Please or to access all these features

Elderly parents

I can’t face the funeral

28 replies

BeMintFatball · 05/10/2025 14:35

I’m an only child. My mother is very frail but still alive.

I have had a difficult time with her relatives and her wishes. I have made a few threads on this board over the last few months.

I have come to realise I can’t face a funeral. My father’s was very traumatic. As I said I am an only child. I was not mentioned at my own father’s funeral. The celebrant went further and said this to me “ You weren’t close to your father , were you?” My father decided he no longer loved me at the end. But I was the one who helped him into a more comfortable position, helped him with the oxygen tank. Stayed with him and held his hand in his last hours. I never abandoned him.

I can see why the celebrant would have thought that at the funeral but he didn’t know anything about me. I have uncontrollable epilepsy. It was a burial. I was truly terrified I’d have a seizure and fall into the grave. I didn’t want to throw earth in the coffin but felt pressured into it. I edged very gingerly to the grave. I appreciate that might seem comedic to anyone reading this but it was a real fear.

I did think about complaining and it might have given me closure but I didn’t. I did speak with my mother about it. Her take on it is she doesn’t understand how I got left out. She told the celebrant how the grandkids were his life. The grandkids being my children. Kind of without me there would be no them.

I know my mum wants to be cremated. I also know that after she passes she doesn’t want to be brought back to house in the coffin. She wants to go straight to the crematorium from the undertakers. Do I arrange a direct cremation.

Do I arrange funeral but don’t go?

Do I have a separate celebration of life service for the relatives to attend and not go to that.

Generally I believe you regret what you don’t do more. Should I just suck it up even though I don’t think my mental health it take
it.

is there a solution I haven’t considered?

OP posts:
OSTMusTisNT · 05/10/2025 14:42

Direct cremation and you can remember them in your own way. If anyone asks, tell them that was your parents wish and that will stop them sticking their noses in.

I hate funerals as well and really don't understand why we torture ourselves just because it's always been done like that.

DeQuin · 05/10/2025 14:41

If you are the person who is arranging the funeral and there aren't other invested members of your family, you can do what you want. For my dad's funeral it went like this (I didn't arrange, my sister did, but I was involved in decisions and discussions):

  • My dad died at the hospice
  • Undertakers picked him up from the hospice
  • We set a date for a short service and cremation at the crematorium
  • We briefed the celebrant on what was to be said / what went into the service
  • There was a celebration of life / wake straight aftewards at our local pub: low key, sandwiches, anyone who had been to the funeral
  • We collected my dad's ashes and scattered them

My uncle expressly didn't want a funeral. He was cremated with no service. We had a celebration of life with the family when we scattered his ashes.

My aunt wanted a natural burial. We had a short service at the graveside with a humanist celebrant and went to a pub afterwards.

Really: you are in charge. Figure out what meets your needs; and it is usually a nice thing to do to arrange SOMETHING for others who loved her but it can be on your terms.

Good luck.

Stickytreacle · 05/10/2025 14:39

I think a direct cremation sounds the best idea, you could have a celebration of her life at any later date if you want one.
I

Swipe left for the next trending thread