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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be sad they wouldn't tell me directly about the death?

59 replies

Aislyn · 27/12/2025 20:52

My aunt died, my mum's sister. My dad phoned me and said 'x is gone'. I asked to speak to my mum, to find out details of the funeral and offer commiserations, but I was told that she was busy. For context she is retired, and had no plans.

I called back later to speak to her, and I was told that she had guests and couldn't speak. The phone was hung up on me.

It turns out the funeral was the next day. I had to find this out from another family member. By the time I found out I couldn't attend as it was abroad and a (reasonably long) flight away.

AIBU to be disappointed about how I was told this, and the lack of care for the death? My mum made no plans to attend the funeral, and prioritised hosting over telling me and siblings (siblings were not told at all until much later, as my mum prioritised hosting: I didn't tell them as it felt inappropriate for the news to be coming from me)

OP posts:
Aislyn · 27/12/2025 21:25

DeathStare · 27/12/2025 21:22

People grieve differently. Your mum has lost her sister. Cut her some slack if her grief doesn't look like yours.

I am trying to understand, but what I find bewildering is that she does not appear to be grieving at all.

OP posts:
Aislyn · 27/12/2025 21:24

HardworkSendHelp · 27/12/2025 21:21

Could she be at the start of dementia. That’s super weird not to go to your sisters funeral and to support your nieces and nephews. Unless there was some monumental fall out.
Do I sense an Irish funeral - quite quick.

No dementia as far as I know. She is very emotionally distant.

Not an Irish funeral but another culture with quick funerals.

OP posts:
DeathStare · 27/12/2025 21:22

People grieve differently. Your mum has lost her sister. Cut her some slack if her grief doesn't look like yours.

HardworkSendHelp · 27/12/2025 21:21

Aislyn · 27/12/2025 21:14

I found it very weird that she didn't want to attend either. She said 'she is dead, what can I do?'. I said but her children aren't dead, and going to the funeral is to show support to them.

Could she be at the start of dementia. That’s super weird not to go to your sisters funeral and to support your nieces and nephews. Unless there was some monumental fall out.
Do I sense an Irish funeral - quite quick.

Aislyn · 27/12/2025 21:14

I found it very weird that she didn't want to attend either. She said 'she is dead, what can I do?'. I said but her children aren't dead, and going to the funeral is to show support to them.

OP posts:
Aislyn · 27/12/2025 21:13

HardworkSendHelp · 27/12/2025 21:09

That’s very weird OP, was there a delay in your mum finding out about the death as your aunt lives abroad. Unless your mother is unwell it is strange she didn’t go to her own sisters funeral.

No delay, she knew her sister was approaching the end of life before her death, and was told promptly.

The funeral was arranged quickly for religious reasons, but she could have attended. My mother is in good health.

OP posts:
HardworkSendHelp · 27/12/2025 21:09

That’s very weird OP, was there a delay in your mum finding out about the death as your aunt lives abroad. Unless your mother is unwell it is strange she didn’t go to her own sisters funeral.

Aislyn · 27/12/2025 20:55

Barbluddyhumbug · 27/12/2025 20:53

What was your relationship with your aunt like previously?

Good I would say. She lives abroad but I have stayed with her, and visited her. No falling out ever.

OP posts:
Barbluddyhumbug · 27/12/2025 20:53

What was your relationship with your aunt like previously?