Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Argument over visiting dad in Chapel of Rest.

11 replies

WishIWasSomewhereElse · 13/08/2021 11:45

Another family drama, I'm sorry, but I've had three migraines this week, the one on Wednesday so severe that I still feel woozy and sick and delicate.

Dad's funeral is on Monday. We've waited a couple of weeks for him to be ready for chapel visits, finally on Wednesday we were told he'd be ready from yesterday.

I wasn't sure I wanted to see him. I spent hours with him after he died, and was still warm, still 'him'.

Yesterday mum told me she wanted to go down to take some things for his coffin, also it was the deadline to pay 50% of the funeral. She wanted me to come, so I went with her.

The FD asked if we wanted to see him, mum asked me to come in, I did. I couldn't look to start with, but did when mum asked for help putting on a bangle and pendant. His face looked peaceful, but he was cold and hard, different to when he died. His fingers had gone blackish. I've seen my youngest and my brother dead, so knew what to expect, but had been there seconds after dad died (he was alive when mum answered the door to me), so it was different.

This morning the FD phoned me. My sister wanted to visit. I was confused as my son & nephew both had appointments and I wasn't phoned.

Dsis had kicked off. Apparently we shouldn't have gone without her. The FD wanted to know if we'd allow her to go as she was very angry and upset on the phone (not sure what she said), I was also told that an inventory had been taken of items in the coffin and would be checked after she'd been.

Dsis phoned me. She said that she told tFD she'd happily run people over and kill them, told my mum she'd break mum's dog's neck, etc.

I tried to explain to Dsis that it wasn't sidelining her. I hadn't planned it. Dsis was 'busy' yesterday so thought we should have waited to go till today, together. I tried to explain that the FD had to be paid yesterday, that it wasn't planned.

I offered to go with Dsis, to wait outside to give her moral support, but she's worried about driving if she was upset after. This is illogical, as neither mum nor me drive, so it would be the same anyway.

I said that my son was going at a later time if she wanted to go with him...no.

She's told me she will ask one of her friends as they at least care about her...she's done this before, played the victim and her friends all dislike me due to it.

She also threw in that it was the same last year when we went to see Dbro. Except we went together. Mum, dad, my son, her, me and my daughter. The only thing I can think of, was I didn't want to go in with her, I wanted to go and see Dbro alone, but she kicked off saying I was selfish, that I had no right to see Dbro alone. She went to see Dbro alone the next day as well, and I didn't get mad.

I feel a bit fragile. She's not helped much. I registered the death, contacted the bank, checked on mum, helped with clothes for dad, etc. I've bought a dad stand out of my own money for Dsis and me.

I feel battered. I do understand why she feels that way, but to be honest, my concern is with mum. She's lost her son and husband of 53 years in one year. She is emotionally upside down.

I honestly didn't try to cut dsis out, but she's been absent and will only want to do times that suit her, which is fine, but if mum needed to pay yesterday, then I'm going to go with her if she asks.

The last two Sundays Dsis has had parties for her birthday, whilst I've been getting more and more depressed.

How can I heal this? I've tried to message her, apologised and explained, but she won't talk to me now.

OP posts:
Greenmarmalade · 13/08/2021 11:52

I’m so sorry for your loss.

I wouldn’t try to heal anything. I think you have more than enough to deal with. Focus on you and your mum; your sister can meet with her own friends for support.

I would aim to listen to your sister if she wants to talk, but not if she starts to become abusive. Other than this, you focus on all of the other things you need to do for the funeral, for yourself and for your mum.

WeAreTheHeroes · 13/08/2021 12:12

Absolutely what @Greenmarmalade has said. Grief has different effects on different people. Support your mum and concentrate on her and what you yourself need. If your sister kicks off walk away. You are all grieving and she needs to realise that.

I'm sorry for your loss Flowers

NoSquirrels · 13/08/2021 12:15

I’m so sorry for your loss. Flowers

How can I heal this?
You can’t. Anger is a stage of grief. Your sister is taking out her emotions on you, but they’re not about you. Try to stay out of it. Concentrate on your mum.

WishIWasSomewhereElse · 13/08/2021 12:23

Thank you. She's phoned me again. She's still upset that we kept seeing Dbro without her (we went once all together, then she went again alone, so I have no idea what she's on about.)

She's going to make a complaint about the FD saying she needed permission. I do understand why that upset her, however, my son and her son have made appointments without our permission, the reason she wasn't allowed without permission is she was aggressive to the FD. She said the FD should be able to deal with grumpy people who are threatening to kill others. Her demeanour is precisely the reason the FD was not sure. Being rude to hospital/GPs can get you in trouble, threatening FDs is also not something they have to put up with.

She's going to upset mum over the wake now Mum isn't up to a big wake. She's specifically said she only wants dad's closest friends and family there, not those who only vaguely know him and be forced to make small talk.

Dsis has said this is rude and mum should have hired a hall. I did actually (and have messages to prove this), try to find one close to us, they were all packed up. The one Dsis said she could have got is miles away, and we didn't want to have to travel, set up food and clear up, then travel again, after a stressful/emotional day.

I will concentrate on mum. She's not coping emotionally and I'm worried about her.

I hate this is happening. I'm trying to play the peacemaker, but hate being made to feel the villain of the piece, when I've honestly tried to do my best to support mum. I feel such a failure, I can never do the right thing.

OP posts:
WishIWasSomewhereElse · 13/08/2021 12:23

Thank you, I cross posted.

OP posts:
WeAreTheHeroes · 13/08/2021 12:27

You're not a failure, please don't think that. You are grieving and trying to do your best. Don't be so hard on yourself. Your sister is being irrational in her grief. She will calm down eventually.

Gilead · 13/08/2021 12:37

I’m sorry this has happened to you. Your sister however needs to be ignored. You say she’s done this before, so it’s not irrational grieving, it’s all about her and creating a drama so that she is at the centre of attention. I would be going very low or no contact. You trying to explain or apologise just gives her ammunition.

Warmhandscoldheart · 13/08/2021 12:38

I'm so sorry for your loss. My Dad passed away recently so I can empathise with you completely.
I also have a sister who believes they should be the centre of attention yet isn't doing anything to help care for our Mum or with the planning of our Dad's funeral.
My advice is to stop giving your Dsis the attention she doesn't deserve, her emotions and feelings don't trump your Mum's, his widow, feelings and wishes.
Tell her enough is enough and to stop playing the bloody matyr.

NoSquirrels · 13/08/2021 12:45

You’re not a failure. You’re listening and responding to your mum. You cannot take on your sister’s emotions too, and you shouldn’t try.

Hard as it is, release yourself from that guilt. It’s not your burden. You’ve done nothing wrong.

bobandhisburgers · 13/08/2021 12:46

Oh OP I'm so sorry for your loss and this added stress for your family. Honestly I think your sister needs telling straight how disgusting her behaviour is. I know it's a difficult time for everyone but she's being a complete twat and needs telling, this isn't about her. You're also not a failure, you're doing a wonderful job supporting your mum!

Tara336 · 13/08/2021 12:46

People grieve in different ways and at different paces. Leave your sister to work through it but remember to look after yourself. We had something similar with FIL my Exh wanted to scatter his ashes in a place that meant a lot to them. He discussed it with MIL who thought it was a lovely idea, he contacted his DS who was disinterested as she didn’t get on with DF.. EXH gave a day and time we would be travelling to scatter the ashes, SIL still not interested. So we go alone to do it. A week later SIL has a massive hissy fit, says we excluded her, didn’t consult her etc this is pretty typical behaviour for her anyway but she had no reason to complain... I guess that was her grief showing in a different way.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page