mother.
Realizing that he wouldn't live until 120 or anything like that even with all the advances in medicine he said jokingly about death:
"I am ready when my time comes to see how the other half "lives".
SoWal Insider
I haven't yet, but my mom talks ALL the time about how she wants to be sprinkled at Florida Field. :roll: 
Instead of worrying about actual death, she seems to be VERY worried that we will forget this last wish of hers.
Instead of worrying about actual death, she seems to be VERY worried that we will forget this last wish of hers.SoWal Insider
OMG, some of you have heard this already, but here is what my Grandfather said yesterday. He will be 100 (big surprise party next week).
He was discussing his longevity with my mother.
Realizing that he wouldn't live until 120 or anything like that even with all the advances in medicine he said jokingly about death:
"I am ready when my time comes to see how the other half "lives".
Beach Fanatic
The only thing I know I want is the song, I picked out recently for my Dad's funeral. We played it at the end of the service.
Here are the lyrics and the link to listening to the version we used.
http://easylink.playstream.com/lnwbooks/15.rm
Going Home
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Going home, going home,
I'm just going home.
Quiet-like, slip away-
I'll be going home.
It's not far, just close by;
Jesus is the Door;
Work all done, laid aside,
Fear and grief no more.
Friends are there, waiting now.
He is waiting, too.
See His smile! See His hand!
He will lead me through.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
Morning Star lights the way;
Restless dream all done;
Shadows gone, break of day,
Life has just begun.
Every tear wiped away,
Pain and sickness gone;
Wide awake there with Him!
Peace goes on and on!
Going home, going home,
I'll be going home.
See the Light! See the Sun!
I'm just going home.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Words by William Arms Fisher and Ken Bible
Music by Antonin Dvorak; arr. by Ken Bible
[/FONT]
Here are the lyrics and the link to listening to the version we used.
http://easylink.playstream.com/lnwbooks/15.rm
Going Home
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Going home, going home,
I'm just going home.
Quiet-like, slip away-
I'll be going home.
It's not far, just close by;
Jesus is the Door;
Work all done, laid aside,
Fear and grief no more.
Friends are there, waiting now.
He is waiting, too.
See His smile! See His hand!
He will lead me through.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
Morning Star lights the way;
Restless dream all done;
Shadows gone, break of day,
Life has just begun.
Every tear wiped away,
Pain and sickness gone;
Wide awake there with Him!
Peace goes on and on!
Going home, going home,
I'll be going home.
See the Light! See the Sun!
I'm just going home.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Words by William Arms Fisher and Ken Bible
Music by Antonin Dvorak; arr. by Ken Bible
[/FONT]
Edited
beats on hoodAuthor
Yep--that's for me, too, except that I would like to have mine before I die. (Just read a Garrison Keillor quote yesterday that said something like, "So many nice things are said at funerals. Too bad I'll only miss mine by a few days.")Good one!
All parts shall be donated, and beyond that I reckon I'll have to be cremated unless someone wants to have me entombed in some really cool old church. As much as I like really old cemeteries, I think the ones from this century are a waste of real estate. I told my parents that if they outlive me, I'd rather they spend the money and have a nice statue made of me to put in the front yard.
(Kidding!
OMG, some of you have heard this already, but here is what my Grandfather said yesterday. He will be 100 (big surprise party next week).Another good one!
He was discussing his longevity with my mother.
Realizing that he wouldn't live until 120 or anything like that even with all the advances in medicine he said jokingly about death:
"I am ready when my time comes to see how the other half "lives".
I haven't yet, but my mom talks ALL the time about how she wants to be sprinkled at Florida Field. :roll:Maybe I will reconsider cremation. Fay on Florida Field. UF Forever ... at least until the next rain. And everyone who hates me can say FU which is okay with me since I have ruffled a few feathers in my time.;-)
Edited
beats on hoodAuthor
The only thing I know I want is the song, I picked out recently for my Dad's funeral. We played it at the end of the service.That's nice.
Here are the lyrics and the link to listening to the version we used.
http://easylink.playstream.com/lnwbooks/15.rm
Going Home
Beach Fanatic
The only thing I know I want is the song, I picked out recently for my Dad's funeral. We played it at the end of the service.
Here are the lyrics and the link to listening to the version we used.
http://easylink.playstream.com/lnwbooks/15.rm
Going Home
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Going home, going home,[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I'm just going home.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Quiet-like, slip away-[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I'll be going home.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It's not far, just close by;[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jesus is the Door;[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Work all done, laid aside,[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fear and grief no more.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Friends are there, waiting now.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]He is waiting, too.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]See His smile! See His hand![/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]He will lead me through.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Morning Star lights the way;[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Restless dream all done;[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Shadows gone, break of day,[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Life has just begun.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Every tear wiped away,[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Pain and sickness gone;[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Wide awake there with Him![/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Peace goes on and on![/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Going home, going home,[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I'll be going home.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]See the Light! See the Sun![/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I'm just going home.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Words by William Arms Fisher and Ken Bible[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Music by Antonin Dvorak; arr. by Ken Bible[/FONT]
Beach Fanatic
I've had to arrange 3 funerals, all were different. The funeral is for the family, a ceremonial good bye, let's face it, the deceased really doesn't care now. The best song that I had done, was an old black spiritual done ocapelo. It was awesome.
picky
Merman's always said that if I go first, he's going to take me out to the curb on recycling day. That's alright with me. ;-)
SoWal Insider
Merman's always said that if I go first, he's going to take me out to the curb on recycling day. That's alright with me. ;-)That's sweet that he wants to recycle you.
It's more environmentally friendly than being stuffed like I wanted MANgo to do with me.
picky
That's sweet that he wants to recycle you.
It's more environmentally friendly than being stuffed like I wanted MANgo to do with me.
If you were stuffed, where would you be exhibited after?
Meow
If you were stuffed, where would you be exhibited after?
SoWal.com Hall of Fame
Beach Fanatic
Safe and sound in front of my puter.
SoWal Insider
SoWal.com Hall of Fame
:funn::rofl:beats on hoodAuthor
SoWal.com Hall of Fame:funn:
Beach Fanatic
This reminds me of a stand-up comedian I saw on TV recently.
Nick Swardson
It's a long video... If you've got 20 minutes to kill, you should watch it. If not, his plans for the prefect funeral are from minute 3:14 to 5:20.
Nick Swardson
It's a long video... If you've got 20 minutes to kill, you should watch it. If not, his plans for the prefect funeral are from minute 3:14 to 5:20.
beats on hoodAuthor
This reminds me of a stand-up comedian I saw on TV recently.Thanks. I'll watch it after SC/UT.
Nick Swardson
It's a long video... If you've got 20 minutes to kill, you should watch it. If not, his plans for the prefect funeral are from minute 3:14 to 5:20.
SoWal Expert
I love this thread!!! I know I want a big party, but haven't really considered the details.
Dad wanted a Second Line funeral, to the point he had called the Olympia Brass Band in NOLA and inquired about the details. He spoke with Mr. Milton Batiste, who told my Dad "Well Mr. Long, if your funeral is on a weekday, it will cost $7000. A weekend funeral will be $9000." He wanted a parade from the house to the church, which was about 3 blocks away.
When he died, making arrangements became crazy and rushed, so he didn't get his Second Line.
He did get several members of the Louisville Orchestra brass section playing "When the Saints Go Marching In" at the end of the service, and they really jazzed it up funeral-style. Everybody had tappin' toes. It was awesome.
After the service, we went straight back to the house and had a big party- one of the best parties I ever went to because I heard so many wonderful stories and great things about my Dad. Funerals don't have to always be sad.
Dad wanted a Second Line funeral, to the point he had called the Olympia Brass Band in NOLA and inquired about the details. He spoke with Mr. Milton Batiste, who told my Dad "Well Mr. Long, if your funeral is on a weekday, it will cost $7000. A weekend funeral will be $9000." He wanted a parade from the house to the church, which was about 3 blocks away.
When he died, making arrangements became crazy and rushed, so he didn't get his Second Line.
He did get several members of the Louisville Orchestra brass section playing "When the Saints Go Marching In" at the end of the service, and they really jazzed it up funeral-style. Everybody had tappin' toes. It was awesome.After the service, we went straight back to the house and had a big party- one of the best parties I ever went to because I heard so many wonderful stories and great things about my Dad.
Funerals don't have to always be sad.
SoWal Expert
My favorite part of funerals (funerals are the creepiest thing ever IMO) and memorial services are the old photos and stories of people's lives.
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